OTG Goes to Japan

Yay! I remembered to take pictures today. We catered an amazing luncheon at Arrow Truck Sales (Fontana, CA). We grilled Filet Mignon, Chicken Breasts and Shrimp...all Teppan style. Oh, I forgot to mention the fried rice and grilled zucchini, onions, mushrooms and carrots sprinkled with sesame seeds and a little garlic butter and a little cabbage salad on the side. We even sprinkled on a little Himalayan Sea Salt. YUMMMMY! If you weren't there, you missed out. Just in case you're wondering, no, neither of us is Japanese. But I am part Chinese, does that count? (sorry about the dessert picture, I couldn't turn it the right way. So, turn your head to the left and check out the dark chocolate dipped fortune cookies, oranges and California strawberries!)

After setting up, I decided that I do love to cook for people. I love to see them happy. They were so impressed with the food. When we announced that we would be back on Wednesday to make tacos, they said "We can't wait."

Now I'm home, and wrapped up in my pink snuggie (don't be hatin') watching The Closer. I love this show. Until next week, "Happy Eating"...

I told you a Retired Entrpreneur was an oxymoron! I knew it wouldn't last for long... About 7 months ago, one of my best friends, Laurie, called me and asked me if I wanted to begin a catering business with her. After about 10 seconds of thought, of course I said yes. :-) She had attended a birthday party for her neice and the caterer there was serving tacos, yes tacos! She rolled in a grill (by herself) and served carne asada, chicken and carnitas tacos along with mexican rice and beans. Laurie said "I know we can do that". The caterer said she was making over $7k a month all by herself doing these parties. She had 7-8 parties on the weekends. (She had to be lying). Laurie and I both need extra cash, so we decided to give it a try...

We went on a search to find a grill, book some parties etc...

1. Party booked (Laurie's nephew's going away party)
2. Buy a grill (Found a manufacturer at a local swap meet)
3. Find the food (Restaurant Depot saved the day)
4. Assemble all equipment and supplies (Costco, Sam's, WalMart and our equipment sheds)
5. Pick a name. Done! Ready..... Wait for it.....Wait for it.....
THE ORIGINAL TACO GIRLS
Ha? Ha? Ha? Yes, we are The ORIGINAL Taco Girls

Our first party went well. We were having problems finding avocados and making easy inexpensive guacamole. The solution...Haas Avocados and the other ingredients. Yummy! We tried the guacamole in a bottle at Restaurant Depot, the frozen avocados at Restaurant Depot, all YUCKY! So, if you want us to serve guacamole to your guests, you will pay $30 for a fresh batch.

We immediately began advertising on CraigList. We actually received calls within the first week.

Our first party went great. We received alot of feedback: Need labeling on salsas, Food is great, Rice is a little bland (Boy did we spice it up)

The Decision

On March 13, as I was driving away from this amazing event in beautiful downtown Temecula, I thought, "I'm tired and I don't want to do this anymore". Of course, I quickly picked up the phone and called my husband (as I was waiting through "another" stop light because the traffic was horrible) and announced to him that I was retiring. When he asked me why, I said, well, I'm taking on too much, my mind is tired and I just can't do it anymore. In his loving and supportive way, he said "Okay, whatever you want to do, but let's think about it first." Patiently I said, well, I will try to stick it out until September 30. That sounded reasonable to both of us and we continued chatting while I waited for the "green light" to get on the freeway and head home. The closer I got to home (38 miles away), the closer my retirement date got. When I pulled in the driveway, it had moved to May 31. Thinking back now, I was just exhausted--mentally and physically. How did this happen? you might ask. Well, I'll tell you...

"I was born a poor black child" as Steve Martin would put it (lol!) into a family of entrepreneurs. My paternal grandfather owned a hotel, a bar and alot of real estate in a small town in Texas...My maternal grandfather was a barber in Los Angeles...My maternal grandmother owned an antique store...My maternal great-grandfather owned a junk yard and would give you a deal, "bein' it's you" of course...My father owned a landscaping business and window cleaning business.

So, as you see, it's not my fault.