Hi everyone,

I am currently a SAHM with 7 hours M-F free to bake while kidlets are at school. I am interested in baking for small restuarants, cafes etc. I have an initial inspection with the health department coming on Thursday for an eligibility run down.

Calling Mrs. Missey and others! Can you help me? I have been lurking through the posts and see that you do baking for shops as well.

I'm thinking the inspector will ask me questions about how I will operate. What I don't really know about are effective ways of packaging and handling cake storage until delivery, tips on transporting cakes, also to make the most of my time mixing and baking in larger quantities.

I love this forum and hope to become a fellow cake maker soon. I appreciate all advice.

Happy baking everyone and thank you in advance!

Tamara

i haven't gone through an inspection yet, but I know what they look for in an actual restaurants that they probably look for in homes too.

make sure you have a box of gloves handy.

a permanent marker and some masking tape, LABEL EVERYTHING, name, date, etc.
designate a special area in you refrigerator for just cake stuff, so it can't get mixed up with normal items. top shelf is best for ingredient that won't be cooked, or is already cooked.

Antibacterial soap, something to sanitize your work area with.

if you have long hair, make sure you have it up in a braid or something, or put shorter hair in a pony tail or bun.

make sure your kitchen is clean (duh) and that you have a way to be sure that no animals or children can come running through the kitchen while you are working.

I'm probably forgetting something, but I'm sure the others will fill in my gaps.

I hope this helps, and good luck!!!

You've got my wheels turning already. I do need to go shopping and get gloves and rearrange my fridge. I am wondering if they would allow me to use a separate fridge in my garage solely for storing cooking items probably not, though. Oh well we'll see on Thusday.

My inspector also checked my bathroom to make sure that I had paper towels available instead of using hand towels to dry with. Any exposed lightbulbs, like my flourescent over the kitchen sink had to be covered. I also have can lights over my workstation and had to purchase coated bulbs so that in the even a bulb broke nothing would fall into my work. The separate space for your things goes for the pantry as well as the fridge. I have designated shelves for cake supplies only. And, nothing on the floor, even large bins, they must be elevated some way. Thermometers are needed in the refrigerator to monitor the proper temperatures and she recommended an instant read thermometer (which I have never used).

Thanks VACakelady. I was actually thinking about the shelves and paper towels in the bathroom yesterday.

I have been under the weather over the weekend so I've haven't really left my bed in two days. The web and tv have become my entertainment, LOL. I am starting to feel a little better and have to go to the Dr's tomorrow so maybe I can get out and look around for a wall dispenser because bathroom spaces are so narrow here nowhere else for them to go. The bathroom immediately off the kitchen is the size of your average coat closet. I don't even use it but I guess I will have to when working.

I do have that uncovered florescent bulb you were talking about and have been wanting to change it since we rented to place. I am wondering if I could use one of those metal shelves in the kitchen to store things like a pantry just for baking.

I am not too surprised by the changes though it reminds me so much of my home daycare days. I know I have a ton of work to do between now and then. Keep em' coming guys!

My DH installed those wire shelves in both my pantry and the kitchen. I have one right over my work area for regularly used items. I love it. As for the lightbulb, DH just bought a clear plastic cover, just a plastic tube really, that slides around the bulb. You can't even tell it's there. For the coated bulbs in my can lights, I only put them in when I know I'll have an inspection. I can't stand them because they put off such yellow light. I use the GE Reveal bulbs the rest of the time, whiter light and I can better adjust my icing colors to look right.

Hey everyone!

I had my inspection today and it went wonderful. I am so happy! The inspector was very nice and helpful. She was giving me potential clients I could visit in the area, the best times to go and everything. I was so worried she'd be like one of those crazy inspectors like in Deliver Us From Eva. But she was quite nice. I just want to thank everyone for all the suggestions and advice. You all have been so great