network to move (Kapaa, Lihue, Wailua: sales, how much, hotels)

[breadalone]

Looking to network with locals who can possibly help me to find work. I am a Pastry Chef currently employed by a Worldwide Hotel chain. So no jobs in hotels... looking for a small artisan (possibly all natural, organic) concept. Could also wear the sales hat in the food market! many thx in advance.

[hotzcatz]

You may have to start a bakery, there may not be all that many opportunities like you're looking for. How about a pastry food truck?

[breadalone]

hotzcatz thank you! a food truck would be an option if i had the funds to invest and wait to see the biz grow!?

[kauailover]

A mobile expresso/pastry truck would be cool!

[merced mullet]

Kaua'i is in desperate need of a "Manapua Man (person)." I only know of Hamura in Lihue that makes their manapua on site and it is a straight char shiu...how 'bout some lau lau or sweet potatoe filling?
It would be the return of...The Manapua Man...updated in a truck rather than a cart!

[KauaiHiker]

There are several artisanal bakeries on the east side. Two that I can think of are Passion Bakery Cafe in Wailua, and Buttery in "old town" Kapaa. Generally, I tend to think that pastry chefs open these bakeries, so I don't know how much they need to hire another chef. But I don't know them personally, much less the business, so can't say myself.

It would be best if you were here and did the networking yourself, just by going around to talk with the local chefs. Have you visited here, what made you choose Kauai?

[oregonwoodsmoke]

I can't see any advantage to a food truck. You can't make sufficient quantity of pastries in a truck. So you would also have to have a bricks and mortar bakery.

As long as you are paying for the bakery, you might as well sell directly out of the bakery.

I'm afraid that your best bet is one of the resort hotels. Maybe one of the grocery stores with an on-store bakery might hire you, but I have a suspicion, their pastries are all formula and they can hire some minimum wage people to do the cooking.

If you are really talented, there is catering. But that would take awhile to get enough clientele built up. I can see a successful business providing specialty decorated cakes and pastries for parties where impressing the guests counts. But that word of mouth thing takes forever and advertising for a niche product is expensive.

[hotzcatz]

There is one fellow who has a portable wood fired oven and he takes it to the farmer's market and sells bread there. However, he sells a lot more bread than can be baked in that oven so there has to be a bricks and mortar (or the Hawaii equivalent) somewhere.

[breadalone]

Thank you...I was there last March interviewing for a pastry chef role in a start up operation that did not happen.

[breadalone]

Thank you all very much for your time and inputs...it seems i have very limited options! I will keep searching for an opportunity and let's see what the future may bring. Once again many thanks!