The Clumsy Interloper

It’s been a month since my last update but the wheels have remained in motion at HawkCityHQ. I want to thank all of you that have reached out with your kind words of support and encouragement. They are invaluable gifts that I handle with most grateful hands. This process has been exciting, challenging, humbling and eye-opening. I will aim to keep the updates closer to weekly for 2025. Please stay tuned…

Mixer – The 50L spiral floor mixer arrived with the new year. It has two speeds but the low setting will be perfect for my dough. It’s a beast, weighing in at 250 pounds so it will live in my kitchen for a while during my test bakes. Once I begin baking at Bread & Roses kitchen I will need to employ a strategy for weekly transportation to and fro. The specs indicate that I will be able to crate enough dough for 45 pizzas at a time, so the next step involves a 55lb bag of flour and a hefty amount of melted European butter.

Ingredients – I have made contact with a rep at Chef’s Warehouse and engaged in several productive email exchanges about my ingredient needs. The wholesale pricing I received exceeded my expectations which means I can deliver my pizzas at a competitive price point (9 inch deep dish = $25-$28 toppings dependent = feeds 2-3 people). The cheese/butter normally follow the dairy market and change fairly regularly, so I will need to be sensitive to that reality.

Online Presence – The URL (hawkcitypizza.com) has been purchased and I am currently building out the pages. I love WordPress and have been encouraged by the marketplace widgets they provide for online purchasing. I plan to activate the site in February to test the ordering functionality for my test bakes. Next on the list are Instagram, Facebook and Google Business with a February soft launch as well. I spent many years marketing student rental properties so I feel comfortable in this domain.

Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) – This certification, which allows me to serve prepared food in Virginia, has proven to be the most intensive of my applications. I’ve passed the ServSafe manager exam and established a home at the Bread & Roses Commissary Kitchen, but the VADACS application requires a specificity for labeling, protocol for recipe creation, allergen control plan, employee training records and kitchen diagraming that requires a (rightfully so) high bar for entry. Once processed, I will need to have an in-kitchen inspection while I perform my bake. I’m prepared for the road ahead, however none of it will be easy.

Central Virginia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) – I feel confident enough now with my progress that I set up a meeting with an advisor at the Central Virginia SBDC on the 22^nd to review my business plan and startup check list. I was wary of taking this step until I was further along in my journey, and I think this was the right decision. The more I learn about the licenses, legal considerations, tax setup and insurance needed before the first pizza order is made – the more I realize that I need to make sure I’m locked in. As the SBDC says, you want to make “original mistakes” and if I rush into an artificial deadline for myself then I fear my mistakes will be commonplace and avoidable.