AboutGinger Moreno Expertise I can answer most questions regarding Latin American/Spanish cooking (and if I don`t know the answer I have many cookbooks that will probably contain the answer.) One of my recipes appeared on the FoodTV Network.
Experience
Past/Present clients I have catered for several gymnastics clubs. I teach cooking classes for 4-H, for a facility for the elderly, for a women's club monthly meeting, and the latest is at a supermarket showing people who sign up for the cooking class how easy good cooking can be.
Expert: Ginger Moreno Date: 7/8/2008 Subject: Question about selling home cooked meals
Question Hi,
My name is Adetinuke and i have dreams of one day owning my own Nigerian, west-African restaurant but for now, I want to start from home with the help of my husband.
My question is what are the necessary requirements in regard to liability insurance to protect my dream home cooked business. Basically, a checklist of what is needed legally would be much appreciated. Please feel free to reply at your convenience. Thanks.
Answer Hi Adetinuke:
First of all forgive me for not answering sooner, however, I was trying to research the answer for you. I have to say that I am not a lawyer, therefore, I really could not give you what you would need legally - however, I can give you a list of sorts as to what you would need to start a home based food business. First and foremost you must register with the Department of Health in your area and see what exactly you would need, what forms to fill, what dishes, pots and pans, where in your home you could start your "business kitchen", etc. By checking with the Department of Health in your area you will have answers to MANY of your questions. They usually have checklists that you can just go through and see what you need.
I know that having a large pantry, a commercial refrigerator and stove and a good set of knives (of course these would have to be OK'd by the Department of Health)are things that would make your business so much easier to run.
Now you have the passion, so now you have to get things legalized - and, as I said, I am not a lawyer. However, if you want to check on www.legalzoom.com they may have the papers you may need. Check with the Department of Health, etc.
Once you have all of this done, you can put together a menu for people to look at (my advice here would be to keep it simple and small at first). Better yet, I would have business cards printed and go into the front office of doctor's offices and leave them a copy of your menu - and sometimes - they will say "gee, I wish I could taste your food" - then you can bring them a sample. Believe me - if your food is good, at a good price, they will order it. When word gets around that you have good food, at good prices that they can have delivered to their offices - you will have lots of business. Getting started is the hard part - cooking will be easy!!!
Remember, if you do things correctly you will have your restaurant open in no time at all.
I hope I have answered your questions - and thank you for asking - I wish you the best of luck - and, as I said - you have the passion - so go for it!!
