April 28. Tomorrow I will go with Jane to look at properties. She wants us to locate in the same shopping area where my Web school is, a brand new area that was still under construction when I first arrived in Changzhou in 2009. There is a landmark TV tower (like a space needle) there, and a public plaza hosting events in good weather. Lots of expensive restaurants and department stores surround the tower.
COFFEE
This incarnation of the culinary dream had Blake being responsible for the coffee. Since Blake is no longer in the picture, I've had to consider what role coffee plays in the Plan.
A year ago I was saying to the Web students, in the English Corner, how I was wanting to find green coffee beans and roast them myself, grind them and brew FRESH coffee for their tasting pleasure. I felt sure they would change their attitudes towards coffee if once they got a taste of real coffee, the naked bean so to speak. I knew the cost of importing an electric coffee roaster would be very, very high. I hesitated, finding it hard to justify such an expense.
But the concept remains.
Angela and I Skyped recently, and chatted about our respective eateries. She is now living in her restaurant in Tagong/Lhagong (Sichuan), and has customers this early in the season.
She gave me a useful lead, for finding good coffee. She told me about a company called 'Chicago Coffee' in Hainan. I googled it, and found a fellow there, Chris Alford, who considers himself a coffee aficionado and had a coffee shop there in Hainan. His tastes tend more towards the espresso end. Nevertheless, he was able to turn me on to a supplier of quality Yunnan beans.
The Ai.ni Company, in Kunming, sent me a sample of their three roasts. The seal on the package gave a roasting date of three weeks earlier. Still, the coffee ground up smoothly and brewed up with lovely flavors and aromas. I think that with tender care I could achieve my ends with this coffee.
CAFE
I live three kilometers northwest of my school. I am a quarter mile or less south of the main canal. The canal is traversed via a long, landmark bridge that is beautifully lit at night. The intersection just south of my flat is a major intersection, served by 12 bus lines. Construction adjoining my apartment complex has just been completed, providing empty storefronts facing this busy intersection. China has a problem with over construction, so that often the ground floor storefronts stay vacant for a long time, literally years. However, there is already an Audi dealership opened here. This property is hot! I found out that I can rent one of them, 45 square meters, for only 68,000 rmb/year. This is amazingly cheap, and the owner can only guarantee that price for one year. It is deep. I imagine the bakery in the back 3/4 of the place, with a serving counter up front. Perhaps another counter with stools facing the glass front.
But why not also put a barrier of flower planters extending out from the front door, with a few tables and benches out there. It is southwest facing. Can you see it?
These are my thoughts these days. It is hard to contain my excitement.
COFFEE
This incarnation of the culinary dream had Blake being responsible for the coffee. Since Blake is no longer in the picture, I've had to consider what role coffee plays in the Plan.
A year ago I was saying to the Web students, in the English Corner, how I was wanting to find green coffee beans and roast them myself, grind them and brew FRESH coffee for their tasting pleasure. I felt sure they would change their attitudes towards coffee if once they got a taste of real coffee, the naked bean so to speak. I knew the cost of importing an electric coffee roaster would be very, very high. I hesitated, finding it hard to justify such an expense.
But the concept remains.
Angela and I Skyped recently, and chatted about our respective eateries. She is now living in her restaurant in Tagong/Lhagong (Sichuan), and has customers this early in the season.
She gave me a useful lead, for finding good coffee. She told me about a company called 'Chicago Coffee' in Hainan. I googled it, and found a fellow there, Chris Alford, who considers himself a coffee aficionado and had a coffee shop there in Hainan. His tastes tend more towards the espresso end. Nevertheless, he was able to turn me on to a supplier of quality Yunnan beans.
The Ai.ni Company, in Kunming, sent me a sample of their three roasts. The seal on the package gave a roasting date of three weeks earlier. Still, the coffee ground up smoothly and brewed up with lovely flavors and aromas. I think that with tender care I could achieve my ends with this coffee.
CAFE
I live three kilometers northwest of my school. I am a quarter mile or less south of the main canal. The canal is traversed via a long, landmark bridge that is beautifully lit at night. The intersection just south of my flat is a major intersection, served by 12 bus lines. Construction adjoining my apartment complex has just been completed, providing empty storefronts facing this busy intersection. China has a problem with over construction, so that often the ground floor storefronts stay vacant for a long time, literally years. However, there is already an Audi dealership opened here. This property is hot! I found out that I can rent one of them, 45 square meters, for only 68,000 rmb/year. This is amazingly cheap, and the owner can only guarantee that price for one year. It is deep. I imagine the bakery in the back 3/4 of the place, with a serving counter up front. Perhaps another counter with stools facing the glass front.
But why not also put a barrier of flower planters extending out from the front door, with a few tables and benches out there. It is southwest facing. Can you see it?
These are my thoughts these days. It is hard to contain my excitement.
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