Setting up shop for my foodie dreams

30 November 2001 by
Setting up shop for my foodie dreams

Well, finally, I come to my last reader diary. I would like to thank those kind people who have said they've enjoyed hearing about life at the Star.

I think I've now been writing this article for two years, which really makes me stop and think how quickly things have moved on.

As I write this, I'm watching seven-month-old Tilly sitting on the floor playing with her toys and I wonder where my baby went. And Daisy is three now - nearly ready to run the place. It is quite hard to keep the business moving and retain standards without missing out on time with the girls. The past three years have flown by.

This week has been particularly hectic as we opened our Corner Shop. The response has been great. We had our first day on Thursday and have had four very busy days since.

The home-baked produce is selling well, so the kitchen is busier that ever. We will be building a separate kitchen behind the shop, which will also service the bedrooms - yet to be built - so that should take quite a lot of pressure off the Star kitchen.

We have been very fortunate finding staff for our venture. Two local ladies are serving and we have taken on a brilliant girl to do the baking.

One of the ladies has been to London to spend a couple of days at Sally Clarke's and Neal's Yard, which has been very helpful while we have been setting up shop.

In fact, it was when I was working in London at Sally Clarke's shop that the dream of having my own really good foodie shop began.

The local media have been very supportive and Radio York did a broadcast from the shop as we opened.

We hope the run-up to Christmas will be busy. We feel fortunate we live in an area where people are enthusiastic about new ventures. When we got in some rye bread from Poilâne, for instance, I had given Andrew a ticking off because it is pretty expensive, especially with delivery, and I said there was no way it would sell. But I returned to the shop to find we had sold three loaves in the first half hour of opening.

We've got a lively run-up to Christmas, including a guest chef evening with Stephen Doherty from the Punch Bowl Inn and entertainment from Eugiene McCoy.

I hope you all have a fabulous festive season and make lots of money.

JACQUIE PERN and husband Andrew own the Star Inn at Harome, North Yorkshire

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