Madeira Consorcio

78 Madeira Consorcio Meeting 17.3.2016

We had an animated meeting in the station. G. was so kind as to provide our parched throats with Tilia Tea

We spoke about the Bread Project. E.has now ordered 500 long-handled linen bags with a very nice logo, ideal to transport two big loaves. He will continue to wrap the bread in paper bags, this is necessary to catch the Omega 3 which stems from the seeds. T.

He sells around 20 breads a week and wants to buy a professional kneading machine in order to streamline his work.

The legal side: he is now testing the waters and has no special licenses yet. M. and C. said that in their neighborhood, there is a villa where loads of honey cakes are produced in a private environment. U.has the idea that E., instead of renting a place, should try to install his small production as an add-on in such a place. The honey cake “factory” is totally busy, so it would be impossible for him to get space and time, but the members will keep their ears open, maybe we come across such an opportunity. M.knows a baker who closed a bakery in Funchal, he will speak to him about the place, and if he can sell E.used machines. It is very important to keep the costs down at this stage.

E.would like to create a foundation to serve as basis for the project, which, like the Scottish bakery, could employ handicapped people and would not need to make a profit. It would also promote the production of special wheat on the island. He then could create a small business on the side to make money for himself (he doesn’t want to get rich with this, he wants to give support to the island).  The idea of a foundation is a big endeavor and needs to follow many regulations, so D. suggested that he start as small businessman /sole trader in sales, as this could be set up with low taxation. D.said that the idea of a foundation would be better for the grain production.In any case, he has to establish a secure market first. C.said that the demand will inevitably grow as more and more people realize that normal food causes many allergies.

The http://www.herdadedecarvalhoso.pt/  in the Alentejo produces a lot of organic food.

A small excerpt from a text by E.: “The … Project envisions the rebirth of our most genuine and ethnographic traditions, by endowing our breads with transversal societal principles – in short, making bread that bears humanity in itself – foodstuff evolved from the common nutritional projection to a superior dimension… Bread can then be a truly transcendental food, for it feeds kinaesthetically our senses, but our soul too.”

Note: The best baker in Paris is Portuguese !

We also spoke about the Supper Club idea. U.thinks it would be a good idea to create a website and have several members from the group offer different experiences: V.can offer Austrian cuisine (as we know, very yummy), E.Brazilian specialties, C.Smorgasbord, etc. G’s original idea is to have a book club, and members could have a cake & coffee while they are there, they could also borrow and return the books in the other venues. This would create a social atmosphere so that people, residents and tourists alike, could get to know each other and have discussions.

U.could set up a website to take recreation requests. It is very important that the persons attending such an event are members of the club, then this is a private event and the venue does not have to adhere to any restaurant regulations.

There is a link to the supper club “28A” (‪#‎restaurantsareforstrangers) in Lisbon on Fluffbook, there is very little information on it. They cook recipes by Jamie Oliver.

There is also a new Supper Club in Madeira at http://quinta-das-eiras.madeirahotel24.com/en/.  Quinta das Eiras has an all- inclusive price for Lunch and  after 4 pm, drinks and cakes etc.are charged on a normal cost; people can even take out a horse for a ride. The Quinta can take up to 25 – 100 persons and they are well booked.

This is a new peer-to-peer business and it is disruptive to the restaurant business.

Other issues:

U.informed that there is an initiative by a German doctor to create a “sheltered community “ or old age home in Madeira with an international chain. The group thought that this could be a fruitful project. There will be a meeting in mid-April about this.

Note. A. will need a new job as of September, she is trained in biotechnology  and will contact  the lab in Canicalto see if they would be interested. She is also very well suited for administration jobs

Tip from E.: sea water, rich in magnesium, is the best medium to cook vegetables, rice and potatoes (Fajã dos Padres serves wonderful potatoes, you don’t need a main course after that).

Our next meeting will be in mid-April