{"id":1040,"date":"2012-07-31T06:00:06","date_gmt":"2012-07-31T13:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/?p=1040"},"modified":"2012-07-30T15:02:32","modified_gmt":"2012-07-30T22:02:32","slug":"season-7-episode-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/?p=1040","title":{"rendered":"Season 7, Episode 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>
\nIt was still early when Willow caught the trolley across town to the Saturday morning Ferry Building farmer\u2019s market. Much like her beloved Victoria Markets in Melbourne, it appeared to be the serious foodies who rose early to hit the stalls before the regular punters came through. She had a small pang of homesickness as she wandered past a woman laughing animatedly with one of the stall owners as he piled her basket high with fresh produce. Willow wondered how Lorenzo – her favourite purveyor of fruit and vegetables at the Vic Markets – was doing. He would be wondering why she hadn\u2019t been to visit him in such a long time, and she felt slightly guilty not telling him that she was leaving. Perhaps she\u2019d send him a postcard?<\/p>\n

She did a lap of the stalls out the front, marveling at the fact that she was able to buy all the summer fruit she could ever want, in the middle of July. In Australia, this was the time of year for stewing and poaching apples and pears, serving them piping hot with homemade custard, as you huddled inside the stay out of the cold. Here, you still had to huddle to stay out of the cold (that wind was biting!) but at least you could enjoy peaches, nectarines and figs while you were doing so.<\/p>\n

To the right of the main building, she noticed a huge queue of people. They snaked from towards the rear of the markets all the way back down the pier. Willow wondered what on earth would possess people to queue up this early on a weekend. Some rare Californian delicacy perhaps that you could only buy on a Saturday?<\/p>\n

Curious, Willow joined the back of the line, tapping the woman in front of her on the shoulder. \u201cWhat are you lining up for?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCoffee,\u201d the woman said.<\/p>\n

Willow\u2019s mouth dropped open. This<\/em> was the line for coffee<\/em>? \u201cIsn\u2019t there anywhere else to get coffee here?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The woman laughed. \u201cSure there is. But this is the line for the best<\/em> coffee.\u201d<\/p>\n

Given her previous coffee experiences Willow was sceptical, but she kept her place in the line, slowly making her way towards the small stand where about five people were frantically taking orders and making hot beverages.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat can I get you?\u201d the dread-locked man behind the cash register said in his easy Californian drawl.<\/p>\n

What to order? She\u2019d learned that a cafe latte was a no-no (seriously, no-one needed that much milk!) and a cappuccino was often a mug of froth with some coffee floating somewhere down the bottom.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t suppose you could make a flat white, could you?\u201d she said, knowing that the answer would be the same as everywhere else she\u2019d tried to find her favourite coffee: \u201cA flat what<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n

A freckled face peered around the side of the coffee machine and beamed at her. \u201c\u2018Course we can make a flat white, mate! Coming right up!\u201d He said in his unashamedly antipodean accent.<\/p>\n

Willow grinned. It figured that the best coffee in the city was made by an Australian.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Sipping her absolutely perfect flat white, Willow wandered down the pier, gazing out over the bay. The sky was blue, and the sun had risen high in the sky, finally sharing some if its magnificent warmth. In the distance, the bay bridge sparkled in the sunlight. The wind had dropped and the water was perfectly still. A line of low fluffy clouds sat just above the hills of the east bay, giving the otherwise clear sky some texture. Willow smiled to herself. Now this<\/em> view beat the scenery of the Vic Markets hands down.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis coffee is amazing,\u201d she overheard a middle-aged man say to his wife, as they too wandered away from the coffee cart. \u201cBest I\u2019ve had since we were in Italy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShame they don\u2019t do pastries as well,\u201d his wife sighed. \u201cNow we just have to queue up all over again to get a croissant.\u201d<\/p>\n

Willow silently agreed with the woman. A flaky, buttery croissant would certainly complete this nearly perfect moment. If only there was someone that did amazing coffee and mouthwatering pastries\u2026\u00a0 Willow suddenly stopped mid-stride.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a genius,\u201d she said out loud. A few people looked at her strangely, but she didn\u2019t even notice. Great coffee and amazing pastries. Great pastries and amazing coffee. It wasn\u2019t a new concept, but it was one that seemed to work the world over. And one that obviously hadn\u2019t fully infiltrated San Francisco yet!<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

On the trolley ride home, Willow\u2019s mind was buzzing. She hadn\u2019t been so excited about anything since\u2026 well, since Robert. And she knew that this was something that Robert would support her doing, were he still alive. She knew she\u2019d have to look for a business partner. Someone who had experience with setting up these sorts of things and some idea of US rules and regulations.
\nAs she rounded the street to their rented apartment, she stopped in her tracks for the second time that day. On the lamp post, someone had taped up a sign.<\/p>\n

Got a startup? \u00a0Want to invest in a startup?<\/em><\/p>\n

Come for Demos, Drinks\u00a0and maybe meet an Angel at ‘The Lab’ on Valencia St. 4-6pm<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Willow wrote down the address. Seriously, if this wasn\u2019t a sign, she didn\u2019t know what was.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat kind of startup have you got?\u201d a man said. His name tag proclaimed \u2018Brad\u2019 in large red letters and his eyes didn\u2019t stay in one spot for very long, constantly scanning the room to see who was there. \u201cSoftware? Hardware? Games? Design?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEr, no,\u201d said Willow. \u201cActually\u2026 coffee.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brad looked dumbfounded for a minute before shaking his head. Willow heard him say \u201ctime waster\u201d under his breath as he walked away. Willow blushed and surveyed the rest of the crowd. Surely there must be someone there who would be as excited about her idea as she was? But the more she looked the less confident she became. Everyone just looked a bit\u2026 tech. Pulling off her name badge and sighing she made for the door. It had been worth a try.<\/p>\n

\u201cExcuse me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Willow turned towards the voice. It belonged to a man who looked as far from \u2018techy\u2019 as Willow did. His whole composure had a world-weary, defeated look about it, but in his eye he had a little twinkle that said \u2018I\u2019m not ready to give up just yet\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t mean to eavesdrop,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I couldn\u2019t help overhearing. Coffee?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d said Willow. \u201cIt was just an idea. But I don\u2019t think anyone here is that interested in it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWould you believe that my business idea is for a mobile coffee cart? Well, coffee and cakes to be exact.\u201d<\/p>\n

Willow\u2019s heart sank a bit. That was her<\/em> idea. \u201cI\u2019m more interested in starting my own business, not really\u00a0 investing in someone else’s,\u201d she said. \u201cSorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, you misunderstand,\u201d the man said. \u201cI\u2019m not looking for an investor. I\u2019m looking for a business partner.\u201d<\/p>\n

Willow blinked. \u201cYou are?\u201d<\/p>\n

He nodded enthusiastically. \u201cIt\u2019s an idea that I had a while ago and was all set to launch, but then my\u2026 partner left for another\u2026 business.\u201d He sighed, his shoulders sagging. \u201cActually my partner was my wife and the other business was my best friend.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so sorry,\u201d Willow said.<\/p>\n

He shrugged. \u201cAnyway, it\u2019s left an opening. We\u2019d split everything fifty-fifty, including the initial costs, but we should be able to do it fairly cheaply if we start small. Any experience with coffee?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI drink a lot of it,\u201d Willow said. \u201cAnd I did a dash as a Barista in my university days. Plus,\u201d she added, her eyes twinkling, \u201cI make some of the best pastries and cakes in the whole world.\u201d<\/p>\n

The man grinned. \u201cWell, I can\u2019t bake to save myself, but I\u2019ve got years of experience managing world class restaurants – New York, Rome, Paris, Madrid – you name it, I\u2019ve done it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat made you leave the restaurant industry?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cToo many late nights. And I was always working too hard for someone else.\u201d He smiled wistfully. \u201cAll I want is a small coffee and cake business, where I know the regulars by name, the quality is exceptional and everyone is happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat sounds exactly like what I had in mind,\u201d Willow said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWait – are you on a visa at the moment?\u201d he said suddenly.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh,\u201d said Willow. “Just the tourist one. But I\u2019m hoping to get a more permanent one.\u201d<\/p>\n

He shook his head, sadly. \u201cThat would involve sponsorship and I\u2019m not sure how willing they are to offer it for this kind of industry.\u201d He looked thoughtful for a minute. \u201cWell, there is one other option, but\u2026 no, on second thoughts that probably wouldn\u2019t work.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it?\u201d Willow insisted.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is something called an Entrepreneurs Green Card. But it involves a fairly hefty investment in a business.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow hefty.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA million dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n

Willow whistled. \u201cThat is<\/em> hefty.\u201d<\/p>\n

He chuckled. \u201cLike I said. Wouldn\u2019t work.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t say it wouldn\u2019t work,\u201d Willow said slowly. She wasn\u2019t that keen on advertising her new-found wealth to anyone, but if it was the only way\u2026 \u201cIt might work,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019d have to see.\u201d<\/p>\n

He looked nonplussed, as though he didn\u2019t believe this unassuming girl would have anything close to a million dollars.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I guess we can cross that bridge when we get to it, hey?\u201d He stuck out his hand. \u201cI\u2019m Fred, by the way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWillow.\u201d<\/p>\n

They shook hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cWillow, shall we get out of this place and go and figure out if we want to make the best coffee and cakes in the whole of San Francisco?\u201d<\/p>\n

Willow grinned. \u201cFred, I think that sounds like a splendid idea.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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