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bhyt
Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 173
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 Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 10:41 am Post subject: |
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i can't get into catering methinks because my mum criticises the way i cut spring onions and all vegetables in fact too big/not the same size!
I had to make spring rolls for my old school open evening...and it just went horribly wrong lol-even though i used loads of cornflour to stop the spring roll from falling apart- it obviously fell apart wen frying-and all the vegetables would fall out, and get burnt. (though it's not my fault the school brought some weird western pastry thing for me to use, instead of the proper spring roll wrappers) plus deep frying things is a scary process lol.
i remember for my gcse food technology coursework, i made several chinese dishes, though i had to ask my mum to make me a sweet and sour sauce (at least mines was home made-one friend went to sainsburys and brought some sweet and sour sauce-and when the teacher tasted it-she was saying how it tasted really good lol) and to fry an omelette for me (i can't cook omelettes or eggs sunny side up for some strange reason-it falls apart horribly in the pan and becomes scrambled as always). and my mum taught me how to cut the carrots into flower shapes.
i tried making jook at uni one time...didn't work lol-too gloopy methinks. and when i told my mum about my attempts-she then told me that i was supposed to soak the rice overnight to make it softer.
the good news is i can fry noodles and rice, though it never tastes as nice as how my parents make it lol. |
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Jeff Minter
Joined: 31 Aug 2006
Posts: 342
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| Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 1:23 am Post subject: |
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Looking back at this topic, I did wonder what I was trying to ask before it veered off course.
What I was getting at is that regardless of the standard and area of education, on the rare occasion that we go into a business startup, most of the time it's in the catering trade. I have never heard of a thriving and growing company in the UK where the founder was Chinese.
If we look at the US there are plenty of startups that have since become super giants that aren't to do with catering - YouTube, Yahoo...granted, most are tech based, but at least it's a good step away from a restaurant.
penseggs made several good points about why we are more likelt to resort back to catering than other areas; so would you all say that this country's investors are naturally suppressive towards any startup by a chinese entrepreneur that isn't to do with catering? |
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Luny
Joined: 23 Jun 2007
Posts: 20
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| Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 12:19 pm Post subject: |
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I don't think the lack of successful startups with Chinese founders in the UK is directly related to the issue of being Chinese. Putting the Chinese issue aside for a moment, how many 'super giant' companies can you name that have emerged from the UK recently?
Anyone who wants to start a business in the UK has to overcome lots of red-tape. The US produce lots of qualified 'techies' and it is easier for companies to get investment (there is no equivalent to the NASDAQ in the UK).
Yes, there are a handful of successful Chinese people in US tech companies, but I would guess that this just a reflection of the US being a leader in the technology industry rather than demonstrating that Chinese people in the US have moved away from the hospitality industry.
I would also like to mention that very few people in my circle of BBCs have continued in the hospitality industry. I can only think of 2. |
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burntbread
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 37
Location: London
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| Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 9:24 am Post subject: |
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| Jeff Minter wrote: | Looking back at this topic, I did wonder what I was trying to ask before it veered off course.
What I was getting at is that regardless of the standard and area of education, on the rare occasion that we go into a business startup, most of the time it's in the catering trade. I have never heard of a thriving and growing company in the UK where the founder was Chinese.
If we look at the US there are plenty of startups that have since become super giants that aren't to do with catering - YouTube, Yahoo...granted, most are tech based, but at least it's a good step away from a restaurant.
penseggs made several good points about why we are more likelt to resort back to catering than other areas; so would you all say that this country's investors are naturally suppressive towards any startup by a chinese entrepreneur that isn't to do with catering? |
Well what field do you work in and have you considered starting up your own business?
If not, why not? Do you think being Chinese is an issue for you in this making this decision?
There's no harm in answering your own question. |
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Jeff Minter
Joined: 31 Aug 2006
Posts: 342
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| Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 7:27 pm Post subject: |
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It's constantly on my mind. The only thing stopping me is funding, lack of experience and willing backers. The area I want to go in (hint hint, I'm not telling :)) is a bit small right now, but I suspect it will skyrocket over the next decade. But I've found that investors are very skeptical about backing someone who not only has: no personal funding, no experience, no background (other than academic and what I've worked on), and... yep, an ethnic minority. Of the few I've seen, they just don't see that I'd "fit" into the sector as a leader (since it's currently 99% white at present).
So yes, being Chinese does play a part in preventing me from starting up. Not the only factor, but it was certainly one taken into consideration.
I'm sure there are some ethnically Chinese investors who are willing to hear my proposals, but I'm worried that by "siding" with a chinese looking backer, I'd instantly be excluded from being part of the circle in that industry - less contacts = less chance of business i.e. less money coming in. |
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