A Thought Over Coffee

Starbucks Closing Updates

2008-07-18T14:58:00.000-07:00

Starbucks has finally released the complete list of store closings to the public. Those that were holding their breath about their "favorite place on earth" closing can now breathe again.

In the spirit of coffee news for Oklahoma, I have posted in the final results for the Oklahoma stores. You can view the entire list via .pdf here.

13302 MAIN & WAYNE 1610 N MAIN ST ALTUS OK

13415 HWY 66 & COUNTRY CLUB 1100 S LYNN RIGGS BLVD CLAREMORE OK

11285 29TH & LINDA 4755 SE 29TH ST DEL CITY OK

11858 DANFORTH & SANTA FE 2015 W DANFORTH RD EDMOND OK

13459 15TH & SANTA FE 2141 W 15TH ST EDMOND OK

13720 SHERIDAN & GORE 1204 NW SHERIDAN RD LAWTON OK

11542 HWY 69 & COMANCHE 427 S GEORGE NIGH EXPY MCALESTER OK

13541 SHAWNEE & 6TH 591 W SHAWNEE MUSKOGEE OK

11144 122ND & PENNSYLVANIA 12124 N PENNSYLVANIA AVE OKLAHOMA CITY OK

11543 MEMORIAL & MAY 3131 W MEMORIAL OKLAHOMA CITY OK

13324 BROADWAY EXTENSION & BRITTON 125 W BRITTON RD OKLAHOMA CITY OK

14093 WESTERN & 89TH 9201 S WERN AVE OKLAHOMA CITY OK

13721 14TH & BRADLEY 2400 N 14TH ST PONCA CITY OK

11287 HWY 62 & MEADOW CREEK 1702 S MUSKOGEE AVE TAHLEQUAH OK

11936 81ST & MINGO 9524 E 81ST ST TULSA OK

Acutally, I'm a bit surprised that there are this many closing in Okahoma. It seems that many of these just opened and are already being cut. I guess there are going to be even more new buildings for lease now as Starbucks was in the process of building quite a few new locations.

I have been watching the location at 23rd and Penn (in front of Ace Hardware) for sometime and after they finished the exterior, parking lots and landscaping - they stopped. I'm guess this one is gone before birth.

I know many people are going to be upset by all of this but I can assure you that this is not the end of coffee in Oklahoma just as it was not the beginning. Need a list of great local coffee places to get your daily espresso? Comment below and I will give you some places to try!

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, Starbucks

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CoffeeFest Seattle 2008

2008-07-17T08:59:00.000-07:00

CoffeeFest Seattle is just around the corner and we have never been more excited! It feels more like a homecoming this year than anything else but a week of great coffee and friends is never far from the top of my list of great times. While I will be talking much more about the show as it gets even closer and of course will be "live blogging" again as I have for the past several years, I wanted to talk a bit about what we are looking forward to.

We plan on spending more time hanging out and watching the Milrock Free Pour Latte Art Competition. While I am not quite ready to compete myself, I love the idea and really want to take it all in this year. I mean, after watching the USBC and the WBC on USTream, how could you not be addicted!

I also am interested in completing the International Academy of Specialty Coffee certification testing that happens every year at Coffee Fest. This IASC Certificate is not an all mighty need but something that I think will be fun and worth the few dollars it will take to complete. I have a few questions about it still but that is something I am excited about for this year.

There are also a few classes that caught my eye. Here is a list of ones that I will probably attend. I will talk about them in more detail later. For now, just a list!

Exploring Models Beyond Fair Trade, Is there a brighter future for the Coffee Farmer?

How to Develop Sustainable Direct Trade Relationships

Movie - Strong Coffee - The Story of Café Feminino

Coffee Retail Bookkeeping & P & L Analysis

Free Press: How to Land Articles in Local & National Publications

Espresso or Coffee? Know the Difference

Long list I guess. Those are just some of the classes that look interesting at this point. This list may change but for now, that is what I have my eye on.

I love this time of year!

You can look at a complete schedule of events and classes here. Keep checking back as sometimes they add things before the show.

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, CHANGE!

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Live Blogging + Oklahoma Food Operators Certification Program

2008-07-16T08:14:00.000-07:00

Part 4:Hey, after all this time we finally got to the "mobile food part. Of course, we pretty much skipped right over it. I think we may have spent at least 37 seconds on it or something.

Now I feel complete!

Our instructor did say we should get out of here before 6. That would be nice.

We just had a section about equipment and layout design. While I understand the importance of ergonomics and design in the kitchen, I am still figuring out why we needed to talk about that when it comes to sanitation. Who knows.

I just want to pull espresso.

Part 3: We are on another break - holy smokes. We are learning all about storage - dry, cold and chemical, temperatures of food, cooling and cooking processes and more. I tell you what, we are on page 123 of our book and it is so much information! I have just been trying my best to get all the information I need about the products I use - milk.

So, I ended up having a cappuccino from 1st Edition on the way back up to lunch. When he first began making it, I was thinking - you got to be kidding! It sounded like he stretched my milk for 3 minutes and never let it really get velvety and smooth. I could not tell about the espresso as the machine was loud and in a spot that did not allow me to watch.

I got the drink and was actually surprised at how like and smooth it looked. I sipped some of the foam and it was nice and sweet. I guess you should not judge a book by it's cover! ...or should you?

The milk was great but then I got a mouthful of espresso. Wow. Bitter, tangy, stout and not very good. Unfortunate!

More in a bit...

Part 2: Lunch time now so I thought it would be good to try out 1st Edition Cafe and Espresso Bar located in the new library. Why not? I have been meaning to do this for quite some time now but, as I have already admitted to, I am not much of the library goer - yet anyway!

I walked in at a good time as about 15 people followed me. I opted for The Odyssey sandwich, chips and a drink. After about 10 or so minutes, I finally got my sandwich - somehow after two ladies who ordered after me.

I probably should have had coffee but I have had Neighbors Coffee before and...well...I went with an iced tea. The group does use Rancillo machines and grinders which do a fine job. Maybe next time I will try it out. I wonder what Starbucks would call a 10oz drink like what 1st Edition offers?

45 minutes until class begins again....

Part 1: Here I sit in a class telling me all about food service regulations and safety. The class is being put on by the Downtown College Consortium at the new Downtown Oklahoma City Library. There are about 30 or so people in this room as we read through two textbooks provided with our $125.00 course fee:

Book 1: Chapter 257 - Food Service Establishment Regulations
Book 2: Food Safety Fundamentals (updated to the 2003 Suppliment to the 2001 FDA Food Code

What a class. I think the best part of this whole deal so far is being in the new Library. It is a very cool place. I sorta feel that I should have been here before as it is a good place to get information. But, this is my first time and I am impressed so far!

The class began promptly (10 min late) and is being taught by a sanitation expert - Pam Brummit, MA, RD/LD (not sure what the letters mean behind her name).

This is part one of day one. Only 16 hours left in this course (over the next 2 meetings).
...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, FSO class

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Oklahoma Bridal Show | July 27th, 2008

2008-07-15T14:13:00.000-07:00

Bridal shows are a major part of what we do at Cafe Evoke Catering. As you may have guessed, weddings and all activities related are a big business for any caterer and coffee catering in particular.

The third wedding show since we have moved to Oklahoma City will be taking place on July 27th at Coles Garden. Here is the flyer from our friends at OkBride.com - the folks putting this event on:

If you are getting married, thinking about getting married or planning your friends wedding, this would be a great time to come out and see what the story is in the Oklahoma wedding industry. I would advise bringing your checkbook and credit card and planning your entire event while you are there.

I cannot speak for other wedding professionals in our industry but I can for Cafe Evoke Catering. We will be giving some crazy discounts and specials and the only way to get into the fun is to attend! Come one guys (literally) - while your fiances do their "shopping" you can come hang out with Evoke, drink some coffee and have the chance to put in your two sense - it is your day as well!

We look forward to seeing everyone there.

Comment on this page or send this to a friend if you are planning on attending. We will have a little party at the show for all that want to be a part of Evoke!

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, Oklahoma Bridal Show

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Cafe Evoke Catering + New Photos!

2008-07-09T13:18:00.000-07:00

Thanks to our friend Samantha Olson, Cafe Evoke Catering now has images to use for ads and on the web! The shoot went down at our friends place - 611 Creative in Downtown OKC. It was alot of work but way worth it.

We set up almost everything we had - both set ups (the cart and machines on the counter), cold drinks, syrups, airpots and had a chance to even pull a few. We did not have a chance to use the granita machine for the shoot or the brewer due to time but we think we got enough to last us awhile.

I put together a video clip of the shoot. Check it out!

We have been putting these videos together for the past month or so of events we have images of. It is a cool way to look at photos we think. You can now keep up with all of Cafe Evoke Catering's events and images not only on our website but also on YouTube!

Thanks for the support so far. We have some great new ads and banners coming soon so be on the look out!

By the way, if you are in need of photos for anything - product (like ours), wedding, engagement, community event, baby, family, band, or just for the hell of it, give Sam a call or visit her MySpace page for more information. She is seriously one of the best you will work with - trust us.

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, samantha olson!

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Featured Vendor + Special Events Oklahoma (.com)

2008-07-08T05:28:00.000-07:00

We are back in Oklahoma City after a great weekend in Steamboat Springs, CO. I will quickly say that I was overall impressed with the coffee culture of this Colorado ski town. Even with the drinks that I may have been a bit harsh on, I enjoyed talking to everyone I met there and would go back to each of them next time I get to Steamboat. Thanks to those that are there that welcomed us!

Now, it is back to business. I think it was good to step away from it for a few days but it feels good to sit down and start working again.

For the month of July, Cafe Evoke Catering is a featured vendor at Special Events Okahoma! You can read our article in the Experts Corner of the site.

We are excited to be one of the featured vendors for the month of July. Special Events Oklahoma is doing a great job getting the word out of events going on around our state as well as giving event planners of all kinds the tools they need to make their event a success.

From budget planning to a resource directory, Special Events Oklahoma is your place to get started!

Take a look at the feature and let us know what you think!

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke catering, Oklahoma City, coffee catering, Special Events Oklahoma

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Travelin', Sippin', Bloggin' + Amante in Steamboat Springs, CO

2008-07-05T09:08:00.000-07:00

I was looking forward to this place before I even got here. Amante Coffee actually has three locations - the newest being in Steamboat. It actually reminds me of what, say, Cafe Illy would do - very traditional style with a mix of corporate and trendy design.

The first thing you will notice is the branding. The ceramic cups and saucers are all branded with red AMANTE and the rest of the store follows suit. The mix of media within the place is nice - concrete floors, large garage door that opens onto a side patio, the red Marzocco FB/70 (it appears) with red and white branded coffee in front, mix of table types and seating ares and a full bar to compliment.

The place feels good.

I have had a chance to come here on 3 occasions over the past 2 days and I have mostly enjoyed it. My first Americano was just ok. The espresso did not taste very unique. With light and shallow crema, the espresso tasted flat. I went back and had a cappuccino and it was everything I had been expecting since I got here. Sweet, smooth and elegant. Micro foam was great and I enjoyed every sip. My last cappuccino (I'm drinking it as I type) was a mix between my first two. The espresso seemed a bit tired and the milk was more frothy than my last. I still enjoyed it but not to the extent I did the first time.

I am not sure what the barista culture is here at Amante. They all seem to know what they are doing and also have been trained well but I do not see the flare or excitement from them that I would expect in a place like this.

It is Saturday morning and the crowd has been consistent since I got here. That makes me happy. I love to see people coming in and getting their espresso drinks before heading out for the day. The crowd seems to be getting cappuccinos and coffee mostly - a nice change from the normal mocha orders I hear in Oklahoma City. Nothing is wrong with Mochas but it is interesting to see the culture difference being back in the mountains of Colorado.

This is our last day in Steamboat and we plan to hang out and enjoy it before returning to work. It has been a good trip and we had some good and bad coffee while we were here. I may have one or two more posts coming about coffee in Steamboat Springs, CO in a day or two. I have a few other pieces of business to blog about coming up so stay tuned!

I hope everyone had a safe and happy 4th.

Cheers.

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke, coffee catering, steamboat springs, amante

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Travelin', Sippin', Bloggin' + Spill The Beans in Steamboat Springs, CO

2008-07-04T12:37:00.000-07:00

Day number 2 of our Steamboat Springs hang out weekend. We have had a nice time so far and everyone has been friendly.

Happy 4th of July

We had a chance to head downtown to watch the parade. It was long! It was cool to see all the people and I am always one for community events around any town - mountain towns are the best though.

I am sitting in Spill the Beans doing some work and taking a break from walking the streets. I was excited to try it out, especially after the comment that was left for me a few days ago:

By far the best is Spill the Beans, located on 13th st across from the Art Depot (old train depot). I like the fair-trade thing and the coffee & espressos are the best in town. I also play acoustic guitar there during the First Friday Artwalk (each month) , so if you are in town stop by…

I will tell you that when I walked in, the place took me by surprise. I was expecting a bit of a trendy, more coffee house flavor but found it to be more of a small place with only a few tables and a couch - more like walking into someone's living room. There were a few people hanging around and there was a bit of retail available for purchase.

Here is a bit about them from their site:

From its meager beginnings in an 8x10 foot shed in front of a grocery store in 1998 (with no heat, plumbing ... or floor, for that matter!), to a full-fledged espresso bar in 2004, Spill the Beans has always been committed to serving the finest gourmet specialty, organic, fair trade and shade grown coffees available. At our new location at 1051 13th Street, Spill the Beans is still the locally owned, owner-operated coffee shop you've come to know and love. We pride ourselves on getting to know our customers, their likes and dislikes, and being able to accommodate any special needs. It's the personal touch found nowhere else in Steamboat Springs. And with a mind-boggling menu of lattes and cappuccinos, including as many as fifteen sugar-free flavors, we offer a plethora of alternatives to that plain, vanilla latte you've been ordering! We also serve organic teas and tisanes, a variety of hot chocolates, and flavored whipped cream that is to-die-for! In the summer, beat the heat with your own custom-made Italian soda (mix up to 4 flavors!) or an ice-cold smoothie. And be sure to try one of our fresh-baked scones, muffins or breakfast biscuits! Check back often, as we continue to add to our menu.

I was taken back a bit by the open stock room doors - made the place seem a bit messy but put that aside as it was a slow afternoon after the parade and the place was getting ready for the art walk that is to happen tonight.

I ordered a cappuccino and luckily caught her before she put it in a huge 16 oz cup. I would have preferred to have it "for here" but again had to have it in paper. No problem. I, again, was asked if I wanted it "wet", "dry", or in between. I asked for the later.

Again, not overly impressed. The shot was way off (super fast) and the milk was clumpy. I try not to hold judgment on one drink but that is all I have to go on at this point. I may need to give it another try before we leave. I think just cleaning up the place (grinder, shot glasses, steaming pitcher, etc) would help with flavor.

The people at the place were friendly and great and I know they care about what they are doing. They do have breakfast menu and it is probably a great place to spend a relaxing afternoon.

Great work to the group for participating in the area art walks. We love it! We wish them luck.

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke, coffee catering, steamboat springs, steaming bean coffee co

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Travelin', Sippin', Bloggin' + Steaming Bean Coffee Co in Steamboat Springs, CO

2008-07-03T08:32:00.000-07:00

We finally got to Steamboat, Colorado yesterday as Jenni gracefully steered us to our condos. It was nice to be back in the mountains - very nice actually. Driving through Denver on and getting back up to the cool sweet air was a relief.

So, we found ourselves downtown this morning and looking for espresso. I talked about several shops I found online a few days ago and set out to find them. We actually ended up stopping at a different place however - Steaming Bean Coffee Co.. Here is a bit about them I found on their site:

We are a dedicated band of coffee professionals in business since 1991 bringing you Smoked European style slow roasted coffees shipped fresh from the roaster to your door. We bring you 45 years' combined experience in coffee growing, importing, classifying and roasting to ensure you receive only the best quality beans roasted to perfection. Our retail locations in South West Colorado serve over a thousand people a day who swear we have the best coffee they've ever tasted!

Compare our quality/price combination, it's hard to beat. Here's some of the ways we do it differently.

It looks like the place is new to Steamboat as on their site, it is not listed.

The place was in a pretty cool location although construction makes it a bit of a mess. Serving off a La Marzocco, the place seemed to have a good vibe and a nice crowd on hand. I ordered a cappuccino - hoping for a 7 or 8 oz drink "for here" but got a 12 oz "to go" cup that was half full. I was asked if I wanted it "wet" or "dry" and I asked them for something as velvety smooth as they could get. Here is what I got:

Jenni and her brother both got lattes and said they were good. The espresso was pretty nice but the milk left something to be desired - at least for me. The texture was just to clumpy.

So, one place down and more to come.

I love being back here. People are friendly, walking around and talking about their days over coffee - a great welcome to Evoke so far.

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke, coffee catering, steamboat springs, steaming bean coffee co

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Even Milk is Going Green!

2008-07-01T05:37:00.000-07:00

For many coffee companies, Cafe Evoke Catering included, the milk carton is something we become very fond of. There are many ways we have seen milk - gallon jugs, half gallon jugs, cardboard cartons, glass - now square?

Jenni sent me a link to an article yesterday by the New York Times's Stephanie Rosenbloom talking about the new milk jug.

The new "jugs" are square with a flat top (no real pour spout) with rigid sides. A few of the main reasons for coming up with this? Shipping, packing and storage.

A simple change to the design of the gallon milk jug, adopted by Wal-Mart and Costco, seems made for the times. The jugs are cheaper to ship and better for the environment, the milk is fresher when it arrives in stores, and it costs less.

It seems, however, that people do not like change! While I gather that it may be difficult to learn to pour and will cause you to take a double take once it is in your frig, it doesn't seem all bad. Maybe I should try and use one before really talking.

There are rants everywhere on the web about it but some (like the one I just mentioned) seem to be understanding the new system and are more concerned with how the new jugs are being packaged together at one of the stores that adopted the new style.

(image credit to sustainable goods) Sustainable Goods wrote a piece about the product as well. It seems this product has been "on the market" since about 1998 while staying fairly localized to the OH region of the US. The company responsible for the design and packaging of the new jugs is Creative Edge, a division of Superior Dairy in Canton, Ohio. You can read a full profile of the company at Packaging Digest.

I am excited to try the new jugs out. It will be interesting to see how this will change how we do business on the coffee catering side of things. We have several things to worry about with this new design. Mainly transport (in coolers)and cleanliness (we serve coffee drinks in people's living rooms).

There are several other things I like about the idea other than the packaging and environmental stuff. I like the fact that the milk is fresher. From what I have read, the stores involved with the new milk jug are saying the milk arrives more often and stays fresh much longer than in the past. I am all in for fresher milk!

All in all, I like the idea. I am going to hold off any in depth review until I have had a chance to try the milk out in person and on my own. Maybe I will go to one of those classes Costco is offering!

...be bold

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cafe evoke news + vol. 2

2008-06-28T20:52:00.000-07:00

Our newsletter is out so in case you have not signed up yet to get it directly, here it is! Jenni is great, huh? Sweet...

Summer seems to have come early here in Oklahoma; with temperatures reaching into the high eighties and nineties almost every day. Add to that the unusual (at least I'm told its unusual) 25+ mile per hour winds, (that make it almost impossible to walk outside let alone do anything active, like ride a bike) and you have an unpleasant start to a very long summer. Evoke seems to be facing its own headwinds of sorts as we battle customers perception of coffee and summertime. In this volume we will look at our new summer products, or rather a twist on an old classic, and our tribute to an ancient British tradition.

What is summer without Lemonade and Ice Tea?

I have to be honest, I don't like ice tea, but Jason LOVES it, as do many people in the South. I do, however, think that lemonade always tastes better during the summer. Knowing this we decided to try and take a new look at the classic drinks of summertime. We will now be serving delicious ice tea and lemonade with a hint of one of our all natural flavors. Try one of our specialties like a Jack Sparrow (lemonade, raspberry and mango) or Berry Berry (lemonade, blackberry and strawberry). Its a great way to cool off at any party this summer.

Tea Time!

As we enter the wedding season, by default we are also getting ready for all the showers thrown before the vows are exchanged. The most popular theme we have been hearing about lately for bridal/wedding and baby showers are tea parties - a time to gather at a local tea room just for the fun of it. The traditional British tea party exudes feminine charm and makes us feel like little girls again, if just for the afternoon. With this in mind we are giving our hostesses an opportunity to bring the tea party to their homes. With your Evoke Tea Party you will receive a variety of Fair Trade and Organic teas from Choice Tea company , classic white ceramic cups and saucers, and a tea server to serve you and your guests during your event.

Granita

What's this granita we are talking about? We are glad you asked! Granita is a frozen drink made of up flavored iced - similar to a margarita or slushy. Most people prefer granita with a fruit flavor like Strawberry, Raspberry, Cherry or Blueberry to name a few. It is a perfect addition to that summer party you have been planning. With 15 flavors to choose from (more if you get creative), Granita is sure to be a huge hit at your next event.

While you are in the mood for summer, please give us a call or contact through our website and request a copy of our all new summer menu! We are excited to bring it to you and think you will be pleased with the options we have put together. We are also offering an amazing 40% off any party during the month of July!

There is one more thing we wanted to pass along to you this month. That is our all new referral program! Here is how it works:

1. Book Cafe Evoke Catering for your next event
2. Complete payment/contracts and have your party wrapped up
3. Tell everyone you know about our products and services
4. Be sure your friends call us to book their next event (giving us your name as the referral credit)
5. We will send you and a friend to our friends at Coco Flow for coffee and desserts - on us!

It is so simple!

That sums up the happenings in windblown Oklahoma. We hope all is well with you and yours and that your summer is gearing up to be fabulous. If you have any questions or comments about the new services please let us know, we would love to hear from you.

Sincerely,

Jenni

Useful and Related Links:
Cafe Evoke Catering - Official Site of Cafe Evoke Catering
Batdord and Bronson Coffee Roasters - the hottest coffee roaster on the planet
A Thought Over Coffee - Jason Duncan's (Evoke's lead barista) blog
SCAA - our industry's governing body

...be bold

Contact Us!

Cafe Evoke Catering Office
2536 NW 12th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73107

p. (405) 517-0517
e. Catering@CafeEvoke.com
or on the web

We hope you enjoyed this edition of our newsletter. It will would be a good thing for you to sign up as we will begin putting in our specials for each month and talk about new and upcoming stuff. You are luck to see the special for July! Take advantage of it!

Good Saturday evening to you.

...be bold

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Dancing with the Oklahoma Tax Commission

2008-06-26T11:40:00.000-07:00

Before we get started, please watch this short video clip. Remember, "silence is golden" in the theater..

Get it? Good. Ok, now back to business. For the past few days, Cafe Evoke Coffee Catering has been doing a bit of a tango with the Oklahoma Tax Commission. They are all great over at that place - I should say now - and they did their best to help us out. But....

When we first moved to Oklahoma, I was a good entrepreneur and called state and federal offices to be sure we were up to code and ready for business in Oklahoma. Things have been pretty smooth but the sales tax thing has been a challenge. See, in the state of Montana, we did not have to worry about this which was nice. Now we do.

I called and talked with Jason at the Commission and was told that, if we were charging our customers for a service and paying full retail + tax for our milk and other supplies, we did not have to apply for a permit or pass along tax to our customer. Great! I was excited.

Well, I decided I should get back on the phone again just to be sure and found out that we do in fact need to charge sales tax, maybe. Here is what our conversation looked liked:

Services are not taxable in this state which is what we provide but our services are. So, services are taxable? No, but yours are. Ok, so why do I not pay for the service of a mechanic fixing my car? Services are not taxable. What is the difference? The big difference is that your service involves food. So services are taxable?...... See my tango?

Here is what the "book of rules" says about Caterers in Oklahoma:

Part 5. "C"

710:65-19-40. Caterers

(a) The term "caterer" means a person engaged in the business of preparing or serving meals, food, and drinks without regard to whether the service is at the caterer's place of business, the customer's location, or some other location, usually for a specified price for a specific menu or offering, but not off a menu to the public. The term does not include wait persons hired directly by a caterer's customer, whether hired by the hour, by the day, or for the event

(b) Sales tax must be collected, reported and remitted on all charges made by caterers for serving meals, food, and drinks, inclusive of charges for food, the use of dishes, silverware, glasses, chairs, tables, etc.,used in connection with serving meals, and for the labor of serving meals. Sales tax must be collected, reported and remitted on charges made by caterers for the rental of dishes, silverware, glasses, etc., even though no food is provided or served by the caterers in connection with such rental.

[Source: Amended at 15 Ok Reg 2827, eff 6-25-98]

The part that requires caterers in Oklahoma to charge sales tax on the service aspect of the business is this:

"...for the labor of serving meals."

(I know I know, coffee is not a meal) So, I'm glad we got through all of that. It took about a week for the Commission to even figure it all out so I do not feel to bad about not totally understanding things. That being said, there is now quite a bit of work ahead for me as I figure out sales tax per city that we cater in - Luther, Oklahoma City, Edmond, Norman, More, El Reno, etc.

This does put us now as an exempt company and we do not have to pay sales tax on our material which is nice because it will allow us a chance to lower our prices and also include tax without making our services much more for our customers. So, we will need to begin rethinking our prices and making sure all things are covered and our customers are not out to much in the end.

Thanks to Amy at the Commission for taking care of this for me. She did a great job and communicated well - a trait I wish all in government and business did better.

My feet hurt...

...be bold

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Coffee and Espresso in Steamboat Springs, Colorado

2008-06-25T14:06:00.000-07:00

I am heading with Jenni (my wife) "home" to Steamboat Springs, CO for the 4th of July weekend. Yes, I am going to take a few days away from Cafe Evoke Coffee Catering to relax and get back to the mountains. In a way, it feels more like home being back in the mountains. Of course, the first thing I think of is...."what are we going to do about getting good coffee and espresso?"

Well, we got a condo on the mountain to stay in for 4 nights and it has a kitchen so I will be packing along my french press and some coffee by my friends at Batdorf and Bronson to enjoy while we are there. In fact, I could take our little machine and grinder with us - we are driving you know! Ok, maybe overkill....

I did some checking online to see what the coffee story was in Steamboat.

I found quite the list of "coffee" places in the town. I have to use that term loosely due to a few names that I know are not quite what I am talking about. I did see some places that look pretty interesting:

Amante Coffee actually has three locations - the newest being in Steamboat. The rest of them are in Boulder, CO. Here is a bit from their website:

Amante coffee is some of the finest coffee you will find anywhere. We can make this claim because all of our beans are custom-roasted by the Ghigo family in the classic Northern Italian tradition. From generation to generation, the Ghigo's have handed down the secrets of selecting, roasting and blending the world's finest coffee beans. Already served at over a thousand top cafés and restaurants in its homeland, this gourmet coffee is now available for the first time ever in America. Amante is proud to bring you this authentic taste of Italy.

I'm anxious to get a taste for myself! I know of other groups that roast in Italy - our friends at Caffe D'arte and I know how great there stuff is. We will have to see if this stacks up!

Spill The Beans is a place that "started in a little hut in 1998. Since then, they have come a long way. They serve Fair Trade and Organic coffees and it seems they also have fresh baked goods and an assortment of other items on their menu.

Spill the Beans is also a venue for the First Friday Art Walks that go on in town. We will be there on a Friday so we may try to get that in as well. It looks like a homely place.

Steamboat Coffee Roasters' website is under construction so I do not know much about the place. The name makes it sound interesting and it is someplace we will have to go in to find out I guess. Anyone been here?

We will have to get there quickly in the day to enjoy any espresso from Gondola Joe's. As far as I can tell, this place is owned by the resort of Steamboat Springs. It is opened from 8:00 to 1:30 pm so this is not a night place that is for sure. I guess this will be good if we decide to spend some time up on the hill. I am not even sure if they are opened in the summer - a just assume they are.

There are a few more that look interesting...

GG's Coffee Shop in Hayden, CO (not far from Steamboat)

Geeks Garage is an Internet cafe but it says they serve Lavazza - makes me nervous.

Off the Beaten Path is a bookstore/coffee shop. I have been here before and they seem to do a pretty good job. I'm excited to see how things are going there now.

Steaming Bean Coffee

So, it looks like there is a fair enough amount of coffee and espresso in Steamboat. I am sure there is more than I what I just mentioned so we will see. If you have been to Steamboat and know of something I missed or have more information on one of the above, let me know! Maybe this post will help someone else in the future as well.

I will also be posting from Steamboat so stay tuned for some traveling fun with Cafe Evoke!

...be bold

A Few Quick Links..

2008-06-24T14:42:00.001-07:00

Sorry for the lack of content over the past few days. Things have been busy...

I wanted to let everyone know that I uploaded some great new photos from an event last Saturday. This event was not only fun but was a great chance to try out our new menu items! Cool deal.

Also, if you are in to environmental issues (which no one should answer no to) - my good friend John Sutter with the Daily Oklahoman has been posting a great series on the Oklahoma Drought over on the blog he is a writer for - GoGreen. Great look into the past and the problems that still persist. Be sure to watch the video!

In final news, congrats to Stephen Morrissey on winning the World Barista Championship! I got to watch it on USTream.tv which was great. For great photos and commentary, check out the blog over at Barista Magazine! Thanks guys.

I should have more tomorrow. Peace.

...be bold

A Better Presence

2008-06-19T11:28:00.000-07:00

In an effort to better position Cafe Evoke and Cafe Evoke Catering in our market, we planned a photo shoot with the ever great Sam Olson at 611 Creative in Oklahoma City. We are super excited to get this shoot underway as it will allow us to create ads, banners and images for the website that really fit what we are about. Here is a bit about the shoot.

Shots Expecting
There are several different shots that we need to get taken during the shoot. Here is quick list:

1. Product - these series will be mainly of our product - coffee, espresso, latte art shots, syrups, teas, etc. Anything that we serve will be featured in this set

2. Equipment - this will be featuring all of our equipment - from brewers to espresso bars. We need this for many reason but we hope to have pictures for our info kits so that clients have an idea of what they will be getter

3. Action - Batistas pulling shots. Simple and sweet

4. Head Shots - this is for the band side of us! Ah, a Cafe Evoke Band? No, really. We have been lucky enough to get some press lately (for a separate post later on) and we need to be able to have photos to send to the publishers. We want our pretty faces in the news you know! This set will be short and sweet and will feature the people who work with us and also Jenni and I.

We are trying to set the bar for coffee catering - not only in Oklahoma but in the US. To get there, we have make a presence for our selves. To get the idea across that coffee and espresso is art, we need an artistic photo shoot that really lets the images speak for Cafe Evoke Catering.

We have one chance to impress our clients - the first impression. Having photos and ads that do not meet up to our expectation or design will not cut it. We want people to see our images and know they are working with the best.

I will have much more on this the first part of July. This is just another way we are solving this puzzle! Presence in our industry. Presence in our Community. A premier specialty coffee catering company.

...be bold

A Referral Worth Dessert

2008-06-17T13:58:00.000-07:00

We love our customers - ones that have used us several times, ones that have used us once, ones that invited us to the casino or bar afterwards, ones that think we have better espresso drinks than Starbucks, ones that like our latte art, ones that like to help us pack up, ones that leave good tips, ones that order 5 iced mochas with whipped cream....

..but ones that really stand out in our heads are those that tell their friends! So, in honor of all of those friends that do tell everyone about Cafe Evoke Catering - Oklahoma's premier specialty coffee catering company - we have finally launched our referral program and it is sweet!

I really wanted to use "awesome" or "fantastic" but, well, "sweet" just works so much better and on so many levels! Cafe Evoke Catering wants to buy all of our friends who refer us to a new client dessert and coffee for two to Coco Flow in Oklahoma City. What a great deal!

It is pretty simple, really. I will explain it all:

Why it Works:
At Cafe Evoke Catering, our ultimate goals are clear and straight forward -

1. To bring the best in specialty coffee and espresso to events all across Oklahoma and
2. Exceed our clients expectations in service, quality and production.

We know that our customers will talk. We understand that they will talk about our services whether it was great or the worst they have ever had so we have to make the best impression we can. If you love something, you are sure to talk about it and we want to harness that and also tell our customers "thanks" for taking the time to mention us to their friends - people they trust us to serve.

We also understand that it takes a lot for a person to put their recommendation on the line. We can assure each of our clients that if they recommend us, their friends will get the same 5 star treatment they received at their own event.

How it Works
Past clients are all eligible for this program - from now on! All that has to happen is for our clients to tell their friends and family about Cafe Evoke Catering and how we helped make their event a success. Once their friends and family give us a call and book Cafe Evoke Catering for their own wedding reception, rehearsal dinner, birthday party, office meeting, bridal shower, afternoon tea or just for the fun of it the referrer will be on their way to desserts for two at Coco Flow! So simple!

We are basically trying to make our clients part of our family - booking events, telling Oklahoma about specialty coffee and spreading our word! I have talked often about word of mouth marketing and that is what we are really trying to embrace right now. We have tried print ads and info kits but have found that the best way to reach our market is by having people talk about us.

I will begin tracking results and will post to let you know how things are going sometime down the road. I am sure there are many other things we can come up with that follow the same path as this and we will find them. I think this may be part of that puzzle of "f's I was talking about the other day. We are still working towards the solution but feel that we are cutting away at it!

We have one other thing to talk about soon that goes along with our attempts at solving the puzzle. I will talk more about it in a week or two when I have the details nailed down.

Let me know what you think and if you have other suggestions!

...be bold

The History of Cafe Evoke (Part 6)

2008-06-13T13:42:00.000-07:00

This is a multi-part series discussing the history of Cafe Evoke -- from the time I started this blog to today. The posts are rather long which is why I am breaking them up into several parts.

With part six comes the final part of the History of Cafe Evoke. It will be short but will catch you up with today.

This is Part 6 of a multi part series we are calling The History of Cafe Evoke. You can find other editions here: 1, 2, 3, 4, an 5. Remember, these are quick highlights from the past 4 years. There are many more great posts in the archives if you ever get bored.

Also, if you have questions about what we were thinking, doing or hoping for or over anything I have mentioned, please leave a comment and we will answer everything you ask!

The end of January came quickly for us in 2007. We took a trip to Africa for New Years and Christmas which took up most of the time. When we got back, we decided it was time to set our goals and plans for Q1 - really trying to make an effort to organize and understand our marketing, our business and how we were going to measure success.

Reaching our customers was a big highlight for us so we designed customer info kits, began working with a customer management system to help us track each customer and sales lead and began working on a newsletter to keep people connected with Cafe Evoke Catering.

At this point, the focus of our company was catering. That was it.

In March of 2007, we wanted to re-focus Cafe Evoke Catering after realizing that we were behind our projections for the year - already. While I was not to nervous, it was not uplifting either.

In April, we had an unexpected surge of activity with the coffee house. We were again excited by the chance to have the opportunity to serve our community the best in specialty coffee and espresso drinks. In fact, we had this opportunity as well. So, with our two business leads, we began racing to see if they would turn out.

May, June, July and August were slow around this place. Very slow. I lost touch with the blog and did not keep it going like I had in the past. But, when I came back to blogging, I was happy to inform everyone that we had broken even - two months straight! That was cause for excitement I assure you. Unfortunately, the excitement did not last long.

By October, 2007, we began the process of realizing that we may have to execute an exit strategy - something we knew would have to happan at some point but not a mere 2 years into our adventure! We thought it would be years in business when peopel would be sad to see us go. Sometimes things do not go according to written plan. This is when we really began looking to other markets - Nashville, Denver, Oklahoma City, Seattle, Portland, Tulsa, Dallas the list went on.

Oklahoma City began to take form as being a great place to call home for our company. There were many reasons why the fit would be good for us but we still had to look more. We planned a trip to Oklahoma City from Bozeman Montana to check it out in person. We decided that we would go ahead and take all of our gear with us so we loaded up the trailer and began the 1,300 mile winter trek.

We kept very busy while we were in Oklahoma City catering 7 or so parties - 2 more than we had booked before we left.

I officially announced our move to Oklahoma City on February 1st. Our final event was on February 9th, 2008 with our great friends at the Museum of the Rockies. It was sad to have to say goodbye to our friends of such a short time but we knew that we had to make the decisions that we did. I arrived in OKC on February 15th and tried to begin making it home.

It was tough to see Bozeman in the rear view - even harder than I had expected more because I felt like my first try at this business failed but more importantly, I was leaving "home" for a place that the future was not planned.

We have been very busy since getting to Oklahoma. We have had great press and got off to a great start. We are working hard to make Cafe Evoke Catering Oklahoma's premier specialty coffee catering company. This time, however, we have shoes we have to match up to in two other coffee catering companies close by.

We have felt the warm welcome to our new home and plan to make the most of it. I thank you for following this blog and I hope that you will continue with us on this journey of growing Cafe Evoke Catering and maybe evening opening Cafe Evoke - the coffee house.

In conclusion..

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke, coffee catering, coffee, espresso, tea, oklahoma, oklahoma city

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...be bold

What is the answer to this puzzle?

2008-06-12T11:55:00.001-07:00

We have been working almost 3 years on Cafe Evoke Catering. With each month that goes by, we find ourselves wondering what we are missing. What is that one thing that will push this idea over the top? That one thing that will allow Cafe Evoke Catering to stand on the mountain of coffee caterers as being an asset to our industry, our niche and most importantly our community?

We know that the idea of a coffee catering business is a great one. We have seen other companies take it and run with it. And, as I have talked about before, what is more specialty than specialty coffee catering?

There is this little brain teaser that has been haunting me lately. It is one of those that you know the answer is right there you just can't get to it. If you have not tried this, here is your chance to really understand what I am talking about. In the below text, how many "F's" do you see?

FINISHED FILES ARE THE RE-
SULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTIF-
IC STUDY COMBINED WITH
THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS.

I have taken this quiz before and even knew the answer but time and time again, I come up with the wrong one! That is what we are talking about!

We know that the answer to the formula for a successful coffee catering company - dedicated to being a leader in the specialty coffee industry - is right in front of us. We just need to focus in and find out what it is.

Is it new package options? Is it a new way to promote the business? Is it a different way of thinking about coffee catering entirely? New marketing material? New ways of naming our packages? A street team? What??

So, in the coming weeks, we will set out to try and figure this out. I say this like we will have the correct answer - we won't. It will be trail and error. It will be market tests and research. One way or another, we will beat this teaser and realize that the correct answer is 6 F's in the puzzle - every time!

...be bold

Cafe Evoke in Oklahoma City

2008-06-11T07:42:00.000-07:00

We have been in the process of trying to get Cafe Evoke Catering up and running on it's own to allow us time and space to begin creating the all new Cafe Evoke (the coffee house). This has not been going quite as quickly as planned and we are now feeling behind the ball on both operations.

It is tough going, really. As you have been reading in our series on The History of Cafe Evoke over the past few days, we had our "ducks in a nice straight row" when it came to the business planning side of Cafe Evoke. We knew what to look for, we knew what we could "afford", and we knew where our money was going to come from at least at the beginning. Now, we are not so sure.

Let me stop here a second to be clear - we are not worried about our ability to get back into business shape. I think the main thing was just to realize that we are not in a position anymore to pull the trigger on a location and getting things going that we were while in Bozeman, Montana.

Here are the important things that we must get through before even beginning to step forward:

1. We have to get to know Oklahoma City - We have been doing this since the day we got here and it is something that will not stop. We are meeting as many people as possible, getting to know local businesses, community events and people that call this area home.

This also means getting to know the area that we want to call home to Cafe Evoke. We need and want to learn about what makes these areas thrive, what people in the area are looking for and what we can do to make the area an even better place to be.

2. Where will our financing come from? - This is always a question we have to answer but it is even more different now than it was 3 years ago. Before, we had our own money to put down towards getting Cafe Evoke up and going. We had a plan for getting the rest so it was not a huge deal when the first two banks said no. Many things have changed since then however as we decided to open Cafe Evoke Catering - using the money we had to put against Cafe Evoke.

There are many great places to start when trying to answer this questions about where the money will come from. Now, we really need to get started in putting a plan together to gather the funds that we will need to get our dream opened.

3. Who is Cafe Evoke? - Yes, we are still answering this one. Businesses seem to make their own name for themselves. We have to let Cafe Evoke be what Cafe Evoke is. What do we mean here?

Menu Design

Space Layout

Equipment Choices

Staffing Needs

Hours

etc.

There are so many things that will come together once the menu is finalized. We have to really have a handle on what Cafe Evoke will be before we can even begin to put things together on a space. Once the menu is in place we can begin to understand what equipment we will need, what type of space will work, what we can afford to pay for the space and so on.

Really, all this to say that we have a lot of foundation work to get done pronto. We did look at a space today that we think could be a great place to call home but the realization that we are not in a liquid position to act on it yet is frustrating and whiplashing.

Work needs to be done and that is our goal for now.

More on the History of Cafe Evoke tomorrow.

...be bold

The History of Cafe Evoke (Part 5)

2008-06-10T06:16:00.000-07:00

This is a multi-part series discussing the history of Cafe Evoke -- from the time I started this blog to today. The posts are rather long which is why I am breaking them up into several parts.

I hope these posts have given you some background for our company and this blog. I am trying to space them out a bit so that it does not get "dry" and hard to follow.

This is Part 5 of a multi part series we are calling The History of Cafe Evoke. You can find other editions here: 1, 2, 3, and 4. Remember, these are quick highlights from the past 4 years. There are many more great posts in the archives if you ever get bored. Also, if you have questions about what we were thinking, doing or hoping for or over anything I have mentioned, please leave a comment and we will answer everything you ask!

So, at this point. Cafe Evoke Coffee Catering is on the map and pulling espresso. We had lots of problems getting business insurance for our company which took up quite a bit of time. We finally got that taken care of by our great new friends at State Farm Insurance. The rest of June consisted of marketing, farmers markets, and business planning.

Things got pretty slow for Cafe Evoke (the coffee house) through the summer. By September, we were only watching one commercial space and that was a pretty long shot at that point. Cafe Evoke Catering was moving along and we spent some time creating a formal written plan focusing on the catering operation alone. The new catering plan was completed the first part of October, 2006 and we felt that the foundation was set for that aspect of our business.

I then began getting emails from big coffee companies asking that I try out their new coffee lines and post a review. I did several of them over the course of the next few months.

November threw us a curve ball. We had to deal with the rough Bozeman winter and how that interacts with coffee equipment in a trailer. Let me tell you - cold wins. Our equipment froze in our trailer for the first time and we knew we had to do something to solve our problem. That started what ended up being a years worth of headache with the equipment company and service crew. We did end up getting it all fixed up and found a great place to pull it indoors each day to keep it clean, dry and at room temperature.

We also had a chance in November to get the trailer decked out in Cafe Evoke Catering attire and by the end of December, we were planning our booth for two upcoming bridal fairs.

Things were moving for Cafe Evoke Catering by the end of 2006 but the coffee house somewhat took a back seat as we worked to market and plan and nurture this niched catering operation.

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke, coffee catering, coffee, espresso, tea, oklahoma, oklahoma city

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A Weekend at the "River"

2008-06-09T07:09:00.000-07:00

We had a fun time this weekend hanging out at the Oklahoma River Fest. I can say, however, that it was a bit breezy - and by breezy I mean gale force winds enough to blow beer out of your cup. Seriously.

We strolled on down to the Oklahoma River on Saturday to try and watch the end of the dragon boat challenge but ended up only being able to catch the river show - "highlights of the RiverShow include barefoot skiing, wakeboarding, jet ski aerials, swivel ski and air chair demonstrations." The group was from Florida with one rider from Edmond, Oklahoma. It was fun to watch although they had to cut some of the events short due to super high wind and choppy water.

What we were really excited about for the weekend was the river ride. They did this ride last year but this year, it was bigger and better. The crew at Wheeler Dealer did a great job with the event and the addition of the 30 mile ride was great. The group at Evoke Cycling headed down to the event. Again, it was super windy but we decided to do it anyway. There were a great number of people there and the way North was relaxing and pleasant. The ride back South to the boathouse? Not as relaxing as we rode into a 20 or so mile per hour headwind.

We got back and really enjoyed the event. Speaking of Evoke Cycling, that is an up-and-coming bike club in Oklahoma City. We are in the process of making it a bit more official so stay tuned for that. It will be a club that will participate in community events such as this but also go out and do more. While we are going to be mostly recreational riders, we are hoping to gain membership by racers that want to join the crits and other events around our area under our name. Let me know if you are interested in joining in on the fun.

Thanks again to everyone that made the RiverFest possible. It was great and I hope to see more in the future!

...be bold

The History of Cafe Evoke (Part 4)

2008-06-05T06:50:00.000-07:00

This is a multi-part series discussing the history of Cafe Evoke -- from the time I started this blog to today. The posts are rather long which is why I am breaking them up into several parts.

Let's get back to it on this windy Oklahoma Thursday. This is Part 4 of a multi part series we are calling The History of Cafe Evoke. You can find other editions here: 1, 2 and 3. Remember, these are quick highlights from the past 4 years. There are many more great posts in the archives if you ever get bored. Also, if you have questions about what we were thinking, doing or hoping for or over anything I have mentioned, please leave a comment and we will answer everything you ask!

Let's back up a bit. Many of you are now familiar with Cafe Evoke Catering - Oklahoma's premier specialty coffee catering company. Well, the idea was planted in march of 2006 for Evoke Catering to be Montana's premier specialty coffee catering company. There were many reasons to start the catering operation but I think the main reason was because we feel that what is more specialty in coffee service than setting up a full blown shop in someones living room?

We had to begin changing a few things on our website and with our logos to reflect Cafe Evoke Catering. We also had to begin getting paper work in order with the city and state and learn what it means to be a caterer. This was tough because coffee caterers (at the time) were very new and unprecedented for many health departments. As you know, these guys do not like change, new stuff or having to figure out how you fit in to an already confusing tangle of rules and regulations.

By the end of March, we released our logos for the catering company. Simple, clean, and to the point.

Purchasing equipment and conducing research for the cafe began to run hand in hand. For the first time, we were beginning to feel like stuff was happening. We had to learn how to juggle getting our cafe started while at the same time launching our new business - Cafe Evoke Catering. The Catering operation began to take the upper hand with a long list of to-do's that had to be completed.

By the end of April, things were really moving! We had the trailer and our cart and things felt good. While we knew we had a long way to go, having equipment in hand seemed to make everything feel real - finally.

The beginning of May brought about the final details - the nitty gritty stuff for Cafe Evoke Catering. We had a TON to do - pricing and event details, equipment installation and prep for our first event on May 22nd, 2006.

By the end of May, Cafe Evoke Catering was running smoothly and we were happy with the progress we had made.

...be bold

Tagged: cafe evoke, coffee catering, coffee, espresso, tea, oklahoma, oklahoma city

The Global Exchange Fair Trade Store is your Online Source for Socially Conscious Gifts

Our Perfect Wedding Guide Ad

2008-06-04T08:33:00.000-07:00

Here is the ad I was talking about earlier. Thought I would share it!

...be bold

A Quick Side Trip

2008-06-03T06:16:00.000-07:00

Just a quick side trip today from the series I have been written so profoundly named The History of Cafe Evoke. I hope that the series is not to mundane and that those of you who missed the past 4 years of this blog are having a chance to get caught up - at least a bit.

Going through this blog has been like going through old yearbooks. You know the feeling. You read notes that made so much sense at the time of authorship that now seem simple and out of touch. You see pictures of times that bring back crazy memories - even as specific as what song you listened to during the event. I'm telling you, it is good to get back to your roots sometimes. But then again...

So, quickly, a bit about what we are up to right now. There are a few major thing we need to get in order going forward. The main thing, get my laptop fixed. We are about to embark on a few projects where having a viewable screen will be handy. I will talk more about that once we wrap up the History series.

We also just rolled out an all new Summer Menu for Cafe Evoke Catering. It will be sent out with this month's newsletter so if you have not had a chance to sign up, please do so! We would love to keep you up to date on things that have been going on!

Also, keep an eye out for our upcoming advertisement to be in Central Oklahoma's Perfect Wedding Guide. Cafe Evoke Catering is currently the featured wedding professional on the site.

So, there will be a lot of fun stuff coming up probably by the end of this week that we want to tell you about. News from the entire Cafe Evoke family will be shared as we pave the way to our future in our new community - Oklahoma City!

Thanks again for reading this blog. Your comments/questions/answers/complaints are always welcome via email or by using the comment section.

...be bold

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