My Saturday as a Smorgasburg Vendor OR How I Stumbled into a Second Career

Last Christmas I gifted my co-workers with some of my homemade granola — a mixture of  oats, groats dried fruit (apricots, golden raisins, dried cherries and more), sunflower seeds, chopped almonds, walnuts and sweetened with a hint of maple syrup and honey. I’d just started making it as a hobby. They devoured it and asked me for more. One of the partners at the restaurant where I work (I’m a manager at Blue Ribbon Sushi) wanted to sell it, so we collaborated, and voila! My own line of Granola.

After only a few months, it made the Best of New York. This was fast turning into a second career!

I finally gave it a name — Dailola, a combination of my two rescue dogs’ names, Dailo and Lola (you’ve seen their photos here on this very website) — and a portion of the proceeds is donated to New Spirit Australian Shepherd Rescue. And now, every Saturday, I sell my granola at Smorgasburg in Williamsburg, Brooklyn’s 100-vendor food fest. Somehow, in addition to my day job, I manage to squeeze in baking, packaging, shopping, creating and getting ready to sell at the festival. It’s quite an undertaking, but it’s entirely fun. Here are a few snapshots of how it all comes together….

Around 7 a.m. I drive over to Smorgasburg to secure a parking spot. That’s key.

Smartly, Teresa parks her car early early in the morning near the Smorgasburg site so she can easily move  her goods in.
(Photo: TueNight)

I fuel up at Blue Bottle Coffee with barista Rachel.

First, a fuel up at Blue Bottle Coffee.
(Photo: TueNight)

My friend and neighbor Beth and I haul many pounds of sand that will be used to weigh down my canopy. We had a slew of sandbags leftover from Hurricane Sandy in storage at our building.

Teresa and friend Beth cart up buckets of sand and supplies for the tent.
(Photo: TueNight)

I’m often one of the first vendors on site!

Which means she is often one of the first folks on site.
(Photo: TueNight)

Beth and I start to unload at my spot. It takes a few trips to get everything that I need from the truck, as well as the table and chairs that I rent onsite.

(Photo: TueNight)
(Photo: TueNight)

Setting up the tent is no joke — it takes at least two people. And it helps if you’re tall.

(Photo: TueNight)
(Photo: TueNight)

Set up and awaiting customers.

Set up and awaiting customers.
(Photo: TueNight)

Giving the spiel and giving out samples.

Like these two.
(Photo: TueNight)

One taste of Dailola Granola and folks are pretty much sold.

One taste of Dailola Granola and folks are pretty much sold.
(Photo: TueNight)

Dealing with the people can be exhausting! This looks like the hour where people are full from eating, so I slow down a little.

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(Photo: TueNight)

The day ends at 6pm and we pack up just like we loaded in. Here I am with another vendor, Yukimi of Momo Dressing. I love the camaraderie we sellers share.

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(Photo: TueNight)

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  1. Editor’s Note: Take a Bite | Tue Night

    […] We go on location to Smorgasburg with Teresa Misagal. […]

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