OLO: Observe Learn Observe. It must contain:
a. What is the business concept; how is it different, unique and how it is delivered to the
customers.
b. What is the innovation / new about the food stall (or A Venue?)
c. Is the business / food stall success or failure? Why or Why not.
Going out with my classmates has never been this fun! Last March 05, 2013, our Tuesday
Entrepreneurship Class had its Food Trip in A. Venue along Makati Avenue in Makati City. This is
quite a mini-team building because we got to know each other more than we expect especially when
it comes to food. We learn that some do not want to eat vegetables, like I do, while others would
want to try everything they can possibly eat under the sun. Moreover, despite our happy bonding
moment, this is also a chance for us to practice OLO: Observe Learn Observe and my learning go
something like this:
“Banchetto” in Makati Avenue
First stop that evening are the stalls inside the A. Venue banchetto. We have tried Vigan
Empanada, Isaw Barbeque, and Roasted Vegetable on Sticks. Definitely, I have nothing to say on the
third choice. J Looking at the Business concepts of the stores found, it’s more of the popular Street
food you can find in the Metro and nearby provinces (if you consider Vigan as nearbyJ). Looking at
the place itself, the location and the set up, their target market as far as I have observed that night
are the foreigners staying in the nearby hotels and condominiums who would like to try something
different and exotic but sumptuous midnight snack. These may be expatriates in different companies
in Makati’s Central Business District or tourists enjoying our humid climate.
Walking and looking at the food offered in the stalls, I must consider that these are mostly
snacks for merienda and very different from viands for heavy dinner that we are accustomed to.
Perhaps, these are considered appetizers or desserts in the courses of the restaurants. Maybe
because there are a lot of restaurants that customers can choose from in the street of Makati Ave,
so if they will offer the same, they may not earn profit at all. What I find unique in this place is that
they are in fact at the heart of their prospect customers and most of their offerings are not in the
“Menu” of the restaurants nearby.
The foods are considered easy to prepare and cook, easy to serve and eat, and at the same
time would definitely not burn a hole in your pocket. Your choices range from Nachos, Breads,
Pasta, Pizza, Roasted and Grilled Pork Chicken or Vegetables, Cakes for dessert and of course the
most popular of all, street foods like Isaw, Betamax, etc. These are served in disposable paper plates
and tray, with disposable spoon and forks as well. White the empanada is simply served inside a
transparent plastic with separate vinegar.
The innovations you can find in these products are the different flavors that vendors are
trying out to serve their customers. More so, the option for the latter to choose whether they want
to be vegetarian on that night or they want to stick out with their carnivorous instinct (this applies
for empanada). The different flavor of sauces and dips add to the well known texture and popular
tastes of the ISAW and Barbeque.
You can enjoy these snacks and chat with your friends al fresco at the tables and chairs set
up under the moon and stars or those under the tents (perhaps, in anticipation of bad weather)
while enjoying the music of your favorite artists or at times with a live band. Lanterns which
decorates the area and are sold separately adds color to the festive ambiance of street food in A.
Venue, which I consider a good touch to feed our eyesight and not just our hungry stomachs. For the
shopaholics out there, mini “Tiangge” was also set up in the area that sells RTW clothes, perfumes,
and so many more.
All in all, I consider this venture a success for all the tenants and the organizers since I can
always see a lot of people enjoying the foods, sights, and sounds they offer every time I pass by the
area from school especially on Friday nights.
“Bona Bona” Korean Restaurant
Second stop in our food trip is our main dinner at a Korean restaurant along Makati Avenue.
Unfortunately, since this is a food trip wherein you should try something different and unusual for
the majority, they have chosen a vegetarian restaurant which made me sad for a moment, little did I
know that they also offer the regular chicken, pork, and beef with rice but we have to try the
common food that our Korean friends enjoy. We ordered Korean Bulgogi, grilled Marinated Beef,
and Grilled Slices of Pork which were served with their popular Kimchi, fresh lettuce, and other
vegetables which I did not bother to ask.
What I don’t like in the restaurant is their not so smokeless grill and perhaps the lack of
ventilation? Or is it because of those grills that I felt warm, uneasy, and thought that the Air
Conditioning Units are broken. But I must give 10 points to the very delicious and flavorful grilled
marinated beef. I did not imagine the simple cutlets of beef will satisfy me for dinner but it surely
did. The Korean bulgogi which tastes like Tokyo Tokyo’s beef mizuno and their grilled porkchop is
just OK for my taste but the beef is just so tasty that I could not forget it. The Tea Water, issomething that I don’t remember, it’s just like water with a tint of tea color with no taste at all.
The set up of the restaurant I must say is very Korean based on my observation with
Koreanovales popularly shown on television stations nationwide. The upright chairs, tables, and
smokeless / smoke full grill at the center is also like those used in popular buffet restaurants like
Yakimix, Tong Yang, etc.
I really cannot judge whether they have innovations on their Menu since I am not Korean,
perhaps they might have changed some of their flavors to attract local customers and not just those
Korean tourists. But since, the beef have satisfied my hunger, I must say this restaurant is worth the
try.
“Goldilocks” for Dessert
Well, what a way to end our dinner with delectable cakes from the very much popular
Goldilocks. We spent the rest of our fund to enjoy two of their best sellers which are Cherry Torte
and Chocolate Mousse cakes and tried their coffees as well. More so, we bought their classic
“Polvoron” to remind us of our childhood days because this is one of the popular “pasalubong”
other than “munchkins” of Dunkin Donuts. Though there is really no dining area in that Goldilocks
branch in A. Venue for a big group of 12, we just made ourselves comfortable with the available
tables and chairs outside which belongs to Dominos Pizza. We enjoyed the rest of the evening
talking everything about the requirements of our Entrepreneurship subject and of course teasing
two of our classmates to get married after graduation.
Well, our budget of 500 that night was well spent and met the requirements of feeding our
hungry stomach, enjoying the night with friends, and learning to practice OLO. J
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