Prof,
Respectfully Submitting again the Food Trip Assignment. I sent this already last Saturday, but I can't find it on blogspot.
Thank you
Anna Noreen Antoinette Tamayo
March 20, 2013
Last Saturday, our class went on a Food Trip in a location, just around the corner, The Powerplant Mall. It is a mall with a wide variety of shops and food establishments. The restaurants are found in all floors of the mall but, the main bulk is located at the Basement (P1) level of the same. We decided to sample 3 restaurants, with totally different concepts, and took a trip around the world.
BANANA LEAF Restaurant
Our first stop was a trip around Asia, in a restaurant called the Banana Leaf. This was a "themed" establishment which features food from different Asian countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, India, Vietnam, and Indonesia. It's target market would be family's from the mall crowd, and neighboring residential areas. There are also a few groups of friends for lunch.
Banana Leaf is a multi-awarded international restaurant, which serves a wide variety of MODERN signature creations, made with a fusion of authentic ingredients, developed by a roster of international master chefs who were immersed in Asian tradition. The Asian theme is carried out, from entrance to exit. The restaurant ambience was truly Asian from its "over-all look", down to the details of the furniture, the décor, to the Asian Costumes worn by the servers.
The food was delicious. We had the Sambal Tilapia,Banana Leaf Pad Thai, Curry, and Soup. Each dish held a palate of different textures, and tastes, making it clearly a mix of different Asian origins. Their menu had so many choices, you'ld really had to come back to try them all.
The Banana Leaf (Rockwell), is a mall based restaurant with heavy foot traffic. It is located at the ground floor of the Powerplant Mall, 95% of which consists of food vendors. They harbors clients from the schools, offices, and residents of Rockwell, and neighboring communities, plus the patrons of the mall itself. During our visit, which was lunch on a Saturday, they were mostly families.
The Banana Leaf Crew made the experience such an adventure. You are bombarded with warm greetings as you enter, and service is rendered from beginning to end. Of course, cash is a paying choice, but we opted to use the credit card. The price is practical, but not cheap, so, mid-range. The only set back was, since we were a big group, the service was quite slow. It took a while before all orders were set, and even longer for the food to come out. But, I commend the staff for their patience and undying warmth till we exited the establishment. So, it was totally worth the wait.
Though they had made a statement of themselves by using banana leaves as plates, making the experience even more appetizing, to live true to their name, what surprised me is the fact that they serve beer throughout the day. They also now provide complete amenities for special occasions, and offer catering. They are also continuously expanding, opening a new branch in Cebu. Lastly, they have their own promotional marketing, such as discounts for certain credit cards, if used for payment. We grabbed this opportunity, by the way, and got a 15% discount! Good food, great ambience, and a Great Bargain!
Café SUGARHOUSE
Our next stop was a trip to a nearby food establishment, representing our home, the Philippines. We had dessert at Café Sugarhouse. It is known as Manila's premiere cake shop which claims to have championed a tradition of good cakes, pastries, and other delectable dishes for more than 28 years now.
Café Sugarhouse is also a themed food establishment in a way, that it projects a very "homey" vibe. It's very dainty interiors showcase its "feel good" products. Aside from a good place to get something to bring home or buy a food gift, it is a place that would attract families and groups of women who would like to chitchat and people watch in a mall.
Though the servers were not as dressed as the first establishment, they too projected a very "homey" vibe. They were also very warm and welcoming. From the outside, their vast display and attractive packaging instantly attracts you to their store. When you step inside, it's as if you wanna buy everything. They all look yummy! They range from cakes, pastries, preserves, and local "home made" delicacies. After you do your picking, the staff know how to follow through, and offer other products you may want to try.
We tried their famous Double Chocolate Cake and their French Apple Pie. Yes, their food taste as good as they look! Melt in your mouth chocolate cake was my pick, and it was worth more than it was priced. Although I think they have very stiff competition with the Baker's Dozen choices which people would pass first, the brand they have established still overcomes all the other choices, when it comes to cakes and pastries.
We also paid through credit card, though cash is of course a choice, but there was no discount this time.
I discovered that day, that, Sugarhouse, had become Café Sugarhouse. That, they had expanded their menu, as they also offer Classic Comfort Food, such as Ribs, Salpicado, Callos, and Barbecue. This still fits the Homey Theme they are known for. They have also come up with Party packs, and Sugarfree versions of their products. They now, also, accept catering jobs, and have built a Central Food Commissary to enable them to operate in larger scales. In such a small store, they just had so much to offer, with such affordable prices.
DRAFT Gastro-Pub
For a great end to this Food Journey of ours, we head on over to Europe, for after meal snacks and drinks. We headed up two floors to Draft Gastro-Pub. It is sophisticated place to gather and enjoy simple, no frills, European Comfort Food, and wide selection of International Beers, which is available from Breakfast, Lunch, snack time, dinner to after dinner.
Draft is a modern version of a European Pub. It is not as homey, nor as themed as the first two establishments, but it has its own charm. It could be perceived as stiff, but still has some kind of coziness. It could also be misconstrued as a picky establishment - a very adult hang-out, but low and behold, its products are just as good for a family meal.
European Comfort Food is not as familiar as other gastronomic delights. It is not as explored as other cuisines in the Philippines, but this is what will make other market segments come, their Curiosity. We went for appetizers and small bites this time, to match with after meal drinks and coffee. I, personally, love their food. I have a Pub Food Preference. They have immense servings of scrumptuously piquant food. All food choices would be my choice. We tried their fried cheese platter, all three ways of fried cheese enhanced by their own unique dips and sauces. We also tried their spinach and mushroom turnovers. Pretty good too, it was savory with a crunch. Lastly, it wouldn't be complete if you didn't pair this with their Draft beers and Cappuccinos. Perfect combo!
Just as expected, there is a noticeably good amount of foreign patrons. But with a good mix of yuppies, and students from the Ateneo. There are also a lot of groups of friends, and a few tables of families. Their menu is a variation of European Classic Comfort Food such as burgers, steaks, salads, soups, sandwiches, appetizers, snack bites, desserts, beers, beverages, and coffees. The price is on the mid-to high range, just as the ambience dictates.
The look of Draft, from afar, is a sleek modern club, but when seen up close, still represents the making of a traditional European Pub. The look is inviting to a particular target market, specifically the adult social gathering type of groups, but once you've discovered their offerings, you will know to bring your family in to enjoy a good meal.
They have a very strategic location. They are not among the row of food places at the ground floor, but they are at the second floor of the mall. A place that can be seen from outside and has stair access from the outside. Also, their high ceilings, and glass walls, make it attractive and very visible to street traffic. Another great feature is the massive floor to ceiling bar, which occupies one whole wall of the pub.
Draft Gastro-Pub has also expanded their menus and store time for early risers, and added a breakfast menu. They also have steady marketing promotions, an example of which, is an Executive Lunch Menu, with an assortment of choices. "Lunch menu with Lunch prices". They also feature their establishment in Social Networking Sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Here, they feature their best sellers, and, as I visited these sites, I summon up the need to get back to Draft and go on another European Food Trip!
<Should have touched on business concept, differentiation, and busines model; individual submission. Thank you>
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