E-Royce Chocolates

How sweet it is to be loved by you! Hubby is never been so sweet, not until today - he introduced me to ROYCE' Nama Chocolates. I tried the champagne flavor.

Here are some of the things I enjoyed and loooove with e-royce or royce' chocolates.

The packaging. It is wrapped carefully withiIce gel  pack to ensure that it reaches your home to its original texture.

My expectations on its taste increment. I can't wait to have a bite.

The taste and texture.

This reminds me of my grandma's home made cocoa balls. Plus the mouse like chocolate inside. The unsweetened chocolate powder coating and soft chocolate that can melt in your mouth - it is heavenly.

Lastly and most importantly, my sweet chocolate critic gave it TWO Thumbs up!

I almost forgot, Happy 5th year of marriage honey! This year is a blast :)


Should you wish to try, three branches now in PH yey!

http://www.e-royce.com/english/outlets_ph.html

10 tips in renovating your commercial space

Hey Pips! I been busy these past few days. CJ will soon turn 1, it deserves some new look. The 3 to 4 times in a week trip to MC Home depot, wilcon and others are pretty exhausting. Here's a few things to consider in renovating your commercial space:

1.Ask your self, is it necessary? Me, in my case the vinyl tiles took us ages to clean, so Yes.
2. Do you have the budget? It is a very important starting point to protect your rolling capital and gave you the baseline and scope as well.
3. Itemize the changes you intend to do. This can help you with your schedule and possible downtime with your store operations.
4.Create your "renovation plan". Start and end dates are crucial.
5. Look for your skilled workers through friends recommendations. Discuss, negotiate if needed. Mine, I requested that the job are done at night and part of the work is to set the store as biz as usual the following day and that would last for 6 days the most. Very important: monitor the works.

6. Purchase all necessary raw materials beforehand and in batch. Most stores charge 600 and up for delivery

, it can help you save. Or take advantage of the stores that offer Free delivery. But watch out for the TAG price. SHOP AROUND, compare and choose the ones that has more value.

7. Stick to your plan and budget but be flexible in making necessary adjustments too. Be ready for some unexpected things (eg. your water pipe is hit during the renovation)
8. I just discovered that individual stores within MC home depot in Ortigas are usually of Cheaper price than that of MC home or wilcon.

9. Though wilcon offers convenience to your purchasing - FREE Delivery!!

10. Use cards (credit) or Debit perks on your purchase if the price using cash offers no difference.

:-)

Food handlers Training presentation

It very important that your staff are aware of the things that are expected from them. I have given emphasis on the food safety of my guests.

Follow the link below on the presentations I made as we induct our new food handlers.

Cafe Juana Food Handling Guide

Jamie CHAP CHAE cravings

Jamie CHAP CHAE cravings

Jamie just turned four. Apart from her 10 days countdown to her birthday is to have Mommy cooked Chap Chae on her day. Where did she get this idea? O well, she tasted the yummy Chap Chae of Tita Vio, my friend and colleague. Since then, she got an addition to his PANCIT (Noodle) favorite dishes. And by the way, she calls it "Pancit ni Tita Vio".

So here is my own version. (Compliments to Vio for the tips)


Chap Chae (Jap Chae) Recipe

Ingredients:

Korean Glass Noodle (250 grams)
Shitake Mushroom (1 cup, Sliced)
Brown Sugar (5 tbsp)
Soy sauce (5 tbsp)
Sesame Oil (3 tbp)
Canola Oil (5 tsp)
Baby Spinach (1 cup)
Carrots (2 medium size, julienned)
Green Capsicum
Garlic
Sweet Onions
Thin slices of Beef (250 kg)
Toated Sesame seed (for garnishing)


Preparations:
Soak glass noodle overnight in water


1. Saute' all spices, mushrooms and vegetables between 2 to 4 minutes and set aside.
2. Separately simmer the beef strips until tender and set aside.
3. Using the same pan/wok add 8 cups of water, soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil - mix and bring to boil. Pour in noodles and cook it for 5 minutes or until done.
4. Mix vegetable and noodle all together, add ground pepper and salt to taste.
5. Garnish with sesame seed. Share and enjoy!!!

Cafe' Juana Chap Chae

Creating the main product and knowing the target market

Starting up Cafe' Juana is the most exciting and equally challenging. As I am experimenting with what particular product to market, I am so lost and overwhelmed as to whom should I market

The main product

I focused on Bicol region delicacies - these are laing (taro leaves) dishes cooked in rich gata (coconut milk). There are several ways in cooking taro leaves, one is the most common which simply "laing" with anchovies, pork or tuna fish. Another is dried taro leaves slow cooked with more gata. Last but not the least, my personal favorite: the pinangat na laing - this would require a little more effort comparing with the first two dishes. This require bigger sizes of gabi leaves for wrapping purposes. Venus Raj (yes, Miss Universe 4rth runner up) was delighted seeing this dish is being served here. She said that she misses her Mama ( For this kind of dish is probably in certain, her mom can cook authentic bicol dish like this).

The Target Market

The daily traffic in the cafe area are usually condo residents, professionals from nearby offices, Supermarket Crews, Tricycle, cab drivers and other interesting people in the neighborhood. Who amongst them would appreciate the Pinoy dining concept? Who amongst them are more challenging guests? After a few months of experimenting it turned out the the less likely to pay reasonable price are the more demanding and unlikely to please. Thus the regular customer we serve on a daily basis are those who know exactly the market fair prices of commodities, the ones who sees the value for their money and most importantly those who's able to grasp the passion we put in to this dream of an affordable daily servings of Filipino home cooking in the neighborhood!
 

Anything extra ordinary will make a customer happy, special and into thinking

As to some of you already know, I started a small cafe in our place. This is my venue to study, experiment, discover my market and meet new interesting people in the neighborhood.

We are in front of a supermarket, thus my first few guests are those working there. Here are some priceless reactions I got.

Guest 1 ordered coffee costs 12 pesos. I place it in a nice transparent coffee mug with a tiny free cookie. The guest's face beamed looking at the glass mug and inquired: "Ate libre ba tung biskwit?" I smiled and said yes. He said, "Wow! Swerte at ang sosyal ko ha".

Guest 2 ordered one laing (Taro leaves cooked in coconut oil). No drinks. And so I served his food and gave him a glass of free mineral water with mint leaves. He inquired "Ah eh, ma'am what are these (pointing to the mint leaves)? And so I answered him with a smile. And he said: "me ganun pala"

And there are more wonderful reaction and comments! That warmth, welcoming and appreciations from guests inspired me more to dream BIG and make Filipino fine dining a reality soon!

The Pinoy Fine Dining Concept

The Pinoy Fine Dining Concept is a long time dream of mine. Having few experiences of dining out locally and outside the country truly an inspiration. Thinking - what if these experiences are collated and incorporated the idea to our very own Filipino food in a fine dining setup? Not bad.

First category - Selection of ALL STAR FILIPINO FOOD

My husband named it Pinoy ALL Stars. It sounds like a basketball league but he is referring to all best food of each region. It is common to our culture to eat, enjoy and share it with our love ones. Filipinos are usually good cook. It is our second nature, inherited skills not to mention the priced family recipes being passed on to generations. Our food are not limited to just Filipino recipes period. As we  go all through out the Phillippines - each province has their own special cuisine. And you'll be surprised, it is indeed special! Making these available under one roof will surely make all our kababayan happier and to compensate the feeling of missing your moms, nanays, lolas, tiya, inangs, manangs home cooked food!

Second category - A fine-dining-feel like presentation.

Being the best food from each region rightfully deserves high class handling and presentation. Imagine yourself... had this reservation of one table in this cozy restaurant Juana. Food crews are well mannered and trained. You are falling in love of the mood it is trying to communicate. There are lighted candle and centerpieces. The bread starter came in just in time. You opted of not ordering drinks for their free water is already special!


Third category - Affordable Price

We all love best food, ambiance and lovely presentation! These all three elements made us happy. But the ones taking the bill will not seem to enjoy it at all! Because it is usually expensive. The ambiance is indeed expensive!

Here is my dream for you:

You are receiving a minimum daily wage salary but dreamed of celebrating your wedding anniversary with your beautiful wife. You can set aside your one day pay and have the best date you ever wish for.

You who misses your mama's home cooking, you can have that as a daily servings.

For you who simply won't settle for less when it comes to taste and also frugal at the same time.

Welcome!


Excited? And so am I!