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!