Competition cooks up world-class quality
IT looks as though our country’s passion for food is heating up with a heaping of must-try restaurants met with a growing pool of Filipino foodies.
In Metro Manila alone, we have food truck set-ups, regular food bazaars, and four established ‘Eat Streets’ – Maginhawa in Quezon City, Kapitolyo in Pasig, Lilac in Marikina, and Aguirre in Parañaque – serving various cuisines from all parts of the world.
Even in other regions around the country, we find foodie havens like Balay Cena Una in Legazpi City, Labas in Dumaguete City, and Alavar in Zamboanga City.
Now, we have an array of choices to suit any craving. Even our cravings are more sophisticated, ranging from Kapampangan to Mediterranean! This is an example of how increased competition and exposure to worldclass quality can spur innovation to benefit businesses and consumers alike.
More restaurants, locally developed or franchised from abroad, are opening up and driving the quality of the Philippine dining experience forward. Restaurants compete by serving lip-smacking dishes, delivering spot-on service, investing in clever interior design, and building creative branding and marketing strategies.
Take as an example Locavore in Kapitolyo, a hip and modern restaurant that updates classic Filipino dishes to serve up Sizzling Sinigang, Oyster Sisig, and Boneless Lechon Belly.
The restaurant is building a voice online and even stages small events like “Open Mic Night” to attract more clients while maintaining regulars.
Meanwhile, Cibo, an established and well-loved Italian restaurant set up by Filipina Gaita Fores, also gets creative with marketing apart from maintaining the quality of their delicious meals.
During their anniversary last year, Cibo sold their best sellers for original 1997 prices. This year, on their 18th anniversary, they priced some dishes at 18 pesos and partnered with Bantay Bata to offer donations dependent on sales.
Both restaurants, like most, are utilizing social media, building online communities to announce new dishes and promos. Restaurants like these are pushing the bar for quality and creativity while foodies are exposed to an ocean of choices that sharpen preferences and set the bar of expectations.
Customers are even given platforms like Zomato and Looloo to critique and rate restaurants so fellow food enthusiasts can make informed decisions on which new spot to try next.What’s more, in these review sites, local restaurants are rated side by side with foreign food chains.
The realization that there is no stark contrast between restaurants established by Filipinos and those franchised from abroad is encouraging.We may even boldly declare that our distinct Pinoy palates rate locally grown restaurants higher than foreign eateries, fueling our hope for the future of world-class Filipino quality in other sectors.
Our evolving food and restaurant industry serves as affirmation that when Filipinos are given the right mix of training and exposure, they can push the envelop of innovation and delight the world with quality products and services.
Plus, if we take into consideration that specialty courses like culinary studies and hotel and restaurant management are increasingly popular among Filipino youth, we can expect stiffer competition and even better dining experiences in the future.
Driven by superior training, healthy competition, and a mature market, Filipinos will have everything they need to build flourishing and exciting ventures.It is our hope that with the guidance and protection of the Philippine Competition Commission and the Philippine Competition Act of 2015, other business sectors in the countryfollow suit.
Being a people in love with food and flavor, it is no surprise that the food and restaurant industry is leading the way in innovation, entrepreneurship, and world-class quality in the country.
*** What spices up your confidence in Filipino quality goods and services? Share them with us by e-mailing apoliticsofhope@gmail.comor fb.com/BenignoBamAquino, or tune in during Wednesdays, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm, at RMN Manila DZXL on “Status Update.”