DishPal shares the joys of good food

WHEN Cherrylyn Casuga went home this year after working in Dubai, UAE, for four years, her main aim was to be together with her family.

Coming from a family who made a comfortable living in the fruit-selling business, Casuga knows what is profitable and what is not.

She admits loving good food but does not know how to cook.

And then she found a business partner who liked cooking and had the business acumen.

"When we were still in Dubai, we (she and her business partner) cook for our friends and let them sample our savory dishes. We also sell food carinderya style," she said.

It was then that they both decided to go home and try out the catering business.

In May this year, Dishpal Food Catering Services started catering to private clients and businesses for luncheons and special events.

Casuga said her business partner attended seminars and trainings in Dubai which helped them a lot.

"When we started, we first went advertised online. We made use of free sites then. The response was good and then our services traveled through word of mouth," she said.

Now they do have a steady stream of clients and the business operates a catering kitchen and specializes in full-service catering and event planning for all types of events not just in the city but in the entire Region 11 as well.

"Mahirap kami when we started. We wanted to launch immediately. But we also had to study the market, so kahit lugi, we made the move," she said.
Casuga said she and her business partner gathered all the utensils, pots and pans that they use for their catering business for two years. Most of the items were purchased in Dubai.

"Food and family are central to our lives and through DishPal, we strive daily to share the importance of creating good food," she said.

Presently, DishPal offers three set menus of: steamed rice, pork, chicken, vegetable or noodles, fresh cut fruits and soft drinks; steamed rice, pork, beef, vegetables or noodles, fresh cut fruits, dessert and soft drinks; and steamed rice, pork or beef, chicken, seafood, salad, vegetables or noodles, fresh cut fruits and soft drinks.

However, Casuga stressed that all their prices and menu are flexible.

"We adjust to the needs of the clients, we also adjust to the budget," she said.

The advantage of a home-based catering service is that the menu and price are flexible.

Taking center stage of their services is the DipMeYo! Chocolate Fountain Package.

"This is a hit for children's parties, our Dipmeyo, DishPal exclusive will surely complete your ultimate desire for chocolates," she said.

The package includes choices of non-fruit dippers like colored marshmallows, Stick-o wafer sticks in chocolate and strawberry, Chocolate cookies, butter cookies, Graham crackers, vanilla wafer sandwich, lady fingers and bread sticks. Choices for fruit dippers include banana, apple, pineapple and melon.

Some of the mouth-watering dishes that DishPal offers are: Beef with Oyster Sauce and Brocolli, Lengua in Brown Sauce, Caldereta, Beef Steak, Beef Asparagus, Beef with Mushroom Gravy Sauce, Cordon Bleu, Chicken Curry, Afritada Chicken Ala Max, Chicken Pastel, Pork Spareribs, Patatim, Humba, Hamonado, Pork Bar-b-que, Pork Strips with Asparagus Strips,
Pork Strips With Hoisin Sauce, Cream Dory with White Sauce,
Shrimp With Lemon Sauce, Sweet and Sour Fish and Tempura with sauce Mixed Seafood with Coconut Milk.

For further inquiries on Dishpal Food Catering Services, you may visit them at 2nd Opal Street, Palm Village, barangay 20-B, Bo. Obrero or contact them at telephone numbers 305-4071, 228-6580, 09327244793 or email address: dishpal@u-swag.com.