IT seems sprouting of food destinations in the city has become a regular thing. They just suddenly appear, and lo, a new place to go to for foodie hunters. Perhaps, it is one of the things that does happen to cities like ours which continues to be competitive in the economic landscape of the country.
Thus, another food destination opened recently near Divisoria which boasts of a unique and tasty menu.
Owned by Ulysses Tiu and Monica Garcia, The Backyard Grill is the only food shop that serves sizzling spaghetti. Of course, the couple has to bring dishes that always appeal to everyone’s taste buds like sizzling "halang-halang" and sizzling sisig, The Backyard Grill (BYG) located at Marfori Compound is now getting more and more attention both from tourists and locals.
Ulysses is a graphic artist and Monica’s family owns Delecta restaurant. The couple wanted to open either a seafood hub or a resto grill to have a business of their own. They then decided to pursue the latter.
“We started at Centrio’s Mercato de Oro where we sold “Isaw (grilled chicken intestines)” and other grilled favorites with our barkada (friends). It was a group business and then everyone else became busy with work. Since we have a background na, we decided to open a grill which so far, since our opening on July 29 is picking up. So far so good,” Monica said.
‘Social media marketing’
According to the couple, their main marketing tool is through social media.
“We do believe that to make noise, to be a hit in the food market and attract customers, we must offer tasty food and a place that must be ‘Instagrammable,’” Monica said.
By instagramabble, Monica refers to customers taking photos of the food and the place and that they can right away post on their Instagram to trend.
“Nowadays people want to take photos of their food and in places where they eat, so we make it a point to introduce new recipes, innovate and recreate, unique food that they will want to take pictures of.” they added.
The new grill acquired great feedbacks from social media posts and some “so-so” comments on their food.
“Their tocilog never failed me. It makes you want to order another cup of rice. Their tapsilog is A-okay but to be honest, I had quite a difficult time chewing it. I guess they could improve on it a little, but taste-wise it was good,” Pearl Aton said on her blog, The Wandering Dreamer when she featured BYG.
Sporting a massive artsy wall and a brutalist theme which pertains to an aggressive style of rough textured and unfinished materials, the resto grill gives off a cool vibe that blends well with its exposed pipes, wooden blocks and walls filled with sayings. Something that’s new and another ‘must visit’ for the Kagayanons.
‘1st in CdeO: Sizzling Ice Cream’
Another must try at BYG is its sizzling dessert, the first sizzling ice cream in the city and is now becoming a trend in social media sites.
The choco sizzle is made of a chocolate brownie topped with ice cream and chocolate and is served on a sizzling plate.
“She (Monica) bakes cakes and brownies, and one time we tried topping ice cream on it. Then we thought, why not serve it at the grill?” Ulysses said, admitting that they didn’t expect such great feedback.
Currently, the choco sizzle is a bestseller and one of the most ‘instagrammed’ foods in its menu.
Mohanna Bantug also posted photos during her visit at BYG saying she loves its interior and was amused of its choco sizzle.
Most online posts of the grill’s choco sizzle earned reactions of shock, fun, surprise and delight on discovering a new dessert in town.
With prices that don’t empty your pocket and a great location, The Backyard Grill continues to be a fad for students and yuppies.