JUST two months ago, a couple only served homemade noodles to their neighbors in Mandaue City.
Now, Kirk Noel and Honey Fe Pendejito are planning to expand their food business to accommodate the growing demands of their hungry customers.
Honey Fe said that at first, she only sold batchoy -- a noodle soup made with round noodles, pork organs, crushed pork cracklings, chicken stock, and beef loin -- to their neighbors for P15 each.
The young couple decided to pursue the business, which they started last Nov. 30, after their first customers were satisfied with their noodle soup.
Since then, Batchoy ni Istoy, a stall located in front of the couple’s house on P. Basubas St. in Barangay Tipolo has been attracting new customers.
“Ang style sa kaon kay ‘kaong inato’ lang ba, pang barkada-barkada lang,” Kirk Noel said, describing the simple dining experience they offer.
The couple serves regular batchoy for P35 and special batchoy for P45.
Regular canton noodles are also available for P25; and for an additional P10, customers may top their pansit canton with egg, chicharon, sisig, crab balls, tempura or squid balls.
“Ang kini among Batchoy ni Istoy, sure gyud mi na ma-satisfy mo. Affordable ra gyud ni among batchoy, unlike sa uban. Bahalag gamay ra ug ginansya as long as mag balik-balik sila malipay na mi (We are confident that you’ll be satisfied with our batchoy. It is also very affordable compared to others. We don’t mind about the profit. We are happy if the customers keep coming back),” said Honey Fe.
The 24-year-old mother, whose passion for cooking became a big help to her family, said teamwork is important in overcoming challenges in the business.
“Nag-pray lang ug nagtinabangay lang gyud mi. Then gamit man sad namo ang batchoyan ron kay dag-dag income ba since naa naman si Istoy (We prayed and worked together.
The business is such a big help to us, especially now that we have ‘Istoy’ (eight-month-old son Kaiden Ashton)”, the couple said.
Batchoy ni Istoy now accepts deliveries within Cebu City. For a minimum of five orders, customers must add a P40 delivery fee.
However, if customers wish to have one to three orders only, they will have to add P15 for each order. (Lawrice Glee B. Eltagonde, USC AB Communications Intern)