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About Us
The latest fast-food craze to hit
Metro Manila has finally arrived! Chickpea Deli, located at the third
level of Robinson’s Galleria, is a haven for foodies and non-foodies
alike who crave something a little more than your typical
burger-and-fries combo meals. They serve great-tasting sandwiches
(called stacks) and wraps with an exotic twist: instead of meat
patties, they are filled with falafels, a Mediterranean dish made of
chickpeas, herbs and spices that taste and feel like meat.
Falafels are a Mediterranean fast food
that serves as a healthier alternative to meat. It is high in folic
acid and in iron-rich proteins, all with no cholesterol or MSG. Anna
Tantuico, who first thought up the idea, says “I remember I would have
these falafel wraps in Europe which were perfect for the tourist like
me. It was something totally new and different, filling and served on
the go. They were healthy and worth every buck! I was so hooked that
not only would I have it everyday, I decided to take the delicacy back
home to the Philippines with me.”
However, don’t let that fool you into
thinking that Chickpea Deli caters solely to a niche market. Not only
did she, along with some of her friends, bring it home for everyone
from the regular Juan de la Cruz to the Filipino smart set to enjoy,
they Filipinized it, adapting it to cater to the distinctly Filipino
palate. “We wanted to give it a little extra bite.” Anna says. “We
know that Filipinos, including myself, like tasty, flavorful foods,
and Chickpea Deli hits that sweet spot just right.”
Their wraps and sandwiches are
homemade, ensuring only the highest level of quality, and are served
in variants ranging from the familiar (honey barbeque, all-american)
to the exotic (Tzatziki, All-spice, mushroom-peanut), appealing to a
broad range of tastes and preferences, all while maintaining its own
distinct flavor. Also, the falafels themselves are served in a variety
of presentations, from balls, to patties, to nuggets. “We wanted the
falafels to be introduced in the Philippines in a way that wasn’t
intimidating or particularly exotic,” explains David, who, along with
Anna, perfected the Chickpea Deli falafel recipe. “We wanted it to be
friendly and familiar. We wanted to avoid being categorized as a niche
thing. What we wanted to do was bring falafels into the mainstream.”
Their food products served fresh and
hot, are the perfect meals-to-go for the active individual going along
his or her daily grind. Their tagline is “Good mood food”, and sure
enough, their offerings are enough to brighten your day whether you
pick up a wrap on the way to or from work, or a stack during your
lunch break. It’s prepared fast enough such that you can grab one
while just passing through, and best of all, come at very affordable
rates, ideal for everyone from families, to students, to young
professionals, and to CEOs. Isabel Jalbuena, one of the founding
members of Chickpea Deli calls it “the ultimate happy food.” She says
that, “It’s good to have a place to run to when you’re craving for
something tasty and filling yet not having to break your diet.”
Chickpea Deli, which was developed by
Fernbelly Inc., is completely owned and operated by a group of senior
BS Management students at the Ateneo de Manila University, namely Anna
Tantuico, Jaime Paraiso, Neil Ching, David del Rosario and Isabel
Jalbuena. It aims to bring healthful food into the mainstream and is
conceptualized as a kiosk-type Quick-Service Outlet which offers
healthy, palatable, and affordable on-the-go food choices.
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The concept was born out of an observation one of the members had
while vacationing in Spain. While in Madrid, Anna discovered a
restaurant which serves falafel wraps and salads ready-to-eat. It had
already met huge success in the international community, and Anna
brought the concept home and, along with a group of friends, localized
it to cater to the Filipino market with the help of the Ateneo de
Manila University’s School of Management Business Accelerator Program.
The program, with its advisor Mr. Armando Miclat, was instituted by
the John Gokongwei School of Management to identify promising and
innovative business ventures, and to help the students who
conceptualized them to bring these business ideas into reality.
Typically, the SOMBA program centers on
products or product lines that are sold through supermarkets, or
grocery stores. Chickpea Deli has the distinction of being the first
service-oriented, direct-to-consumer venture under the SOMBA program.
Isabel adds, “Putting this business together was really exciting
because even we have been waiting for this kind of food. It’s
definitely something that the market was lacking. Now it’s here and
that healthier option is available to everyone. Going the healthy
route shouldn’t be so difficult anymore.”
“We love food,” says Jaime Paraiso.
“And we know that Filipinos love their food. When Anna told us about
the concept, we were really excited. We knew that this was something
that would really ‘click’. Aside from being something new and
innovative, it just really tastes great.”
There is a general consensus in the
group that most healthy food offerings in the market are barely
palatable. Thus, from the onset, the taste was of the highest
priority, and the falafel patty affords this degree of freedom.
“Being health-conscious is often a burden,” says Neil Ching. “We saw
to it that we do away with such a concept. Enjoying yourself while
benefiting your body is what we are all about.”
So how does it fare against
traditional fast-food giants? “Well, it’s not like we want to directly
compete with them,” Jaime says with a smile. “We like to think of
ourselves as quick, not fast, food. Fast food has come to have a
certain connotation attached to it. We don’t want to be associated
with that connotation. Chickpea Deli has no direct competitors.
There’s nothing quite like it in the market.”
Quick food? “Well,” Jaime explains,
“it’s like this. When you hear fast food feels, you think of something
rushed. When people think fast food, they think high-cholesterol,
high-fat, high-sodium, all of that. We don’t want to be associated
with any of those ideas. That’s why we’re quick food. We serve
high-quality, healthy products that are still able to cater to the
needs of the fast-paced Filipino lifestyle. Expedient service doesn’t
mean that you have to compromise on quality, and Chickpea Deli
embodies that idea.”
“It’s a fresh alternative to the usual fast food joints we’ve always been
used to,” says David. “I’d like to think of it as a scrumptious,
guilt- free solution to an empty stomach. I’ve always been looking for
a meal that’s both filling but at the same time makes me feel fit and
confident. ”
Having already tried almost all their
variants of wraps and stacks and yet still finding himself coming back
for more, this author would have to agree.
Chickpea Deli is located at 3nd Level
Robinson’s Galleria, near 50th Avenue and fronting the entrance to
Crowne Plaza Hotel. |
