Call it fusion café.
A group of enterprising overseas Filipino workers (OFW) here has set up a specialty restaurant with two unique offerings: bibingka, or rice cake, a homegrown Filipino comfort food, and the paratha, a South Asian flatbread, which is a staple among Indian and Pakistani nationals.
As such, Filipinos come to the place to enjoy our very own bibingka and discover paratha while their Indian and Pakistani counterparts indulge themselves in the rice cake, amazed at how it is baked in banana leaf over glowing charcoals.
Daisy G. Calabia, who used to work as a restaurant manager, said they saw a market demand for an eatery serving not only a particular cuisine but a mix of several ones.
This, noting that Dubai, being an international expat city second home to people from over 250 countries, gives everyone an opportunity to explore different food fares.
“Originally,” said Calabia, “ang plan was (to name it) ‘Bibingka House,’ since yun ang main product.”
“Pero after checking the area, (we learned that) ang daming ibang lahi sa paligid. So, naisip namin na palitan yung name para ma-accomodate din sila nang sa gayun ay hindi palaging ang ibang lahi ang nagluluto ng pagkain natin at tayo ang customer.
“Surprisingly, tayong mga Pinoy, bukod sa talagang hinahanap natin ang bibingka, eh mahilig din naman sa paratha. Then yung ibang lahi naman, kumakain din pala sila ng mga kakanin natin. And nakaka-proud pag natitikman nila yung bibingka natin, sinasabi nila na special cake daw po yun,” said Calabia.
Many Filipinos here also enjoy paratha for breakfast or afternoon snacks.
The eatery, which opened on July 19 in Satwa, a workingclass enclave of mostly Filipinos, Indians and Pakistanis in the heart of Dubai, was named, “Bibingka and Paratha Cafeteria.” It seats eight people and, Calabia said, there are plans to set up tables outside and go al fresco in the winter. The cafeteria also serves drinks, including milk teas. It has been enjoying a growing popularity in the community.
Calabia, who hails from Mariveles, Bataan, said she and three other OFWs pooled their resources together for the project. Among her other business partners were Evangeline (Asiyah) M. Monjardin, an architect; and Rubelin F. Zamora, a company human resource officer.
“Since may background na ko sa resto and café, naisip ko na ganun business na rin itayo ko. And, I am so lucky na may nagtiwala at laging nakasuporta,” Calabia said.
She said the cafeteria currently employs four people with plans to hire at least one Indian chef.
“If everything goes well and there’s an opportunity to expand (the cafeteria), why not? Right now, we need to focus on making this flagship store profitable and successful,” Calabia said.
Calabia arrived in Dubai 12 years ago on a visit visa to try her luck in the city.
The cafeteria is an affiliate of League of Food and Beverage Entrepreneurs under the non-government group, Philippine Business Council – Dubai and the Northern Emirates (LFBE-PBC DNE).