Pera ni Juan

If you haven't eaten in one of JT's Manukan Grille people might think of you that you've been in a long hunting trip or even perhaps been to the planet Mars and stayed there for several years. But to the majority I'm pretty sure you have heard or even eaten to this famous spot.
Joel Torre, an award winning actor, owned a roadside restaurant that is known for the famous Bacolod Chicken Inasal. Chicken Inasal is popularized in Bacolod (Joel's hometown) and is known for its special marinated sauce.

The other secret is in the pre-cooking that is why the meat is more tastier. The customers have to wait a little longer for their order but it's worth the wait. Aside from the Chicken Inasal they also served Sinamak (aged palm vinegar dip) and Kansi (Ilonggo Bulalo).

Joel Torre started this business venture in 2003 on a 24 sq.m area along Granada St. (formerly Gilmore) in Q.C., which has only 7 tables. Their capital was less than Php 300,000. After 3 months they were able to recoup their investment. According to Torre it is not only the quality of food that they served but the location also help. The restaurant is located in a busy area which accommodates customers from different walks of life from CEO's to Taxi drivers. JT has expanded two more outlets in Scout Esquerra St., Q.C. and in Malugay St. in Makati.

When they first opened, JT's had 40-50 customers a day. But before they knew it, they were taking in 100 customers daily and that doesn't include the takeouts. Today, JT's serves 500-600 dine-in customers everyday at the main branch alone. Wow! Amazing isn't it?

Here's a tip, if you want to have 500-600 customers a day in your restaurant get a good chef (or cook for that matter). Although Joel Torre grew up with food through his Mom's catering business, he doesn't have the skill and time to do so. So what he did was he got a partner (Cristy) who's her aunt had a very popular restaurant in Bacolod.

If you have cooking skills then you're blessed and you can start anytime you want. But if you're an ordinary guy/girl then you have to attend seminars or you can go to Bacolod look for a good chef and "pirate" him/her. It may sound impolite but that how things go not only in the corporate world but in business as well.

So get a good chef or cook. Get a nice location that has a traffic like an army of ants. Prepare your capitalization (you can loan or borrow if you lack funds). And watch your restaurant grow like Joel Torre. Just don't forget to invite me in your restaurant okay.