Chickpea paradise

I’m guilty of the occasional junk food binge. At this age, who isn’t? When you’re in college and you hardly have the time to sit down and eat, let alone breathe, how do you get from Point A to Point B on a full stomach and a happy heart? Another equally important question to ask is: How do you not feel bad about what you just ate when all your spare time can afford is junk, junk and — oh, wait! — more junk. Can we spell C-A-L-O-R-I-E-S? There is no easy way to affect a marriage between healthy options and those sinful delights. More often than not, one has to suffer. Thankfully, a bunch of my friends and college mates have made possible the extraordinary: fast, fragrant and filling to the brim. Keep those falafels frying. Meet David del Rosario, Belli, Jalbuena, Anna Tantuico, Jaime Paraiso, and Neil Ching, incorporators of my newest guilty pleasure, Chickpea Deli.

Philippine STAR: How did this whole idea come about?

Anna Tantuico: When I was in Europe, there was this place we’d always eat in, which attracted a lot of tourists. They’d serve something similar to what we’re serving now. Basically a no-meat wrap that was perfect for the man on the go. So we decided to bring it back here to Manila.

How were you able to pursue this idea of yours?

Tantuico: Through SOMBA, or the School of Management Business Accelerator in the Ateneo. It’s a program that accepts senior students who want to go into business and cultivates their concepts and ideas for long-term practice. They call it the “business incubator” and we have an adviser who we report to every week regarding the business.

How is SOMBA different from the other enterprises generated by your fellow students?

Tantuico: For the management course in Ateneo, the thesis is really a business. But the difference between that and SOMBA is that the SOMBA businesses have more potential for growth. They’re the ones that are really supposed to continue on after college. Also you have to qualify to take part in the SOMBA program, which also doubles as a minor.

As college students, is it particularly difficult to put up a business on your own?

Tantuico: Well syempre it’s hard ‘cause we still have school to worry about. It’s hard to concentrate on the business aspect alone and it’s very, very challenging. We also have our futures to keep in mind. It’s like we were put into the real world a year earlier. It’s hard but it’s worth it and we get to take away a bunch of learning experiences.

Let’s talk about the food. What are your bestsellers here in Chickpea Deli?

Tantuico: Our bestsellers are the Honey Barbecue Wrap and the White Cheese Wrap. The Honey Barbecue is more to the Filipino taste because it’s sweet. We’re used to that ‘cause of Jollibee and all of that. And the White Cheese is more gourmet ‘cause there’s a lot of herbs and spices that Filipinos are somewhat familiar with. And the Garlic Aoli salad is really good. It’s like a vinaigrette-ish type of salad.

How is Chickpea Deli different from the other Mediterranean places out there?

Tantuico:: Well, our patties are authentically Mediterra-nean but it’s really the sauces that bring out the Filipino taste. So parang you get a taste of both worlds. The falafels are really supposed to be meatballs, but we made it into burger patties so our market will be more familiar with it. Chickpea Deli is the first falafel stand of its kind.

What’s the price range of your menu and is it affordable for regular students?

Tantuico: Yeah, I mean, for a mall, it’s very affordable. Considering that most meals out there would cost about P100 plus, our wraps are somewhere between P70 to P80. And everything is really filling. The patty is made of chickpeas so it’s heavy on the stomach but still very healthy. The taste alone is worth the price.

Business-wise, where do you see Chickpea Deli in the Filipino market?

Tantuico: Well, we hope to have a chain of Chickpea Deli stands across the country someday and possibly expand our menu and go into food development. We don’t think that this is just a trend that will die down. Chickpea Deli is something we’ve all been waiting for and it’s definitely a healthier alternative to most places out there. Good-mood food and pleasure in a brown paper bag.

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Chickpea Deli is located at 3/F East Wing, Robinson’s Galleria, above Gold’s Gym.

Catch you breath and let me know what you think at imcalledtoffee@mac.com.