The uncomplicated goodness of Ellyne’s Mediterranean cuisine

The concept of Mediterranean food has changed over the past two decades. For some, it’s simply food from all those nations bordering the Mediterranean Sea, including southern Europe, northern Africa, and southwest Asia. Meanwhile, other chefs characterized the cuisine as a healthier way of eating as it showcases vegetables and olive oil.

Building a business with patience and diligent planning

So let’s see how this hardworking Pinoy couple decided to interpret this interesting cuisine through their online food business, Ellyne’s. Eduardo Espejo and Elline Damian worked as professional ballet dancers in Spain. After that, Eduardo discovered his interest in cooking. He worked in a restaurant that made him harness those culinary skills. Upon returning here to the Philippines, they both came up with a business idea to put his kitchen skills into use.

As newbies in the food industry, Elline and Damian faced a lot of challenges. They just started operating Ellyne’s around July so they are still adjusting to the new normal. Not to mention, they just started re-adjusting their lifestyle because they had stayed in Spain for a long period.

First, they had to find out where and how they can source out the ingredients and packaging materials for the food presentation they are aiming for. Moreover, the movement of people has been restricted during the stricter quarantine. They have to plan out carefully their market errands to limit their exposure to other people. Aside from that, they really had to calculate for the right pricing of their products to make sure of the balance.

With patience and perseverance, they were able to push through the struggles in opening up the business. And of course, the support from their families is really a big factor. The satisfied and happy reactions of the clients also encourage them to continue Ellyne’s operations.

Elline and Damian learned a lot in the process so they want to share valuable tips for budding entrepreneurs:

“You have to know what you want serve and then practice until you have the best results. Don’t be afraid to seek the help and input of others. We have to be practical but critical, especially since the pandemic is still here. Plan your movement well.”

Dishes from Ellyne’s are simple yet of the best quality and taste

As mentioned, Ellyne is serving classic Mediterranean-inspired dishes. The couple highly recommends the lemon-herb chicken and spaghetti alla bolognese as both are the best-sellers on the menu. Upon trying the fettuccine alla puttanesca, we felt the rich and flavorful sauce tingling our senses. You can really taste the playfulness of the olives and garlic, maybe some herbs in your mouth.

Meanwhile, the grilled salmon is juicy and well-prepared. It’s easy to overcook a salmon as seafood but theirs is just done right. You can even see the grilled marks on the fish so it’s like eating in a restaurant.  The Mediterranean chicken is superb in taste and tenderness. It’s quite filling especially if you eat them with the baked pearl potatoes. But after eating and tasting all those dishes, you won’t feel heavy or lethargic. I guess that’s because they made use of herbs, spices and healthy ingredients like white meat and veggies. It’s far from the feeling of stuffing yourself with fast food products.

Unlike many online food businesses out there, Elline and Damian’s dishes are straightforward as they should be.

They added,” No shortcuts, no pretensions. We believe that is essential for the clients to enjoy whatever dish they have.” Both of them thinks that quality should be the priority to stand out from others.

As a result, their loyal customers raved that their food is something that you cannot easily make at home. Its quality is on par with restaurants and their dishes are delicious and satisfying. The couple prefers to have a small menu to maintain the quality of their offerings. But they mentioned that they have a few things they might want to add soon.

So if you want to inquire or order a special lunch or dinner for a small get-together, you can message Ellyne’s on Facebook. They are located in Novaliches, Quezon City but they offer delivery services like Lalamove, Grab, Mr. Speedy, and others. Note that the customer must shoulder the delivery fee. They accept payments through GCash or  BPI bank transfer. Those who want to order must at least give them 48 hours lead time.

Dive into the Mediterranean cuisine and treat your loved ones with a hearty meal from Ellyne’s!