Perhaps it would appear odd that a blog site on things VFM or value-for-money would have an image of croutons in its header.
Well, one family dining experience triggered it for me-- all because of an extra order of croutons, specifically its price on the food check.
On one of those weekend family eat-outs to celebrate an achievement of one of my daughters in school, I agreed to try out a restaurant somewhere at The Fort in Bonifacio Global City. My youngest daughter decided to be adventurous and ordered cheese fondue.
The cheese fondue came with toasted croutons, similar to the ones in the image above (shot by Amber Anderson). When the few pieces of croutons were already consumed, I asked for extra croutons from our food attendant. The surprise came when I later asked for the check. I was charged Ps 80.00 for the extra croutons. With the 12% VAT and 10% service charge applied, the effective cost of the extra croutons reached Ps 97.60.
Now, in a country like our Philippines-- where one can buy a branded loaf of wheat bread for less than Ps 60.00-- paying Ps 97.60 for a few pieces of diced, toasted bread is not my idea of VFM.
I will not use this blog to disparage any business, instead I will use the memory of those extra croutons to write on goods and services that to me represent value-for-money.
This blog is intended for all parents and individuals who want to get the most out of their honestly earned income in every way possible. The topics I will take up are basically serendipitous in nature-- I will post in my blog shortly after I have had a first-hand experience from which I can draw insights.
To my blog readers, I also invite you to share your own experiences in searching and "finding VFM." I hope you agree with me that each find will be a memorable adventure.
GERRY SIQUIJOR
