Sunday, January 15, 2012

extremely loud & incredibly close

La Bodega Team Lunch - this event was awhile back, but I’d like to document it for the sake of my failing memory :) Both of the Baz & Tex team did very well for the BTS set-up event during the end of November. Thus, Juan Carlos decides to bring us out, to treat us and to celebrate the opening of the event together. However, towards the end of the race, the downside was that the sales for the BTS event did not pick up to our level of expectation. There is definitely a strong sense of sadness, finality and mixed feelings in the air among the team members. But that’s retail. That’s life. Ups & downs. The market is slow, rivalry have been intense, execution at the merchandise & the store level have been poor…but it’s something that we will take note and to fine-tune for this year BTS. We have to see & realize our own strengths and weaknesses to know why we succeed and why we fail. We can always make things better :)

I love La Bodega’s paella - of all the elaborate dishes on the menu, I was craving for the seafood paella. It arrived: fragrant & sticky rice beautifully cooked with saffron, tossed with fresh tomatoes, seafood (clams, mussels & prawns), and a mixture of basil, pepper…oh it was so divine. It was moist and brimming with the taste of seafood. Not harsh or greasy. But light, fragrant, delicate and smooth. Plus, it looks gorgeous too. And they have nice tapas as well. Their tapas’ menu is actually very extensive and quite impressive. The Berenjenas con salsa de pimientos (eggplants braised in olive oil, chili and herbs) is really highly recommended. The sauces are great in taste, and were fun for dipping. I loved how soft and flavorful the eggplants were. This is really good. I don't really like eggplants because I have never been a fan of slimy vegetables :)

It was a very casual & relaxed lunch – a perfect place for everybody to catch up with everyone and to reward ourselves because it is the year end :)

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