DAVAO CITY — The restaurant row at the Azuela Cove, the township project being developed by the Ayala Group and the Alcantara Group, is getting a marketing boost through corporate meeting packages that are being lined up for promotion.

“We are planning to sell corporate meeting packages so offices and organizations will dine and have their meetings in our restos. We feature their menu as well in our Facebook account,” Jesreal R. Gallogo, Azuela Cove operations and marketing officer, said during a “food walk” event with the media.

Located at the retail strip called The Shoppes, restaurants include homegrown Dulce Vida, Union Market, Nord’s Bread Hub, Café Laguna, and Bless Okiniiri Japanese Resto.

“The merchants are doing well so far, but a boost in marketing will help them a lot,” Mr. Gallogo said.

Dulce Vida Bakery and Resto — owned and operated by the Rodriguez family who also own Paradise Island Beach Park and Resort in the Island Garden City of Samal — is popular for its cakes. It is the pastry shop of the Tiny Kitchen, a restaurant that serves international cuisine, but is particularly known for its Spanish dishes.

“This is our third Dulce Vida in Davao City. I opted to open at Azuela Cove to be able to reach the market in the northern part of town. It is my goal to reach more market and to serve them,” said owner-chef-baker Vincent L. Rodriguez.

Cafe Laguna — which started in 1991 in a small space in Lahug, Cebu and has now grown to several branches in major cities in the Visayas and Mindanao — first opened a branch in Davao through a franchise in Abreeza Mall.

Issues with the franchisee forced its closure and the Laguna Group opened a new one, this time company-owned, at Azuela Cove in May 2018.

“We are now stricter when it comes to standards and quality of our food,” Laguna Group Managing Director Grace Urbina-Absin told the media.

The restaurant serves traditional Filipino favorites like puto bumbong (purple rice cake), kare-kare (stew in peanut sauce), and fresh lumpia.

It offers “Filipino high tea” with a spread of local delicacies such as espasol, puto with chicken adobo flakes, banana turon, and bibingka.

Mr. Gallogo said the promotion of meetings and group events for the restaurants is in line with efforts to position Azuela Cove as Davao’s premier lifestyle district.

Azuela Cove has been hosting events like the Big Bad Wolf book sale, Moira Braver Concert, and Alveo Ironman to drive traffic in the complex.

“We have also partnered with event organizers to do their events inside Azuela Cove, like fun runs, corporate team buildings and sports fest,” he said.

Aside from The Shoppes, among the operational facilities inside the Azuela Cove include the 2,000-square meter event tent and sports facilities managed by SPARCorp. — Maya M. Padillo

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