There are many winners in every aspect of life and every field of endeavor.
Winners stand as role models to people who are trying to wrestle with defeat. Obviously, Dabawenya Rochelle and Italian husband Romano Venuti are not made for defeat. Their three businesses - Prego Caf‚ Picobello and Swiss Deli Gourmet have survived the test of times.
Prego Caf‚ at the 3rd floor of GS Citimall, is a sole proprietorship of Rochelle and Romano while Picobello (at the 3rd foor of the same mall) and Swiss Deli (in Bajada) is shared with Romano’s Italian-Swiss friend Marcus Kehl.
Prego opened in 2000, five years after Rochelle and Romano moved to Davao from Manila.
“We met in Indonesia working in the same hotel — Bali Hyatt. He decided to leave the hotel business as pastry chef and work in the Philippines. After a while he ventured into consultancy,” Rochelle said.
Romano joined the then JS Gaisano in 1995 when they put up Living Bread and Caf‚ Ilustrado.
Prego shop came about after his stint with JS Gaisano.
A year after, Picobello was opened in November 2001.
“Romano, for the longest time had wanted to open an Italian resto, and it so happen we’re also into the sausage making business,” Rochelle said. “There was a Swiss company before so accessible kami sa supplies. So we saw a good opportunity of opening an Italian rest. Before, Salvatore palang ang Italian resto na open.”
Four years after on Sept 8, 2005, Swiss Deli was opened.
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