Chefpreneur bunny: Giving more by keeping it less

CEBU, Philippines — She is an economics major, a finance professional, Silvia “Bunny” Ludo-Alcordo never thought of reaching her success in the food service.

She founded the Oh! George restaurant in Ayala Center Cebu 21 years ago. Two years after, she opened her second branch, branded as “Cafe George” located in Banilad.

Now, these two restaurants kept their exclusivity—a twin food destinations that are not found elsewhere. Tourists and locals alike go and take their comfort in either of these two dining havens over and over again, to taste the “George magic.”

Bunny’s secret is simple—taking care of her business, as if it was part of her home. Opening more than what she could handle breaks her version of success: Balance.

Crossroad

Coming from an affluent clan of Cebu, a family name synonymous to oil manufacturing, Bunny was attracted to the glamour of stock market and finance.

She finished Economics at Ateneo de Manila University but ended up hitting the crossroad after graduation.

Her after-graduation-blues led Bunny to California Culinary Academy in the United States upon the encouragement of her mother Maria Uy Ludo.

Bunny wanted to start a restaurant because she sees it as “a cool thing to do.” While, her mother never discounted her desire, her senses was awakened after being reminded that she doesn’t know a thing about cooking.

While in culinary school, Bunny fell in love with the art of cooking. But, she had to give in to an attractive offer to be an investment banker to taste the delicious allure of banking and finance, after all she worked hard and studied the game for years.

“After studying culinary in the US, I was offered a job that was in line with my course. I worked in Manila for two years for investment bankers. After that, I worked for Dôme Cafe for nearly a year,” she recalled.

Playtime

While working in Manila, Bunny and her roommate-sister Georgia made their kitchen and tasting sessions their “playtime.”

Bunny baked anything she could create—just for the love of doing it, while Georgia got to enjoy her creations, and sometimes her blunt critique, sometimes together with their closed friends.

Oh! George is named after Georgia. Her kitchen-playmate. Her critique. Her cheerer. Now, her partner in business.

“When I did food tasting and found them good, I told my sister, ‘Oh Georg! This is good.’ That’s how it came to be,” she shared.

Slowly, Bunny gained her confidence in pursuing her “cool” dream of opening a restaurant.

She is the first in her family to venture into the restaurant business.

Less is more

Twenty-two years in the restaurant business, Bunny finds her success in settling for less. While contemporaries are spreading their wings widely, she shines in keeping her two hands intact.

She keeps the mystery of both Oh! George and Cafe George, because she puts her heart into these outlets with the help of Georgia, who is now managing the Ayala Center Cebu outlet.

“I don’t have plans to open more [branches],” she knows her limit, what matters to her is to give her heart to diners regardless if she knows them or not. This way, she could give more—both in business and her loved ones.

Instead, what she is planning is to improve her craft as chefpreneur by constantly updating herself on new trends and technology in food science and services.

Long ago, Bunny was resolved to stop looking at her competition. “When I was new, I was always looking at them [competitors],” but she eventually learned to mind her own business, and “just do my best.”

“I keep myself updated by reading and traveling. Just like fashion food is also trendy,” she understood.

She said the world is big enough for everyone to flourish. When quality, personal touch and reasonable price are not compromised, the threat of competition is always out of the equation.

Cebu’s pride

This yoga-buff restaurateur and chefpreneur, is a recipient of several awards.

She is the 2019 Small Business Entrepreneur awardee of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).

Last year, Bunny was included in Town & Country Philippines Magazine as one of Cebu’s most stylish and talked-about women.

In 2003, HSBC named her as one of Cebu’s accomplished and influential women with style and strength.

Her restaurants are also considered as one must-go-to dining destinations in Cebu.

Living with depth and grace, Bunny’s version of success is entirely different from the concept of success known to many. Here’s choosing to have less, so that she can give more. (FREEMAN)