The new trio striking a new record.
As a first-timer running the show alone, the pressure was most certainly present with the weight on my shoulders.
Keeping it fresh and different has been one of the many goals we set for Sphyrn Boxes. This time we had a few new collaborators, including Gabe, Miguel, Momo, Ree, and Marlen. Adjusting to the new work dynamics is always tricky but we like how refreshing the experience is for it keeping us on our toes.
The first day at Tom N Toms Galleria started a bit hectic; however, once we figured out the assembly line, everything rolled out quickly; especially with all the boxes and paper bags having perfectly fitting measurements.
Selling out completely the second day at Social Beer Garden was unexpected. We owe that greatly to the craftsmen and craftswomen who have mastered the art of their delicious products and the team who work hard at the pop-up registers.
It wasn’t intentional but Chia came to the rescue for both pop-ups. She handled the check-ins with such grace that we knew she would be a great asset to Sphyrn. Therefore, we offered her the position of Sphyrn treasurer and budget manager. You may be seeing her more at our pop-ups and please don’t shy away from giving her a thumbs up!
We are also extremely grateful for having Ree, the owner of Sweets and Saffron helping us with customer service and adding some Bengali flare to our already vastly diverse Sphyrn Family and dessert assortments.
Despite being mostly Eastern Asians, we find ourselves ignorant and humbled by others (to us) less known Asian cultures. Bengali and Bangladeshi cultures are great samples. We were introduced to Barfi bars by Sweets and Saffron for the first time and were thrilled to learn that our audience enjoys how fragrant and subtle the flavors blend together in a small piece of wonder. Throughout the process of brainstorming for the products, we knew that we wanted something from Bengali culture that would mash well with matcha which is something we grew up drinking and tasting all our lives. The Matcha Barfi Bar may be a groundbreaking invention that combines the best of the two worlds. Perhaps we can wish for more understanding and cultural exchanges under the roof of Sphyrn, one box at a time.
We also learned that how Eastern Asians and South Asians have very different standards for sugar levels. Just as Taiwanese people have very different standards for desserts, comparing to Americans. Needless to say, we always get a mixture of reviews from our audience. Is there a way to meet everyone halfway, as we promote Eastern Asian food culture? We have to believe that the answer exists.
Unprecedented? We are all about breaking boundaries and leading the trend.