For the love of food!
When I started Pune Eat Outs (PEO) in 2005, it was amongst the first such things in the country. A group of ‘serious’ food lovers, the idea, then, was just to share the love for food. But with time and diligence, PEO has inspired many in Pune and the country. With PEO, I have created a network of friends where no one who loves food remains a stranger.
PEO has a unique loyalty model which is aimed at assisting the Pune food scenario while also serving a business purpose. Beyond the food discussions, PEO has contributed vastly in defining and improving the food ecosystem in Pune. The group leans more towards respecting and appreciating food, and providing constructive feedback, than just reviewing it. Restaurant owners and foodies are often seen engaging one-on-one with the foodies, focusing on candid feedback.
With a Bache
lor’s in Computers and a Master’s in Business, I also do business as well as food consulting for restaurants. I do project viability and ensure that the restaurants get the concept right. And while it almost sounds like a dream to me currently, I curate food menus as well.
In its unique sense, PEO has taken the people who meet online and bought them together for the knowledge shared offline. PEOple (PEO members) meet regularly offline. They curate food events, discuss industry trends, influence gastronomy scene, and make the city a better food place. With multi-cultured members spanning across all age groups (from 18 to 65+) from various professions, the one common rule is – Love for Food.
Building and running human communities is a tough job. PEO has more than 60,000 members and is growing every day. It takes a lot of time and efforts to maintain it without losing the focus. It helps you connect with fellow food lovers and even forge lifelong friendships. I, for one, met my wife at one of the PEO meets.
After a point, it was imperative that this hobby would become my profession. A lot of consideration and planning later, I quit my day job and took this up full time. PEO boasts of a unique membership model where a select number of PEOple are entitled for some extremely lucrative privileges at the best restaurants in town.
Every restaurant is unique in that they all have unique needs. With so many active members, we try to add value to every such business. Both food and PEOple have always fascinated me, and there could not have been a better career for me where I am instrumental in bringing them both together.
Today, we have been covered by most of the local and National newspapers, various online portals and even travel magazines like Lonely Planet.
If you’re a resident of Pune and have a fascination for food, do check us out and find your match: http://puneeatouts.in/
About the Author
Aniruddha Patil is a Management Graduate (GMBA 2011) from SP Jain School of Global Management.
After 5 years working with “Energy Trading and Risk Management” and 5 years in Travel technology consulting, he decided to take a plunge and followed his love for food and human beings.
Aniruddha is now the founder of the oldest social group in India, “Pune Eat Outs” with over 60,000 members. He loves food (Well, duh!), travel and music, and sincerely follows all of them.His passion currently lies in bringing people together and building circles.
