Fall Events to leave you stuffed and tipsy

Fall is underway, and that means the food events are picking up like mobile homes in a tornado.  Excuse my sense of humor.  :o)  @windaddict and I will be in Denver covering the Great American Beer Fest over the next week, but here's some upcoming events to satisfy the glutton in you.  I also have some tickets to give away, so make sure you read the entire post. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wednesday, Sept 15th, 6:30 pm - Jeff Potter, author of Cooking For Geeks, is coming to Austin on a book tour.  He is giving a talk on the science of cooking and will show some sous vide cooking equipment. Event: Jeff Potter, author of Cooking For Geeks Location: Whole Foods (525 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX‎), Mezzanine Time: 6:30pm Date: Wednesday, September 15, 2010 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wednesday, Sept 15th, 7 pm - Maker's Mark Whiskey Dinner at Highball.  Whiskey is delicious. In fact, it's so delicious, that aside from drinking it, sometimes we put it in food. There's going to be a lot of whiskey going around at this dinner, folks. The menu, four-courses of tasty whiskey-enhanced edibles, includes crab bisque served with White Dog, Texas Quail stuffed with a Maker's-infused duck liver mousse and served with underaged whiskey, beef tenderlion with a bourbon basted oyster mushroom duxelle, scalloped sweet potatoes and prosciutto bundled asparagus and served with a fully matured whiskey, and finally, an aniss scented creme brulee with salted shortbread, served with Maker's Mark 46.  Tickets are $57 and include everything listed above.  Purchase tickets here: http://www.thehighball.com/events/whiskey-dinner-7pm-55/   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saturday, Sept. 18th, 11am - 4 pm - Taste of North Austin invites you to sample good eats, enjoy live music, cooking demonstrations, children's events and fabulous shopping.  Food samplings and children’s activities will require wristbands. Beer and wine will be available for purchase at select restaurant booths. A wristband of 10 tastes is available for purchase for $20 at Simon Guest Services at The Domain. Purchase you wristband before September 12th for $5 off.  Location:  The Domain, 11410 Century Oaks Terrace, Austin, TX.  Contact for more information: Lauren Harris, Area Director of Marketing, 512.873.8099. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sept. 17-20th - Whole Foods Turns 30!  Join Whole Foods as they celebrate their 30th birthday.  See here for list of events and activities.   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It isn't a secret that Indian food has a special place in my heart.  Here's an event I don't want to miss.  Saturday, Sept. 25, 5-9 pm - Taste of India invites you to enjoy Indian Cuisine, entertainment from 6-7:30pm, henna art, and name writing.  Proceeds from this event will benefit orphanages in India and locally to Austin Mobile Loaves & Fishes. $3 for admission to this event that is sure to stimulate your taste buds.  Location: St. Williams Catholic Church in Round Rock.  More information here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=146498762038181&ref=mf I also have 15 pairs of tickets to give away to this event.  To win a pair: Tweet "@misohungry I want to go to Taste of India! Benefits @MLFNOW!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wednesday, Sept. 30th - 6:00 pm -  Chef Showdown at the Southwest Bistro at the Hyatt.  I've judged several Chef Showdowns, and these are events that will leave you wondering how you managed to eat stuff so much in your face.  Here's the details! WHO: Go Texan restaurant chefs representing the Driskill Grill, Roaring Fork, and Southwest Bistro WHAT: The Hyatt Regency Austin hosts the third Go Texan Chef Showdown, a multi-course gourmet chef competition featuring local ingredients. Event is part of the Go Texan Restaurant Round-up. WHEN: Thursday, September 30, 2010. Cocktail hour begins at 6 p.m.; Chef Showdown at 7 p.m. WHERE: The Hyatt Regency Austin Southwest Bistro | 208 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, TX 78704. TICKETS: $49 plus tax and gratuity. Includes wine pairings. Limited seating. Event reservations are available via opentable.com or by calling 512.480.2035 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mondays Starting Sept. 13th - Hotel San Jose announced today the return of steak night, a monthly prix fixe menu prepared by Chef Larry Mcguire of Perla’s and Lambert’s with reservations at 6:30 pm, 7 pm, 8:30 pm, or 9 pm. The meals range from McAllen Ranch NY Strip ($40) with seared mushroom and shallot relish, Niman Ranch Natural Rib Eye ($40) with fennel salsa verde, Certified Angus Beef Filet ($45) with Hollandaise and fresh horseradish, or Ahi Tuna Steak ($40) with smoked paprika chimichurri. Served with salad, grilled asparagus, steak house potatoes and crispy shallots, diners are in for a real treat.  Dessert includes Mexia Pear and blackberry cobbler served with vanilla ice cream. Wine options for the evening include ($9/glass or $34/bottle) Fontsainte Corbieres Rouge from France 2008 vintage or Hugl Weine Gruner Veltliner from Australia 2008 vintage.  If you're craving a steak, the prix fix menu is sure to satisfy your tummy.  Hotel San Jose is located 1316 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704. Reservations are limited, for more information or reserve your table call 512-852-2350. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thursday, Oct. 7th- 6:30 - pm - Tour De Vin at Whole Foods Downtown.  I have 3 words.  This event rocks.  This is where I first had StEats last year, and it was absolutely amazing.  Trying food for the first time that tasted like comfort food is kind of mind blowing in that dejavu-Inceptions-meets-Matrix kind of way.  If you like food and wine with from other cultures, you'll love this event.

Strategy Idea: Activity Based Social Rewards using Location Based Services

Note: I don't work for any of the services mentioned in this post, but Gowalla was a Cupcake Smackdown 2.0 sponsor. 

With thought about how to incorporate more social media tools into Cupcake Smackdown 2.0, I wondered if I could set up social social rewards for attending large events featuring a variety of activities.  Location based is popular these days. FourSquare, Gowalla, Whrrl, Yelp, and now Facebook are all in on it.  I was thrilled that Gowalla sponsored a special event for Cupcake Smackdown 2.0, but what's next for location based services at events? 

Earning a Ride a Caterpillar Activity Badge at Cockrell Butterfly Center.

I wanted to reward people for participating in all the activities via social media, but there was no way to differentiate who did or who didn't participate as everyone checks into one location.  With most location-based mobile applications, the basic function is that a user checks in to a location.  The locations can have a check in range of at least half a mile, so trying to add activities as locations doesn't really work.  They will just be mostly inaccurate.  For events like Cupcake Smackdown 2.0, The Smithsonian, universities, or even Disney's Theme Parks, activity based rewards in location based applications can be useful for engaging visitors in activities, tracking engagement in activities, and an easy way for the user to share the activity with others. 

The Kim Possible Interactive Game at Disney's Epcot is one of the few activities and locations  that is using a similar system (but different technology).  For the Kim Possible Interactive Game, players are equipped with a cell phone and GPS.  They are sent to different locations with a mission (activity) to accomplish.  Once the activities are completed (confirmed via unknown technology), they are sent onto another activity.  Here's some links to write ups about the interactive game:

• Live the Spy Life
• Press Release
• Kim Possible Game
• Secret Agent for a Day
• Kim Possible's World Showcase

Here's two different strategies that can use the same tools in a very different way.  Currently, a user checks into a location by selecting it off a list of nearby locations.  My basic idea for these strategies is that users would check into the locations, and then receive badge, items, or points for completing activities.  For example: I would check into Disneyland (the location), and ride the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster, and then check into the "Buzz Lightyear" activity indicating I completed it.

Activities can currently be added as events to some of the available services, but that doesn't people from checking in even if they didn't complete the activity.  This could easily be remedied by password protecting the activity, and distributing the password to users after said activity.  There are two problems with this method: (1) The password gets out, and anyone can use it as long as they are checked into the location, (2) Some locations will have a plethora of activities.  The The Smithsonian has 18 museum, and a daunting list of exhibits and activities.  Scrolling through a list of 100 activities could be views as a pain.   

If possible, one time use QR codes could be distributed to users post-activity allowing them to "complete the activity" on Gowalla or FourSquare.  They could also be posted at the end of a ride as users are leaving the area.  I'm not sure if there is currently an interface with QR code scanners and the location-based mobile applications, but it would be cool if they did.  It would also let people check in or find secret locations or activities that one cannot find unless they scan in. 

Earning the Navigate a Submarine Activity Badge

Strategy 1:

Create a reward system for users who complete certain activities at a particular location.  This is similar to trips on Gowalla.  An example might be having a Super Scientist badge for users who view 12 of the 24 exhibits (I made up that number) at the American History Museum at The Smithsonian   Another might be to award a Thrill Seeker badge to those who ride all the rides at Disneyland.  Badges and social recognition are important.  I don't need to tell you that.  There are endless posts (like this one and this one) chronicling FourSquare badges.  Don't forget about the use of badges in Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

This strategy can also be kicked up by combining it with other similar locations.  For example,  The Smithsonian could partner up with another museum(s) located somewhere else to offer the same type of check in badges.  Users who collect all the badges from specified museums would be rewarded with a big badge, like having a star named for the user.  The target audience for that type of reward does exist, and we want to be Super Scientists.  :o)

Earning the Crawling with Kids Badge at the Smithsonian

Strategy 2:

Show activities to users who check in our your location.  For example, Twin Liquors could show the "Taste X Wine" activity to users who check in frequently.  Disneyland could advertise a secret ride only to users when they have completed certain other rides.  Completing these advertised activities when people check in could earn users a badge. 

This strategy has several advantages. 

• One advantage is that users' friends will see the badge and want one too.  We already touched on the social value of badges.  That's marketing for the business. 
• The second advantage is that there is exclusivity surrounding the activity.  It is only offered to people who check in (or other additional requirements), and people like getting things that are special. 
• The third advantage is the gaming aspect of it.  Like the Kim Possible Interactive Game, fun activities are hidden and must be discovered via clues.  A short game with an activity at the end could easily be embedded into a park or museum.  Augmented reality could also be incorporated to show off new technology.  This engages the users and encourages them to discover new things that might not be related to the game itself. 

How to Destroy an Online Community

While we wait for photos and videos of Cupcake Smackdown 2.0 to be processed, let's jump into some deep thoughts about online communities. 

Online communities have been around as long as the internet has been around.  While they used to be a collection of people with a particular interest, online communities have been created for big brands and political issues.  Online communities take time and effort to nurture and grow.  Gone are the days where people would just stumble onto a website, join the form, and taaaaaadaaaa, communities grows.  Modern communities now rely on content, engagement, incentives, and loud voices to grow the member base and loyalty to the community. 

Note: This article is not a reflection of the current or past Yelp Austin Community Manager. 

The Community Rocks!
One controversial website that did a stunning job of growing their local communities is Yelp.com.  Through meet-ups, parties, complimentary drinks and food, promoting active members, rewarding engagement on the website, Yelp Austin had a core group of fans.  These fans spent time with each other regularly by forming book clubs, knitting clubs, dinner groups, scavenger hunts, bar crawls, and even birthday parties outside of Yelp's direction.  Acronyms for these get-togethers were called "UYE" (unofficial Yelp event) or "DYL" (destroy your liver).  Active Yelpers were also rewarded with a Elite badge on their profile and monthly private parties.  This badge was usually granted after a user had showed active engagement in the website and had profiles depicting their true names and photos (not anonymous).  The users typically had an decent number of reviews, participation in the talk threads, and showed their face as events. 

Changing the Social Rules of Elite

Though I don't always agree with Yelp's sometimes policies (I abide by them anyways), I was always impressed with their ability to build a community of extremely loyal fans.  Outsiders described them as cult-like.  When someone describes your community as cult-like, you know you've done a good job cultivating those cheerleaders.  Over the last 10 months or so, all that started to change.  Yelp started bringing on more and more Elite members, who oddly weren't very active at all.  Some of them had only written a handful of mediocre reviews.  Some had never participated in a talk thread.  Some of the reviews aren't even written coherently.  At parties, they seemed to have the "I just got this email invite, but I'm not really sure why." vibe.  It seemed like Yelp was just pumping the numbers.  The monthly Elite parties became less and less about community bonding.  The number of those reviews written about the Elite parties fell along with the ratings of such parties.  Yelp's shiny luster was becoming to fade. 

Then came the law suits, and a change in policy.  Business owners were no longer allowed to be Elite members because they would be biased in their reviews.  The website actually reads. "If you are a business owner or affiliated with a local business (spouse, general manager, partner, etc.), we unfortunately can't invite you to join the ranks of the Elite because it presents a conflict of interest."  That cuts out almost all of Austin's population and ALL the members of Blackstar Co-op, an Austin based member-owner brewpub.  This would probably disqualify all REI members as there are two REI stores in Austin.  It also assumes that business owners cannot be unbiased, and that people who aren't closely affiliated with a business are never biased.  These assumptions are pretty illogical and ridiculous. 

This policy only makes sense if I was the owner of a store that constantly reviewed my competitors.  However, business owners are consumers of many other industries.  Surely, the community thought that this silly rule would just be another one of those terms of service things that are never enforced.  After all, Yelp is fairly inconsistent and arbitrary on which rules they feel like enforcing and which ones they don't.

Inconsistencies in Rule Enforcement

~Users' accounts can and have been deleted for posting URLs, though this is not specified in the terms of service.  Yelp wants your free content, but it doesn't want traffic leaving.  

~A very nice woman's account was deleted because someone flagged her thread and message as spam when it was obviously not her intentions.  She was a pet sitter who sent a message to her friends with a warning about a dog toy.  Emails to Yelp Administrator at Head Quarters (HQ) located in San Francisco in protest did not bring her account back from the grave.

~Yelp has yet to delete accounts of users who have caused great disruption in the community.  There are several users (anonymous yet vocal ones) in Austin Yelp with the goal of creating anger and hate in the community.  That user spends hours upon hours upon hours writing posts on the talk threads every single day, yet claims that he/she doesn't care about Yelp.  That particular user has been reported to Yelp HQ many times (also reprimanded by Yelp HQ), yet the account remains.  I guess you don't have to be "cool" to keep your account as specified.  You can be a completely insane jerk.  Many users have stopped spending time on Yelp because of this particular user.  Hey, Yelp! Mind taking care of the village belligerent fool?

~Some unscrupulous business owners do make fake accounts in which they review themselves and their competitors.  One business has been writing themselves fake reviews and giving competitors shill reviews.  They have been caught so many times that they decided to accuse other people of doing it their specials box. see below.  Yelpers weren't naive enough to fall for their dirty tricks, but Yelp HQ hasn't stopped this particular business from repeatedly engaging in that prohibited behavior.  You'd think Yelp HQ would be smart enough to log IP addresses. 



De-Eliting your Best Asset

These issues have severely impacted the quality of the Yelp Austin community.  However, something that happened made me realize that the community was on its way down the tubes.

You might know her as @Foodiethenew40.  You might know her as Michelle Cheng, attorney at law.  You might also know her as Michelle C. Super Yelper.  Michelle C. is the Queen of Yelp.  She was there from the beginning contributing 584 reviews to date along with 104 fans.  Her views are consistently fair, entertaining, accurate, and extremely well-written.  That's probably because not only is she an awesome writer; she's also an awesome cook with an educated palate.  In my conversations with casual Yelp readers or businesses owners, I consistently hear the same comments about a certain user.  They go something like: "Who is that Michelle C. girl? She's cool."  It is amazing that Michelle C., but not at all surprising, could impact people who don't have a Yelp account.  She is Yelp Austin's star user, hands down. 



Michelle's on the left.  I'm on the right.

Unfortunately, Yelp HQ decided that since Michelle was a partner at her practice, she no longer deserved the little red Elite badge next to her name.  That's right.  They de-Elited her.  Four years of Elite designation gets nothing now because Michelle is also awesome in her professional life.  They also removed the Elite badge from Robin S., Rick G. and Steve B.  Yelp just screwed with their own social rules.  Instead of rewarding active and engaging users, Yelp started handing out Elite badges to less active users thus diluting the meaning of the badge.  They also took Elite badges away from star users simply because were business owners.  These business owners have never, ever abused the Yelp system.  Yelp decided to that they were guilty anyways. 

Some might argue that the Elite badge is meaningless and only gains one access to a free monthly party.  I disagree.  The Elite badge is a social designation and social reward, much more valuable that free food and drinks.  Even if it didn't come with a free party, badges in online communities are meaningful.  I even have four different badges (called garages) in my efficient driving community that gains me nothing tangible.  Yelp was tremendously more successful than their competitors on the community front, and now that just isn't true anymore.  Thanks, Yelp HQ.  Thanks for slapping the wrist of your best cheerleader and turning your back on the community.  Have fun with the law suits and your sparring match with the big Google machine.
 

Cupcake Smackdown 2.0 - Let the fun begin!

It is true.  Cupcake Smackdown 2.0 is in full swing, and the details are finalized. You and your family are invited to attend Cupcake Smackdown 2.0.  Activities will include:

• 
  
  Enjoy noshing on some sweet morsels from local bakeries
• 
  
  Challenging the current Guinness World Record for Most Jaffa Cakes Eaten in One Minute (short list of rules below)
• 
  
  Participate in setting the World Record for Most People Simultaneously Frosting a Cupcake
• 
  
  Check out local arts and crafts
• 
  
  Let out some energy by whacking the cupcake piñata
• 
  
  Launch some cupcakes from the cupcake cannon

Admission to the event is free.  Donations for the activities suggested (cash please).  Proceeds from Cupcake Smackdown 2.0 will benefit Lights, Camera, Help, Mobile Loaves and Fishes, and Keep Austin Dog Friendly.

Hashtag: #CupcakeRiot
 

Webaddress: www.cupcakesmackdown.com

FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=108137959240524

Tweetvite: http://tweetvite.com/event/cupcakesmackdown
 

Date: Saturday, August 21, 2010

Time: 11 am - 3 pm.  Schedule Follows.

11: 30 am & 1:30pm – Attempt to break Guinness World Record for Most Jaffa Cakes Eaten in One Minute (2 rounds) at LCB

11:30 am until 12 noon – Check-in and set-up for Most People Simultaneously Frosting a Cupcake at LCB. Please arrive at this time to participate.

12 noon – Setting World Record for Most People Simultaneously Frosting a Cupcake at LCB.

12:30 pm to 3 pm – Cupcake Cannon and Cupcake Piñata at The Westin’s North Parking Lot

Location: Le Cordon Bleu, 3110 Esperanza Crossing Suite 100 and The Westin, 11301 Domain Drive.  Both venues are across the street from each other. 
 

Venue details: Vendors and activities located the Le Cordon Bleu will be held indoors.  The Cupcake Cannon and Pinata will be held outdoors at the Westin.  There will be ample parking in the street, The Westin parking lot, the Le Cordon Bleu parking lot, and the parking lot behind the Westin.  When parking in the lot adjacent next to the LCB building, only park in spots marked LCB. 

Vendors: Cupcake vendors will be selling cupcakes at Le Cordon Bleu.  Gluten-free cupcakes and vegan cupcakes will be available.  Keep in mind that in order to use the cupcake cannon, you'll have to get your hands on some cupcakes.  Cupcake Smackdown 2.0 tee-shirts will be available for $10 each.  Please bring cash for the vendors and activities.  Full list of vendors are:

• Austin Cake Ball
• Bellissimo Bakery
• Handmade Happenings
• Hill Country Cupcake
• Keres Spices
• NadaMoo
• Kohana Coffee
• Cupprimo
• Scare for a Cure
• Sugar Mama's
• The Cupcake Bar
• The Lunch Deal
• Best Wurst
• BlackBird Bakery
• La Boite
• Honest Tea

Other details:  While we love puppies and other cuddly creatures, the August heat might make the day uncomfortable for your pet.  Please give your pet a hug before you leave them at home.  Also, please wear sun block and drink plenty of water before you arrive.  This is a Cupcake fest, not a Lobster Fest. 

  Let's Give some love to our Sponsors and Partners (Twitter list here):

• (512) Brewing Company
• All in One Bakeshop
• Arsenal Brand
• Austin Cake Ball
• Austin Urban Gardens
• Bake Space
• Bellissimo Bakery
• Coco Paloma Desserts
• Custom Cakes by JJ
• Cuvee Coffee
• GNI Strategies
• Gia
• Handmade Happenings
• Hay Compere
• Hill Country Cupcake
• Keep Austin Dog Friendly
• Keeper Collection
• Keres Spices
• Le Cordon Bleu
• Lights, Camera, Help
• Mobile Loaves and Fishes
• NadaMoo
• Sanctuary Printshop
• Scare for a Cure
• St. Germain ElderFlower Liqueur
• Sugar Mama's
• The Cupcake Bar
• The Lonely Gourmet
• The Lunch Deal
• The Westin
• Twin Liquors
• Urban: An American Grill
• Whitehurst, Harkness, Brees & Cheng, P.C.
• Whole Foods
• Wright Brother's Roofing

Jaffa Cake Eating Contest Details (Per Guinness World Record):

• 
  
  Please sign up 15 minutes prior to each round (11:30 and 1:30).
• 
  
  Each entry costs $10. 
• 
  
  The current record is 8 whole cakes in one minutes.
• 
  
  Each cake must be eaten individually and swallowed completely.
• 
  
  No water in between cakes.