Blake Makes

Hello, Blake Makers, and a very special hello to you, Sooper Heroes. Why so special? There’s a giveaway this week!!! That’s right, they’re baaaack!

So, what are we giving away? More chocolate? Something sweet? Actually, no. In fact, this time, it’s something savory. It’s chutney!

Alison McQuade has been a loyal Blake Maker since the beginning. She makes some amazing chutney, and we’ve actually blogged about it before.

She wanted to share her most popular flavor with all of you, so she sent me a jar of the Fig & Ginger to try.

Like with all the free food we get to consider for the giveaways, I needed to taste it, cook with it and photograph it.

We’re always going to tell you the truth (whether good or bad), so I have a confession to make about chutney. I don’t have a lot of experience with chutney.

I rarely cook with it, and have eaten it less. Actually, I’ve only had it twice (and both times were from McQuade’s). That being said, I’ve enjoyed everything Alison’s sent me!

I made a crostata with it (here’s the recipe), and it turned out nice. It tasted like a big fig newton. I’m curious, however, to see what you guys will be able to do with it.

That brings us to this week’s giveaway.

Instead of a feeding frenzy, we’re going to do things a little differently this time. I’m going to post on Thursday, April 3, and you’ll have all day to sign up. We have 24 jars to give away, so here’s how you get one.

Tell us what you’ll do (make) with it. You don’t have to have a recipe, or any experience with chutney. Just give us what you’ve got; what you’re thinking of; what you’d like to try.

The 24 best ideas (chosen by us) will get a jar.

Keep an eye out for a Sooper Secret E-mail for further details. Comment with questions! Stay tuned!

Hello Sooper Heroes. We just sent out a Sooper Secret Email. Check your inboxes (and spam folders) for the message. It’s important. It’s about the good stuff. You know what I’m talking about.

If you’re not Sooper, do something about it. Stay tuned!

UPDATE: All the TCHO has been claimed. If you didn’t get any, don’t worry. We’ve got plenty more free food on the way, and hopefully we’ll get some more free TCHO.  The first 50 commenters (with food blogs & who are registered Sooper Heroes) should receive free chocolate.

GO! GO! GO! GO! Thundercats are TCHO!

The first 40 people* to comment on this post get FREE TCHO CHOCOLATE!

…again, GO!

*Qualifications:

1. You have to like (love) dark chocolate.
2. You have to have a blog, preferably a food blog.
3. You have to be interested in showing TCHO some love by blogging about your free sample.

Update: Remember, it’s 8:30PM CST tonight, not 8:00PM CST…stay tuned…I’m publishing soon!

Another Sooper Secret E-mail Alert went out this morning (at 6:55AM CST). Check your inboxes and spam folders for the message. It’s about tonight, and it’s about FREE TCHO CHOCOLATE! Stay tuned…

Hello Blake Makers and Sooper Heroes. We lost a day this week, so we’re jumping right back into the next giveaway which will take place next Tuesday, March 11 at 8:30PM CST. - 8:30PM CST because we’re getting a lot of West-coasters now who need a little more time to get home from work

This will be a good old-fashioned FIRST COME FIRST SERVED (FCFS) GIVEAWAY - which means the first X (number of) commenters on next Tuesday’s post win. What are we giving away? TCHO beta bars.

There’s a bit of a story here. I first discovered TCHO via Springwise. Springwise is my go-to source for the coolest, most amazing new ideas. They’ve always got amazing stuff that’s right up my alley.

TCHO was no exception.

I was attracted to TCHO on aesthetics alone. Their brown paper packaging is so my speed, and their site is just the kind of minimalist design that sends me swooning.

I probably would have inquired (bought) just about anything they were selling inside these mod little sleeves, but wait, there’s chocolate inside? Done and done!

They sent me some of their beta bars (batches that are still in testing) for a taste and a try.

BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER, GO READ ABOUT WHAT TCHO IS.

Almost everything you’ll read that TCHO is, I am (basically a geeky chocolate lover).

The batch I got was labeled, “Chocolatey,” and boy was it. I’m assuming the TCHO we give away will be from the same batch (If I hear otherwise, I’ll let you know).

Now for the taste:

When they say dark chocolate, they mean it. But they should also have no problems backing up their claims as being some of the purest chocolate around.

The bars were ebony-brown, and release a sound (((SNAP!))) when you bite them. The flavor is intense, very deep, very dark (chocolate). I won’t say it’s bitter, but it takes you right to the edge.

I like dark chocolate, but Bridget loves it. Needless to say, Bridget loved the TCHO chocolate. I recommend eating it with a tall glass of ice-cold milk.

Heard enough? Want some free TCHO?

Come to Blake Makes next Tuesday, March 11 at 8:30PM CST. We’ll be giving away TCHO for free.

They’ve generously given us enough to do a proper FCFS giveaway. It should be fun. The best part is that they’re interested in giving more (and different) TCHO away on Blake Makes in the coming months.

It’s a great way for them to get feedback (and exposure) on new batches. It’s perfect for us too, because we love free food, we love our Sooper Heroes, and we love chocolate!

Tell your friends. Blog about it. Tell everyone you know.

Let’s blow TCHO away (so we can get more)!

Bridget’s up next with another yummy food post. Stay tuned! Have a happy Friday!

Whew! It took us an extra day, but we finally made it! I’m glad we’re here, and I’m glad we’re all in one piece. Congratulations to our winners!

Scroll down to see the winners. Click on the links to visit their blogs (and show them some love by commenting on their blogs).

The Lucky 8:

1. Elly of ELLY SAYS OPA!
2. Jerry of AUTISTIC DAD
3. Jessica of MY BAKING HEART
4. Carrie of CARRIE’S KITCHEN CREATIONS
5. Erin of COOKING AND EATING IN THE WINDY CITY
6. Mark of BOSCOE THE COOKIE DOCTOR
7. Jhianna of BURNED BITS
8. Karina of THE FLOURED APRON

Keep an eye on their blogs in the coming week to see what they think of the chocolates.

The lottery was fun. We’ll have to do this again sometime.

I printed out the post, and we cut the comments into strips.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS!

Bridget and I kept saying all day that we wished we had enough chocolate for everyone.

If you didn’t win, don’t let it get you down.

We’ve got tons more free food on the way.

Special thanks to Sucre’ and Joel Dondis and Tariq Hanna.

New Orleans is blessed to have Sucre’. I am blessed to know both Joel and Tariq.

Buy their chocolates. Tell your friends. Blog about them.

Most importantly…stay tuned! In twelve hours, it’s starting all over again! wink wink

We just sent a Sooper Secret E-mail Alert. Check your e-mail (and your spam folders) for this important message. Tonight’s the night. bk

And they’re off…!

You’ve got 7 minutes (from 8:00pm until 8:07pm) to comment on this post for a chance to win free Sucre’ chocolates!

Sucre’s the best. I mean it. The best chocolate you’ll ever have…on the planet.

Check out this photo for names and descriptions.

You can also see what Imani had to say about them.

Good luck!

The winners will be announced tomorrow night. Stay tuned!

What’s this pineapple doing here? Stay tuned…

Hello, Sooper Heroes. Check your inboxes (and spam folders) for a Sooper Secret E-mail Message.