Free Food

What is SOOPZ?

SOOPZ is a network of food bloggers, and I love each and every one of them. One way I show my love is by giving them free food. Most of the time, I find an interesting food product that I’d like to try (sometimes the food finds me first). If it passes my taste test, then I ask the food producer if they’d like to give some to my Sooper Heroes.

SOOPZ is growing every day. Right now, we’re a happy family of about 20 40 80 100 150 200 300 450 600 food bloggers (I call them “Sooper Heroes”). Want to become a Sooper Hero? Sign up now!

Are you a food producer/purveyor/company, and would like to distribute to the Soopz network? E-mail Blake at blakekillian [at] yahoo [dot] com to get things started.

SOOPZ Guidelines

I started SOOPZ as a way to give food bloggers free food. I, myself, am a food blogger, and I love getting free food. SOOPZ is a way for me to share the love.

I like the fact that the idea is very simple: “Food bloggers get free food. Food companies get free publicity. Everyone’s happy.”

I want to keep things that simple for as long as I can. These guidelines are meant to keep things simple, but also transparent, honest and up-front.

What My Sooper Heroes (Food Bloggers) Need To Know:

Food giveaways come in 2 forms on Blake Makes:

Scenario 1:

  1. A food company approaches me to review their product
  2. They send me free food
  3. I taste it, cook with it, photograph it and blog about it (honestly) – We reserve the right to say exactly what we think (good or bad). We also reserve the right to choose not to feature (blog about) a food item.

In other words, free food doesn’t guarantee a good review, or a review at all. That being said, I rarely write bad reviews (I never have, and never want to). If a sample doesn’t meet my standards, or won’t appeal to my Sooper Heroes, I just won’t write about it.

Scenario 2:

  1. A food company approaches me to review their product and distribute it to my (SOOPZ) network of Sooper Heroes
  2. They send me free food
  3. I taste it, cook with it, photograph it and blog about it (honestly) – (Again) We reserve the right to say exactly what we think (good or bad). We also reserve the right to choose not to feature (blog about) a food item.
  4. I prepare and publicize the giveaway (via Sooper Secret E-mails and teaser blog posts)
  5. I host the giveaway, get a list of participants (Sooper Heroes that comment to claim free food) and pass the Sooper Heroes’ addresses to the food company – Food companies agree to only use the addresses for the purposes of the giveaway, and not to abuse our Sooper Heroes’ information in any way
  6. Sooper Heroes receive the food and can say whatever they’d like about it (or, nothing at all)

What My Sooper Suppliers (Food Companies) Need To Know:

I am open to receive any and all food any food company wants to send me. I typically review food from smaller companies, but am open to anything. I reserve the right to give my honest opinion about the food, and may choose not to feature a product all together.

We don’t require our Sooper Heroes to write good reviews of the free food they receive either. In fact, we don’t require they review it at all. They may choose to write a critical review or (just like me) not to post a review. We don’t approve, edit or modify their entries in any way. What they write on their blog is their business. However, bloggers that do express an interest in food are often very likely to write about it.

All food companies that distribute free food to the (SOOPZ) network of Sooper Heroes agree not to abuse the contact information they receive in any way. Mailing addresses may be used solely for the purposes of sending free food through the mail to a Sooper Hero (food blogger). Any use beyond these purposes will be considered not “sooper” (aka – not good).

Yuck. I hate having to get so serious. The bottom line is that if you’ve got a great food product, you’ve got nothing to worry about.

If you’ve got any questions regarding these guidelines, would like to feature your product on Blake Makes, and/or would like to distribute free food to the SOOPZ network, please e-mail me at blakekillian [at] yahoo [dot] com.

A Little More About SOOPZ

First, a lot of people want to know what the name means. Well, the name SOOPZ is a play on the phrase “Soup’s On!”

Second, I love telling people where the idea came from. Mine is a mind that never stops turning. I’m always thinking of ideas, especially ideas for my blog. I’ve also always wanted a little product to feature/push/sell on my blog.

The best way to develop a great product (recipe) is to get tons of feedback. That’s where the network comes in. I’m developing the perfect recipes for dulce de leche, not to mention the perfect name, label, jar, etc. I get feedback, advice and recommendations on it all from my great food blogging friends.

Those friends inspired SOOPZ, and now other food purveyors can share food just like I do.

Heard enough? Become a Sooper Hero right now!

I get SOOPZ, but why dulce de leche?

Three years ago, a dulce seed was planted in my head when Bridget and I were tasting wedding cakes, and we were offered a dulce de leche cake filled with pure dulce de leche and covered in dulce buttercream. We never got to have that cake, because Hurricane Katrina forced us to change many of our wedding plans. But, I’ve never forgotten that cake.

I started blogging last May, and soon after began reading other food blogs. Matt Bites was one that I fell in love with right away. Matt’s pictures were amazing (and forced me to raise my own game), but one day he posted about Alfajores, and dulce popped back into my life.

Then, last Christmas I was invited to a cookie swap, and I needed a cookie that would make splash. A little firecracker popped in my head, and I started making dulce de leche in my kitchen.

Remember what I said about my mind? Well, I thought I could take even heavenly simple dulce to another level, and that’s where we are today adding peanut butter, marshmallow cream, coconut, bananas, chocolate, Nutella, and anything else we think might taste good.

What’s the difference between Blake Makes and SOOPZ?

Blake Makes is this blog, created by Blake. SOOPZ is the network of food bloggers (called Sooper Heroes) that read Blake Makes, also created by Blake. Blake features food on Blake Makes. Sometimes it’s recipes, sometimes is food you can try for free. Blake gives away his own food (like his peanut butter dulce de leche), and he also gives away other people’s food.