Blake Makes is a food blog trying to become something more. You'll find plenty of good food here, but come back regularly to get ideas and to watch me turn this blog into a dream come true. My name's Blake, and I am one ambitious foodie. Read my sandbox statement.
100 food bloggers have been selected, and we’re about ready. Stay tuned (to be amazed). I just sent an e-mail to the participants. If you signed up, check your e-mail. Here we go!
Hello, Blake Makers. Wondering where I’ve been, and why I haven’t been food blogging? Well, there are about five reasons why, and the FOOD CHAIN is one of them.
What is the Blake Makes Food Chain?
This idea starts with a flip. A flip is a small video camera that makes it sooper simple to capture video content, and upload it to YouTube. I’ve got two flip cameras, and I want to send them to you. You’ll get one and take it to dinner, or to the farmer’s market, or to the kitchen to make cookies with your kids. Next, you’ll upload it to your blog, but then you won’t send it back to me, but to the next foodie (I’ll cover postage).
I’ll track the progress of each camera as it travels across the country, and maybe around the world, on a Google Map like the one you see below. We are all connected, and this idea will bring us even closer together. If you want it, you’d better sign up now. This idea has already generated a lot of interest, and I’m sure there’ll be a waiting list soon.
Hello, Blake Makers. Ok. So I’m gearing back up. I’ve been doing tons behind the scenes in preparation to woo and amaze you with my mad food blogging skills. In addition to all new food posts, I’ve got several other ideas in various stages of development. One of those ideas is Blake Takes Five.
Blake Takes Five is a weekly (if we can pull it off) countdown show of the top five food stories being blogged about that week. There’s a cool Sooper Hero tie which involves my Sooper Heroes sending 30-second videos of themselves into the show with them sharing what they’re cooking/eating/reading that week (I’ll compensate those that do). Also, I’m trying to squeeze a giveaway into every show. The first episode of Blake Takes Five actually has two giveaways (one involves two fat ladies)!
As you can see from the photos below, we’re shooting the show in my garage. It’s hot, poorly ventilated and a little smelly (sorry Steve). I have a feeling, however, that that’s where big ideas are born.
I’m aiming to have the show out of post-production and posted here on BlakeMakes by Friday. Stay tuned!
This is the last giveaway for 2008, and it’s a good one. What I’ve got for you is Amano Artisan Chocolate. You may remember Amano since I’ve given it away before. I love this stuff, and it’s still some of the best chocolate I’ve ever tasted (including the Vosges I just got for Christmas). This batch of Amano is actually very special, and quite rare.
JEMBRANA is the name they’ve given this bar. Jembrana is a small regency on the southwest coast of the Indonesian island of Bali. Why am I giving you this geography lesson? Well, my buddy Art (he owns Amano) is the only guy in the U.S. that’s importing cacao from Bali. That means that if you win a bar, you’ll be part of an exclusive group of chocolate lovers who are lucky enough to savor Balinese chocolate.
Taste and giveaway notes below.
Tasting Notes
Amano is known for dark chocolate – we’re talking 70% cacao here people. Good dark chocolate is nothing to be scared of. Exquisite dark chocolate (like this) is not bitter, but smooth and enchanting and not at all intimidating. The Jembrana bar has a smart snap, and mild citrus notes. It’s divine.
Giveaway Instructions
I’ve got 100 bars to give away (1 per Sooper Hero). To win, comment on this post AND click the following link and complete the form: CLICK ME TO WIN A FREE BAR OF CHOCOLATE
This giveaway is first come, first served. Once I’ve received 100 valid Sooper Hero sign ups, it’s over! Good luck! Happy holidays! Enjoy your chocolate!
I’m unveiling a new Blake Makes logo in January’09, but that’s just the beginning. A lot of you may be wondering where I’ve been. Well, I’ve been busy writing my “Sandbox Statement”. What’s that? You’ll have to wait and see.
This brilliant design was created by the very talented type08.
That’s me in the middle, my boss to the left and my friend Angie to the right. My boss, Leigh Ann, just pelted me with a snowball in the back of the head.
Hello, Blake Makers. I know. I know. It’s been a while, but I can explain. I’ve been working on a massive project at my day job that has literally been the hardest work I’ve ever done. I’ve been pulling 50+ hours a week for months. It’s been relentless which is why you haven’t seen many posts, but I’ll be back soon.
Why am I not back now? Well, I’m in Italy. I may blog a little from Italy, but I’m really planning to unplug and relax. No BlackBerry. No laptop. Just wine, truffles and gelato for two weeks.
Can you believe this cake is peanut/dairy/egg/nut free? I always thought (what I’m calling) “allergy aware” food would taste a lot like sugar-free food, horrible. Well, maybe not horrible, but no where near as gooey-yummy as the real stuff. This stuff made me a believer. You should try this stuff.
Curious? Wondering who makes it? Want some? Go to BlakeBakes.com (today only) for a free sample.
BLAKE KILLIAN NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA I love food. My favorite place on the planet (other than my own kitchen) is Whole Foods. I love cookbooks and spend most weekends watching the Food Network and cooking. BLAKE MAKES is something fun for me and Bridget (my wife) to do. It’s part of doing what you love and loving what... More
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Prepare yourself. You're about to become sooper. This means that you're joining Blake's SOOPZ Network, a family of bloggers (mostly food bloggers) that get free food from Blake and blog about it. We'll call you a Sooper Hero from now on.