Dear Starbucks

Two parts PR grab, one part gimmick and one part genuine interest in their customers ideas? It's anyone's guess, really. Either way, MyStarbucksIdea.com is Starbucks' Web 2.0 way of harnessing the collective intelligence of its clientèle.

Similar to Should Do This - a site I wrote about a few months ago - MyStarbucksIdea.com is a forum for Starbucks regulars to post their ideas on how Starbucks can improve on anything from products to service to the customer experience as a whole. All ideas can be voted and commented on and they are reviewed by a team of Starbucks "partners" (employees).

Currently the most popular ideas include:

• Adopt a frequent customer reward system (punch card, loyalty points, etc.)
• Offer free Wi-Fi internet access in all locations
• Create separate lines for brewed coffee and for special orders

The Ideas in Action section is Starbucks' way of showing us that they're actually paying attention. So, Collective Mind of the Internet, what say you?

Sound Bites

Did you know that Franz Ferdinand lead singer and guitarist Alex Kapranos is also an accomplished food critic? Oh, you did, did you?


Well, did you know that he wrote a food column for the Guardian called Soundbites where he reported on his adventures in food while on the road with FF? Yeah, you knew that too. In 2006 he also wrote a book called Sound Bites (get it?) where he...yeah I guess I'm a bit late on this one. Still noteworthy though, right? Ugh.

Mojito Cupcakes

Rum + lime + mint = mojito.


Mojito + cupcake = mojito cupcake! Obviously.



Via Cupcake Takes The Cake.

You Had Me At Maple-Bacon Lollipop

So I haven't posted anything for over two months now. That's not to say that I haven't seen anything post-worthy in the last little while, I've just been lazy. So what's the one thing that was interesting enough to rouse me from my blogless slumber? Could it be anything less awesome than Maple-Bacon lollipops? No. It really couldn't.


Lollyphile introduces their miracle of confection with: "Hey guys we made meat candy that's so awesome." That's pretty much exactly something I would say. So basically you're just sitting there sucking on an tasty maple lolly when you happen on a glorious bit of bacon. And not just any bit of bacon either, "sustainable, organic, cured bacon." It's just so...beautiful. Also available in absinthe.

Via NotCot.org

This Is Your Breakfast

Photographer John Huck has taken pictures of people and coupled them up with pictures of what they had for breakfast that morning. And then he posted them on his site. That's it! Not sure exactly what part of that is compelling but I did find it engaging enough to click through every one of them so there's got to be something there. Anyone else find this interesting?



Via Kottke.org.

Bloggermelon Steak

So looks like watermelon steak is all the rage amongst bloggers these days. Pan seared with salt and pepper seasoning according to this recipe that ran in the Boston Globe. Not really sure how tasty it would be but, like any good blogger, if it sounds funny and it's accompanied by a pretty picture, I'll post about it here!

Fruitimathics

So I had a pluot last night, which is a plum-apricot hybrid fruit. It was tasty, thanks for asking. And so it got me thinking, as any true blogger would: “my blog is long overdue for a post on hybrid fruit.” So, without further ado, here’s, uh, a list of hybrid fruit:

• Blackberry + Raspberry = Kotata berry/Loganberry/Tayberry
• Blackberry + Dewberry = Youngberry
• Loganberry (= Blackberry + Raspberry) + Dewberry = Boysenberry
• Loganberry (= Blackberry + Raspberry) + Youngberry (= Blackberry + Dewberry) = Olallieberry
• Peach + Apricot + Plum = Peacotum™ (seriously)
• Apricot + Plum = Plumcot
• Apricot (1/4) + Plum (3/4) = Pluot™
• Apricot (3/4) + Plum (1/4) = Aprium™

I should also tell you about Zaiger Genetics, "a Family Organized to Improve Fruit Worldwide" that has "achieved global prominence for their robust fruit and rootstock breeding program." They hold the trademark for pluots, apriums and peacotums, amongst others.

I sure am glad we had this little chat, aren’t you? What's that you say? Worst post ever? Sigh.

Pickles Do It Better

Dear nice people who work at Pickle Sickle,

I love pickles. I love popsicles too. Ergo I will surely love, love your pickle juice popsicles. Please send me a lifetime supply of Pickle Sickles so that I can tell the world how wonderful they truly are.

With love,

Sharelle

P.S. If they are made from bread and butter pickle juice then don’t bother.

Via Junk Food Blog.

Would You Like Fries With Your Chips?

OK so looks like I’m a little late to the party on this one. Like, really late. Like, everyone’s-already-passed-out-and-the-sun-is-rising late but I still think this is very important information nonetheless. Almost timeless really. Our friends over at Frito-Lay (and by “friends” I mean I’ve never met them but I’m secretly hoping they’ll send me free chips) came up with a clever marketing campaign/contest called X-13D. Sometime in May 2007 mysterious looking bags of Doritos like this:

Were made available for public consumption (presumably on in the US only). The idea is that people had to name the flavor of the chip and enter their guess online to see if they won. Brilliant. Now that’s all fine and dandy but the real news here is the actual flavor. I’m not entirely convinced that you can handle it but I’m going to tell you anyway:

Cheeseburger! Doritos! Cheeseburger Doritos! This is an important moment in history, dear readers. If anyone out there has managed to get their grubby little fingers on these special chips, please do share your flavor experience with us. I have so many questions! Can you taste all the toppings? Ketchup? Mustard? Pickles? Beef? Lettuce? Sesame bun? Please tell us, in 250 – 300 words, how your life has changed since experiencing this unique flavor amalgamation.

Too far?

But Is It Edible?

OK now I don't know Brent or Annette but I do know that they're cool. How do I know? Look at their wedding cake. I wonder if it was mushroom flavoured.


Via BoingBoing.

What Will The Chickens Think?

According to this New York Times article CBS will start advertising their prime time line up on eggs. Warning: may contain lame egg puns.


Via Notcot.org.

Soda Geyser

OK I think pretty much everyone knew about this except for me but I want to share with you just in case there's some other poor soul out there who is just as unaware as me. Apparently if you mix Mentos candy and any kind of soda you get a soda geyser of sorts. Many poor fools have taken it upon themselves to a) try the experiment b) record the entire thing and c) post it on YouTube for the collective benefit of the citizens of the internet. There are quite a few of these videos out there . A YouTube search for coke + mentos or pepsi + mentos should pull up most of them. As for what causes the reaction, you can find a pretty decent explanation on Steve Spangler Science. And in case you're too lazy to read the whole thing, here's the gist of it:

As soon as the Mentos hit the soda, bubbles form all over the surface of the candy...When all this gas is released, it literally pushes all of the liquid up and out of the bottle in an incredible soda blast.

See, I do all the work for you.

Thanks Joy!