Pitch Policy

I am considered an “influencer” by some PR firms around town. I’m also considered Media in many circles.  What that means is that I have a big mouth and am willing to try and document my experiences with new and interesting things. Especially if they are free and don’t cause a conflict of interest with my core business – CheapEats Restaurant Guides.

I’m open to pitches of all types, you never know what new thing will catch my eye.  Though pitches that are clear and align to my interests are far more likely to get a response than those that are generic “spray-and-pray” eblasts (which often get deleted before I realize they are anything other than spam).

I will:

• attend events, media junkets and tastings intended to introduce or profile new and local food, wine, and restaurants. Including those where meals, drinks and/or samples are provided.
• accept and sometimes request media passes to events and conferences.
• accept evaluation samples of food, wine and kitchenware.
• accept evalation versions of gadgets, tech, software and tech toys.
• accept evaluation copies of books:
  • cookbooks
  • business books
  • marketing books
  • food & wine related books
• accept and request sponsorship and prizes for book launches, openings and fundraisers on behalf of my businesses (Plethora Press, Secret Pickle and my Photography) and charities (HoHoTO and Toronto Taste)
• maintain an arms-length relationship with restaurateurs and restaurants, to the best of my ability, especially those that are possible candidates for CheapEats Guides
• attempt to maintain a level of anonymity in restaurants in the CheapEats Guides price range.
• try your product, service or experience with an open mind… and probably lots of enthusiasm
• share your product, service or experience, if I believe in it and you give me stuff to give away to others
• answer honestly with my opinion if and when asked.  No matter who is asking.

What I WON’T do:

• say nice things because I got something free
• be anything less than honest about:
  1. getting something for free;
  2. my opinion of the product, service or experience;
• guarantee that I will write, photograph or talk about a product, experience or service.  Of course if it is remarkable, I’ll probably remark. But no guarantees.
• accept a free meal, gifts or gratuities from any restaurant that could be considered a CheapEat.  No way. No how.
  Note:  This rule has been broken twice in the last 9 years, by people making kind and generous gestures. Now both restaurants have even more stringent criteria to be considered for CheapEats:
  1. Mutual Street Deli – the waitress bought me lunch once and told me a stranger had paid for everyone in an act of random kindness.  When I found out the truth and attempted to pay her back the entire restaurant ganged up on me and wouldn’t let me. I tipped wildly. Which I gather was part of why she did it in the first place.
  2. Salad King – the owner paid for my dinner one night after a media event we’d both attended somewhere else. It wasn’t expected and I wasn’t able to fix it. I then explained, in great detail, why I would no longer be able to write about them for CheapEats and how much more public endorsement they would require to get considered for inclusion in the book. (I take this rule VERY seriously)

Stuff I’ve gotten for free as a blogger, influencer, media or some other reason I assume isn’t just because I’m cute:

• a Palm Pre from Bell & Palm (when it was still Palm and not HP)
• Salmon, wine and other fixings to host a dinner party from True North Salmon
• Rice milk and a blender from Ryza
• a Motorola Atrix and all the fixings from Motorola
• Business and cookbooks from a variety of publishers and authors.
• Chocolate from Dove.
• Assorted swag from launches, events, promotions and conferences – this has included, but is not limited to: USB sticks, sauces, shopping bags, broccoli, apple, avocado, wine, beer coupons, olive oil, gift certificates, t-shirts, buttons, stickers… you know, swag stuff.
• You can see and up to date set of photos of the things I’ve received and participated here: Cuz I Buzz
• Note: I also occasionally win things (makeup from Benefit, iPad from blubrry.com, dinner for 4 from LittleKitchen.ca, digital pen from KPMG, Sorry the boardgame in grade 3) I don’t consider those as part of this Disclosure but you can see some of those things here: Stuff I’ve Won

Stuff I like:

• Food – especially interesting new ingredients, flavours and products.
• Food events – tastings, markets, classes, dining experiences.
• Cameras – I’m a junkie!  Especially macro stuff
• Restaurant launches – but only ever considered attending the launches of chains or high-end places with prices WELL out of the CheapEats range.
• Phones – my first life was a developer in the telephony world, and I’m still a huge phone-geek.
• Markets – I grew up on an organic farm and selling vegetables, baskets and health-food in a city market. I love markets they feel like home!
• Wine & wineries – I like them big and jammy. I’m not an expert, but I have a lot of friends who are.
• Green Tech – I spent 2-3 months a year living on a small island, cooking over fire and running completely off solar. And that includes winter months.  If you have anything that would fit in that environment, I want to know about it!
• Gadgets and Technology – all types computers, tablets, gadgets for office and kitchen.
• Books – I like books about social media, business (not finance), interactive technology, cookbooks and pretty much any food book out there. I also like well written Fantasy, SciFi and Mystery books.
• Travel – I love, love, love to travel and explore. Beaches, hotels, markets, tents, car trips, boats, trains… love them all

This site and the associated social media accounts that link here are mine alone, they dont represent the thoughts, views, opinions or practices of my employer (who is me anyway), friends, family, minions, pets, children. If you’d like to reach me, you can email lex at plethorapress dot com.

Read my Disclosure Policy

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