Archive for the ‘Ideas’ Category

Gastronomical goodness that's good for you...

Those who know me, know that I love start ups almost as much as I love travel writing and lifestyle. It’s here in one place at Gastronaut, the eclectic, farm fresh, sustainable and ‘good for you’ catering company by ex-Google chefs, Nate Keller and Mirit Cohen. Their mission: ‘To thrill our clients with adventures on the food frontier.’  The very fact that they were able to knock the socks off of Sergey and Larry means only one thing: you pretty much know that your wedding, rehearsal dinner or engagement party (from the Playa to the patio) is going to go off without a hitch. The fact that it’s good for you? A value add all around…Bon appetit!

Gastronaut:

• Adheres to the ChooseMyPlate standards laid out by the USDA
• 85% of all produce is certified organic
• All meat’s are “Never-Ever” fed hormones and antibiotics
• Only serve cage-free fresh eggs—never use commodity pre-cracked eggs
• We follow the guidelines of Monterey  Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program
• All food served (including all stocks, soups, dressings and sauces) is made from scratch or purchased from artisan vendors. Nothing comes from a base.
• Communicate and create dialog about menus, including helpful information such as ingredients, allergens, country of origin, etc.

Have yums, will travel...

About Gastronaut

While they are most commonly referred to as the “ex-Google chefs,” Mirit Cohen and Nate Keller are the duo behind Gastronaut’s eclectic menu and have broken out from this title to create an identity of their own with their bold menu and quirky approach to social catering. When not catering lunches for large Bay Area companies like Twitter and Yelp, Gastronaut caters intimate social events of all kinds—from weddings to picnics to Bar Mitzvahs—with an array of menu themes—from Ramadan Breakfast to Indian Fusion cocktail parties to Busta Rhymes’ birthday. They have even recently created on special line of “on the go meals” called Playa Provisions. Gastronaut’s unique culinary flare mixed with a commitment to fresh, organic, and sustainable ingredients adds both quality and adventure to dining. CEO and Co-Founder Mirit Cohen was studying in a masters program at Stanford before abruptly changing careers to pursue a culinary career in 2004. Choehn was quickly promoted from Chef’s Assistant to Executive Chef at Google during her tenure at the internet giant before eventually running Google’s catering department for a year, producing numerous large-scale events.

Co-Founder and Executive Chef Nate Keller began his culinary career after graduating from the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in 1999 at and working as a Sous Chef at numerous high end restaurants in Northern California. Starting as a Sous Chef at Google in 2003, Keller rose the ranks and served as Google’s Executive Chef from Google 2005-2008 and concurrently opened 8 cafe’s in California and New York. Keller added to his resume as Executive Chef at Apple and joined forces with Cohen in November of 2008 to found Gastronaut, a new age catering company.

Photos: Courtesy of Gastronautsf.com

 

Venpop offers retailers the best way to reward loyal fans and follower…

Seattle, WA, August 11, 2011 – Traditionally brands have turned to deal platforms such as Groupon, RueLaLa, and Gilt to gain customers. The large audiences of these deal platforms appeal to retailers and in the immediate does result in sales. However, the sales are often at a loss for the retailer and they rarely, if ever, result in loyal customers. A recent study from Rice University explains, “That out of 150 Groupon customers, 33% lost revenue on the deal and another 66% barely broke even.” To gain loyal fans, brands should forgo offering deals that only appeal to deal-hunters and instead look to reward their repeat customers. Venpop’s social group deal platform allows retailers to share exclusive deals with those who deserve it most; their loyal customers.

Venpop, unlike traditional deal platforms, lets retailers offer their fans and followers what their fans and followers want most; exclusive offers from the brand they are loyal to. Offers can be both flash-sale goods and/or coupons for in-store or online purchases. Venpop combines this with the ability to target specific offers by location, categories, and times of the day or week. Such deals are available only to current customers, fans, and followers of the brand. Retailers can further incentivize their fans by offering customer referral bonuses and by making it easy for fans and followers to share brand deals on social networks.

“We believe there are many different ways to reward and engage your loyal fan base that goes beyond the traditional discount coupon.  We designed a platform that would enable a variety of scenarios from an exclusive pre-sale of a new collection to a two-hour deal for an in-store special.   It’s all about enabling our retail customers to engage and reward their customers.” Says, Max Ciccotosto, CEO of Venpop.

The Venpop Social group offering is available now to Venpop customers. Current retailers using the social group deal application include designer Amanda Pearl, novelty gift supplier Karma Kiss, and eco-friendly retailer Green Feet.

About Venpop

Venpop is the leading social commerce platform that easily and effectively enables retailers to market their products on social networks like Facebook and Twitter. Venpop combines this with the ability to target specific offers by location, category, and time of day. Advanced analytics provide insights on how and where customers are engaging with the retailer’s products, allowing for valuable, instant feedback. The Venpop’s social deal offering is part of the Venpop Social Commerce platform, which quite simply lets retailers leverage social media marketing in one easy, effective, and affordable solution.