Bring out the best?

I have no idea what the professional journal/conference for PR folks is, but I've thought it might be fun to do an article/panel on how not to pitch a blogger. The Cod is a small enough fish that I'm not exactly inundated with press releases, but I get a bunch, and many of them betray a fundamental misapprehension of how the whole blog enterprise works. But more on that later. In the meantime, the Ethicurean points out what might be a cannier approach on the part of Hellman's Mayo (Best Foods to you Cali types):

Last week I received an email from a professional at a world-renowned advertising agency about a new campaign for his client Hellman’s Mayonnaise. (On the West Coast it’s sold under the Best Foods brand.) He said they wanted to hear my thoughts on real food. If they liked my description, they’d feature the post on the Yahoo Food site they’d set up, where "celebrity chef" Dave Lieberman* is blogging and posting videos about Americans and real food. In case I was worried that they just wanted to help me advertise mayonnaise, oh no.

"Our aim is not to get you to talk about Hellmann’s or mayo, but to get your authentic view on what ‘real food’ means to you so we can share it as part of our site," said the email. "To that end, your post does NOT have to mention our campaign or anything about Hellmann’s."

Now, I'd never heard of the Yahoo food site, or the Yahoo/Hellman's 'Real Food' site, but I imagine it gets a fair amount of traffic. Most bloggers are sluts for exposure, and it's not hard to imagine being tempted by this kind of approach. More concerning, though also not surprising, is the totally brazen effort to claim the mantle of "Real Food." I like Hellman's and it has a place in my kitchen. It is a fundamentally different product from home-made mayo. But to assert that it is "real food"is dangerous. Not so much because of the DL Alpha Tocopherol and whatnot, as that it takes an idea "real food"  that has some value as a way to encourage people to think about what they eat, and replaces it with "Real Food," which seems to mean something like a return to the dark ages of Taste of Home. Hellman's Real Food, if it gets any traction, threatens to occlude real food with Real Food, which seems to mean things like Yukon Gold potatoes tossed with a shit-ton of Hellman's.

*Who?

Comments

[Marco]

I first had Hellman's in the early 70's when I moved to chic upstate NY. My frist encounter with mayo was Seidner's which had its plant in Westerly, RI, my home town. The mayo was dark yellow and not jelly-like. It wouldn't stay on a knife. It was delicious. Hellman's was a shock to me. I've never recovered ans spend my days pining for Otto Seidner's mayo.

[Donna]

MARCO,

I don't know who you are, but the Otto Seidner brand, original recipe, is back! Made and bottled in WESTERLY! I was shocked to see it on the shelf in McQuade's Market on Main Street TODAY! Just enjoyed a turkey sandwich with Seidner's mayonnaise. I was pining for it as well, but no more.

Donna

Donna

[JOHN SMITH]

Stop & Shop in Westerly also sells Seidner's; best in the world in my opinion. We load up on jars of the stuff whenever we're in Westerly.

[Kathy Scott]

I live in Philadelphia and was introduced to Seidner's through a friend in Connecticut. They visit RI annually and bring home Seidner's. Is there a phone number or address for shipping? We cannot face any other mayo at this point!

[dan boyle]

I used to live in niantic CT,now i im in the army living in tacoma washngton. The other day i had my mom send me out seidners from the east coast. I think im the only person in the west with real mayo please post a shipping address for the company

[Marilyn Barrette]

I'm still searching for for Seidner's Mayo in eastern CT. Does anyone know where it's sold? Thanks.

[Outof Seidners]

I have been looking for Seidners in Westerly, RI for three months now. I even went to northern RI in search of. No one near PVD has even heard of it. There was a sign in some westerly store that said Seidners was having production problems. Does anyone know who is selling it? Thank you very much.

[Dianne Sherman]

Richmond Stop & Shop used to carry it but has not stocked any for months. I am trying to find an address for the company to call or e-mail for information. Any hints?

[Joe Armfield]

Seidner's is sold at Dave's Market on Diamond Hill Road in Cumberland,RI. It's been several years since I have been able to locate the product. Almost got stopped for speeding trying to get home so I could make a chicken sandwich.

[Helm]

Where can I find Seidners Mayo in Central Ma.?

[Bridget]

I purchase Seidners Mayo at McQuades in Mystic CT or at McQuades in Westerly RI. Stop N Shop in Montville CT on RT 32 also has carried it but has recently been awaiting a delivery. In Ledyard Center at Tri-County Market in Ledyard CT they also have it. This is by far the BEST Mayo I have ever had. My mother grew up in Westerly and it was the ONLY Mayo they used. Last year around this time Seidners was no where to be found. I was told production problems. They must have fixed their issues and they are back! Thank Goodness....when I go shopping I buy 6 at a time. I Never want to go without again.

[Suzanne Pfisterer]

I get my Seidner's at the Groton, CT Stop&Shop!

[steve]

Marilyn, Big Y in montville (next to walmart) has seidners. expensive, but worth it. I do wish that they sold directly via mail order, but...

[seidners mayo]

located a small supply of seidners mayo tri town foods in uncasville ct. at 601 norwich new london turnpike/rt.32 tel.860 8480350

[Lorraine Little]

How can I get Seidners mayo. in Maine???

[r4 card]

The mayo was dark yellow and not jelly-like. It wouldn't stay on a knife. It was delicious. Hellman's was a shock to me. I've never recovered ans spend my days pining for Otto Seidner's mayo.

[Marco]

My my! Seidner's is back! Glad I checked this thread out again.

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[Ruth hiscox griffin]

Grew up with Seidnersmayonnaise but haven't found it I Florida, where I live now. Have my sister ( from Pawcatuck) send it to me. Guess I'll have to check out the markets here. Ruth