I can’t tell you how many times we get pitches to cover a restaurant or business.  Just about everyday, a marketing rep or a business owner is telling me about such-and-such product and how I should really do a story on it or include it in a blog post because it’s so “unique.”  One of the really sad byproducts of Food TV these days, is that too many restaurants are coming up with bogus ideas, trying to see how “over the top” they can get, just to grab a share of the press’ attention.  Hey, sometimes it works.  But the people making 10 pound meatballs and five pound sandwiches are just trying too hard, in my opinion, and it’s kind of sad.

Something that does catch my eye, however, is when someone not only offers a freebie (to the public) but includes a charitable component that can do some real good.  My example this week is a new company, called Door to Door Organics.  The name is self-explanatory.  The company delivers different organic items to your door each week; kind of like Peapod, but healthier.  Beginning today, and running through the 17th, they’re holding a food drive, picking up items from their customers and delivering them to the Greater Chicago Food Depository.  The service differs from CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) in a few ways:

They deliver to your home or office, and every delivery is customizable, so no more getting a hunk of kohlrabi if you didn’t order it.  There is also no commitment; you can put your deliveries on hold or cancel at any time.

Today, the company is offering my readers a chance to win a Bitty Mixed Produce Box ($27 value), delivered to your door, for the most original poem, sonnet or haiku, telling me why you dig organic produce.   Deadlilne is Tuesday, Dec. 7, at 3 p.m.  You can submit your entries right here, in the comment section.  Good luck, and please support the Chicago Food Depository this holiday season.