Good question. By most accounts, I’m a pretty nice gal who is a little accident-prone. But because I’m a mom to four kids, I sometimes have to run my house like a Marine brigade. This means that ‘at any one time, someone is not happy and that obviously, in my kids eyes, makes me mean and evil. Thus, Evil Chef Mom.
Where are you located?
Born, raised, and still living in Stockton, California.
Stockton is the Rodney Dangerfield of California, it gets no respect. I love my town but it does have problems. So it’s like family…I can bash it all I want but no else can. Are we clear?
Now for some adult conversation. (Not that kind, you creep. Get your mind out of the gutter. I’m talking about policies.)
Photography:
All photos are taken by me and protected by U.S. Copyright Laws unless otherwise noted. Photos are taken with an Olympus 510 E-volt. My camera is also a member of the family.
Comments:
Here’s the deal; anybody is welcome to leave a comment. You can hate me or adore me (dripping sarcasm right about now). Either way, I’m cool with that… Let me know what’s on your mind and leave me a comment. E-mail me if you see a problem, if you think a recipe is crappy [gasp- do you have taste buds?] or to give me a piece of your mind. I will respond unless you are being a total douche then all bets are off. Hell. I might even respond then, but you’d better grab your Kevlar undies ‘cause I’ll hit below the belt. I figure we are all adults here, I’m not here to babysit you or your comments. Use common sense and the world is a happy place.
Reviews and Giveaways:
Yeah. Who doesn’t like them? I like free stuff just like everyone else. But I have rules (lots and lots of rules): Just because you send me something doesn’t mean I’m going to write about it. Just because I write about it doesn’t mean I’m going to be nice. Once you send it to me the ball’s in my court. No take-backsies. I do with it what I want if you send it to me whether it’s using it and loving it, letting my kids use it for a hackeysack or donating it to the local food pantry. Once in a blue moon I’ll do a giveaway. For the most part these are sponsored by yours truly. If you want to give something to my readers, contact me personally and tell me your idea. I just might like it…
Then this will happen, you’ll give me a bunch of rules and we will go back and forth emailing for awhile. So let me be upfront and tell you how I like to do giveaways for sponsored products:
1. I will always provide at least one link to product’s website and/or Facebook/ Twitter page, All in all, I will in all likelihood do all three.
2. If the product comes damaged in the mail… I will alert you to remedy the problem
3. IF I do not like the product I will notify you and tell you I don’t think it’s up to par. I won’t slam you in a review because I don’t think that is playing nice.
4. When I do a review, I have no problem emailing you the review first before i hit the publish button but if you add any other criteria after I emailed my review to you (unless there is a very well thought out reason), I probably will yank the review and let all my readers know. That’s shady
5. In a sponsored giveaway, I will not ask readers to become a fan of your site on Facebook UNLESS said product changes my life or is truly exceptional. If it is, I will praise it to the heavens. Remember my site isn’t a high pressure time share sales pitch and I am not a used car salesman. Even in my own giveaways [paid with my own money] I do not ask readers to become a FAN of evil chef mom. I don’t feel comfortable doing that.
6. I will always follow
7. I like to take my own pictures of whatever product I review, readers then know I have actually used/ate said product and it provides continuity within my site/post.
Let’s be honest here… yes, good lord that’s a lot of hoop jumping but I have to jump through some of my own. Yes, I will get free merchandise but you, in turn, hope to get more business which in turn equals more money for your business. I get my back scratched for 5 minutes and depending on how good your product is you might get your back scratched for 5 minutes plus make some money. Not a bad deal for you.
Bizarrely enough in my mind, this balances the playing field. I know it won’t make me money or I won’t be a very popular mommy blogger but I will be able to sleep at night.
Links Exchanges:
I’ll admit this. I hate…no, loathe updating my links, it’s like being a kid and being assigned homework over Christmas break. It is cruel and unusual punishment. And, in all likelihood, it will not get done by me. Yes, I was a bad student, smart but with no (what’s that word?) oh yeah… ambition, drive, motivation, discipline.
ANNND… (true story) I was hit by The Dreadful Korean Porn Spammer who then hit a lot of other blogs that I had linked to and then The Dreadful Korean Porn Spammer left comments on those blogs that somehow bounced back to me by the magic of unicorns that poop cupcakes with rainbow sprinkles… also known as the Internet. So it gave me another reason not to do links because you don’t want Korean Porn Spam Unicorns that poop cupcakes with rainbow sprinkles on your blog, now do you? Trust me, it leaves a huge mess.
So I guess in other words, you can ask but it probably won’t happen. Unless I love you. And even then…
Using Pictures or Recipes on Evil Chef Mom:
I’m of two minds on this subject. I’m totally cool with most of it… as long as you link back and give some credit. Don’t play it off like it’s your own. On the other hand, I hate sites that are all “ask and receive permission first. If you don’t, I will kill you with my one thumb” approach. Cooking is not about that, it’s about sharing and I hate lessipe. It’s just plain wrong. Think about what your grade school teacher told you about plagiarism. Use common sense, give credit where credit is due, everyone is happy and no bad karma or murder by thumb ensues. And also? There’s this little thing called Copyright Law. Don’t make me use it. I don’t want to be the heavy.
Meet The Sous Chefs:
Rich: Husband… sometimes called The Man. Hates to cook, loves to eat, will not bbq, has some strange food rules that after many years of marriage I still don’t understand. And he will murder by thumb if you mess with his baseball viewing. Job description: Being manly and watching baseball. (He added that last part.)
Katie, 18: Job description- Wicked smart college student, baker, cook, and -if I can manage to get my way- an aspiring chef. Be aware that you must guard your food at all times when Katie is around. She is a master thief when it comes to stealing the food off your plate.
Drew, 15: A teenage boy who plays water polo. All he does is shovel food in his mouth and then ask, “Is there more?” or “When is the next meal?” Job description -Main dishwasher. Sadly, despite the amount of food he consumes, he doesn’t cook.
Will, 14: Job Description- Main grill guy, second dishwasher, garbage boy. Did I mention he is LOUD? Because he is. And yes, I do let him BBQ. Because it is outside. And he is loud.
Nancy,12: The baby. Gives the stank eye or what is known around here as “the look” quite a lot but she bakes cakes from scratch, then frosts and decorates them. And she keeps me in freshly baked cookies so I tolerate “the look”. Upon reflection I realize this does not make me a good parent. I’ll do anything for cookies and my kids know this about me. I don’t think I’ll be winning the Parent of The Year Award anytime soon. Who cares? Nancy! Pass the cookies.
