Know of a restaurant that would love to advertise with a live commercial on the web here at www.WatchAndWinIt.com? Everyone has a friend, relative, or neighbor in the restaurant industry, and this could be an easy sell. Here’s what you do…

1) Tell them (or better…  show them) about www.WatchAndWinIt.com and how you enjoy using the site* (see Blog info below).
2) THEY MUST CALL ME and REFERENCE YOU at (602) 361-4524 and mention CODE: User Referral Special “August”
3)  E-mail me (JCKobashi@gmail.com) the business name, location, & manager  and have the MANAGER CALL ME!
4) I’ll do the selling (you probably want to explain the site a little), you just get me in the door.
*You may want to direct them to the blog at (which explains how it works)  http://watchandwinit.wordpress.com/business-clients/

If you set the appointment and they sign up, I’ll give them a $30 break, and I’ll buy you the dish they feature.  Instead of $180 (current package price) I’ll give them a deal of $150 for 6 months (Just $25/mo… that includes the $150 value initial commercial taping and editing).  This may be as easy as sending them a link to this post.  If you like to eat, this is simple!!!

A CONTEST to get PAID

Do You Have A Lot of LOCAL Friends?

If you can’t tell, we love contests… If you’re interested in making money for telling people about www.WatchAndWinIt.com, we’ll pay you. Here’s how:

1) E-mail (JCKobashi@gmail.com) me and tell me you’re interested in the “Tell people about the WatchAndWinIt.com service contest

2) I will then add your name to the “How did you hear about WatchAndWinIt” list which new users can choose when THEY are SIGNING UP.

For each NEW signed up ARIZONA validated (live person) user who choses YOUR NAME from the “How did you hear about us” AND THEN watches at least 5 videos, we’ll count that as 1 point for you.

The ONE (1) person with the most points at the end of the month (April 1-30) will then get $1 for EACH person that had signed up AND referenced your name as “How they heard”. You may want to mention that www.WatchAndWinIt.com is FREE to use and they only have certificates from great restaurants to gain.

Way’s to Spread the Word

• Share it with your office
• Post it on your facebook or myspace friends (for AZ friends) AND Fan Page  www.WatchAndWinIt.com on Facebook
• Tell your neighbors and friends while sitting out in your driveway enjoying this great weather
• Tell your extended family
• Put it on your blog (Az users)
• Mention it to the PTO or Groups You’re Part Of at your school
• Tweet it out (Az Friends)
• Tell your book club

Again, they MUST (Meet ALL of the CRITERIA): 

1) Be from Arizona 

2) Choose your name from “How did you hear about” (You e-mailed me first to add your name) 

3) Have watched 5 videos (and be entered into 5 separate drawings for themselves)

You could COPY and PASTE this…

“Win great food for watching videos. Go to www.WatchAndWinIt.com and Sign Up and choose (my name) in ‘How did you hear about…’  Watch a minimum of 5 videos and you’ll be entered into 5 separate contests to win those dishes.  It’s FREE to sign up and use.  Thank you (oh, and if you win, we’re going out to eat together!).”

This contest starts April 1st through April 30th and depending on the success may be repeated with all counters cleared.  Limited to 5 people/groups (1 in 5 chance)

Superbowl XLIV has come and gone, and again Denny’s gave away their Free Grand Slam breakfasts.  On Tuesday, driving by the local Denny’s one could see lines out the door, and people waiting for as much as 3+ hours for their FREE $5.99 breakfast.  Sure it’s a sure thing, but that’s only if you have an average 90 minutes to wait on a specific Tuesday between 5AM and 2PM. How about if I give an even better value opportunity?  I’ll even guarantee it.

The website www.WatchAndWinIt.com has 52 dishes with the average price of $19.00 and 4 dishes over $30.00.  Registered users only need to sign in, and watch the :30 second video to be entered to win it in a monthly drawing.  Watch all 52, and be entered in 52 separate drawings with an amazing opportunity to win a dish that is way more than $5.99.  One theoretically can watch all of them in about 30 minutes, which is far less than the 90 minutes waiting outside a Denny’s.

What’s the cost?  FREE!  What’s the catch? Really, there isn’t one.  We don’t sell your information.  We don’t spam.  We just want to get eyeballs in front of our videos which feature “signature flavors” of the restaurant.  The goal is that one can “Explore cuisine through video”. Our end goal is to be extremely useful, and you’ll see how www.WatchAndWinIt.com caters to the question of “Where shall we go to dinner tonight?”.

So here’s the guarantee.  Sign up (be sure to sign in each time), and watch 40 videos in the month of February.  If you do NOT win one of those 40 on March 1st, send me an e-mail ( I’ll verify your 40) and NO QUESTIONS ASKED, I’ll send you a personal check for a FREE Denny’s Grand Slam.  Trust me, exploring cuisine is FUN!

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Remember to constantly check your “My Account” to verify that you are SIGNED IN (after you’ve registered), and are getting credit for viewing the videos you watch.  Just remember to SIGN IN FIRST!

The cultural particulars of dining are very interesting.  For instance, have you ever noticed the European, who, after cutting their meat, puts it into their mouth without turning it tines up?  In the olden days, the kiss of death for a spy was to be invited to dinner, as there are hundreds of folkways that govern dining behavior not able to be taught unless you grew up learning all of them. Another example, have you ever been at a Japanese teppanyaki table, and a complete stranger refills your glass? Try it yourself sometime, and watch the reaction. Just smile and know that you are honoring them (by putting them before your own wellness).  These are the types of things I need to know.

Google University had some great sites educating me however I didn’t know which ones were particularly important. Thanks to some websites (honored near the end if you’d like to read more), I’m a little more prepared.   Here are some of the more interesting factoids that I WAS able to pick up, but I need advice from others, so if you know of other things, it’d be much appreciated.

• Do not  ’rest’ chopsticks stabbed and sticking out in your rice bowl, as it signifies death and misfortune. Being Japanese, this I do know, but I know I’m guilty of doing it every once in a while.
• Pepsi spent a lot of money on an advertising campaign in China with the slogan ’Pepsi gives you life’ - the only problem was they got the translation a little skewed – the translation came out ‘Pepsi brings your ancestors back from the grave.’  That’s why I support Coke products (and also thanks to Scott).
• When KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) first translated its advertising slogan “finger lickin’ good” into Chinese, it came out as “eat your fingers off.” Hahahahaha!  ROFL
• Traditionally, Chinese believed it was impolite to talk too much while eating. A good meal was regarded as too special to be spoiled by conversation. Will someone quietly please tell this to my mother? Just kidding Mom. No seriously, I’m kidding!
• The soup is typically served last, so that the duck (which was typically served in a previous course) can swim off and is used to “wash down” a good meal like a good drink. I’d still rather prefer my sake bomber!
• In order to cool the soup a bit and to better diffuse the flavor in the mouth, soup is eaten by sipping from the spoon while breathing in. This method, of course, produces the slurping noise that is taboo in the West. I tell my wife this, but she insists on kicking me under the table every single time.
• Even today polite Chinese don’t start eating until the eldest person at the table picks up his chopsticks or spoon and no one is excused from the table until the eldest person has finished eating. Just be forewarned, if the 2 eldest are BOTH female and you’re not sure who’s older… wait for BOTH of them!
• When the communal courses come around, you should take equally from each dish in turn, never betraying a preference for a particular item by eating more of it, never seeming to pause to choose a specific bite from the plate. Ooops!  I’m going to have to work on my acting skills a little… “How did that jumbo prawn accidentally end up on my plate?”  
• If you are offered ’fragrant meat’ in China, be aware that this is their way of referring to dog meat! PSA- Just thought you should know
• Chinese consider it somewhat rude to eat in front of non-eating people, dating back to a time when eating in public was considered mean to people who didn’t have enough to eat. You go home now! You been here too long for 2 hour! (I’m Asian, I can get away with it).
• Chopsticks originated in China almost 4,000 years ago, and the replacement of chopsticks for knives for eating at the table supposedly indicates the increased respect for the scholar over the warrior in Chinese society. I’m going to impress someone with this tid bit of information.
• Dishes with fish and chicken are often full of bones. The Chinese often spit out bones and seeds and skin and anything else they don’t want to swallow on the floor or table cloth. It is not frowned upon to make a big mess. Chinese are notorious for spitting on the floor of restaurants.  I’ve never seen this! But I’m curious.
• To eat fan (grain- typically rice), a diner raises the bowl to her lips and pushes the grains into her mouth with chopsticks. This is the easiest way to eat it and shows proper enjoyment — eating fan from a bowl left sitting on the table suggests dissatisfaction with the food. The diner must finish all the fan. To leave even a grain is considered bad manners, a lack of respect for the labor required to produce it. And here I thought my mother just wanted me to clean the bowl so that it didn’t clog up the drain! 
• Splitting the bill is considered crude and barbaric. Being the one that pays it is considered an honor. According to Chinese custom the person that extends an invitation or the highest ranking person present is the person who pays. When there is a friendly argument over who pays, the most respected individual is expected to win out. Dilemmas, dilemmas, dilemmas!

These were the ones that I found particularly interesting.  Visit these sites to see more!

These facts borrowed (with much honor) from:

• http://www.foodreference.com
• http://www.cuisinenet.com
• http://factsanddetails.com/china

Here are the Chinese dishes that WatchAndWinIt.com has.  Don’t forget to sign in first on the home page and then if you watch the video, you will be able to win the dish in a monthly drawing.

• Royal Nest from Jade Palace
• Spicy Homestyle Chicken from Jade Palace
• Shrimp with Honey Glazed Walnuts from George & Sons

     So, as I prepare for the Lunar New Year Banquet, are there any other things that you would suggest?  I’d love to hear you comments below!

Happy dining and wish me prosperity luck!

Heirloom- This week was a great success.  The ever-enthusiastic Chef Michael of Heirloom will be putting together a commercial for WatchAndWinIt.com this last week of January.  We’ve been in the process for a couple of weeks and the busy beginning of the year is now allowing us to go forward.  If you liked Michaels at the Citidel, you’re going to love this dish coming out.  Plan your schedule to watch this one.

Cocomo Joes- We just taped this one at the end of the month. These aren’t your everyday fish tacos.  Their big thing was a “weekend state of mind”… if that’s the case… I’m going to have a weekend everyday if possible.  The people that were in for happy hour were very inviting and laughing the whole time… and it was a Tuesday.  The food or the ‘family’… I’m not sure what’s better about the place.  Oh, the coconut onion rings are an absolute must.

O’Donoghues Pub- We started this project in November, but we couldn’t get a clean audio.  We’re ready now for 2 great dishes from your favorite Irish Pub in N. Scottsdale.  Nothing against Rula Bula (my college favorite hang-out), but this place rocks.  I never thought I could travel across seas in just 15 minutes (the drive time from my house).  Talk to Paul for just 5 minutes and you’ll be in stitches.  

Tandoori Times Indian Cuisine- Chicken Tandoori Tikka is now my official Indian favorite.  It’s a little like your tongue does a dance with the sour, sweet, and unique spices all joined into one.  This dish is delicious.  I’d love to get in and see the live bellydancing on weekend nights.  I love to have an experience when I go out, and I know I can find it here!

Indulge Burgers- Definitely not your average burger joint.  Gourmet burgers cooked to perfection using the best quality beef makes for a wonderful restaurant concept.  This restaurant is sexy and changes the whole game when you think of a burger joint.  

Village Tavern- We’re still going to try to get this one going.  The audio needs to be re-done and we may have this one going and we might not.  The Whitefish is delicious and fall off the fork tender.

Our restaurant did a lot of print advertising, and toyed with radio and TV commercials.  But we learned lessons the hard way, that a .05% return was great if we made semi-regular attempts.  When we decided to try print, radio, and TV all for a month, we jumped to almost 1%.  But 1% of 160,000 estimated household views cost a lot, and most of the customers were already our customers redeeming the coupon we gave out so that we could ‘track’ our effectiveness.  Since WatchAndWinIt.com is new, I think I have a lot to gain, however, I’m not sure if 1% is the right way to go?  Because it’s a novel and useful site, it may just work… but will people watch, remember, and then log-on to their computers.

I think my business clients love my concept because it’s the new way of advertising and its inexpensive.  But as liberal as web advertising is for restaurants, they all are stuck on conservative-minded forms of advertising such as TV and newspapers.  I’m a little old-school thinking too, and so I think this might actually work.  Am I crazy?

Advice Topic #1: Suggestions and advice for these forms (print, radio, television) of advertising?

All things point towards marketing on the web for this web-based business.  It makes perfect sense to advertise on the web, but there’s a lot of questions that come with it.  The tough sell is showing my conservative business clients the utility of advertising through bloggers and advertisements on high-traffic websites.  It’s interesting, to me, that they don’t get the connection though most of them have tried TV and Radio in the past themselves with the same results.

Advice Topic #2:  How do I convince them that using social media for my advertising is actually the best way to go?

Lastly, there’s a million and one different ways to go on the web, and there’s always something new. My business is only here in the Valley, and the web is world-wide, but many routes have a much larger scope than what I want to broadcast.  I need bloggers and ideas that are perfect matches.  Everyone knows someone, who knows someone…  Who do I want to know?

Advice Topic #3: Who’s who in the valley for this website that features food?