Ottawa Foodies

I'm surprised I don't see any forum topics on this -- for the past few months chef Marc Lepine of Atelier has been sporadically retweeting posts from the Twitter account CobraOttawa (twitter.com/cobraottawa). CobraOttawa recently posted a link to the website www.eatcobra.ca , where there is a box to input your email address and not much else.

Just this morning I received an email asking me what my favourite potato chip flavour was, giving an outline of what Cobra is, and a few other things...I'm not going to post the full text of the email because I kind of like the mystery surrounding the whole thing (I'm sure another foodie will post it eventually), but all OttawaFoodies should definitely sign up!

Ive signed up, but Im not really sure to what exactly...

I've been following them on twitter, albeit reluctantly because I'm really not a fan of manufactured buzz. I also went to their website but I'm not going to put my email address into a webpage that just says "Email: ______ [Submit]" and nothing else.

The mystery is more annoying than anything else. The food will have to be very good to compensate for that.

w00t! ^^^^^^^^what he said

I hate surprises to begin with. And to me this is just making it more about it than about food. It is beyond food and is now something else and no longer has much to do with food. No thanks.

really no idea what's going on and it appears very bizzare and mysterious. oh all should be revealed in time as if its good, the surprise element is a big factor. maybe it's a comic book superhero, a new business concept wanting to grab you or a new movement in food culture?

wasn't exactly sure on signing up but what the heck.

Maybe it is the reintroduction of Club Z!

You young'uns won't get the reference, though :-)

I remember the guy with the top hat dancing around singing ..."the best things in life are free..."

I'm wondering if it's similar to Charlie's Burgers in Toronto - that's supposed to be great value.

LOL. Club Z. Was this before or after Zeddy the Bear?

LOL, Club Z circa 1986... Zeddy probably earlier.

I remember it well... Zeddy used to send Bday cards to the kids in the weeks ahead of their big day... complete with coupon offers with Mom in mind (HINT... buy your gifts here). In the Club Z Days, BONUS POINTS were offered.

Smart marketing... infact beyond S&G Green Stamps (or were they pink...anyone remember the really old days when IGA used to offer those 1950s thru 1970s?) Club Z would be the most successful Loyalty Program in Canadian History, so much so, that it single-handedly is the reason there are so many Loyalty Programs in Canada today... the most successful now being Air Miles Rewards (those blue cards).

Club Z became HBC Rewards when HBC started buying out other stores and joining them under the Zellers Brand (Towers - KMart etc). The idea was to promote loyalty to the HBC Group, but also to attract shoppers away from the competition (because at the time some KMarts remained, and WalMart was moving into Canada). The idea that one could accumulate "points" at both Zellers & The Bay was very appealing to Shoppers (especially as WalMart was not offering any such program). HBC Rewards was offered across all HBC Stores (The Bay, Zellers, Home Outfitters etc) starting in the late 90s or early 2000s.

I recall Zeddy being later actually

Zym - Maybe so as you recall, but he was definitely around mid 1980s (as I said I remember due to the kid's Bday Cards). Out of curiosity, I did a GOOGLE Search and found this reference to Zeddy & The Canadian Red Cross, and it says he was the Zellers Mascot since 1986 = www.redcross.ca

LOL, I believe we at one time had one of the bears pictured... I seem to remember the yellow sweater.

Looks like neither of us were right - they were both introduced in 1986

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Club_Z

back on track here, people (Zellers?!)

i take it this is some sort of underground supper club...

i've signed up!

I'm signed up too!

Me too! I've been waiting for something like this to happen in Ottawa for years since traveling to San Fran.

Wow. I also signed up.

But there's something really creepy about the thank message after you sign up:
"Cobra will contact you".

It feels a bit like fight club, really.

OK I signed up - what the heck - my spam filter is up to 20-40 per day now anyway.

runs and huddles in the corner and waits for the Cobra to "contact me".

Meh...signed up as I figure life is too short for some venom spitting snake to scare me. HA! Take that Cobra. Wonder what it is all about though! All I can think of is that terrible Stallone movie where he hit every person he shot at yet NO ONE could hit him...ever.

After attending COBRA: The Musical several years ago at Fringe, I don't particularly care to add more Cobra to my life, even if I'm not a particular fan of the Joes.

I think I officially have the creeps. I just got my response from the whole Cobra thing. Them being secretive about wanting me to spend $$$ on some supposed charity dinner is not the way to go for me. It makes me feel uncomfortable. This is what they sent and I ask before you look at it (if you have not seen it already) is why any restaurant can NOT serve a meal that is unusual like thay are on about:

WHAT IS COBRA?

Cobra is a project being run by a very well known Ottawa Chef. It is a series of random evenings when a highly unusual dinner will be served for a very small group of people.

WHY?

There are 2 purposes to Cobra.

The first is to give Cobra 100% creative freedom to present you a dinner that could never be served in a normal restaurant. This is NOT for anyone who is a picky eater, or who is easily offended.

The 2nd purpose is to raise money for charities. Cobra is doing this for absolutely no cost. But we will collect $100 cash per person and donate it to a different charity each night.

HOW DO YOU GET IN?

There will be a lottery-style draw of a handful of names 2 weeks before the night of each dinner. If you are selected, you will be notified. You may bring one guest. When you confirm that you can make it, directions will be sent to you. To get your name entered into the draws, answer the 3 following questions in a reply email. It's that easy.

#1) What is your favorite potato chip flavour?
#2) What is your favorite Christmas song?
#3) What is your favorite movie?

Hmm. It still leaves me cold, but if people are willing to participate and the proceeds go to charity then I say rock on!

I'm not sure I understand how they can run this "for absolutely no cost." The implication in the message is that the full $100 goes to charity, but that just doesn't compute. Unless they're freegans! (en.wikipedia.org) -- that would also explain why restaurants couldn't serve the food... caveat eator! ;-)

Anyway, I'm happy to stick with Atelier for my blind-menu needs. :-)

This is exciting! I can only imagine what kind of delights one could wind up indulging.

I hope I get chosen for one of the mystery dinners!

Heheh. I had a weird dream about Cobra last night. That it was run in this old building that no one could keep a restaurant running in (think: the place across the street from Fida's). A bunch of faceless foodies showed up, having paid our $100 in advance, but then the dream ended...so, I don't know if we got ripped off or not!

Gotta say this whole thing is interesting but at the same time gives me a wierd feeling (ya know, like when the hairs stand on end at the back of your neck).

I would have to say this "foodie experience" isn't for me, I much prefer when I am PAYING for my food, to know that it is by a recognized Restaurant / Vendor.

And oh ya about that payment part... $ 100 CASH and the bit about one can bring a guest (assume that is another $ 100 CASH)... and the money goes to charity (what charity.... the Bob & Doug MacKenzie Nightly Beer Fund?)

And where exactly does this food come from?
(as Fresh Foodie pointed out, they are trying to run this at no cost to them?).

Underground Food Event, lol so apptly named... Underground Food (the images that evokes well lets just say they are better left unnamed).

Nah, too many "Red Flags" for me. I'm out.

Danger, mystique... cobras... where's your sense of adventure? ;)

I'm there, dude. With bells on.

If Cobra reads OF (you never know): feed us squab or I'll be sad.

If I'm invited, I'm definitely going! Woten and I have been tossing around the idea of an underground dinner party for a while... cervelle de veau anyone?

au beurre noir!

Not that creepy - you pay $100 at some restaurant even after you get fed a pile of crap (and leave complaining). (NOTE the you is not a personal reference to anyone)

Sounds exciting, I don't care what they do with the money just hope I have something astounding, if not bye bye.

BTW when I think of what they can't serve in the restro I'm thinking suitcases full of non-pasteurized meats and cheeses snuck in from all corners of the world. I guess I could be in for a surprise if FF is on the right track.

I've signed up too, the whole mysterious thing is kinda fun, but a little scary too. While it's a neat idea, it does seem a little strange to get directions to go somewhere for dinner. I'm imagining some warehouse in an alley somewhere and it makes me nervous ;) I like the idea of knowing the place I'm eating at I guess...but it tempted me enough to sign up and learn more anyway. I love that it's for charity too.
Would love to hear someone's experience if they've been to one of their dinners...sounds exciting!

I looked at this, but will hang on a bit before I decide if this is for me...so many places to choose where to spread Charity money!! I will keep watching with an open mind...Hugs to all with kind intentions!

Well it seem I've been selected, unfortunately, I'll be in Washington doing research at the Smithsonian.

Anyone has been picked? If so, are you planning on going?

I haven't been picked. Can we swap?

Chimichimi, let me email them and if they agree, It would be my pleasure.

Same thing happened to me! I was one of five that got picked, but I'm out of town on business... BOO. I am incredibly disappointed.