UberEATS: Probably the Best Thing Ever for a College Student

All of us in the Tampa Bay area know what Uber is. We’ve used it to go to and from a bar, a house party, and even the airport. It’s a brand we all recognize, one that we trust. With just a few clicks you have a quick, safe, and inexpensive ride that gets you to and from your destination. Now, the well-known company is bringing people around the world their favorite foods with UberEATS. Below is a little bit on how they work. 

UberEATS makes it easy for you to explore different types of food at the tap of your smartphone. They’ve partnered with all kinds of restaurants to offer you convenience, fresh meals, and treats. For example, Fabrica Woodfired Pizza in Tampa’s channel district has had some difficulty giving their customers what they want: a delivery service. Owners Estefania and Jonathan Perez want to give their customers what they want, but they didn’t want to compromise their product just to increase numbers. UberEATS is their solution.

UberEATS went live at the beginning of September, offering things from McDonald’s fast food to upscale restaurants. “While other food delivery services have been offered in Tampa for some time — among them GrubHub and Doorstep Delivery — restaurant owners say Uber's name recognition in this market, combined with the company's technology and marketing plans, make UberEATS stand out” (bizjournals.com). Adding to bizjournal.com, for example, the University of Tampa is here. Most of the students that attend the university use Uber. The recognition of the brand makes it easier for Uber users to trust the new delivery system. UberEATS even gave me a $10 credit when I signed up and gave me another $10 each time a new member used a code linked to my account on their first order. Who doesn’t like free food? Especially a college student. And good food at that.

Here is the link to their website if you want to check out the different restaurants UberEats has partnered with in the Tampa Bay area: https://ubereats.com/tampa/

Have you used UberEATS? Tell me a little bit about your experience below! J

Sources: 

http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2016/09/07/even-with-a-steep-fee-most-tampa-restaurateurs-are.html

https://ubereats.com/tampa/

Chicago's Best Dogs: From a Stand to the Best Dang Things on Earth

I don't know about you, but I find small, family-owned restaurants so much better than franchises. From the customer service to the amount of food you get for one hell of a deal, nothing sounds better to me. In every town I travel to, I always try to find those quaint but packed to the edges with people laughing and eating with smiles drawn across their faces restaurants.

I recently visited my friend in Chicago. She had always raved about Chicago's infamous hot dogs so I had to make her take me to her favorite spot. That is when I fell upon Gene & Jude's Red Hots. One word: fan-freaking-tastic. I mean who thinks to top their hot dogs with french fries and pickles? Gene & Jude do. Never had a Chicago dog? You have to try it. First, you have to have your bun. Next, you have your Vienna Beef hot dog. So then you have your mustard, you have your relish, you have your onions and your tomatoes. Then you have to throw your sport peppers in there. If you don't know what sport peppers are, they're basically small, hot peppers. Now for the grand finale: the fries. Now, they don't place your fries in any ordinary container. They wrap the fries in foil with the hot dog to make it one beautiful, beautiful, meal. Just look at the beauty above. Yum. But one thing...never, I repeat, NEVER ask for ketchup. You'll get kicked out. Almost happened to me. And another thing, there aren't any seats so make sure you wear your comfy shoes.

I'm sure you're eager to hear the story of how Gene & Jude's came about. Well, Gene and his friends went to a game at Wrigley Field in the summer of 1945. He wasn't pleased with the hot dog he ordered so he began experimenting at home. He opened a small stand in downtown Chicago in 1946 and soon became a sensation. In 1950, they relocated to the suburb of River Grove. With nearly no hours off, they are delighted to make the best hot dogs and fries in the United States. Through the powerful concept of word-of-mouth, Gene & Jude's customers have been nothing but loyal, sticking with the small stand all the way up to today's successes. All of this information and more was thrown to me when I asked how Gene & Jude's came to be. They make you feel like family. They make you feel like you've known them for years. Those are the places I love the most. Those are the places I want to spend my money.

For your sake, here is the link to their website. You should really take a couple minutes to check it out  and see the numerous awards they've received if you're not from Chicago!

http://www.geneandjudes.com

Food, thanks for being Delish!

Do you ever wonder where people are getting their recipes from these days? Maybe traditional cookbooks or pages in magazines, but who ever would have thought Facebook would be a great source for finding deliciously looking, mouth watering recipes? I know when I scroll through Facebook, my timeline is filled with recipes and videos like the ones below from websites like Delish and Tasty. I’m not complaining, though. 

Social media is dominating modern-day society. The number of Facebook users has been on the rise for a while now. According to Statista, Facebook has 1.71 billion monthly active users so far in 2016. Young teens, college kids, parents, and even granparents have Facebook accounts. That’s a lot of people. So why would it not be a good idea to promote your brand on one of the greatest social platforms?

Delish’s recipes are exactly what their name is: delicious. I’ve recently moved into my own apartment, forcing me to cook all the time (every college kids dream, right?). Delish and Tasty both post videos showing users how to make the recipe and how much of each ingredient you need in less than a minute. To gain a clearer understanding, the video above shows users step by step instructions on how to make these 8 different appetizers for any game day. Seeing how each step of the process is supposed to look makes it easier for people like me that don’t exactly know how to cook. I screenshot their Facebook posts to save them for later and also look on their websites for easy, cheap and quick recipes to try. So far, they’ve all been a success. From zucchini tots to honeydew sorbet, they know it all. 

Have you ever made a meal from a post on Facebook? Share your thoughts below J

https://www.statista.com/statistics/264810/number-of-monthly-active-facebook-users-worldwide/