Kidding aside, I've been watching as the online world has moved toward product promotion. Don't get me wrong, I realize people have to make a living, but it'd make me uncomfortable pushing fast-food, or a piece of cookware that I didn't believe in and use personally.
As a cookbook author, I like trying products; it's long been common practice for companies to send things as a professional courtesy. I used to go to culinary conferences and met reps from the companies, who were good contacts in case I had any questions. (A number of them became personal friends, not for the products, but because we liked each other.) Since my job is to create recipes, I always want to know as much as I can about stand mixers and French cookware. I use brands of cookware and bakeware (and chocolate) because I like them. And if I recommend something, it's because I really do use it.
It'll be interesting to see the evolution of Instagram, as more and more promotional information is put out there. It doesn't seem to bother people as those posts get tons of "Likes" and comments. (And it's free to throw your hat into the ring, so there's little risk for people who want to influence.) But wonder what the landscape will look like in a year or so?
One thing (that I bought) were these amazing tortillas, when I was in New York in July. They were a whopping $4.99, higher than the supermarket packages that cost $1.99 for fifty, but boy, were they good. We had them with grilled beef and a green sauce that I made by mincing fresh cilantro, parsley, and oregano, mixing them with olive oil, minced garlic, a few drops of red wine vinegar, a few pumpkin seeds, and a couple of anchovy filets. And yes, a few (purchased) packages might have made it in my suitcase back to Paris with me...
