Straight Outta Dexter: Marketing Mike’s Debut

This blog feels a little weird to write. I don’t have the emoji that properly captures what just happened yesterday at Soup Club. Whatever the emoji is for “wow,” “holy crap,” and “how is this your first soup,” that’s the one I need.

Yesterday at noon we had one of the most memorable and successful Soup Club meetings to date. Marketing Mike made his official debut and came in like he was auditioning for a cooking show, a crime drama, and a family documentary all at once. Straight out of Dexter vibes, but in a wholesome, not-at-all-concerning way.

This man showed up locked and loaded. A full crock of soup, minus the one cup that apparently swooshed out in his car on the drive in. Two homemade hot sauces in cool little glass jugs with cork tops, a typed up recipe, grocery store photos, and a genuinely great story about making the soup with his daughter the day before she moved across the country to LA. Honestly, it was touching…probably a tear or two in the soup.

What Mike did not bring was a blog. So I’m stepping in here because I assume our loyal Soup Club followers are currently very confused and wondering if Soup Club even happened. It did and it was glorious!

Mike originally came onto our radar as a business referral from Kevin. He did a cool video for us and is working on some other top secret stuff that I am contractually not allowed to talk about. During those early conversations it came out that he is a home cook and a soup person, which immediately made him dangerously qualified for our little club.

Unlike Adam’s rookie soup, where expectations were intentionally low, we had high expectations for Mike. And before Adam gets offended, that is strictly because Mike is an older dude with more kitchen reps. Adam, your soup was great. Relax.

Mike delivered a red curry, coconut milk, chickpea, tofu, veggie masterpiece. And I do not use the word masterpiece lightly. Every single one of us was blown away.

We also tried something new this week. We wrote our scores down before discussing them. Revolutionary. No peer pressure. No Kevin hot sauce influence until after the fact. It worked beautifully. It has been almost two days and I did not plan on writing this blog, so I am pulling these scores from memory. But here is how it shook out:

• Kevin came in at a 9.2 after adding the homemade hot sauce, which should honestly be its own product line.

• Conlan gave it a solid 9.0 and suggested adding water chestnuts and a peanut topper. I fully support both of those ideas and expect to see them next time.

• Tam landed at an 8.3 and said she liked it, which in Tam language is a very respectable endorsement.

• Adam gave it a 9.0 and was smiling the entire meeting. Not sure if that was the soup or Kevin’s nonstop commentary, but I’ll give Mike the credit.

• I gave it a 9.0 and was honestly floored. There was so much happening in this soup in the best possible way. Major kudos for using water instead of veggie broth. I think that is what put this soup on a pedestal for me.

• And then there is Andy. Banked a spoon on the table and dropped a full 10.0. Andy gets excited about Soup Club in general, but this was next level. Fun to watch.

That brings Mike’s Soup Club debut average to a ridiculous 9.08. Let that sink in. First soup. 9.08.

Mike probably should have saved this one for his second offering, because now expectations are officially unreasonable. We will absolutely be expecting something even better next time, which is unfair and also unavoidable. I’m going to keep this short just in case Mike sends me more details…If that happens, I’ll tack it on…you’re welcome.