Homemade food gifts, pleasing them or yourself. (art vs. commerce)

[tralfaz]

For years I have made hand dipped chocolates to give away as gifts to friends, family and co-workers. I make a variety and usually have at least one new type. I turns into a huge week long project, but I enjoy it (mostly) and get to eat the leftovers.

I get lots of feedback, and in some ways this is much like test marketing. Because of this, some situations that have arisen and I'm not so sure what to do.

One kind of chocolate I made was very popular where I worked. I made it year after year, but I never liked it much. When I stopped working there, I stopped making it. Not to mention that it was particularly difficult to handle.

This year I've experimented with a new type. I really, really like it, but the people I've tried it on don't.


Now I feel like I'm painting myself in a corner (painting with chocolate, hmm....), I'm not making the chocolates I DON'T especially like, and I'm not making the chocolates that OTHERS don't especially like. That leaves the same old standards, and I'm getting a tiny bit bored.


So it boils down to this:

Should my food gifts be what people really like (and don't have leftovers)?

Should I stay with safe bets?

OR

Should the food gifts be what i like (and hope others like them too.)?


Should I try to educate palates or create comfort food?

Art vs. Commerce

[phatch]

A gift should primarily be something for recipient. Make something they'll enjoy.

That said, it's Ok to include a few envelope broadening things occasionally too.

[nowIamone]

People have cravings, and it's usually for a known entity..... something that is familiar and that they look forward to.

It's like being at a potluck and hearing people say "Betty, did you bring your potato dish?" It's the only thing Betty ever brings, it's her signature dish, and everyone starts counting on it.

I've always said, "Everyone likes to read the specials, but 80% of my customers know what they are going to have when the pull into my parking lot."

The hardest thing for me was to get used to making the same dish, the same way, everyday, everytime. I am a "open the fridge, let's see what's there and cook something" type person.

[shel]

Originally Posted by tralfaz

Should my food gifts be what people really like (and don't have leftovers)?

It's a gift - make the recipients happy.

shel

[mayiali]

I agree with the above posters...you should try to please your audience. But you should also be aware when your audience is reacting to something new and not just something they don't like. In other words, if some of your testers are used to your old goodies they may feel let down by the new ones because of habit. So it's a gamble. New things always take a while to get legs (difficult "second album" syndrome). But then who can complain with a classic? To be honest you've made me a bit hungry...