Join the Banquet

Do you have a food-related lens on Squidoo? We're looking for more food-centric lenses to join our offerings here at Chez*Squid!? It's easy, fun, and it gives your lens more exposure!

What you have to do: Create a lens (or add an existing one) about your favorite take on food: a style of cooking, a great recipe collection about your favorite dish, a special ingredient, or your favorite restaurant.

We're picky at Chez*Squid! We only want food lenses that are truly informative and personal, so that our visitors really know they are getting the best food advice and suggestions. We want to serve lenses that offer cooking recipes and advice right there in the lens (NOT just a bunch of links), and our focus is primarily advice for the home cook and info about fine dining out.

And if you've got a lens that's about a drink or beverage, please submit it to the Refreshing Beverage group!

Here are the main reasons why lenses get denied acceptance to Chez*Squid.

The number one reason that lenses don't get accepted to Chez*Squid is that they aren't well-developed. Some lensmasters put minimal content into a few random modules, and then apply to the group. That's NOT what we're looking for at Chez*Squid. We want lenses full of delicious recipes, easy-to-understand cooking advice and personal restaurant recommendations. This will also include otherwise good lenses that are missing an image in their introductory modules. No intro picture = no acceptance!

The second most-frequent reason that a lens gets denied is because it goes off-topic or is off-topic to the group. Focused lenses are the most effective and helpful lenses! Make sure ALL the content you are creating really relates directly to what you are talking about and also matches your actual lens title. Lenses must have a title that clearly indicates to the reader (and the groupmaster) what sort of food/cooking you are talking about.

The third most common reason for a lens rejection is that the lens doesn't offer any original written content, or has content that is represented elsewhere on the web. More and more, lensmasters have been submitting lenses with content copied from other sites. A list of ingredients can't be copyrighted, but cooking instructions are. We don't want a stale, bland entrée or someone else's reheated leftovers, we want your fresh cooking creations, bursting with flavor and great taste!

NOTES:
If you have submitted a series of lenses to the group all at once, and I find one bad apple, I'm going to reject your other lenses rather than waste my time combing over them!
Due to people completely ignoring rule #3 above, lenses which run afoul of this requirement can result in the lensmaster being permanently banned from the group.

After those considerations, the overall development of the lens is evaluated. Seemingly little things like a weak title, unfinished/uncustomized modules and too many glaring affiliate links can hurt lenses that otherwise offer some good content. Lenses that discuss running a cooking or catering business, or lenses which just review some kitchen appliances also fall into the realm of things we aren't interested in eating here. Vague titles are also why some lenses are declined.

If your lens gets denied acceptance to the group and you don't get a personalized message, it means that something already noted here is the reason why.

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Can't Stand the Heat, Get Out of the Kitchen!
(Booting and banning lenses)
- Lenses that are not on-topic for the group will be denied acceptance
- Accepted lenses that become "under construction" will be booted, as will lenses that are revisited and found to have become off-topic
- If you fall out of the top 100,000 and there are other higher-ranking lenses in the group that cover the same topic, there is a chance you could be booted.
- If there are other lenses that already cover your topic in the group, our tasters will be more strict in judging your lens.

Holiday Recipes and Cooking Help!

Here are suggested lenses and recommendations for cooking to suit the season!

Salted Caramel and Chocolate Tart!! Simply Splendid :-)

Ingredients Pastry 175g Plain flour 15g Icing sugar 90g Salted butter, chilled and cubed 1 Egg yolk Filling 300g Caster sugar 250ml Double cream 200g Salted butter 150g Dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa solids) 1/4 tsp Sea salt

British Christmas Cakes

The traditional British Christmas Cake is full of fruit, nuts, and spices, usually with added alcohol in the form of brandy or rum. It's a rich mixture, covered with royal icing (a kind of frosting) and decorated. It's often the centrepiece of the Ch...

Would You Like Some Cheese With Your Wine?

There is nothing as simply delicious, or exotic, than cheese and wine. But who knows how to pair them? What about wines with meat? We've put together some guidelines below that should help.

How to make Panettone

usually associated with Milan Italy. Panettone is continually evolving with new ingredients being added all the time. One of the new ingredients is chocolate. If your trying this for the first time I wouldn't suggest chocolate because it covers all t...

The Tradition of the Yule Log

This lens has links to the history of the Yule Log, lots of recipes for how to bake modern Yule Log Cakes, a video Yule Log to download for your iPod, where to find a Yule log screensaver and much more!

The Butcher & Fishmonger's Counter

Grill Recipe - Bistro Veal Burgers

Ah, there’s nothing like the smell of a hot grill in the summertime.  I hope you’ll print this great recipe and use it this summer.  More will be coming soon, so keep an eye on my lenses (no pun intended) INGREDIENTS 1 slice bre...

The Ultimate Crab Cake Recipe

Learn how to make the Ultimate Crab Cake in your own kitchen. Both the regular and minature crab cake recipes with either the Citrus Wasabi Mayonnaise or Spicy Tarter Sauce are worth the effort. I've also included a recipe for the Charleston-Style Cr...

Crabs

This page is about crabs including blue crabs, red crabs, snow crabs, king crabs, dungeness crabs, stone crabs, jonah crabs, soft shelled crabs and more.

Fresh Lobsters!

This lens features lobster information!! PLEASE contact us and send us your favorite lobster and other seafood articles, links and other resources. We appreciate the time taken by those that choose to rate the lens.

Chez*Squid Head Chefs

These folks are making some great food lenses, so let's show them some Squidoo love! (Or STARS!)

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  relache
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  rms
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  watkins-lady
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  KimberlyDawnWells
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  KCStargazer

Recipe Resources

Looking for something new to cook? Here are some recipes from various cooking blogs that you might consider trying.

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Veggies!

Totally Terrific Tomato Recipes

Totally Terrific Tomato - Recipes and Growing Guide is a collection of totally terrific tomato recipes, a treasure trove of tomato information and a growing guide to help you grow the most totally terrific tomatoes ever. You'll find everything you nee...

Green Chile - Yum!!

Having grown up in New Mexico, my husband was stunned to discover you couldn't order green chile on your pizza in Texas. While in NM, almost every restaurant offers something with green chile on it, it's almost unheard of anywhere outside the state....

The gemstone of all vegetables: Broad Bean

By the end of this lens you are guaranteed to have 10 exciting healthy recipes to try plus lots of facts and tips about one of the most underestimated vegetables in the world. In one word, you will not look at Broad beans in the same way ever again:-...

Caesar Salad

The Caesar is the salad that moved greens from the side-dish to a main-course entree! The salad is named after Chef Caesar Cardini who first whisked up this romaine lettuce and egg dressing combo at a Tijuana restaurant in 1924.  It's been one...

Fresh Out of the Kitchen!

Here are the lenses in the group which have been most added! Check out these fresh, hot dishes!

Thanksgiving Appetizers, Banana Bread Recipes, How to make Panettone, Everything Gumbo for Planet Gumbo, Over Noodles -- Recipes to Accompany Pasta

Eating Out

Vegetarian New York

You will never lack vegetarian food in New York, but so much of it is mediocre. This is NOT a all inclusive list of vegetarian eating, but are my tried and delicious places to eat, shop, and learn vegetarian food in New York City - organized from sou...

Kansas City Unique Eats

Travelling to Kansas City and wondering where to eat? Living in Kansas City and looking for a new place to go? Tired of the McTaste, that bland sameness of Anytown USA, INC.? Here's a look at some Kansas City Metropolitan area one-of-a-kind places to...

Rodizio Grill Restaurant - Fine Brazilian Cuisine

Rodizio Grill is a Brazilian restaurant, one of which is located in the lower downtown area of Denver, Colorado.  It features a wide array of Brazilian foods served in a unique blend of buffet style and server style that will give you a unique d...

Outlaws BBQ

OK, I admit it! I created this lens because Outlaws BBQ cooks their meat in the classic American "low and slow" BBQ tradition using native California Oak and tender, loving care, and the end product is really, REALLY good! I can't tell you how many...

Melbourne Restaurants

Melbourne is the wining and dining capital of Australia, with one restaurant for every 30 people who live here. That means, even with a population of 4 million, you can still find a restaurant that can take a last minute booking. Here are some of my f...

Break Bread With Us!

Thanks for sitting down at our table for a informational nosh. What are you hungry to know more about? Got some dish to share? Or maybe you'd like to review your experience here?

Group Excellence Award

 

This group was picked as a Great Group! Thanks, Spirituality, for selecting this group!