Jill Cataldo


Nationally-syndicated money-saving columnist
Blogger, workshop instructor & savings enthusiast
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The most creative giveaway so far: Free Chinese dinner!

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NOTE: CONTEST HAS ENDED! Our winners are Shopaholic4206, Pepsi4Power and Ynotpat! Congratulations and thanks to everyone who entered!

I’m sure it’s no secret to any of my readers that my schedule’s pretty hectic. Between teaching several coupon workshops a week, writing my syndicated newspaper column, filming my “Sixty Second Savings” video series, blogging Deals of the Week, being a (mostly) stay-at-home mom with my young children, and the myriad of other activities that fill my life, my husband and I don’t always get much time to have a “date night.” So when I was invited to have a free dinner for two downtown at one of my favorite Chicago restaurants, I jumped at the chance!

My readers know that I love giving products away on my blog — whether it’s groceries, coupons or other contests, it’s fun to share giveaways with an audience who, like me, loves free things. Over the past few months I’ve posted some fun contests for my readers, and a few weeks ago I received an invitation to attend an appreciation dinner at Ben Pao, which has amazing Chinese food and is one of my favorite dining destinations downtown. General Mills and MyBlogSpark sponsored the event as a thank-you to their bloggers who’ve posted giveaways of General Mills products. Not only was the dinner free to attend, but attendees would also receive a $50 MasterCard gift card to cover gas and parking in the city, providing a truly “free” night out. (How long do you think it took me to RSVP? Do I need to mention again how much I love Ben Pao’s food? “Yes!”)

On Thursday night, my husband and I arrived at Ben Pao and saw that the entire restaurant had been closed for the event. We weren’t really sure what to expect, but we checked in at the counter and were seated. The server informed us it was a prix fixe menu, where soup, appetizers and desserts would be the same for everyone, but we could choose one of eight entrees. I chose an orange chicken platter, he chose shrimp lo mein, and we enjoyed a fabulous meal as course after course was served. (I can’t honestly remember the last time just the two of us went out without the kids..!)

We’ve eaten at Ben Pao many times before, and as always, the food was amazing. We had hot and sour soup, a platter of four different appetizers that included potstickers, chicken wraps, various egg rolls and crab rangoon, our shrimp and chicken entrees, which were loaded with crisp vegetables, and two desserts (lemon-ginger cheesecakes and chocolate-filled spring rolls – delicious!) We were absolutely stuffed. Throughout the meal, a camera crew roamed the restaurant asking many of us about our blogs and how we were enjoying the meal — I said the food was excellent, as it always is. It was almost hard to believe there was no “catch” to the night.

Or was there?

At the very end of the meal, our server brought each of us fortune cookies, and the cameraman returned to the table to ask if he could film us opening the cookies. We said sure, why not?

And this is what we saw.

We immediately looked at each other and said “No way!” Truly, we were shocked. We would never have guessed that we had been eating frozen Chinese food available at the grocery store! The soup, appetizer platter and desserts were actually Ben Pao’s own restaurant food, but the entrees were bagged, frozen meals from Wanchai Ferry.

Now, admittedly, the last thing you’re expecting when you dine out at a very nice restaurant was a twist like this, but it was actually quite fun. Funnier yet, prior to the fortune-cookie reveal, we hadn’t been able to finish the family-size platters of food we’d been served, so our server had asked if we’d like take-out containers for it We said absolutely, we’d take it home for later — and then we cracked up that we’d actually had the restaurant package up a previously-frozen meal? I jokingly apologized to my husband for unknowingly taking him out on our big date night for… frozen food.

Of course, instead of documenting a bloggers’ appreciation dinner, what the camera crew was actually filming was a commercial for Wanchai Ferry. Think, “We’ve secretly taken over this fine Chicago dining destination and served everyone frozen meals from the supermarket. Let’s see if they notice…”

So yours truly may just end up in a commercial too!

UPDATE October 2010 – The commercial:

(My husband and I are at the 0:22 mark.)

At the end of the night, we received little take-out containers. Inside? Gift certificates to Ben Pao (for a “real” restaurant meal for a future trip for us, ha ha!) and coupons for FREE Wanchai Ferry frozen entrees for my readers!

Now, if you’ve read this far along, and you’d like to try one of these Wanchai Ferry frozen meals for yourself, all you have to do is respond to this post in the Comments! This giveaway begins today, July 25th, and will run for one week. On August 1st, I’ll choose THREE winners via random-number generator to win coupons for Wanchai Ferry frozen dinners! (NOTE: CONTEST ENDED AUGUST 1, 2010.)

Legalese: This Wanchai Ferry promotion was sponsored by General Mills and MyBlogSpark. Responding to this post qualified readers to enter the contest. The contest closed at Midnight CST on July 31, 2010. Three winners were be chosen via random-number generator on August 1, 2010 at 11:45am CST. I was provided with dinner for two at Ben Pao in Chicago, a $50 Mastercard gift card to cover travel and parking, two $10 certificates for my future trip to Ben Pao and Wanchai Ferry free frozen entree coupons as part of this promotion. Thank you to everyone who entered!

Comments

  1. How fun for you and your husband. I would love to win a free frozen dinner ~ if Ben Pao had you believing it was their food, I bet I could convince my husband that it is homemade.

  4. Would love a chance to stump the hubby as weather or not I ordered out for the night.

  7. they copied the one that Pizza Hut or Dominoes does with the pasta meals – but a free meal is a free meal! lol

  8. My family has had Wanchai Ferry many times for dinner and it’s a favorite in my house!! Neat story! Thanks for sharing!

  10. It sounds like you had a great time! Thank you for sharing your evening with us! : )

  12. That actually sounds like a lot of fun! Who would have thought that Wanchai Ferry could pass for Ben Pao. I will be heading to the frozen food aisle!

  14. I was actually just thinking of trying Wanchai Ferry. I love Chinese food and would love these coupons.

  16. I love this story! How fun!!! And funny!!! Reminds me of the commercial where the people think they’re getting fancy Tuscani pasta & it ends up being Pizza Hut pasta!

  18. Sounds like a fun night and I love the twist! I’d love to be a winner too!

  20. Please enter me in the giveaway contest. Sounds like you had an interesting night out and luckily you did enjoy the food ;-)

  22. This sounds like so much fun! We have never been to Ben Pao’s.. we rarely go downtown because of several very costly and disappointing trips there in the past for dining at least…

    This event also reminds me of the pizza hut pasta commercials – where they invited everyone to an italian restaurant and then pulled a switch on them! I always thought that was so *fake* but now who knows! hehe :o)

  23. I’ve seen the frozen Chinese dinners before but have always been hesitant to try! They must be pretty good though to fool all of you there! Jen

  26. I didn’t expect the switch either. I have tried the Wanchai Ferry meals before, but was always disappointed by the amount of salt they had to add to make them frozen. Good luck to the winner of this competition! :)

  27. What a great story. Ben Pao’s is a great place. I have also heard good things about Wanchai ferry.

  30. Even if it was for frozen food. All that matters is that it tasted good and you had a good time. And now you may be in a commercial!

  32. maybe i will have to try those entrees!!! thanks, once again, for sharin! i wonder what it takes for these brands to takeover a restraunt like that??

  33. This is a great story! Makes me wonder if restaurants actually do that, serve frozen meals and pass it off as gourmet :)

  34. I think I would be laughing about this switch a roo for a long time! I love the spicy chicken they have, thanks for sharing :)

  36. well that is amazing! I love Ben Pao’s food, but I haven’t been there for years! I’d love to try those frozen Wanchai Ferry… yum!

  37. I find it hard to believe that frozen chinese food can taste the same as true chinese restaurant food.

  39. That is truly incredible that a restaurant would let a frozen food show them up like that! LOL My favorite was the fortune cookies!

  41. I wonder if I would have known. How fun. You’re such a good sport. How fun would it be to see you in the commerical!

  45. Great that you had a nice night out and a free meal. I always wonder how you deal with your hectic speaking schedule.

    I find it hard to believe that they could pull this switch without people noticing. Nothing frozen / packaged ever ends up looking or tasting as good as what’s shown on the package. I wonder how the same entrees you had in the restaurant would compare to ones bought with a coupon at your favorite Jewel and cooked at home? Let us know when you try that experiment.

    And of course there IS an IP coupon for $1.50 available at their web site:

    https://www.wanchaiferry.com/products.aspx (print limit 2)

    Maybe I’ll just have to try them for myself :-)

    Which of course was their whole marketing point behind this.

  47. Sounds like a great night, with a fun twist-count me in for some free Chinese Food!!

  49. I love your story! Thanks for sharing it with us! And, I love that you’re so good natured about it. What a fun and memorable experience for you!

  50. That would have surprised me too! Honestly, I don’t think I would be tempted to buy frozen chinese food, but the review of your meal has peaked my curiosity. :)

  51. Jill, Did you have a discount coupon for the babysitter? Glad your night out was fun! What a great story. We love Chinese food so will be on the look out for great deals!

  52. Would love to try this…especially since you enjoyed it so much. Glad you had a fun evening.

  53. What a fun night that must have been-I will have to give frozen chinese food another chance!

  54. I often look at these in the frozen food isle but think they couldn’t possibly be very good. Thanks to your story, I will be picking some up today when I go shopping. Thanks for sharing Jill!

  55. I have enjoyed the Wanchai Ferry boxed meals in the past, and would be very interested in trying the frozen one.

  57. I love their food, and would love the opportunity to get it free, especially as we are going to be moving cross country and settig up a new household and that costs an arm and a leg.

  58. that’s awesome that you had such a nice – yet surprising – night out with your hubby! I hope we get to see you in a commercial one of these days. :)

  59. Have never tried it but i will have to look in the store for some. I think it would taste better if it were free….I have been on your site all morning checking things out and learning a lot…i cant wait to get started. thanks

  60. I know it sounds wierd, but I don’t need to win…I just have 2 things to say/ask….

    First, this is why I love your blog. I’ve read other couponing blogs and sure they are great at telling you the deals, where and how to use your coupons, etc BUT they are boring! I enjoyed reading your story and didn’t truly realize it was a contest until the end. You should consider writing a book, “life as a couponer”! AND a date night with the hubby sounds like a great idea, I may just have to follow your lead on that!

    Second, how can you be so calm? A commercial?! I think you looked great in all the picture but I know I’d personally be freaking out. It’s one thing to be in a couple pictures BUT a commercial?! How does hubby feel about being in a commercial? I can just imagine the reaction of mine! lol

    Great job with the blog, and upcoming commercial!

  61. having a night out, and it sounds like so much fun!! I’ve never tried the Wanchai Ferry meals but I might now!

  62. What a great story!! Makes me want to try Wanchai Ferry…I guess that’s the point!! : )

  63. I think that is awesome! I saw a similar commercial for pizza, I believe and always wondered if it was staged. Now that I know it happened to you I believe it. Can’t wait to try it because I love orange chicken.

  64. I’m new to the coupon world and LOVING it! So happy my friends gave me a little ‘Jill Cataldo’ lesson!! Who knew it would be so fun. Anyway, I would love some coupons for the frozen meals! Thanks again for all you do to keep money in pocket each week:)

  65. Great story. I’ve been curious about the frozen dinners and would love to try them.

  67. what a clever marketing trick– they must’ve had a lot of fun with the event, and the fortune cookie “reveal” was a great idea! Thanks for sharing such a fun story, Jill!

  69. Hilarious! We love Ben Pao, too, so I read along just to live vicariously through you. Can’t believe it was actually frozen. I’ve seen the coupons for these before, but couldn’t imagine eating frozen Chinese food. I may have to try it now! Thanks!

  70. That is really funny & clever of them to do that! I would have loved to be part of that dinner! I have never tried the Waichai Ferry meals(boxed or frozen). I’ve always been nervous that they would not taste that great & I’d be disappointed and left still craving some good chinese food! ;-)

  72. What a cool surprise! To know that a frozen meal could be as good as the real thing. Sweet.

  73. Thanks for sharing! I too, like many others have always wondered about Wanchai Ferry, but have been hesitant to try frozen chinese food. Maybe I will now. Hope to to see your suprised expression on TV!

  77. Wow..it’s like those Pizza Hut commercials where diners thought they were getting pasta from a high-end Italian restaurant but it was Pizza Hut pasta! Too funny!

  78. So glad you had a night out. You certainly deserve it. Now I’ll have to try Wanchai Ferry and Ben Pao. Great marketing idea-just what they wanted us to do, of course. But being the supercouponers that we are, they will have to give us a little more encouragement with some high-value coupons and a great catalina deal….

  80. Love this situation. I’ve never tried the frozen entrees, so this would be a good way for me to give it a go! =)

  82. Loved your story….never would have guessed the ending. I have made the Wanchai Ferry box meal which my family enjoyed so I think the frozen meal would be great!

  83. I’ve never tried those frozen meals, due to a picky hubby, but these sound like they might pass the test! I might have to do my own fortune cookie reveal! : )

  84. For my entry I have to quote the song I’ve been singing the entire time I read this story . . .

    Hunan, Szechwan, Cantonese
    Got me beggin’ on my knees

    Take out or delivery
    Chinese food for you and me

    (Chinese Food by Pat McCurdy)

  85. They invited you out like that and then to have it be a something so creative on their end… how fun! Even better they gave you an additional night out! :-)

  86. what a fun way to market! i know they’re tricks, but man, that’s a good one, and it makes me want to try that brand!

  88. Hey, I loved the story. Both you and your husband have a great sense of humor. You looked wonderful and that dress was beautiful. If you have to be on tv, seen by millions, you want to look good!

  89. Wow, I just read the whole post, and I am amazed they pulled this off. Very creative and fun way to get people to try their product. I may try it at home too.

  90. Chinese food is my weakness! If something I can buy in the froze food section can taste like it came from a restaurant downtown, I’d definitely try it!

  91. That is so great! What a fun, surprising and WELL DESERVED night out for you and your husband. :)

  92. What a clever idea. Good chinese is a weakness of mine. Can’t wait to try it.

  93. my kids loved the boxed dinners, cool promotion! Here’s hoping i am one of the randomy chosen!.. And thanks for all you do….I was on the other night at 2 am and I saw you were STILL working on the site. I did not have the heart to message you so late… I appreciate your commitment to us all in providing a top quality site and information!

  94. That is very cool story, thanks for sharing! Turned out to be a funandcreative date night.

  95. What a great story, Jill! Sounds like you had a fun and exciting night out. Well deserved! Thanks for all you do!

  96. Sounds like you two had a great date night! I would love to try the frozen meals….hopefully I’ll be one of the lucky winners:) Thanks for sharing your story with us!

  98. Jill, I was thrilled that you had a night out. You deserve it for everything you do for us. I was surprised that they duped you but glad you still enjoyed it. I would love to have a meal out with my husband. Dinners alone with out the kids are few and far between. Thanks.

  99. Good for you. With all you do for your fellow couponers you deserve more nights out. Thanks for sharing with us.

  100. Sounds like a fun night! Just about any time out without the kids is a good time in my book! We would love to try some new food! Pick me!! Pick me!! Please!!

  101. A well deserved night out it sounds like. Loved your classes. Your story reminded me of those Pizza Hut commercials for their pastas.

  103. Right after I read this article I noticed that it is in the Dominicks ad in the “buy 5 save 5”. I don’t know the original price.

  104. I can believe the switch took place. Those dinners are delish! My family begs for them instead of going out for Chinese food. Quicker, cheaper and just as good – or better!

  105. Toss my hat into the random number generator! (Mixing my metaphors, but it’s past my bedtime…) Sounds like a fun evening, though I’d be disgruntled at being filmed without warning to put on my makeup, etc!

  106. What a great story! I was recently at Ben Pao for the first time and I LOVED IT! I hope my reaction would be as light as your:) Good thing they told you when you were full and good thing it tasted good!!!

  108. I saw coupons for the product before, but was waiting to see it on sale and use them. Can’t wait to try!

  109. But what a great idea. Isn’t that just like the Pizza Hut pasta commercial. would love to try the frozen entree. The boxed Wanchai orange chicken is great.

  110. I would be interested to try a frozen chinese meal. I haven’t purchased anything frozen in a while due to taste issues…curious!

  111. What a fun surprise – I’ll definately try these now – they do look good.

  115. I remember seeing a similar commercial where they switched the coffe to Folgers at a restaurant. I would love to try the product. I am always too busy to cook.

  116. That is so funny. I’m glad you had a fun night out with your hubby. I have never tried these meals, but they must be pretty darn good!

  118. The dry kit was great (add your own chicken).

    The Kung Pao was actually hot.

  120. even if it does mean that we’re all willingly playing into the hands of the marketers.

  121. what a gr8 story
    i never had much luck with frozen meals
    but i would try that one

  123. Great story, I remember a Pizza Hut commercial like this a couple of years ago for their pastas.

  124. We’ve tried a few frozen meals and haven’t been too impressed. I’d love to try this one, and we all know FREE is best!! Thanks Jill!

  125. I’m really excited to try these if you “mistakenly” thought they were from Ben Pao!

  128. I’M NOT USUALLY A BIG FAN OF FROZEN CHINESE FOOD, BUT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO TRYING THIS ONE NOW. THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR STORY.

  130. There was a commercial like this for Pizza Hut’s new pasta line. I wondered if it was a true switcharoo or just actors. At least when I see this commercial I will know that the testimonies are genuine. Just hearing about this makes me want to try Wanchai already! Oh & I love the dress Jill!

  131. Wow what a great story! Also a really great idea for a commercial, I look forward to seeing it! I hope I am lucky enough to win this drawing!!

  132. I always wondered if those commercials were for real!!! Now, I know. :)

    Thanks for the opportunity, Jill!

  133. We love the orange chicken boxed meal kit so I will defintely try the frozen one! What a fun night!

  136. My husband and I are retired and are always eager to try something new that is cheap and/or free! This sounds good. We would love to try the Wanchai frozen dinner.

  137. This would be great for my budget!!! Can’t go to Panda Express anymore, this is probably the next best thing from the grocery store. Thanks.

  138. Hi Jill!
    This is the first time I have actually posted to your blog…but I have learned so much over the past 5 months of following it and attending your classes and reading everyone else’s posts.
    We currently have one income, and my husband is verging on disability (he has some very difficult mobility issues that have developed over the past year). Your coupon & stacking tips have helped us stick to a tight budget, and we don’t feel deprived in the process!
    Unfortunately, due to the lack of finances and the restricted mobility that my husband now has, we don’t often get to go out for dates. We both LOVE Chinese food, however, and this would give us a wonderful opportunity for a date night – at home!

    By the way, your story reminds me of the Pizza Hut commercial when they launched their new pastas! That is too funny…I will be watching for you and your husband on the commericals for Wanchai Ferry!!!

  139. I really enjoyed your Date night story! How COOOOL was that!

    Thanks for Sharing,

    Chickie

  140. What a great surprise and fun evening. Hey, in my book…any night out without the kids is a treat, with dinner included..awesome. My Husband and I love Chinese and think it is hard to find a good frozen substitute. Going to look for this product in stores next time. Would be a great date night with a free movie from red box with coupon code. Tuck the little ones in and Chinese for two! AWESOME!

  141. OK, if you really had no idea that you were eating frozen food, it must be fabulous! I would love to try it. Thanks for the chance.

  142. My mouth was watering as you described the meal…I’m kind of excited it’s something I could get in the grocery store!

  143. WOW! That was a slick one they pulled on you two. Now I would really like to see for myself how good their frozen entrees are. Back before I followed your blog, I would find several coupons for their dishes but never seemed to buy it. Well, at least you two recieved a nice evening out, away from kids and chaos.

  144. I want a date night with my hubby without the kids and without the dog! Two boys and a dog along with two jobs is exhausting! No more time for play! I shall keep my fingers crossed!

  147. That’s such a great way to advertise their frozen food….I would love to win a free dinner.

  149. I realize it’s not quite 3 days, but someone must have printed some coupons, rushed out, and tried these. What’s the verdict?

  150. We’ve had the S&S chicken twice, and it is absolutely delicious, and so quick and easy to fix. I have some coupons for the Wanchai Ferry meals, and I’ve been waiting for a good sale…
    Wish I could have seen all of your faces when you found out you had a frozen Chinese dinner! But what a good one.

  151. if those frozen dinners were any good. Their coupons are always around and yet no one has ever really mentioned buying the product! I would love to try them. Also, just out of curiosity, how did the other guests react when they found out they were eating a frozen dinner? As always, you seemed very gracious and looked at the whole ordeal as a positive. Good for you :)

  152. I always wondered if those commercials were real. I am surprised they didn’t make you sign something before the dinner saying you promised not to sue for deceit or something like that with all the crazy lawsuits that people come up with these days!

  153. That’s too funny, but am glad it was a great date night regardless! Very clever of Wanchai Ferry, now I’m keen to try it!

  155. I would love to try one of these meals that tastes like freshly made Chinese food. I love Sesame Chicken!

  156. How amazing!! I am glad that you enjoyed your evening out and you get to do it again!! This time without the switcheroo. I admit I have been contemplating trying a Wanchai Ferry meal and with your recommendation how can I go wrong?

  157. I’m looking forward to seeing the commercial on TV. Sounds like you had a fun night out. : )

  158. My oh my what a wonderful day!

    I can’t believe I actually won. Is this the ferry that departs from Milwaukee or the one further up north closer to Door County? I could actually go to Door County for a bit, hop the ferry over to Michigan, then go to Mackinaw Island.

    Toa chie, Jill!

jillcataldoheadshotI'm Jill Cataldo, founder of Super-Couponing® workshops and author of the nationally-syndicated newspaper column and video series "Super-Couponing Tips" enjoyed by over 20 million people each week.

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