Blackboard Eats Chicago launches

And an interview with Louisa Chu

First offer: $60 prix-fixe @ ING.

This also falls under "Total Media Domination" but... I figure it deserves its own post? We've been enjoying BBE in LA since inception. So far, it's triumphed over Groupon/LivingSocial, etc.

For those, like me, who had no idea what this was, here's the answer:

Blackboard Eats, which offers email subscribers in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York free deals on carefully selected high end restaurants and artisanal food products, officially launches its Chicago edition today.

I look forward to saving money on things I wasn't planning to buy.

Yep, this sounds like Groupon for restaurants.

It's NOT Groupon as there is no initial entry fee.

ie, you click, you get a coupon (or in ING's case, the permission to pay for the $60 prix fixe). Groupon costs $. Historically, BBE has offered 30% off at a bunch of popular (or as they say: "well curated") restaurants.

We click on almost every BBE, Groupon, not so much.

TonyC wrote:It's NOT Groupon as there is no initial entry fee.

ie, you click, you get a coupon (or in ING's case, the permission to pay for the $60 prix fixe). Groupon costs $. Historically, BBE has offered 30% off at a bunch of popular (or as they say: "well curated") restaurants.

We click on almost every BBE, Groupon, not so much.

It's similar to Scoutmob.

Asked a question that, if I had only read the linked Louisa Chu interview, would have been answered for me. Hence, I deleted it.

On another note, the 30%-off Spice House deal in the "Market" category is pretty sweet.

I had signed up for it since I was curious and was very happy to see the Spice House deal and now today's ING option ... I really like the idea of getting a code for a discount w/o having to pay in advance.

We'll see how it plays out - will this be as successful w/o that weird cash float that Groupon depends on? possibly more?

Khaopaat wrote:Asked a question that, if I had only read the linked Louisa Chu interview, would have been answered for me. Hence, I deleted it.

On another note, the 30%-off Spice House deal in the "Market" category is pretty sweet.

Yeah, although it's a shame it's online-only.

gleam wrote:

Khaopaat wrote:Asked a question that, if I had only read the linked Louisa Chu interview, would have been answered for me. Hence, I deleted it.

On another note, the 30%-off Spice House deal in the "Market" category is pretty sweet.

Yeah, although it's a shame it's online-only.

Yeah, I was going to put together an order tonight to see if the 30% discount is offset by shipping costs.

I have friends who used this a lot in NYC, they sent the info on Chicago to me today. What the heck, sounds like there's no downside if you don't use it. The friends like it a lot, and they are both smart and into food.

Congrats, Louisa. I wish you guys all the best and look forward to participating.

=R=

Just wanted to post a gentle reminder that the BlackboardEats special with Vie expires in less than 30 minutes:

$49 5-course tasting menu with optional $20 wine pairings
http://www.blackboardeats.com/sp/vie-we ... gs-chicago

We're really grateful to Vie - and if you do miss the BBE special, go anyway!

Louisa Chu wrote:Just wanted to post a gentle reminder that the BlackboardEats special with Vie expires in less than 30 minutes:

$49 5-course tasting menu with optional $20 wine pairings
http://www.blackboardeats.com/sp/vie-we ... gs-chicago

We're really grateful to Vie - and if you do miss the BBE special, go anyway!

and Inovasi is up next, correct?

I'm extremely impressed with the restaurants you folks have managed to make deals with.

I had a great chat with Carlos at Calumet Fisheries about Blackboard Eats vs. Groupon.


He said he told the owner he was going to offer 30% off on Blackboard eats. The owner said "30%, that's a lot. You should do Groupon instead." He said "you don't like 30% off--how about 75% off. That's what happens when you sell a $20 Groupon for $10, since Groupon takes half of the $10."

He told me that he'd talked to a lot of people about their experience with Groupon and concluded it was great for things where it doesn't cost anything additional to add some people to a group--like a tour--and not bad if you're offering a service, like a massage, where your primary cost is your own time. But when it's a product, you have to be aware that there are some people who "live off Groupon," making a point of never spending a penny more than they have to to get the deal.

But the bottom line, he told me, is that "I'd do anything for Louisa Chu!"

I enjoy opening the Blackboard emails just to see which LTH stalwart has penned the description. Congrats!

lemoneater wrote:I enjoy opening the Blackboard emails just to see which LTH stalwart has penned the description. Congrats!

I participate because of Louisa Chu. I'm sure it is the same for everyone else, too.

Regards,

I am so glad I took a lazy day to peruse the forum, thereby finding this thread! Subscribed, shared, suggested to friends and family in various locations offered, and soon to be utilized! Seems like a fantastic resource from an eminently reliable source.

And the gossipification of food writing marches on.

Hope it was fun Louisa! The suggestion that she can fill the OG editor's shoe seems premature. A journalism major who bakes at home vs... well... all *THAT*.

TonyC wrote:And the gossipification of food writing marches on.

Hope it was fun Louisa! The suggestion that she can fill the OG editor's shoe seems premature. A journalism major who bakes at home vs... well... all *THAT*.

at Grubstreet.com, Carly Fisher wrote:The name should ring a bell for readers of former NBC blog The Feast, where Bernot contributed her recognizable brand of smart and sassy commentary on the Chicago food scene...

Ugh.

=R=

Is today's BBE offering of a discount at an entirely non-food-related site a portent of things to come? Or can one braise a pillow?

=R=