Open Sky

I did a search, and while there was one mention of Open Sky in a thread on knives, there doesn't appear to be any other discussion of this anywhere else. So here goes.

This is a really dangerous site -- in the best possible way.

Different experts offer products they very much like to the folks who are following them. The products are often offered at a significant discount (for example, a D'Artagnan foie gras basket offered by Michael Ruhlman a few days ago was about 30% cheaper than it was on the D'Artagnan site). I didn't buy that, but I did get a set of washable clothes from Ruhlman that he designed for straining broths and other things that need to be strained.

So not just food, but loads of gadgets, too.

The nice thing is that, even if you aren't following someone, you can scan all the current offerings and then decide to follow someone if it's a very interesting item.

I just bought hot chocolate mix from Jacques Torres, and I also just "followed" the newest member of the Open Sky team, Rick Bayless. So far, I've gotten three things, and they were shipped swiftly, carefully packed, were just as represented, and were great. And I'm looking forward to getting the Jacques Torres hot chocolate mix.

https://opensky.com/

Happy shopping.

But let us know what you're finding that you think is cool. I don't think anyone can look at all the offerings every day, so it would be good to find out what others are delighting in.

I've signed up (I think Blackboard Eats had a $15 credit offer if you signed up through them), but haven't bought anything... and my free $15 expired. Then yesterday, they gave me another $10 credit just because.
They also have a referral program -- if people sign up and buy stuff, I'll get credit (I won't post that link here, PM me if you want it).

If you're following anyone, you'll get at least one email a day from those "curators" plus a general what's on sale today message. It's a little excessive.

It's definitely really nice stuff... but it's not cheap stuff. Mostly it's unique things I haven't seen elsewhere. Most of the "curators" don't hawk their own stuff (the notable exception being Guy Fieri, his face is on everything).

JoelF wrote:They also have a referral program -- if people sign up and buy stuff, I'll get credit (I won't post that link here, PM me if you want it).

If you're following anyone, you'll get at least one email a day from those "curators" plus a general what's on sale today message. It's a little excessive.

It's definitely really nice stuff... but it's not cheap stuff. Mostly it's unique things I haven't seen elsewhere. Most of the "curators" don't hawk their own stuff (the notable exception being Guy Fieri, his face is on everything).

Or PM me.

As for the emails -- maybe I haven't "followed" as many folks as Joel, or maybe some of the "curators" are more prolific than others, but I've found the ones I'm following only have about one new item a week. Because I've followed a few people, I get at least one email every day, but not an email from everyone every day.

As for folks hawking their own stuff - there are a lot who don't, but there are some who do -- but that's why you're following them. I'd be very disappointed if Jacques Torres didn't offer Jacques Torres chocolates.

So, I signed up. I certainly hope that the 3 emails I have received in the 4 hours since I signed up are not indicative of the process.

lougord99 wrote:So, I signed up. I certainly hope that the 3 emails I have received in the 4 hours since I signed up are not indicative of the process.

The first day I was on, I got emails from almost everyone I had "followed." I worried, too, but it dropped off dramatically by the next day. Now, they just come as people have something new to sell.

Hope you find some cool stuff.

cynthia: i'll be curious to see how you like your jacques torres hot chocolate mix, when it arrives. i was in new york last week and bought half a dozen different truffles from the torres shop in chelsea piers. it was the first time i'd tried any of his products and i did not like any of them. indistinguishable flavors and not very good chocolate. i was seriously disappointed. justjoan

justjoan wrote:cynthia: i'll be curious to see how you like your jacques torres hot chocolate mix, when it arrives. i was in new york last week and bought half a dozen different truffles from the torres shop in chelsea piers. it was the first time i'd tried any of his products and i did not like any of them. indistinguishable flavors and not very good chocolate. i was seriously disappointed. justjoan

Interesting. Because early in 2010, I bought some chocolates at the Jacques Torres shop in Traverse City, and though it's been a while, I thought I remembered them being quite good. Maybe it was just the ones I picked. But I remember the few I got were pretty nice. Maybe it depends on where they're made.

We'll see. If I don't like it, I can just stop following him. (And fortunately, if it turns out to be less than outstanding, I had a credit for buying this chocolate, so it's not too costly.)

Actually, the JT hot chocolate is amazing. I thought they were kidding when they said that a serving is 1/2 a cup of milk and 1/4 cup of the mix, but it's like drinking liquid ganache, so 1/2 a cup is plenty.

I may actually thin it down a little next time, as I don't really need it to be quite so thick. But aside from being thick, the flavor is gorgeous, the chocolate is dark, and it's not too sweet.