"CheapEats" news and stories

If there's one upside for foodies in this depressing economy, it's the sudden appearance of websites specializing in culinary discounts. Sites like Groupon.com, Livingsocial.com and Restaurant.com offer diners deep savings designed to bring in customers -- and users benefit.

BlackboardEats.com, launched in late 2009, has grown rapidly by following this model, offering customers a free email newsletter and website with deals at top restaurants in Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. The downside? Diners living outside of those areas were out of luck. Now, though, all you need is a mailbox: A new "Everywhere" edition of BlackboardEats recently launched, specializing in online gourmet food deals discounted 30 percent or more, and everything's delivered to your door.

The system is pretty straightforward: Customers sign up (just an email, name and zip code) and get a newsletter every Wednesday. Users have 24 hours to grab a passcode, then another 48 to use it. Offerings range from artisanal foods to cookware to culinary travel destinations. But are the deals worth the hassle of mail order? So far. Two of the first discounts were for Maine lobster rolls and tails (40 percent off) and Intelligentsia Coffee (30 percent off). A deal for 40 percent off Spiegelau glassware is lined up for next week.

Each week, I link up eight food-related stories and blog posts from the previous week that somehow caught my eye or tickled my fancy (this week, it's mostly sweets, soups and eating on the cheap). Here's the list for this week:

1. One way to save money in the kitchen is to do the processing yourself. Culinate breaks down the difference between cutting up a chicken yourself and buying it pre-skinned and quartered.
2. On Minimally Invasive, Amy uses inexpensive pork necks to make a deeply flavored and warming ragu.
3. For those of you who like lots of mashed potatoes (or applesauce), but don't like the work of peeling, invest in a Peel-A-Meal electric peeler.
4. Need a good, professional way to get your knives sharpened? Try doing it by mail!
5. Orangette serves up a Tomato Soup with Red Onion and Cilantro Stems. Sounds delicious and economical.
6. Deb at Smitten Kitchen makes a batch of Salted Butter Caramel Sauce. There are no words for how good that sounds to me right at the moment.
7. Want to eat less meat and but still eat well? Here are some quick and simple vegetarian dishes to check out.
8. CityMama's Best Split Pea Soup ever has me adding ham hocks and dried peas to my shopping list.

One of the best things about my Inner Richmond San Francisco nabe is its proximity to the real Chinatown in the city. Not the touristic place where dollar store owners hawk fake jade and shot glasses to tourists, but the bustling, neighborhoody area where Chinese and non-Chinese alike do their shopping.

One of my favorite establishments in the Inner Richmond is Wing Lee Bakery on Clement and 5th. Not a bakery like you are thinking (although they do offer up sweet treats), "bakery" is the traditional name for shops that sell dim sum, too. The best thing about Wing Lee is that they serve fresh dim sum and other savory tasties for cheap. An order (3 pieces) will cost you no more than $1.30, and if you just want a bite, they also sell their dim sum by the piece.

Today I shoved $5 in my pocket and headed off in search of lunch. I selected coriander dumplings, both boiled and pan-fried leek dumplings (my fave), pork siu mai, a spring roll and a couple of baked char siu bao (pork buns). Then I took it all home, brewed some chrysanthemum tea, and my daughters and I had a feast for lunch.

[Photo Stefania Butler]