Bargains were cool even before the economy tanked. Who doesn't check the blackboard at a restaurant to see what's on special? Well, as of this morning, you can check a virtual blackboard too. BlackboardEats.com, a free email newsletter and website, launches today in Los Angeles. (Next up New York, and more cities in 2010.) Based in Venice and founded by Maggie Nemser, former Yahoo! Food editor, the site provides subscribers with reviews, info and serious discounts on meals, cooking classes and take-out, plus bonus free stuff. Free stuff, like bottles of wine and salumi plates. Oh, and the restaurants? Pizzeria Mozza, The Foundry, Cube, Canele and Fig, to name just a few. Hey, you get a passcode. Just remember to write it down somewhere, preferably in chalk.

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