Monthly Archives: April 2009

Another IE Mimi’s remodeled…another chance for free stuff

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You might want to go get in line now.

Or not.

At 9 a.m. tomorrow (April 16), the Upland Mimi’s Cafe location (at 370 N. Mountain Ave.) is having a grand re-opening, and you know what that means…free Mimi’s gift cards!

The first 75 adults (18+) in line at the grand re-opening will receive part of $3,000 in Mimi’s gift cards that will be given away. If past “Meet Me at Mimi’s” events are any indication, the first 10 people will receive a $100 gift card, the next 15 will receive $50 gift cards, and the rest will get $25 gift cards.

When the Fontana Mimi’s opened a couple of months ago, Dine 909 was there. We arrived about an hour before the opening and were able to secure a $25 gift card. However there were some die-hards who arrived at 3 a.m.

Just depends on how much you love Mimi’s, I guess!
Continue reading “Another IE Mimi’s remodeled…another chance for free stuff” »

Stop! Don’t eat those pistachios!

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OK, so we survived the great Salmonella peanut butter scare of 2009. Now we’ve got pistachios to deal with.

Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc., Terra Bella, Calif., is
voluntarily recalling pistachios from its 2008 crop due to possible Salmonella contamination.

How does this affect you?

If you purchased Chili & Lemon flavored pistachios from your local fresh&easy…you’re affected.

They’ve been recalled.

Now, no illnesses have been reported, and the Chili & Lemon flavored pistachios are the only fresh&easy item containing pistachios from Setton, but I wouldn’t take any chances.

You’ll get a full refund by returning them to the store.

Your digestive tract will thank you, and not only because it’s being spared the agony of having to digest a chili and lemon-coated snack.

For more information, click here.

Well, at least somebody’s been reading this blog

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Dine 909 got a little note the other day from Tom over at Pick Up Stix restaurants. He wanted to let us know that they are having a buy-one-entre-get-one-free deal going on right now.

Pick Up Stix has 10 locations in the Inland Empire: San Bernardino, Fontana, Riverside (Canyon Crest and Riverside Plaza), Rancho Cucamonga, Mira Loma, Corona, South Corona, Upland and Chino Hills.

There are a few exceptions to the deal, or course: It’s not good on their Dragon Deals value menu, kids meals or the $5.99 chicken wok combo. Nor is it good on specials or appetizers. Um, and don’t even think of photocopying the coupon.

You have to follow this link and print out the coupon to take advantage of the deal. The coupon is good until the end of May.

However, if you follow this link, you’ll find the buy-one-entre-get-one-free coupon and several more, including free cream cheese wontons with the purchase of two entres, $5 off a $20 purchase and any entre salad for $4.99.

So have at it!

Thanks, Tom!

Celebrate Earth Day at the Farm

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Farm Artisan Foods in Redlands is celebrating Earth Day with a five-course Vegan meal at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 20.

The five courses are:

  • Beet salad with local greens
  • Sweet pea and marjoram cold soup
  • Garlic sauteed broccoli over whole grain spelt
  • Stuffed zucchini blossoms
  • Berries Napoleon

Mmmm…I can’t get enough whole grain spelt!

The cost is $49, $10 of which will go directly to the Redlands Conservancy’s Emerald Necklace Program, which is a system for preserving many of Redlands’ unique and
defining environments.

Reservations are required. The Farm is at 22 E. State St.

The Redlands Daily Facts has written an article that can be found here.

For more information, contact the Farm at (909) 792-1162.

Frozen yogurt on the cheap and $5 “Whoopie bucks”

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If you’re watching your waistline, you might as well move on to the next blog, because…

From the Redlands Daily Facts, we’ve got good news for your sweet tooth.

Ohana Yogurt Shop will be celebrating its third anniversary from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 18. They will have music, giveaways, and best of all, their yogurt will be 25 per ounce instead of the usual 38.

Ohana is a pretty decent self-serve frozen yogurt place and is conveniently open late during the summer to satisfy those after-the-Redlands-Bowl-concert cravings. I’ll probably head on over to the celebration.

They’ve got new competition, however.

The previously-mentioned Swirly D’lite frozen yogurt opened April 2. I drove by the other night, but they were already closed. Ended up going to Wienerschnitzel and trying their Bananas Foster sundae. Mmm! Swirly D’lite will have to wait for another day.

Finally, if you’ve ever wanted to try a Whoopie pie, now’s your chance. The Daily Facts has been printing $5 in “Whoopie bucks” in Wednesday’s, Thursday’s and Friday’s editions. The coupon is good for anything at West Coast Whoopies‘ Calimesa bakery. The “bucks” are good through the month of April.

I’ve been meaning to get out there to try them, and the “Cheryl’s Snickerdoodle” and “Aunty Anne’s Red Velvet” varieties have certainly piqued my interest. This is just more incentive — like I needed it.

For more info, read the original Facts blurb here.

Just because it’s Friday doesn’t mean you have to read this

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Got a handful of things to clear out this week , so let’s get started!

First up, as per usual on Friday, is new reviews…

Elaine Lehman stays in her neck of the woods this week with a trip to Via Venetto Cafe, No. 105, in Rancho Cucamonga.

I know exactly where Via Venetto Cafe, No. 105, is, since Elaine and I both bank at the same credit union, and I’ve been to that ATM near Via Venetto Cafe, No. 105, at 6th Street and Haven Avenue many, many times

It just never occurred to me to stop and eat.

Perhaps next time I will, especially since, according to Elaine, it’s both “easy on the wallet and (has) lots of choices for lunch.”

Her full review can be found here.

Next up is Allan Borgen’s review of the long-established Mona Lisa Italian Restaurant in Redlands, which surprisingly, has a drive-through.

It’s also another place I’ve been by many, many times and never bothered to stop. After reading Allan’s review, I know I want to stop in next time.

Their prices seem like an incredible bargain (nothing over $6.95!), and Allan raves about the lasagna and the Friday special, linguine with Alfredo sauce.

You’ll find his review here.

But that’s not all. There’s more after the jump…

Continue reading “Just because it’s Friday doesn’t mean you have to read this” »

One week ’til Romano’s Redlands opens

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Redlands’ restaurant scene is soon to be growing by one.

Romano’s, a small Riverside-based chain (and not to be confused with this one), will open its first eatery north of the county line next Tuesday (April 14).

The new Romano’s will be at 330 Orange St., in the former Carlson’s Hardware spot, next door to Citrone.

The restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, with “family” dining downstairs and “quaint” dining upstairs.

Owner Gary Romano also owns the Beacon Printing building next door at 336 Orange St., and intends to use that building as a banquet space.

Click here to read the entire story from the Redlands Daily Facts.

Any Dine 909ers been to any of the Riverside Romano’s? What can we expect? Let us know below.

Gourmet Pizza Shoppe pays your taxes

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According to this blurb in today’s Redlands Daily Facts, the Gourmet Pizza Shoppe (a Dine 909 Favorite) in Redlands and Yucaipa is paying your taxes in honor of the tax month of April.

Your sales taxes, that is.

For the month of April, the “shoppe” is helping out diners by taking care of the sales tax.

With California sales tax at an all-time high, that certainly helps.

In addition to not having to pay sales tax, after 3 p.m. on Tuesdays, pints of Hangar 24 beer will only be $3 and you can get $5 off a 16″ pizza.

Wait a minute…today is Tuesday!

I guess that answers my question about what’s for dinner tonight. Now comes the tough part…deciding which of their unique pizzas to order!

Ever wonder what the Pomona Valley tastes like?

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Now’s your chance to find out what the Pomona Valley tastes like.

The Pomona Chamber of Commerce is hosting the 5th annual Taste of the Pomona Valley from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday (April 13) at Avalon at the Fairplex.

Details are amazingly scant, other than the time, location and price, which is $25 in advance, $30 at the door. And if you can con gather nine others to experience the unknown, you’ll all get in for $200 ($20 apiece), due to the fact that if you purchase eight tickets, you’ll get two free.

Looking at the chamber’s Web site, this year’s prices are $5 less than in 2007, when they were $30 pre-sale and $35 at the door. A portion of the proceeds that year went to the chamber’s scholarship program, and I’m thinking that the same might be possible this year.

I just don’t know.

Their newsletter promises “delicious food, premium wines and great fun in an elegant setting,” along with live entertainment, raffles and an auction.

Read for yourself on the chamber’s Web site here and here. There’s also another blurb at The Bizz.

Interested? Tickets are available from the chamber by calling (909) 622-8484 or emailing info@pomonachamber.org.

Nancy’s closing leaves hunger pangs

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I was mighty sad to learn that Nancy’s closed while I was out of town.
I’ve heard about the diner’s popularity for years and enjoyed my first
breakfast there recently. It was “pick up sticks,” french toast cut
into strips and buttered on all sides. It was one of those breakfasts
that you eat at 10 a.m. and then feel the first pangs of hunger 12
hours later. Nearby, I watched an elderly couple enjoy an early lunch.
They were probably regulars. The woman spread a healthy dose of mayonnaise on her club sandwich after every bite.

Nancy’s is not the place for egg white omelets but comfort food goes down well in this town. According to commenters on David Allen’s blog,
the closing might be the result of a divorce as opposed to the economy.
If that’s the case, a Nancy’s comeback is possible. We’ll keep our
fingers crossed.