August 2009 Archives

Baja Fresh is giving its Facebook fans a free burrito with the purchase of a large soda tomorrow (September 1).

The giveaway will take place from 2 to 5:30 p.m. while supplies last. (Do they just close their doors if they run out of burrito fixin's?)

Of course, to take advantage of this offer, you gotta jump through a few hoops:

• You have to have a Facebook account. If not, you gotta sign up.
• We haven't quite figured out whether you have to become a fan of Baja Fresh on Facebook to get the offer, but we think you do.
• After logging into Facebook, you have to print out the Facebook page with the free burrito flier and the comments below it and bring it with you, along with a valid ID matching your user name from the top right corner of the printout, to redeem the offer.
• One offer per customer, 'natch.
• Not valid with any other offer or discount, ditto.
• The offer is only valid on chicken, steak and carnitas burritos. It's not valid on shrimp, mahi mahi, crispy mahi mahi, "Enchilado" style, and Dos Manos burritos. No word on the grilled veggie burrito, though.
• Good at participating locations only. Not valid at the following locations: Studio City; Westwood Village; West L.A.; Santa Monica; Brentwood; West Hollywood, Santa Monica Blvd.; West Hollywood, Sunset Blvd.; Miracle Mile; Sherman Oaks; Hollywood Blvd.; Sunset and Vine; Century City; USC; LAX; Irvine, Main St.; Anaheim Hilton; Cerritos; Arroyo Grande; San Luis Obispo; San Diego Airport; San Ramon; Vacaville; Wheaton, MD; Pentagon Row; Bellevue; Excalibur Hotel and Casino; Tampa Airport; Marina Del Rey; Manhattan Beach; Long Beach; Torrance; and Westchester, LA. Apparently, the Inland Empire locations are participating.
  

Whew!

Why the restrictions? During a similar giveaway July 22, Baja Fresh was expecting to only give away less than 1,800 burritos, which was the number of Facebook fans when they made the original announcement.

Of course, this being the Internet, everybody and their brother and sister and aunt and second cousin twice-removed found out about it and printed out the coupon. Facebook fans alone nearly doubled after the announcement.

The company ended up giving away 50,000 burritos. Whoops!

So, if you're willing to jump through the hoops, more power to ya. Me? I'll be sitting this one out.

Out of 1,600 entries submitted online, the winner of Mimi's Meaningful Muffin contest happens to be from the south end of the Inland Empire. Murrieta, to be specific.

Linda Amendt, whose "Pineapple Coconut Crumb" muffin recipe was selected by award-winning pastry chef, acclaimed author and TV personality, Gale Gand, and Mimi's Cafe Executive Chef, Adam Baird, will receive $1,000 in Mimi's gift cards for her efforts.

She also received a personally signed copy of Gale Gand's latest book, "Gale Gand's Brunch!"

In addition, her muffin will be featured at over 144 Mimi's restaurants until September 30.

Perhaps most importantly, for every Meaningful Muffin purchased, Mimi's Cafe will contribute $1 -- up to a grand total of $40,000 -- to Share Our Strength, the leading national organization dedicated to fighting childhood hunger in the U.S.

Recipes were judged on taste, originality and ease with which the recipes could be produced in large quantities.

... and Daves and Davys.

Famous Dave's, the barbecue eatery on 11470 Fourth St. in Rancho Cucamonga, is marking the chain's 15th anniversary this Monday (August 31 — the Redlands location is also participating Monday) by giving special treatment for anyone named David, Dave or Davy. Dudes with this special name will get a free entree with a maximum value of $15. Guys with those names as their middle names will get entrees half off.

For everyone else, there's the "buck-a-bone" special, which is St. Louis-style ribs for $1 per bone with any entree purchase. There's also $3 draft domestic beers Monday through Thursday. These specials are good 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The restaurant opened its first location in Hayward, Wisc. in 1994 and opened in Rancho last summer. There are now 175 locations across the country.

Information: (909) 481-2271

Let's say that you're out running errands and you've suddenly got a craving for some Chipotle Mexican Grill.

You don't have time to stand in line and wait while everyone else decides what they want to eat.

If you've got an iPhone, you're in luck!

Now there's a free Chipotle app available here via iTunes.

The app allows iPhone and iPod Touch owners to order and pay for their Chipotle orders via their handheld.

They can also save their favorite meals, as well as the meals of friends, family and co-workers, which can be ordered as a group.

The software will even find the nearest Chipotle for you.

So...no more waiting in line! Just order and pay through the app, then pick it up at the restaurant.

Of course, if you don't have a iPhone or an iPod Touch, you can still order and pay through your browser at Chipotle's Web site here.

Now if only they'd make an app for those of us with a Palm Prē...

For reasons still unknown to me, I ate five bowls of pho in the last 10 days. I guess you can say I had a craving.

I visited Pho Ha (both the Pomona location on Indian Hill and Holt and the Rancho location on Foothill and Hellman), #1 Pho Noodle and Grill on Foothill and Rochester in Rancho, Pho Vi on Thomas and 3rd in Pomona and Saigon Chinese and Vietnamese on Foothill near Etiwanda in Rancho.

And the winner for best pho in the last 10 days goes to ... Pho Ha. Both locations are good but the Rancho site wins by a hair for wonderful people-watching opportunities and proximity to a frozen yogurt joint.

I asked the Pho Ha owner what the difference is between the two restaurants. She said customers in Rancho eat more.

Pho Ha, at the Chuck E. Cheese center, is always brimming with people. During the lunch hour, the people slurping up the Vietnamese noodles are a diverse group of working class families, hospital workers, suit types, etc. When I ate a 9 p.m. dinner last week, there were men behind me who spoke a combination of Vietnamese and English, the two ladies next to me gossiped in Spanish and the family in front of me spoke Mandarin. This isn't your grandmother's Cucamonga, that's for sure.

When I eat pho, I'm usually a rare steak kinda gal. If I'm eating with someone who's not squeamish, I'll get brisket and tripe. Recently, I've been getting the vegetarian pho, which at Pho Ha, is a big salad in soup. In addition to the rice noodles, there's tofu, napa cabbage, onion, carrot, baby corn, green onion, cilantro and shitake mushrooms. If you include all the fixings, there's also basil, bean sprouts, jalapenos and if you're lucky, green leaf lettuce.

In the West Valley, all the pho places I've tried are good but Pho Ha and Pho Vi are the only two I recommend with no reservations. Remember, pronounce it "fuh" not "foe."

Other restaurants I've tried before but not in the last 10 days: Pho Century in Upland; Pho Express and Pho Hoa Pasteur in Pomona; Pho 2007 in Chino Hills.

Restaurants I've never tried before: Pho Saigon on Base Line and Carnelian in Rancho; California Noodle and Grill in Chino; Pho Nguyen in Fontana and Pho Vietrica in Ontario.

Am I forgetting any?

For those of you who love both NASCAR and food, have I got a deal for you!

As read in the number 3 item in Lou Brewster's Fifth Gear column today, the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana is offering an all-you-can-eat "All Day Food Fest" pass for the October 11 NASCAR Sprint Cup Pepsi 500.

The wristband pass, which will cost $35 for those 13 and over ($20 for those 12 and under), is good for one entrée, one snack and one non-alcoholic beverage each time through the line at participating eateries.

Of course, this is above and beyond your entrance fee to the raceway.

Concessions include Canter's Deli (Got that, Kristen? Now's your chance!), Gordon Biersch, Woodie's, the Dog House, RPM BBQ, and the All American Grill.

Click here to read the original press release.

As you may have read in today's Biz page, Zendejas' Colton location has closed.

The restaurant had recently remodeled to expand its bar and add a second dance floor, which ran afoul of the restaurant's conditional-use permit with the city.

Colton Police ordered the establishment to cease its nightclub activities as of August 1, and the owner decided to shut down.

In other words, the restaurant couldn't survive solely as a restaurant.

Prospective diners were greeted by a hand-written note saying: "Thank you for your support.  We have relocated to 1970 Ostrems Way in San Bernardino."

Odd choice of wording, since that San Bernardino location has been open for years.

Personally, I can't remember the last time I ate at the Colton location. Or the San Bernardino location, which is only about a block from The Sun.

You can read Matt Wrye's full story here.

Zendejas' closing makes the third restaurant in that neighborhood that I've noticed has gone belly-up.

Don't get me wrong.

I like Souplantation.

But Joan's Broccoli Madness? Broccoli and raisins together? Madness, indeed.

Obviously, I'm not a fan.

But perhaps you are.

And perhaps you have a Costco membership.

If so, you'll be glad to know that Costco now carries a kit that includes enough ingredients to make 10 one-cup portions of the broccoli/cashew/raisin salad. The kit even includes a bowl to mix it in.

I have a Costco membership.

Sorry Souplantation, but I'll be leaving that kit on the shelf.

When you come up with a kit for your Spicy Southwestern Pasta, let me know, OK?

I've been curious about the Coca-Cola Freestyle 100-plus choice soda fountain ever since I read about it online earlier this year.

Then I found out that Coke was test-marketing it here in Southern California, in select San Diego and Orange county restaurants.

This past Saturday, I got to experience it for myself.

I drove down to the Subway shop at 2514 E. Chapman Ave. (at State College Boulevard) in Fullerton (after a detour to a different Subway further down Chapman...oops!).

The Freestyle machine itself is about the size of an apartment-sized refrigerator. It has a single opening through which both ice and soda are dispensed. On the front is a touchscreen menu for selecting your beverage and a Pour button.

There are 10 basic brands available (Coca-Cola, Dasani, Minute Maid Lemonade, Fanta, Pibb, Hi-C, Sprite, Barq's, Vault and Powerade) most in both regular and diet (or in Coke nomenclature, Zero) varieties, for a total of 20 different available base beverages, plus plain old water.

And how does it work?

If you're a night owl, like me, or an early bird, unlike me, you just might have a chance at getting a year's worth of sandwiches from Togo's.

You see, the Upland Togo's (110 S. Mountain Ave., at 8th Street) is celebrating their grand opening this morning (August 15).

To commemorate the occasion, they're giving the first 50 adult guests (18+) in line free sandwiches for a year!

That's one sandwich a week for 52 weeks.

The rules?

• You gotta be at least 18 years old and have a valid California driver's license.
• You must purchase a 6" Togo's sandwich.
• You've got to stay in line and be in line when the doors open at 10 a.m.
• One winner per household.
• Do not pass go, do not collect $200.

Just kidding about that last one.

If that headline seems vaguely familiar, that's because it's a repeat of a week ago.

Jack in the Box is at it again...you can get two free tacos today (August 11). All you need to do is print out the coupon available at this link and bring it to your nearest Jack in the Box.

If you're a fan of those deep-fried delicacies, you can thank Dine 909 for your good fortune.

If not, well, just move along...

As previously mentioned in this blog, this Wednesday (August 12), Mimi's Cafe is hosting a fundraiser for the San Diego Zoo.

Participating Southern California Mimi's Cafes will be donating 15% of net sales to the San Diego Zoo's conservation efforts. You can help the zoo by printing out the flier available here and bringing it to your favorite Mimi's on that day.

Also, don't forget that if you are planning to visit the San Diego Zoo and are bringing kids with you, Mimi's diners can get a voucher for a free child's (ages 3-11) admission ticket with the purchase of an adult (ages 12+) "Best Value Ticket" to the zoo.

Hurry, though, since the offer is only good until August 31.

So Wednesday, you could kill two birds with one stone, which is probably a poor choice of cliché, considering...

From ace photojournalist/vegetarian/former Dine 909 contributor Eric Reed, we get word that the High Desert has gotten its second Chipotle Mexican Grill.

The new Victorville location is at 14120 Bear Valley Rd., Suite 100, just off I-15 near the Mall of Victor Valley.

It joins the Apple Valley location, which is due east at 19179 Bear Valley Road.

He's glad to have two of the "best burrito shops in the known world," according to his email.

I'm glad that I have new lunch option on my way to Las Vegas.

He's still waiting for that second High Desert fresh & easy location to open, however...

Ice cream palaces Baskin-Robbins and Dairy Queen are both hosting events this month benefiting Children's Miracle Network.

All August long, participating Baskin-Robbins locations are selling pink paper cones for $1, with proceeds going to Children's Miracle Network. Funds from Inland Empire locations are going to Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

In return, you'll get coupons for $3 off a $15 cake purchase and a free prepackaged quart with a $15 cake purchase.

Then, from 6 to 9 p.m. August 19, participating stores will be donating 20% of sales to Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. Wednesdays also happen to be my local store's buy-one-get-one-free night, so they should have a good turnout.

Nearly a week before, on August 13, Dairy Queen will host its fourth annual Miracle Treat Day. On that Thursday, $1 or more from every Blizzard sold will go to Childrens Miracle Network.

Last year, DQ raised over $4.5 million for 170 Childrens Miracle Network hospitals. Since becoming a cause partner in 1984, they've raised $77 million for Childrens Miracle Network, making them one of their top five contributors.

Of course, they wouldn't be able to do it without you.

So, loosen up that belt a notch and have a cool treat while you get the warm feeling of helping sick kids.

I just saw an email in my inbox that made me do a double-take.

It was from fresh & easy's PR firm, letting us know that the Rancho Cucamonga store (12188 Foothill Blvd. at Day Creek Boulevard) was soon opening and that they were taking nominations for charities to receive $1,000 at the grand opening.

Hmmm...haven't I heard that somewhere before?

Well, yeah. It turns out that this is the second time they've announced the store opening...without giving us a definite opening date.

Same rules apply...if you have a charity you want to nominate to get the grand, go to www.freshandeasy.com/goodneighbor and nominate them. You've got from Friday (August 7) until September 4 to do so. (Looks like you can already nominate a charity to receive the donation at the San Bernardino location's grand opening!)

They must be a little closer to actually opening this time, because they've hired a store manager -- Delton Cast -- and have tents setup on-site to interview potential new employees.

But, I'm guessing the store is not going to open before September 4. Stay tuned to Dine 909 for more info.

You know them. The tasty deep-fried tacos with the indeterminate meat-esque filling.

Either you love them or you think they're an Americanized monstrosity.

Yep, I'm talking about Jack in the Box tacos.

And you can get two of those delicious American cheese-adorned beauties for free today.

All you have to do it print out the coupon available here.

You've got until 11:59 p.m. tonight. Better hurry!

Just don't think too long about that filling, OK?