December 2010 Archives
Also during my visit to Victoria Gardens yesterday, I saw a liquor license application posted in the window of what was formerly West Elm, across N. Main Street from Lucille's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que.
Toby Keith's I ♥ This Bar & Grill is coming to town.
I don't know much about Toby Keith's I ♥ This Bar & Grill, other than it's named after Toby Keith's song, "I Love This Bar," which I don't think I've ever heard.
Checking out their website, however, I found out that there are currently nine locations, with two in the works (Denver is the other one).
They serve a small selection of soups and salads, some burgers, sandwiches and wraps (fried bologna sandwich, anyone?), steaks, meatloaf, ribs, chicken and fish entrées and for dessert, you can have deep-fried Twinkies. No need to wait for the fair to come to town.
Prices are reasonable, with nearly all entrées under $13.
The nearest locations are Mesa, Arizona, and Las Vegas. The Rancho Cucamonga location will be the only one in California.
There's already a Facebook fan page set up, with information on hiring clinics, among other things, for the new location.
Have you ever been to Toby Keith's I ♥ This Bar & Grill? If so, are you happy there's going to be one local? Feel free to let us know below.
Toby Keith's I ♥ This Bar & Grill is coming to town.
I don't know much about Toby Keith's I ♥ This Bar & Grill, other than it's named after Toby Keith's song, "I Love This Bar," which I don't think I've ever heard.
Checking out their website, however, I found out that there are currently nine locations, with two in the works (Denver is the other one).
They serve a small selection of soups and salads, some burgers, sandwiches and wraps (fried bologna sandwich, anyone?), steaks, meatloaf, ribs, chicken and fish entrées and for dessert, you can have deep-fried Twinkies. No need to wait for the fair to come to town.
Prices are reasonable, with nearly all entrées under $13.
The nearest locations are Mesa, Arizona, and Las Vegas. The Rancho Cucamonga location will be the only one in California.
There's already a Facebook fan page set up, with information on hiring clinics, among other things, for the new location.
Have you ever been to Toby Keith's I ♥ This Bar & Grill? If so, are you happy there's going to be one local? Feel free to let us know below.
I met a couple of friends for lunch at Victoria Gardens on my day off yesterday.(Yard House, in case you're wondering...had a BBQ Veggie Chicken pizza with a Caesar salad, one of their lunch specials. Very good.)
I noticed a small sticker in the window of the California Pizza Kitchen as I walked by.
DineVG.com, it advertised.
So I had to check it out.
Turns out it's a pretty decent rewards program.
There's currently 11 participating restaurants, and it looks like the average savings is about 25% (although one offer has already expired). Not bad.
It's free to sign up, and you get 100 points when you do. You'll also collect points when you dine at participating restaurants Monday through Thursday and bring your receipts to Guest Services.
As a bonus, every quarter, the top 500 points earners for that quarter are entered into a drawing for a $1,000 Victoria Gardens shopping spree!
Follow the jump to see a list of rewards.
Continue reading Dine VG for fun and profit.
It all started with a tweet.The Twitter user wanted to know why the San Bernardino California Pizza Kitchen had closed.
What?!?
It's closed?!!?
I asked if she meant the one across from Costco and went to the CPK website to see if the San Bernardino location was still listed as one of their locations.
Nope. Not a good sign.
I drove by today and was a little shocked to see a completely stripped down building where there used to be a restaurant.
A lone sign made the announcement:
The California Pizza Kitchen at The Shoppes at Northpointe is now closed. Thank you for allowing us to serve you. Please visit one of our nearby locations.The sign then lists the information for the Riverside Plaza and Victoria Gardens locations.
Continue reading R.I.P., S.B. CPK.
We've run a couple of food-related items on The Sun and Daily Bulletin business pages in the last two days.
In today's papers, we had a story regarding the long-completed, but still-unopened Loma Linda fresh & easy.
Guess what?
Still no opening date, but we knew that already, didn't we?
Click here to read the story as it appeared in this morning's Sun.
And in yesterday's paper, we had an item on the impending opening of a Chipotle Mexican Grill and the discussions of opening a Panera Bread in the city of Montclair.
The Chipotle will be east of Montclair Plaza, while Panera would be on the western edge of the mall.
Now, how about something to fill in the location north of the mall vacated by Islands last month?
These things take time, I guess.
Click here to read the Montclair restaurant story.
In today's papers, we had a story regarding the long-completed, but still-unopened Loma Linda fresh & easy.
Guess what?
Still no opening date, but we knew that already, didn't we?
Click here to read the story as it appeared in this morning's Sun.
And in yesterday's paper, we had an item on the impending opening of a Chipotle Mexican Grill and the discussions of opening a Panera Bread in the city of Montclair.
The Chipotle will be east of Montclair Plaza, while Panera would be on the western edge of the mall.
Now, how about something to fill in the location north of the mall vacated by Islands last month?
These things take time, I guess.
Click here to read the Montclair restaurant story.
Another fundraiser for the Freedom Courtyard Veterans' Memorial is scheduled for Thursday, December 30, at Applebee's, 10709 Foothill Blvd., Rancho Cucamonga.
From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., the restaurant will donate 15% of your bill to the memorial, which is to be built at Central Park in Rancho Cucamonga.
As with this month's earlier fundraiser at Wahoo's Fish Taco, you must present a flier (which is available for download here) to participate. The restaurant is making donations with both dine-in and to-go orders.
Click here to learn more about the project.
From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., the restaurant will donate 15% of your bill to the memorial, which is to be built at Central Park in Rancho Cucamonga.
As with this month's earlier fundraiser at Wahoo's Fish Taco, you must present a flier (which is available for download here) to participate. The restaurant is making donations with both dine-in and to-go orders.
Click here to learn more about the project.
The rather unassuming corner of Ninth Street and Valley Boulevard in Colton is soon to be home to not one, but two new restaurants.
One of them, Red Hot Café, is already open. (Thanks to reader Steve for the tip!)
Red Hot replaces the been-there-since-the-dawn-of-time Rickshaw Boy at 182 E. Valley Blvd., which has been closed for about a year.
An LED sign advertised hot wings and hot links.
Catty-corner from Red Hot will soon be the third Food Connection location.
Food Connection is moving in where the short-lived Bob's Big Boy was, at 201 E. Valley Blvd.
Bob's closed "for remodeling" back in May of this year and ended up being remodeled into a completely different restaurant.
The new Food Connection will join their current locations in Grand Terrace and Riverside.
I see this as a step in the right direction. I've enjoyed dozens of meals at both Food Connection restaurants, but had nothing but lackluster meals at that particular Bob's.
One of them, Red Hot Café, is already open. (Thanks to reader Steve for the tip!)
Red Hot replaces the been-there-since-the-dawn-of-time Rickshaw Boy at 182 E. Valley Blvd., which has been closed for about a year.
An LED sign advertised hot wings and hot links.
Catty-corner from Red Hot will soon be the third Food Connection location.
Food Connection is moving in where the short-lived Bob's Big Boy was, at 201 E. Valley Blvd.
Bob's closed "for remodeling" back in May of this year and ended up being remodeled into a completely different restaurant.
The new Food Connection will join their current locations in Grand Terrace and Riverside.
I see this as a step in the right direction. I've enjoyed dozens of meals at both Food Connection restaurants, but had nothing but lackluster meals at that particular Bob's.
This Saturday's gun buyback event in San Bernardino was a huge success.
So much so that it ended 2½ hours early, after the San Bernardino Police Department collected 211 guns.
Food4Less generously donated $10,000 in grocery gift cards for the program. Firearms classified as assault weapons were traded for $100 gift cards. Other weapons netted a $50 gift card.
Among the guns turned in were AK-47, SKS and Uzi assault weapons.
The SBPD is seeking other donors and community groups to partner with for future buybacks. If you are such an entity, please call the department at 909-384-5742.
Click here to read Mike Cruz' article as it appeared in the pages of The Sun.
So much so that it ended 2½ hours early, after the San Bernardino Police Department collected 211 guns.
Food4Less generously donated $10,000 in grocery gift cards for the program. Firearms classified as assault weapons were traded for $100 gift cards. Other weapons netted a $50 gift card.
Among the guns turned in were AK-47, SKS and Uzi assault weapons.
The SBPD is seeking other donors and community groups to partner with for future buybacks. If you are such an entity, please call the department at 909-384-5742.
Click here to read Mike Cruz' article as it appeared in the pages of The Sun.
This Friday (December 17), there will be a free lunch.
At McAlan's Pub and Grill in Rancho Cucamonga, to be exact.
From 1 to 2 p.m., ex-KROQ DJ (and host of Poorman's Bikini Beach TV show) Jim "Poorman" Trenton will be broadcasting his first Free Lunch Friday on KCAA (1050 AM) from the restaurant.
Everyone who shows up during the broadcast will get McAlan's "World Famous" burger and fries (a $9 value) for free!
Trenton's show ("Poorman's Radio Invasion") airs from 1 to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday on KCAA. This is his first Free Lunch Friday event.
McAlan's is at 6321 Haven Avenue (just north of the 210) in Rancho Cucamonga.
At McAlan's Pub and Grill in Rancho Cucamonga, to be exact.
From 1 to 2 p.m., ex-KROQ DJ (and host of Poorman's Bikini Beach TV show) Jim "Poorman" Trenton will be broadcasting his first Free Lunch Friday on KCAA (1050 AM) from the restaurant.
Everyone who shows up during the broadcast will get McAlan's "World Famous" burger and fries (a $9 value) for free!
Trenton's show ("Poorman's Radio Invasion") airs from 1 to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday on KCAA. This is his first Free Lunch Friday event.
McAlan's is at 6321 Haven Avenue (just north of the 210) in Rancho Cucamonga.
Come 2011, there'll be more to love at the Gourmet Pizza Shoppes in Redlands and Yucaipa/Calimesa.
16.67% more, actually.
That's because the Dine 909 Favorite will be open seven days a week.
The Redlands store had traditionally been closed on Mondays, while the Yucaipa/Calimesa location was closed on Tuesdays.
Well...no more!
Both stores will be closed Friday and Saturday during the weeks of Christmas and New Year's.
Gourmet Pizza Shoppes are at 120 E. State St., in Redlands and at 13661 Calimesa Blvd. in Yucaipa.
16.67% more, actually.
That's because the Dine 909 Favorite will be open seven days a week.
The Redlands store had traditionally been closed on Mondays, while the Yucaipa/Calimesa location was closed on Tuesdays.
Well...no more!
Both stores will be closed Friday and Saturday during the weeks of Christmas and New Year's.
Gourmet Pizza Shoppes are at 120 E. State St., in Redlands and at 13661 Calimesa Blvd. in Yucaipa.
The Redlands Slow Food chapter is turning one.
The organization will celebrate today at Ruben's Fiesta Maya on Vine Street.
Today also happens to be Terra Madre Day, Slow Food's annual local food awareness day.
The chapter is also celebrating its inclusion on the local chapters page of the Slow Food USA website.
Happy Birthday, Slow Food Redlands!
For more information on Slow Food Redlands, click here to read Joy Juedes' article from the pages of The Sun.
The organization will celebrate today at Ruben's Fiesta Maya on Vine Street.
Today also happens to be Terra Madre Day, Slow Food's annual local food awareness day.
The chapter is also celebrating its inclusion on the local chapters page of the Slow Food USA website.
Happy Birthday, Slow Food Redlands!
For more information on Slow Food Redlands, click here to read Joy Juedes' article from the pages of The Sun.
What better way to celebrate the holiday season than by getting guns off the streets?Food4Less and the San Bernardino Police Department will be doing just that.
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on December 18, SBPD will be exchanging guns for Food4Less gift cards. The event will be held at Arrowhead Credit Union Park, 280 S. E St.
Rifles, pistols and shotguns are worth $50 gift cards. Assault weapons are worth $100 gift cards.
Food4Less has given $10,000 for the program, which is a first for SBPD.
You don't have to be a San Bernardino resident to participate, however. Just toss your unloaded weapons in your trunk, take them to the stadium and collect your gift cards. No questions asked.
Click here to read Andrew Edwards' story on the exchange.
The Auto Club of Southern California released its list of 2011 AAA Four Diamond Award restaurant and hotel winners today.
A total of 70 hotels and 34 restaurants earned the award, AAA's highest rating.
A grand total of four restaurants from Riverside County made the list.
And San Bernardino County?
Um...zero. None. Zilch.
Sorry, Farm Artisan Foods.
Too bad, Le Rendezvous.
Maybe next time, Christophe's.
Keep trying, Citrone.
Aim a little higher, BIN189.
A total of 70 hotels and 34 restaurants earned the award, AAA's highest rating.
A grand total of four restaurants from Riverside County made the list.
And San Bernardino County?
Um...zero. None. Zilch.
Sorry, Farm Artisan Foods.
Too bad, Le Rendezvous.
Maybe next time, Christophe's.
Keep trying, Citrone.
Aim a little higher, BIN189.
Continue reading AAA to San Bernardino County: Better luck next year.
Redlands' Hangar 24 Craft Brewery is getting ready to roll out the barrel on the first beer in its Barrel Roll series.Hangar 24 created their Immelmann: Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Porter by taking their Chocolate Porter and aging it longer than six months in one-use Oak Bourbon Barrels.
The Immelmann can either be consumed right away or can continue to age.
It's being packaged like Champagne...in 750 mL cork and cage finished bottles. Only around 1,000 bottles are being produced.
How can you get your hands on this limited-run beer?
Follow the jump to find out.
Continue reading Hangar 24 rolls out the barrel.
The Town of Apple Valley is teaming up with Rainbow Yogurt to raise funds for its animal shelter.
From Sunday (December 12) through Saturday (December 18), simply purchase a cup of frozen yogurt at Rainbow Yogurt, bring a copy of the event flier and 20% of your purchase will go to benefit the animals at the Town of Apple Valley Animal Shelter.
Fliers are available at Town Hall, 14955 Dale Evans Parkway, at the Animal Shelter, 22131 Powhatan Road, or you can just download it here.
Rainbow Yogurt is in the Apple Valley Commons shopping center at Highway 18 and Dale Evans Parkway -- 14891 Dale Evans Parkway, Suite 200.
For more information, visit www.avanimals.org.
From Sunday (December 12) through Saturday (December 18), simply purchase a cup of frozen yogurt at Rainbow Yogurt, bring a copy of the event flier and 20% of your purchase will go to benefit the animals at the Town of Apple Valley Animal Shelter.
Fliers are available at Town Hall, 14955 Dale Evans Parkway, at the Animal Shelter, 22131 Powhatan Road, or you can just download it here.
Rainbow Yogurt is in the Apple Valley Commons shopping center at Highway 18 and Dale Evans Parkway -- 14891 Dale Evans Parkway, Suite 200.
For more information, visit www.avanimals.org.
A while back, I wrote about longtime restaurant survivors.
One of those survivors which had gone missing has resurfaced.
San Bernardino's Mandarin Garden, which for a long time had been at Highland and Del Rosa avenues before taking over the old Imperial Palace location (868 E. Highland Ave.) when they vacated, has relocated to Riverside.
Mandarin Garden has opened in the space where another longtime Chinese restaurant, Chan's Oriental Cuisine, had been.
Whew!
The restaurant is now at 1445 University Ave.
One of those survivors which had gone missing has resurfaced.
San Bernardino's Mandarin Garden, which for a long time had been at Highland and Del Rosa avenues before taking over the old Imperial Palace location (868 E. Highland Ave.) when they vacated, has relocated to Riverside.
Mandarin Garden has opened in the space where another longtime Chinese restaurant, Chan's Oriental Cuisine, had been.
Whew!
The restaurant is now at 1445 University Ave.
If you're in the mood for a great meal, you might want to head to Toys Я Us.
Not for something to eat, mind you, but to pick up a toy for a kid whose family might not be able to afford to give them toys.
In the spirit of the holiday, Christophe's Restaurant and Lounge in downtown Upland has signed up to be a collection spot for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program.
Christophe's is collecting new, unwrapped toys and monetary donations through December 17.
Click here to read the full story from the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.
Not for something to eat, mind you, but to pick up a toy for a kid whose family might not be able to afford to give them toys.
In the spirit of the holiday, Christophe's Restaurant and Lounge in downtown Upland has signed up to be a collection spot for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program.
Christophe's is collecting new, unwrapped toys and monetary donations through December 17.
Click here to read the full story from the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today (December 4), Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles will be collecting food donations in front of various Vons and Pavilions stores in Los Angeles and western San Bernardino counties.
Scouts will be set up at six Vons locations in the Inland Valley:
Click here to read the full story from the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.
Scouts will be set up at six Vons locations in the Inland Valley:
- Chino Hills: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 4200 Chino Hills Parkway.
- Claremont: 1 to 3 p.m., 550 E. Base Line Road.
- Diamond Bar: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 240 S. Diamond Bar Blvd.
- Rancho Cucamonga: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 8788 19th St.; 1 to 3 p.m., 6351 Haven Ave.
- San Dimas: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1160 Via Verde Ave.
Click here to read the full story from the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.
Wahoo's Fish Taco is participating in a fundraiser for the proposed Freedom Courtyard Veterans' Memorial and Reflection Area to be built at Central Park in Rancho Cucamonga.
The chain's Rancho Cucamonga location (11561 Foothill Blvd.) will donate 20% of sales on Monday (December 6) for those who present a flier when making their purchase.
This is the first restaurant fundraiser for the project.
To participate, simply download the flier here, then head to Wahoo's on Monday and give them the flier when you order. Then, enjoy your meal!
To learn more about the project, click here.
The chain's Rancho Cucamonga location (11561 Foothill Blvd.) will donate 20% of sales on Monday (December 6) for those who present a flier when making their purchase.
This is the first restaurant fundraiser for the project.
To participate, simply download the flier here, then head to Wahoo's on Monday and give them the flier when you order. Then, enjoy your meal!
To learn more about the project, click here.
Last year around this time, I wrote about the Indio International Tamale Festival and how I love tamales, yet had never been to the festival.
I can't say the same this year, because I went to the festival last year.
I had a great time!
I tried to sample tamales of every flavor that I found, from turkey to strawberry to pumpkin.
One of the things that makes the festival more fun is that many of the tamale booths have some sort of gimmick -- dressing in traditional garb, for example -- to entice you to visit their booth and try their tamales.
It's not all about the tamales, either. They have plenty of other food to enjoy, rides and entertainment on four stages. Also, many of the old town shops open their doors for browsing and shopping.
If you love tamales and have never been to the festival, I encourage you to take the drive out to Indio. I plan on going again this year.
The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday (December 4) and Sunday (December 5). It takes place in downtown Indio, between Highway 111 and Indio Boulevard, along Miles Avenue, Towne Street, Smurr Street and Requa Avenue.
It kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday with a parade that begins at Miles Avenue Park.
Free parking (with a free shuttle to the festival) is available at the Larson Justice Center on the corner of Highway 111 and Oasis Street. Last year we just found street parking on Oasis Street near Miles Avenue, a short block from the festival.
Admission and parking are free. Tamales run from about $2.50 to $4, depending on the vendor and ingredients.
For a schedule of the weekend's events, click here.
Hope to see you there!
I can't say the same this year, because I went to the festival last year.
I had a great time!
I tried to sample tamales of every flavor that I found, from turkey to strawberry to pumpkin.
One of the things that makes the festival more fun is that many of the tamale booths have some sort of gimmick -- dressing in traditional garb, for example -- to entice you to visit their booth and try their tamales.
It's not all about the tamales, either. They have plenty of other food to enjoy, rides and entertainment on four stages. Also, many of the old town shops open their doors for browsing and shopping.
If you love tamales and have never been to the festival, I encourage you to take the drive out to Indio. I plan on going again this year.
The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday (December 4) and Sunday (December 5). It takes place in downtown Indio, between Highway 111 and Indio Boulevard, along Miles Avenue, Towne Street, Smurr Street and Requa Avenue.
It kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday with a parade that begins at Miles Avenue Park.
Free parking (with a free shuttle to the festival) is available at the Larson Justice Center on the corner of Highway 111 and Oasis Street. Last year we just found street parking on Oasis Street near Miles Avenue, a short block from the festival.
Admission and parking are free. Tamales run from about $2.50 to $4, depending on the vendor and ingredients.
For a schedule of the weekend's events, click here.
Hope to see you there!
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