The Inland Empire’s first ever (I think) food truck festival is coming

Newly-elected 2nd District County Supervisor Janice Rutherford is looking to bring the rapidly expanding food truck industry to San Bernardino County.

She has asked San Bernardino County Environmental Health Services staff members to
look into other nearby jurisdictions’ (i.e. L.A. and Orange counties’)
food truck regulations and operations to examine reversing a long-standing prohibition.

She has also announced what I believe is the first ever (apart from a few smaller events) food truck festival in the Inland Empire.

The Chino Valley Foodie Festival is scheduled for 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, April 9, at Don Lugo High School, 13400 Pipeline Ave., Chino.

It’s a great idea, and it’ll be the first exposure for lots of folks to these gourmet mobile eateries.

Another big plus: It’s a fundraiser for the Chino Valley Unified School District.

We’ve all read the stories about their budget woes.
Continue reading “The Inland Empire’s first ever (I think) food truck festival is coming” »

Janice Rutherford: Let the food trucks roll!

Newly-elected 2nd District County Supervisor Janice Rutherford is on a mission near and dear to Dine 909’s heart — legalizing food trucks.

In the latest issue of her newsletter, the Rutherford Report, she verifies something I’ve heard rumblings about lately, but haven’t confirmed until now.

Food trucks, where the food is actually prepared in the truck, are illegal in San Bernardino County.

Sure, you’ve seen ice cream trucks rolling though your neighborhood, but that’s because they’re selling you prepackaged goods. That’s just fine and dandy.

But if you took that ice cream, dipped it in an egg wash, rolled it in some cornflakes and tossed it briefly in the deep-fryer, you wouldn’t be able to sell it.

The prohibition has been in effect as long as anyone can remember, she notes.
Continue reading “Janice Rutherford: Let the food trucks roll!” »

San Bernardino Long John Silver’s reopens

Just in time for meatless Fridays for lots of people, the sole San Bernardino Long John Silver’s, 145 E. Highland Ave., has reopened!

The restaurant had been closed since last year and the location was wiped from the LJS website.

The story, as told to me by a the wife of a guy who gets his haircut at the barbershop across the street, is that the restaurant closed after a kitchen fire and the reconstruction was held up when the contractor wasn’t being paid due a snafu with the insurance company.

Makes perfect sense to me.

Anyway, Donna, I’m sure you’re glad that they have reopened, just in time to get fish and chips (but no chicken planks!) on Friday.

Boys in blue to serve you at Beaumont Applebee’s tonight

Beaumont’s police officers and firefighters are used to serving the community by fighting crime and putting out fires.

From 5 to 8 p.m. tonight (March 18), the city’s public servants will take on a different kind of service at Applebee’s
Neighborhood Grill and Bar
, 1585 E. Sixth St., in Beaumont.

Beaumont police officers and firefighters are volunteering to wait tables in order to raise funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

The volunteers will work with Applebee’s staff to serve customers, with all tips given to the “Boys in Blue” to be donated to MDA.

Since 2007, the city has held numerous events and raised over $103,103 to support MDA and the fight against neuromuscular diseases.

The next scheduled event is a Mardi Gras Celebration from 4 to 9 p.m. April 9 at the Albert A. Chatigny Sr. Community Recreation Center, 1310 Oak Valley Parkway.

The event will feature games, food vendors, a beer garden, and live music by local jazz bands Ransom Jack and Rod Tankerson. The event will also include a special appearance by the city’s own band, Jam with the Man.

For more information, call 951-769-8520 or visit the city’s website.

Sunday Social at My Delight Cupcakery this Sunday

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Upland’s My Delight Cupcakery, 1520 Mountain Ave., is promising eats, beats, liquid treats and sweets during its seventh Sunday Social from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday (March 20).

My Delight is providing the sweets; the White Rabbit Truck is providing the eats; the Boba Truck is providing the liquid treats; and DJ Mike Styles will provide the beats.

The first 25 customers will get a special giveaway, and customers who RSVP via Facebook or Twitter will get a 10% discount.

The cupcake menu hasn’t yet been announced, but they are planning to have the L.A. Cupcake Challenge-winning Late Night Breakfast cupcake available.

The event will happen rain or shine, and unfortunately, it appears the former is likely.

I went to their last event and had a great time. I’m planning to go to this month’s event as well.

Personally, I’m looking forward to checking out the White Rabbit Truck and getting some lumpia and maybe some chicken adobo tacos. Mmm!

IHOP’s National Pancake Day celebration surpasses goal

This year’s National Pancake Day celebration at the International House of Pancakes, held at the beginning of this month, didn’t fall flat.

IHOP were hoping to raise $2.3 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and other local charities.

Instead, they raised a sweet $2.5 million, topping last years’ $2.1 million. It’s the highest amount collected since IHOP began the event in 2006.

All told, IHOP has raised nearly $8 million for charity with the event.

If you participated (and ate your share of the more than four million pancakes that were served that day), give yourself a hand!

Click here for more information.

Jeff Gordon’s Drive to End Hunger Chevy coming to Fontana

On March 27, Jeff Gordon will be racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana.

However, you’ll be able to get up close and personal with his car the Thursday before the race.

Jeff Gordon’s No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet will be displayed from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. March 24 in the parking lot of the Ralphs at 14574 Base Line in Fontana.

Fans will be able to pose for photographs with the car.

Gordon has teamed up with the AARP to raise awareness of and help combat senior hunger.

Accordingly, the appearance will also be a food drive. Fans are asked to bring non-perishable food to donate.

Donations will go to the Second Harvest Food Bank serving San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

And if you want to make a monetary donation to the Drive to End Hunger, simply text HUNGER to 50555 to give $10. You don’t have to wait until Thursday to do that.

For more information on the Drive to End Hunger, click here or visit their Facebook page here.

San Bernardino school adopted by three local restaurants

Late last month, San Bernardino Unified School District’s Wilson Elementary School was adopted by three local restaurants.

It’s all part of the Adopt-A-School program, which is a partnership between the school district and the San Bernardino Area Chamber of Commerce.

How will the restaurants support the school’s students?

  • George’s Burgers, 715 W. Highland Ave., San Bernardino, will provide monthly certificates to honor deserving students.
  • Sizzler Restaurant, 110 W. Redlands Blvd., Redlands, will provide incentives and tours of the restaurant for students to improve achievement.
  • Tony’s Diner, 18291 Cajon Road, San Bernardino, will provide 100 gift certificates monthly for children’s meals to recognize students’ accomplishments. The Devore restaurant has also agreed to donate an additional 500 certificates each year for mid-year and year-end celebrations.

Dine 909 thanks George’s Burgers, Sizzler and Tony’s Diner for their support!

Foothill Family Shelter fundraiser at Mimi’s today

The Upland Mimi’s Cafe, 370 N. Mountain Ave., is again hosting a fundraiser.

This time it’s for Foothill Family Shelter, an Upland-based organization which provides transitional housing for adults and children in the West Valley (Upland, Ontario, Pomona, Montclair, Claremont and Rancho Cucamonga).

Their mission is a noble one: To assure children and adults a future by helping to
provide them and their families a means to a home, a job and self-esteem
that will endure.

Mimi’s will donate 15% of your check to Foothill Family Shelter if you present this flier when you dine.

The fundraiser will run from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. today (March 15).

So, if you want a delicious way to help provide housing for homeless or about-to-be-homeless families and help them get their lives back on track, head to the Upland Mimi’s Cafe today, and don’t forget to bring the flier!

Girl Scout cookie season coming to a close

Time is running out!

This is the last weekend to buy Girl Scout Cookies in the eastern Inland Empire from the Girl
Scouts of San Gorgonio Council
. Their cookie sales will officially end Monday (March 14).

Those of you in the West Valley, whose cookies are supplied by the East Region of Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles, have until March 20 to get your fix.

For more information, visit the Girl
Scouts of San Gorgonio Council’s website
and click on the Cookies Now image or call call 800-400-447; or visit the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles website and click on the Cookie Locator image or call the Montclair service center at 909-399-0808.