FoodIE Weekend is (almost) here!

This weekend is another great one for food lovers.

The Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario will host not one, but two delicious events, including the return of the I.E. Food Truck Fest!

Saturday (May 5), the Hispanic Business Alliance brings us the first Dixie Salsa Barbecue Competition, a Kansas City Barbecue Society-sanctioned event.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Over 30 teams will compete for trophies and cash money, y’all.

In addition to the barbecue competition, there will also be a youth music competition, with the winner taking home $500 and performing at Sunday’s event.

An if the competitions weren’t enough, there will also be a handful of food trucks, a car show exhibition, kids’ zone and more.

Sunday (May 6) will be the third iteration of the ber-popular I.E. Food Truck Fest from noon to 6 p.m.

The previous two fests each attracted about 11,000 attendees.

In addition to 42 food trucks, there will also be live music and a kids’ zone.

Follow the jump for ticket information and a list of scheduled trucks.
Continue reading “FoodIE Weekend is (almost) here!” »

Get served by the cops…in a good way

Redlands police and firefighters, with fire and police explorers, will volunteer to serve as waiters tomorrow night (April 28) at Martha Green’s Eating Room.

There will be two seatings, at 5 and 7 p.m., at the restaurant, 107 E. Citrus Ave., Redlands.

It’s the seventh annual “Lights and Sirens” event, with proceeds benefiting Redlands Baseball for Youth’s Xtreme Team Program.

The event is sponsored by the Redlands Police Officers Association, Redlands Professional Firefighters Association, the Redlands Police and Fire departments and PossAbilities.

Redlands Baseball for Youth’s Xtreme Team program supports children with mental and physical disabilities by giving them the opportunity to play organized baseball.

Money raised will be used to purchase specialized equipment and uniforms.

The event include drawings for a number of gift items donated by local businesses.

Dinners are $25 per plate. All gratuities and the cost of the meal will be donated to the Xtreme Team Program.

Tickets are available at Martha Green’s Eating Room.

Lazy Dog Cafe hiring in Rancho Cucamonga

The Lazy Dog Cafe posted this week on Facebook that the chain is hiring for its Rancho Cucamonga location.

The hiring center is next door to the under-construction restaurant at 11560 Fourth St., across from Ontario Mills.

The location already has its own Facebook page, which indicates the restaurant will open next month. The grand opening is set for May 23 24, with pre-grand opening events benefiting the Coyote Canyon Elementary School library.

The Rancho Cucamonga location is a new prototype, the first one to be built from the ground up, as opposed to moving into an existing spot.

Vintage Redlands marks its 10th anniversary tomorrow night

Tomorrow (April 27) night, Vintage Redlands marks its 10th anniversary.

The event, which runs from 6 to 9:30 p.m., is a is self-guided walking wine, beer and food tasting tour through downtown Redlands, beginning at Ed Hales Park.

Shops are paired with local restaurants, wineries and breweries to create a mix of food, drink and shopping.

Live entertainment will be provided at several spots along the tour.

The event is a fundraiser for the Citrograph Scholarship Fund, a member of the Redlands Community Foundation, which awards scholarships to students pursuing an education in music, business or graphic design.

Tickets, if available, are $75, which includes two opportunity drawing tickets. For more information, call 888-494-9044. Participants must be 21 years of age or older. Participants will also receive a wine tasting glass, a tote bag and a Vintage Redlands souvenir.

Click here for more information on where to purchase tickets and participating merchants.

Dine Out for Life in the low desert today

This one kind of snuck up on me this year.

Today (April 26) is the day for Dining Out for Life. Proceeds go to various AIDS/HIV support organizations.

The bad news is that the only Inland Empire restaurants participating are in the Palm Springs area. The good news is that there are 45 restaurants to choose from.

Most are giving 33% of their sales.

Nine are giving 50%:

Trio Restaurant, which has raised the most funds the past two years, is giving 60%.

Spencer’s Restaurant is giving a whopping 75%!

All proceeds will benefit Desert AIDS Project.

Click here for the full list of participating restaurants.

Help bring $1 million to fight hunger the Inland Empire

This is important.

You can help bring $1 million to help fight hunger here in the Inland Empire.

And all you have to do is vote.

The Walmart Foundation’s Fighting Hunger Together campaign is giving away $2 million to fight hunger in various communities with high unemployment rates.

The top vote-getting community gets $1 million. The next 20 get $50,000.

The Inland Empire is currently number 20 21, dangerously close to getting nothing.

You know we need could use it.
Continue reading “Help bring $1 million to fight hunger the Inland Empire” »

Cool off with one of Baker’s Cool Creations for only 60 today

Inland Empire-based Baker’s Drive-Thru has another coupon for a 60ยข deal posted on its Facebook page today (April 25).

Today’s deal is for any of its Cool Creations: Iced coffee, caramel iced coffee, vanilla iced coffee, Rootzilla, Annie Palmer, Baker’s Blast, Cherry Bomb or Lemon Berry.

Stopped in on my way to work and picked up an iced coffee, which I like because it’s is made on the spot.

The coupon, which you can either print out or display on your mobile device, can be found on Baker’s Facebook page.

One deal per coupon, and one coupon per person or per car. The deal is good today only.

Baker’s Drive-Thru has been offering 60 deals in honor of its 60th anniversary, which it is in the midst of celebrating. Baker’s locations can be found throughout the Inland Empire.

To catch all the 60th anniversary deals, be sure to “Like” Baker’s on Facebook.

Taste of Temecula Valley coming Saturday

The second annual Taste of Temecula Valley will be held from from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday (April 28).

The event will take place in Town Square, 41000 Main St., Old Town Temecula.

Attendees will be able to sample from area wineries, restaurants, breweries and specialty vendors.

Admission is $10 per person 13 or older, which includes one “taste” ticket or a commemorative wine glass. Children under 12 are free. Additional “taste” tickets will be available for $2 each.

The event is sponsored by the Temecula Valley Foundation for Excellence in Education, with proceeds benefiting Temecula Valley Unified School District schools.

Volunteer to help feed the hungry

Inland Valley Hope Partners will be holding a general volunteer orientation from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday (April 28) in Room 23 of its administrative offices, 1753 N. Park Ave. Pomona.

Volunteer opportunities for the agency include, assisting in one of four food pantries, administrative, reception, community outreach, special events, gleaning and more.

For more information on volunteer positions at Inland Valley Hope Partners or to register for the orientation, please contact Alicia Castro, Volunteer Coordinator at 909-622-3806, ext. 223.

Damien High School food truck festival is Sunday

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We’ve mentioned previously that despite food trucks not (yet) being allowed to operate on a daily basis here in the Inland Empire, there seems to be a food truck event nearly every weekend here.

This weekend brings an event just outside the Inland Empire.

Damien High School, 2280 Damien Ave., La Verne, is hosting its first food truck festival from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday (April 29).

A flier advertises DJs, live bands, a kids’ zone and 18 trucks, including the I.E.’s Suite 106 Cupcakery.

Admission is only $5, and kids five and under are admitted free.

The trucks listed in the flier offer a pretty good variety — everything from sushi burritos to gourmet sliders to fried chicken to Korean buns.

Click over the jump to see a list of scheduled trucks.
Continue reading “Damien High School food truck festival is Sunday” »