Who wants to work for the I.E.’s latest brewery?

Ritual Brewing Co. in Redlands is on the cusp of opening its doors.

The brewery is currently looking to fill an administrative assistant position, but if you’re interested, you gotta act fast.

The deadline to submit your cover letter and resume is today (August 22) at 4 p.m.

You’ll want to email that info to info@ritualbrewing.com.

For more information, click here.

The brewery is also seeking beer guides.

Auditions for beer guides will be held from 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday (August 25) at the brewery, 1315 Research Drive, Redlands.

For more information on the auditions, click here.

Good luck!

For updates, “Like” ’em on Facebook or follow ’em on Twitter.

Surprise! Free bean, rice and cheese burrito with coupon at Baker’s Drive-Thru today

Regular readers of this blog know (probably all too well) that Baker’s Drive-Thru, which is in the midst of celebrating its 60th anniversary, has been generously doling out coupons for 60ยข items on Wednesdays (and other days).

Today (August 22), the Inland Empire-based chain is offering a free bean, rice and cheese burrito with a coupon, which you can find by clicking here.

We like free.

As with all of Baker’s coupons, you can either print out the coupon or display it on your mobile device.

The usual restrictions apply: There’s a limit of one free burrito per coupon, one coupon per person or per car, and the offer is not valid with other coupons, discounts or coupons.

To catch all of Baker’s frequent deals, be sure to “Like” them on Facebook, as we do.

Baker’s Drive-Thru locations can be found throughout the Inland Empire.

Who’s going to be at Food Truck Thursdays at Fairplex this week?

I’m thinking this is gonna be the next-to-last week (if not the last) for Food Truck Thursdays at Fairplex, what with the Los Angeles County Fair starting a week from Friday.

To that end, if you’ve been wanting to check out Food Truck Thursdays and haven’t yet gone, you should go this week.

Here’s Thursday’s (August 23) lineup:

The trucks will be parked from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the lower administration parking lot in front of the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum.

Parking and admission are free.

For more information, click here.

Hangar 24 + la minute = Wow!

Regular readers of this blog know that we are fans of both Hangar 24 Craft Brewery and la minute.

So when we found out that la minute was creating an dessert using Hangar 24’s Polycot, all we could say was “Wow!”

If you want to try la minute’s Peach, Polycot & Palisade Hops Sorbet, simply head to The Dregs, 10 E. Vine St., Suite 209, Redlands, between 4 and 8 p.m. on Wednesday (August 22).

Because it contains alcohol, you must be 21 or older to indulge.

For more information and a luscious photo, click here.

Ra Pour offering exclusive dinner, concert package

Upscale Rancho Cucamonga eatery Ra Pour is offering an exclusive night out that jazz and R & B aficionados won’t want to pass up.

The restaurant and lounge is offering an all-inclusive dinner and concert package that includes dinner and wine pairing at Ra Pour and round-trip luxury transportation to the Los Angeles County Fair where participants will attend a concert featuring Chaka Khan and George Benson.

The price for this once-in-a-lifetime event? $150 per person.

This V.I.P. experience is limited to 40 reservations, so if you’re interested, please call Aliesha at 909-899-7999 to book.

The event begins at 5 p.m. Thursday, September 13 at Ra Pour, 7900 Kew Avenue, Suite 5410.

For more information, click here or here for the Facebook event page.

Bloomin’ Monday returns to Outback Steakhouse

Ryan Newman has done it again!

Newman, the driver of the No. 39 Chevrolet, came in eighth at yesterday’s Pure Michigan 400, which means that all you have to do is
mention his name and Outback Steakhouse will give you a Bloomin’ Onion with any purchase today (August 20).

Restrictions? Dine-in only. One per table. Offer subject to change. Participation may vary.

Outback has been giving away the appetizers on the following Monday whenever Ryan finishes in the top ten in any Sprint Cup Race.

For more information, click here for the Outback Steakhouse Racing site.

Outback
Steakhouse locations can be found in Ontario, San Bernardino, Upland,
Victorville, Moreno Valley, Corona, Temecula and Palm Desert.

Be sure to like Outback on Facebook and follow them on Twitter to find out when Ryan wins again (and when the next Bloomin’ Monday is!).

Inland Empire Auto Show to again feature food trucks

The Inland Empire Auto Show is rolling in to the Ontario Convention Center this weekend, and bringing several food trucks in tow.

Great Taste Friday, featuring samples from area restaurants and wineries, is returning as well.

The event runs from noon to 8 p.m. Friday (August 24), from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday (August 25) and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday (August 26) at the center, 2000 E. Convention Center Way.

Great Taste Friday takes place from 5 to 8 p.m.

Tickets are available now for $10 (plus $1.34 service fee) or $5 (plus $1.17 service fee) for military and seniors (62+). Children 12 and under are admitted free.

However, if you poke around, you might find some really good discounts here and there.

There’s only going to be a smattering of trucks, but it’s a pretty good assembly, starting with the ever-popular Grilled Cheese Truck, which is scheduled to make an appearance on Saturday.

Also scheduled, our pals from Bacon MANia, Thai 1 On and the Inland Empire’s very own My Delight Cupcakery, who will be traveling all the way across town to participate.

For more information, click here.

For a complete list of scheduled trucks, head over the jump.
Continue reading “Inland Empire Auto Show to again feature food trucks” »

Hard times hit restaurants

As we’ve noted before, this economy has not been kind to restaurants.

Even chain fast-food restaurants have been affected, as seen by the closure of several Arby’s in the Pomona area and several Wienerschnitzel locations in the Fontana area.

Recently, two higher-profile restaurants appear to have closed as well.

Mardi Gras in downtown San Bernardino has apparently ceased operations. There was no activity at the Cajun and Creole restaurant during a couple of recent visits. The restaurant’s website, however, is still up and running.

The location, 201 N. E St., formerly housed Isabella’s Ristorante, which still operates locations in Redlands and Calimesa.

The other restaurant that appears to have closed, it pains us to report, is where we shook hands with Chef Gordon Ramsay. Charlie’s Italian Cafe in La Verne was the subject of “Kitchen Nightmares” television show filming in October of last year.

We were invited to the eatery’s grand reopening at the end of Ramsay’s rehab.

The dinner was very good and I enjoyed some of the best lasagna of my life.

It appears the reprieve did not last.

A recent visit turned up a darkened restaurant, empty refrigerated case and overturned chairs on the patio.

I’m hoping for better days for Charlie’s co-owner Tatiana Leyva.

Click here to watch Charlie’s “Kitchen Nightmares” episode.

Corona Gourmet Food Truck Festival coming next weekend

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OK, we’re taking a little break this weekend, but the food trucks are coming back to the Inland Empire next weekend.

The big event will be at Corona’s the Shops at Dos Lagos.

The Corona Gourmet Food Truck Festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, August 25 at the shopping center, 2780 Cabot Drive.

Thirty food trucks are scheduled for the event, courtesy of our friends over at I.E. Gourmet Food Trucks.

It’s not all about the food trucks, however.

Also part of the event is Taste of Dos Lagos, which features samples of food, wine, and cocktails from various Dos Lagos eateries, including the Viva Las Vegas roll from RA Sushi, stuffed dates and quinoa from Citrus City Grille, Jack chicken strips, bruschetta chicken pasta and Electric Lemonade from T.G.I. Friday’s, a beer float with Young’s Double Chocolate Stout and Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream, and Chimay-braised pulled pork sandwich with Harvarti cheese and apple butter on a Brioche bun from Steam Haus Gastropub, grey salt caramel, fresh mint chip, roasted banana with brown sugar caramel and lavender honey ice creams from Christopher Michael Ice Cream, and selections from Miguel’s California Mexican Cocina, TAPS Fish House and Brewery and Pinkberry.

In addition, Hangar 24 Craft Brewery will be on hand, pouring a selection of brews.

Tickets are $8 (plus $2.06 service fee) in advance or $10 at the door. V.I.P. tickets, which grant you one hour early admission (10 a.m.) and entry to a shaded area with reserved tables, are $20 (plus $2.90 service fee) in advance or $25 at the door. Kids five and under are admitted free.

Advance tickets are available online here or at the Dos Lagos Management Office, located near Sunglass Hut.

While supplies last, you can get two free tickets to the event by spending $75 in a single day at Dos Lagos retailers. Simply bring your receipt(s) to the Dos Lagos Management Office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Corona Partners for Parks.

Head over the jump to see the list of scheduled trucks.
Continue reading “Corona Gourmet Food Truck Festival coming next weekend” »