85°C Bakery Cafe inching closer to the Inland Empire

OK, Taiwanese chain 85°C Bakery Cafe isn’t in the Inland Empire yet, but they’re soon going to be just over the hill from us.

The third U.S. outlet will celebrate its grand opening at 1 p.m. Wednesday (December 19) at 2626 E. Garvey Ave. South, West Covina. There will be prizes and giveaways for guests in attendance.

Dine 909 has visited the Hacienda Heights location a couple of times and stocked up on delicious pastries and savory treats.

The chain is also known for its salted coffees and teas, which taste much better than they sound.

The stores themselves are kind of a mash-up of Starbucks, Porto’s and a panaderia.

The new location will be the largest of the three here in the U.S. (the other is in Irvine).

Click here for an article on the new store from the San Gabriel Valley Tribune’s Juliette Funes.

Kiwanians ramp up holiday See’s Candy sales

Kiwanis clubs in the Inland Valley typically sell See’s Candy during the holidays to raise funds for their charitable efforts.

This year is no exception, and you’ve got at least three spots to conveniently pick up boxes of candy for friends and relatives (or yourself) and avoid the hassles of mall shopping.

Continue reading “Kiwanians ramp up holiday See’s Candy sales” »

Would you pay $85 for a six-pack of beer?

Of course, it’s not just any old beer. It’s Westvleteren XII, made by monks of the Trappist Abbey of Saint Sixtus of Westvleteren and often regarded as the best beer in the world.

The beer is usually only available at the brewery itself and an abbey-owned cafe, but the monks needed to raise a little cash to fund renovations at the monastery in Vleteren, Belgium, so they teamed with a Belgian retailer to sell gift packs of six bottles of beer and two commemorative goblets.

About 15,000 gift packs were sold at select retailers in 23 states yesterday (Westvleteren XII on 12/12/12…get it?), including Total Wine & More stores, which has a location in Rancho Cucamonga.

Even at around $84.99 a pop (or more), most stores sold out within hours.

The monks will receive about $800,000 from U.S. sales.

Here at Dine 909, we love our beer, but we’d have a hard time justifying spending $85 for a six-pack, even if it did come with a couple of glasses.

The Daily Breeze’s Nick Green covered the buying frenzy in his article.

Pair of subs just $2 each all month long at Subway

It’s Subway’s Customer Appreciation Month again!

Your choice of two 6-inch subs — the Cold Cut Combo and the Meatball Marinara — are just $2 all month long at participating Subway shops.

The offer is good until 9:45 p.m. December 31.

For more information, click here.

In addition, Subway’s $5 footlong is the Western Egg and Cheese sandwich.

Subway locations can be found throughout the Inland Empire.

Still time for today’s Baker’s Drive-Thru two-item 60th anniversary deal

That’s right!

Today’s (December 12) Baker’s Drive-Thru 60th anniversary deal is for a small fries and a 16-ounce soda for just 60¢.

Perfect for a salty snack or creating a cheap combo.

The coupon, which can be printed out or shown on your mobile device, can be found here.

Of course, the usual caveats apply. One coupon per customer or per car. One offer per coupon. Plus, the offer can’t be used with other offers or coupons.

We’re down to the last few weeks of 60th anniversary deals, so catch ’em while you can!

Be sure to “Like” Baker’s on Facebook to see all of their deals.

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

Kids of all ages can have breakfast with Santa Saturday at Rainforest Cafe

Kids of any age can spend a pre-Christmas breakfast with Santa from 8  to 10 a.m. Saturday (December 15) at the Rainforest Cafe Ontario Mills, 4810 Mills Circle.

It’s a wonder Santa can take a little time off this close to Christmas, I mean, you’d think he’d be extremely busy…but I digress.

The breakfast, which includes a “knee-high” buffet, family-friendly activities, raffles, photo time with Santa and assorted goodies and treats, is $12.99 for “kids” 13 and over, $8.99 for kids 4 to 12 and free for those under 3 years old.

Reservations are required and can be made by calling 909-941-7979.

Baker’s Drive-Thru’s Safe Halloween campaign raises over $3 million for Easter Seals

Congratulations to Baker’s Drive-Thru and to you for raising $234,344 in this year’s Safe Halloween campaign!

That’s a lot of coupon books!

The Inland Empire-based Baker’s had hoped to bring its total over the last 24 years of fundraising for Easter Seals Southern California to over $3 million this year, and it did — with a grand total of $3,072,894 raised since the campaign’s inception in 1989.

Wow!

Proceeds from the Safe Halloween campaign help Easter Seals provide essential services for children and adults with autism and other disabilities, including job training and employment opportunities, pre-school and after-school services, independent living options that keep people in their own homes instead of institutions and services that help adults learn daily living and social skills.

Thank you Baker’s for all the support you’ve given to Easter Seals!

Groupon offering $19 beer tasting deal for Inland Empire Brewing Company

Groupon is currently offering a $19 beer tasting deal for two at Riverside’s Inland Empire Brewing Company.

For your money, you each get five 3-ounce tastings and a souvenir pint glass.

That’s up to a $40 value!

If you have more than one friend, they’re also offering a deal for four for only $35 — an $80 value, for you non-math majors.

The deal must be purchased by end of the day tomorrow (December 12), but can be used any time before June 12, 2013.

For more information, or to purchase, click here.

Inland Empire Brewing Company is at 1710 Palmyrita Ave., Suite 11, Riverside.

55¢ Whopper with purchase of a Whopper this weekend at Burger King

Burger King is celebrating the 55th anniversary of the Whopper by selling original Whoppers for 55¢.

Of course, you have to buy one Whopper at regular price to take advantage of the anniversary special.

The deal is good through Sunday (December 9).

In addition to the original Whopper and the Angry Whopper, the chain recently rolled out the limited-time Wisconsin White Cheddar Whopper.

The chain also has a couple of new desserts: The Gingerbread Cookie shake and Gingerbread Cookie sundae, for a limited time.

For more information, click here.

Burger King restaurants can be found throughout the Inland Empire.