John Plessel: February 2012 Archives

Ever wonder what it's like behind the scenes of a fantastic sweets factory?

Well, you'll get your chance to check out an award-winning bakery on Monday (March 5) as our friends over at [desi]gn cakes & cupcakes open their doors for an open house.

And you don't even need a golden ticket.

The bakery typically just does event catering, special event tastings and online sales of its cupcakes in a jar, so the open house will be a treat (pun intended) for those of us who have wanted to sample their wares.

The cupcake menu is still being decided, but one flavor that will definitely be available for purchase is the one they debuted at the L.A. Cupcake Challenge this year: Buffalo chicken!

The much-talked-about savory cake is made with polenta, ranch cream cheese, boneless chicken and Buffalo sauce.

The open house will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at their commercial bakery at 13641 Central Ave., Suite F, in Chino.

For more information, or to vote for a favorite cupcake flavor, head the open house's Facebook event page.

Update: Three flavors will be for sale -- Churro and the above-mentioned Buffalo chicken, both featured at the L.A. Cupcake Challenge, and banana cream pie.

Our friends over at I.E. Gourmet Food Trucks are on a roll!

They haven't even held their first event yet (it's tomorrow night in Corona, by the way) and already they've announced another event.

The new event is a fundraiser for the Norco High School Booster Club.

The free event will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. March 7 at Norco High School, 2065 Temescal Ave., Norco.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is hosting an open house from 2 to 5 p.m. today (February 28).

A 12-ounce Wild Cherry Fru-Tea or hot or cold Wild Cherry Tea Latte will set you back only $1 during the event.

The offer is only valid at participating Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf locations, not including Ralphs or airport stores.

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

Inland Empire Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf locations include Redlands, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Claremont, Chino Hills, Riverside, Lake Elsinore, Temecula, Palm Springs, La Quinta, Palm Desert and Indio.

Been curious about the the upscale Ra Pour Restaurant and Lounge, but have been hesitant to give it a try because you were afraid to splurge a little?

Now's your chance!

You've got a little less than 12 hours left to take advantage of a pretty amazing Groupon deal.

The best part? Two can save, but four save more.

There's three options:

• Lunch for two, with an appetizer and two entrées, is only $25.
• Dinner for two, with an appetizer and two entrées, is only $45.
• Dinner for four, with two appetizers and four entrées, is only $75.

Those are outstanding deals, with savings of up to $30 off the lunch deal, up to $46 off the couple's dinner deal, and up to $107 off the dinner for four. Wow!

Needless to say, I've already taken advantage of the deal.

This has not been a good time to be a Denny's in San Bernardino.

As foretold to me by a Dine 909er (thanks, Sue!), the south San Bernardino Denny's at 1185 Rosewood Drive has gone the way of its old school brethren on Orange Show Road.

The location closed February 12.

That marks the second San Bernardino Denny's to close in just a few short months.

This location, however, closed to make room for progress. In this case, a Caltrans project.

A new on-ramp will cut right through Denny's old parking lot.

Now "only" two San Bernardino Denny's remain: Highland Avenue (at Valencia Avenue) and Palm Avenue (at I-215).

This year marks the seventh consecutive year that the International House of Pancakes will hold a pancake fundraiser for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.

Here's how it works: Head on down to your local participating IHOP between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Tuesday (February 28) and you'll receive a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes.

Guests are asked to make a voluntary donation for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals in exchange for the pancakes.

During last year's fundraiser, IHOP served four million free pancakes and pancake lovers donated more than $2.5 million to children's charities, exceeding the fundraising goal of $2.3 million.

It was the largest one-day event in IHOP's 53-year history.

This year's goal is $2.7 million, which would bring the total raised in the campaign to more than $10 million.

IHOP locations can be found throughout the Inland Empire, including San Bernardino, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Ontario, Fontana, Highland, Upland, Chino, Riverside and Moreno Valley.

For more information, head to IHOP's Pancake Day website, where you can donate online or get a reminder wake-up call from such celebrities as Jordin Sparks, John Schneider, Steve Young or Marie Osmond.

Inland Empire Brewing Company in Riverside will be celebrating its third year in business this Saturday (February 25).

The brewery is bringing in other I.E. breweries (Hangar 24 Craft Brewery, Dale Bros. Brewery, Packinghouse Brewing Co., Big Cheese Pizza and Brewery, Main Street Brewery, Craft Brewing Co. , Taps Fish House and Brewery and Kat Daddy) and breweries from beyond the I.E. (Stone Brewing Co., The Bruery, Lost Abbey, Noble Ale Works, Left Coast Brewery and Bootlegger's Brewery) to help celebrate.

Throw in a few food trucks (Short Rib BBQ, Gourmet Genie and the I.E.'s own Stella Pierre's Gourmet Grub and Suite 106 Cupcakery) and you've got yourself a party.

A $30 entry fee includes 15 beer samples from the participating breweries. Proceeds will help feed the hungry here in the Inland Empire.

Designated drivers and other non-drinkers can attend for free.

The event will take place from noon to 6 p.m. Tickets are available online or at the door.

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

Our friends over at I.E. Gourmet Food Trucks have put together their very first food truck event.

The Corona Chamber of Commerce Prime Time Mixer will take place from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. next Wednesday (February 29) at the UFC Gym, 470 N. McKinley St., Corona.

Trucks scheduled to participate include Bacon MANia, the Lime Truck, Pogi Boy, Dos Chinos, Crepe'n Around, and the Slummin' Gourmet, according to the event flier.

Also, Cafe2U will debut its new truck.

The event is free to attend.

For information, visit I.E. Gourmet Food Trucks' website.

Today (February 22) is George Washington's birthday and everyone has heard the apocryphal story of his honesty regarding the chopping down of a certain cherry tree. (And yet another president got the nickname of "Honest"...hmm).

In honor of the "father of our country" (and Baker's Drive-Thru's 60th anniversary, of course), the fast-food chain is offering its Facebook fans (and others) a cherry milkshake for only 60¢ with a coupon.

As with all Baker's deals, you can either print the coupon or show it on your mobile device. One milkshake deal per coupon and one coupon per person or per car. The deal is good today only.

Click here for the coupon.

Baker's Drive-Thru locations can be found throughout the Inland Empire. Great food close to home, right?

Happened to stumble upon this coupon for free Peppercorn Shrimp at Panda Express.

The free single-serving entrée is good today (February 22) only at participating locations.

Panda Express locations can be found throughout the Inland Empire.

Hangar 24 Craft Brewery's owner/master brewer Ben Cook and general manager/head brewer Kevin Wright will be the guests of honor at the inaugural One Night Stand at Beer Belly in Los Angeles.

Twelve kegs of Hangar 24 favorites, including Polycot, Winter Warmer, Third Anniversary Ale, Vinaceous and the above-mentioned Pugachev's Cobra (click here for a full list) will be on tap during the event, which will run from 5 p.m. 'til close (1 a.m.) tonight (February 22).

There will also be a special beer pairing menu.

I realize that Los Angeles is a far drive just to drink beer (especially when the brewery is right here in Redlands), but we're talking Pugachev's Cobra here!

Beer Belly is at 532 S. Western Ave. in Los Angeles.

With the San Bernardino County Supervisors voting last year to lessen restrictions on food trucks, it appears we are on the cusp of being able to enjoy what folks in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties are able to enjoy every day.

However, one legislator is looking to put the brakes on the food truck industry statewide before it even gets started here.

27th District Assemblyman Bill Monning (D-Carmel) introduced on Valentine's Day a bill (AB 1678) that would prohibit food trucks from operating within 1,500 feet (more than a quarter of a mile) of elementary and secondary schools from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on days when school is in session.

Think about that for a moment.

That's restricting one particular type of business from doing business for an entire half day based on their location.

Over the years, I've eaten many meals and spent many happy hours at the Marie Callender's on Highland Avenue in San Bernardino.

Perhaps you did, too.

The restaurant had been in operation for decades.

Unfortunately, the restaurant shut down in mid-2010. The intent at the time to reopen as a sports bar.

That never came to be.

Now the former restaurant is being deconstructed.

When I drove by last week, I noticed what looked like bits of roof scattered around the fenced-in property. I got an email from a Dine 909er (thanks, Jeanne!), who let me know that the building is indeed in the process of being torn down.

The picture above shows the building as it stands today (February 21).

If you would like to drive by and pay your respects, the former Marie Callender's is at 800 E. Highland Ave.

Marie Callender's still has locations in the Inland Empire in Redlands, Ontario, Claremont, Victorville, Riverside, Corona, Temecula and Hemet.

Those of you who waited all year for Wienerschnitzel's "UnDER the Sea Trio" menu items to return (there's gotta be some of you out there, right?) can rejoice.

The limited time menu items returned today (February 20) and will stick around until April 29.

So, for those of you who will be avoiding meat on Fridays through Easter Sunday, you've got a new option.

The seasonal seafood menu features:

• Sea Dog: Alaskan Pollock fish filet, creamy tartar sauce and lettuce tucked in a warm bun.
• Fish Wrap: Fish filet, creamy salsa and lettuce wrapped in a steamed flour tortilla.
• Fish 'n Chips: Two fish fillets atop a serving of French fries, served with a side of tartar sauce.

The seafood items are available at participating Wienerschnitzel locations. Wienerschnitzel restaurants can be found throughout the Inland Empire.

Our friends over at I.E. Shine On alerted us to this deal, posted on Facebook by the Chino Hills Chick-fil-A.

From 6:30 to 10 a.m. tomorrow (February 17), order a medium beverage and get a free order of Chick-n-Minis.

Obviously, the deal is only good at the Chino Hills location, 3640 Grand Ave.

Today's Inland Empire Living Social deal is from the delightful folks over at De "Bite" Ful Cake Pops.

The deal is a two-hour basic cake pop-making class, normally an $80 value, for only $37.

You'll spend a Sunday morning (either 8 or 10 a.m.) in their Chino kitchen learning how to decorate cake pops -- drizzling, dunking and designing.

You'll be able to decorate your yellow or chocolate cake pops with a rainbow of frosting, and take home a dozen pops to share with family and friends.

Who knows? You may end up with a new vocation!

You'll also receive $5 off your next class or cake pop order.

And if you want to see what the hoopla is all about, you can sample for yourself at our pals' Redlands Market Night booth on Thursdays...hey, that's tonight! They are delicious!

To purchase, click here.

Good news for ice cream lovers...there's now twice as much Handel's Homemade Ice Cream & Yogurt to love in the Inland Empire!

According to Wendy Leung over at RC Now, the new location of the Dine 909 favorite is now open. A grand opening will happen in a few weeks.

Upland's $1 scoop day is Wednesday, while Rancho's is on Thursday.

Hey...today is Thursday! Guess where I'm going!

The Rancho Cucamonga Handel's is at 6403 Haven Ave., just north of the 210 Freeway.

It seems like just about every week there's another food truck festival rolling into the Inland Empire, at least according to this blog.

Well, this week, there is another food truck festival rolling into the Inland Empire.

It happens to be in support of the Upland High School Regiment Band.

The UHRB Food Truck Frenzy will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday (February 18) at Cable Airport, 1749 W. 13th St. in Upland.

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

It's a medium-sized event, so if you're new to this sort of thing, it's a great opportunity to give it a try without biting off more than you can chew.

Heh.

Follow the jump for a list of trucks, according to the event's flier.

In celebration of the flavor's fifth anniversary, from 5 to 8 p.m. today (February 14), you can get a free scoop of Stephen Colbert's AmeriCone Dream at participating Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shops.

Unfortunately, here in the Inland Empire, those shops are few and far between.

There's one in Victoria Gardens, 12513 North Main St., Space 3655, Rancho Cucamonga, and two in the low desert -- 110 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, and at The River at Rancho Mirage, 71800 Highway 111.

While we were at Dripp a couple of weeks back for a Turkish coffee tasting (more on that later), we were privy to news of a new hot beverage that the coffee/dessert bar was introducing for Valentine's Day: The White Knight.

The White Knight was inspired by a premium chocolate (or more specifically, ChocoLate) bar,  white chocolate with lemon and pink peppercorn, that is sold at Dripp.

The White Knight is a white chocolate macchiato made by melting pieces of the chocolate with hot espresso, then spiced up with pink peppercorns and brightened with freshly-grated lemon zest.

The new drink will be available today (February 14) after 7 p.m. at an introductory Valentine's Day only price of two for $14.

To further entice you to stop by Dripp on your way to (or from) a romantic dinner, every couple that orders two White Knights will be entered into a drawing for a fantastic coffee package valued at over $200:

• Two Hario V60 Drippers
• Two 12 oz Bags of Intelligentsia's Black Cat or Dripp's Espresso Republic
• One Buono Kettle
• Two Kone Filters

If you miss your opportunity to try the White Knight today, don't fret. It will remain on the beverage menu, along with Dripp's other outstanding offerings, including the above-mentioned Turkish coffee, espresso drinks, individually made drip coffees and the amazing Oji cold-brew coffee.

Click here for more information.

Dripp is at 13855 City Center Drive #3015, Chino Hills, in the Shoppes at Chino Hills.

Who allowed Valentine's Day to fall during the week?

Doesn't that just mess with everyone's plans?

Inland Empire restaurants nonetheless are offering up indulgent treats (and specially-priced deals) for lovebirds.

Follow the jump to see a sampling.

Congratulations go out to Ontario's My Delight Cupcakery, which captured the top spot for an amazing third consecutive year at Saturday's (February 4) L.A. Cupcake Challenge.

My Delight introduced a new breakfast cupcake at the challenge: Western Breakfast Cupcake.

How's this sound? Cornbread cake with bacon, sweet corn and a sprinkling of black pepper, honey butter frosting with bacon, a drizzle of honey and a pinch of black pepper on top.

Savory-sweet breakfast not your thing? The bakery also brought Red Velvet Raspberry Cheesecake cupcakes to the competition.

To celebrate, the cupcakery will give away mini cupcakes of either variety to the first 50 customers beginning at 1 p.m tomorrow (February 9).

My Delight Cupcakery is at 1520 N. Mountain Ave., Suite B-108.

Update: Inland Valley Daily Bulletin Ontario reporter Liset Márquez has also written about the bakery's win, and included a passel of videos. Read her story here.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Redlands' major fundraiser is Saturday night: Chocolate Fantasy.

In addition to chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate, the event will include samplings from Two Guys Pasta & Pizza, ABTsolutely Gourmet Catering, Tess' Place, Michelle's, Mill Creek Cattle Company, Bon Appétit, Jose's, State Street Winery, Joe Greensleeves and Farm Artisan Foods.

The event will be held at the Mitten Building, 345A N. Fifth St. Doors open at 6:30.

Tickets are $75 and available at the Boys & Girls Clubs office, 1251 Clay St., Redlands.

For more information, click here to read Michel Nolan's article from the pages of the Redlands Daily Facts.

You might not recognize the name Nello Ferrara.

However, candy lovers might recognize the name of the family business he took over from his father: Ferrara Pan.

You can thank Nello Ferrara for the creation of Lemonheads and Atomic FireBalls.

No word on whether he was buried in a cardboard box.

You can read the Associated Press obituary here.

Congratulations to Cliff Young!

News accounts estimated the crowds at Saturday's (February 4) inaugural Palm Springs Food Truck Festival, curated by the KVCR-TV Out to Eat host, at nearly 10,000.

The event helped raise money for the Palm Springs High School music program and marching band, victims of a burglary last month.

The band played (beautifully) for attendees and students staffed the beverage stations.

The weather was plentiful and most folks seemed to be enjoying themselves.

I don't expect this to be a one-off event. Cliff is hoping to make this a semi-annual event, and is thinking of incorporating food trucks into other events he organizes.

We had a great time chatting with Inland Empire food truck operators, including Yucaipa-based Stella Pierre's Gourmet Grub (offering a caramel-Sriracha sauce with chocolate-covered bacon is sheer genius), Apple Valley's Where's the Fire? Gourmet Pizza (regulars at Redlands Market Night and the High Desert Farmers Market) and Suite 106 Cupcakery (which had yet another sell-out).

More food truck events are on the horizon, including three later this month. Click the jump to see a list.

Business reporter Andrew Edwards has a few minutes out from his busy day to review Jack in the Box's bacon shake for us here at Dine 909.

He declares it "better than I expected," which I guess is as good of an endorsement as any.

The bacon shake is available for a limited time at participating locations.

Follow the jump to watch the video review.

Another ersatz holiday brings another food giveaway.

Monday (February 6) is National Frozen Yogurt Day and Yogurtland will be celebrating by giving away free frozen yogurt and toppings at more than 160 stores across the U.S., including Inland Empire locations in Claremont, Chino Hills, Riverside and Corona.

The giveaway will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. while supplies last.

Yogurtland will even have special commemorative cups and spoons for the event.

The giveaway will take place at the following I.E. locations:

• Claremont: 101 N. Indiana Hill Blvd.
• Chino Hills: 4505 Chino Hills Parkway
• Riverside: 1242 University Ave.
• Corona: 135 E. Ontario Ave.

Tomorrow (February 4) marks the return of steak dinners and karaoke to VFW Post 8680, 8751 Industrial Lane, Rancho Cucamonga.

Steak dinners include a 10-ounce choice sirloin, salad, baked potato, veggie, roll and butter.

Diners choose their own steaks and seasonings, then the steak is grilled to order.

The dinners are served from 6 to 8 p.m. A $10 donation is requested.

Karaoke is free and begins at 7:30 p.m.

Hangar 24 Craft Brewery will release the first beer of its "Local Fields" series at 11 a.m. tomorrow (February 4).

The brew, Vinaceous, was created to combine the best characteristics of wine and beer. It was made by adding crushed Mourvedre grapes sourced from Wilson Creek Winery in Temecula.

For more information, click here.

Hangar 24 is at 1710 Sessums Drive in Redlands.

Rancho Cucamonga reporter (and Dine 909 contributor) Wendy Leung has written about the lengthy transformation of the former West Elm at Victoria Gardens into Toby Keith's I ♥ This Bar & Grill.

Her story details some of the reasons for the delays in the restaurant/bar's opening, originally scheduled for January 2011, now pegged for mid-March.

The story will appear in tomorrow's Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.

You can read it now by clicking here.

This is just a reminder that the Palm Springs Food Truck Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow (February 4) at the Spa Resort Casino, 401 E. Amado Road.

The festival is being curated by Cliff Young, host of KVCR-TV's Out To Eat show, who has lined up 58 trucks for the event.

Tickets are $10 for general admission and $40 for V.I.P. Kids six and under are admitted free.

V.I.P. ticketholders get early admission (10 a.m.), free water and soda, participation in a meet-and-greet with some of the truck operators and entry into drawings for a Las Vegas weekend.

Tickets are available online or at the door.

A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit the Palm Springs High School music program and marching band, victims of a burglary last month.

Some of the heavy-hitters lined up for the event include the Ludo Truck, the Border Grill Truck, Calbi and Grill 'Em All.

Also scheduled to participate are I.E.-based Stella Pierre's Gourmet Grub, Where's The Fire? Gourmet Pizza and Suite 106 Cupcakery.

This is going to be a big event...hope to see you there!

Head over the jump for a full truck lineup.

The Rancho Cucamonga, Victorville and Apple Valley Sonic Drive-Ins are participating in a Super Bowl Double Play this Sunday (February 5).

The concept is simple. Just place an order at any of the above locations on Sunday and hang on to your receipt. (The receipts will be pink).

Bring your pink receipt back to the location before the end of February and receive your order again...for free!

Restrictions: You have to have your original pink receipt. The offer is valid at participating Sonic Drive-Ins only. You have to redeem your entire receipt in full. Gift card purchases are excluded. The offer expires February 29, 2012.

Followers of this blog might remember back in October of last year when La Verne restaurant Charlie's Italian Cafe was overhauled as part of the Chef Gordon Ramsay's Fox reality show, Kitchen Nightmares.

Ramsay and his crew worked with restaurant staff for a week (and beyond) to root out any problems in the restaurant's operations in an attempt to revive it.

The intensive week culminated in a dinner service featuring a trimmed-down menu and a remodeled dining area. Dine 909 was invited to be a part of this special dinner.

The transformation process was captured on tape for airing at a later date.

We now have that date: 8 p.m., February 17 on Fox.

The restaurant will be closed that day so that the staff can enjoy the premiere with a private event.

Explains Charlie's owner Tatiana Leiva, "I'm excited for the episode to air and to finally relive the experience I went through. I want people to see the passion I have for my restaurant and understand why I have been able to fall in love with the food and ambiance all over again. It was a necessary journey I will never regret and I hope I can make Chef Ramsay proud!"

If you want to prepare for the episode, you can experience Charlie's for yourself.

The restaurant, 2445 Foothill Blvd., is open from 5 to 9 p.m. nightly except Mondays. Call the restaurant at 909-392-3734 for reservations.

You can watch previous episodes of Fox's Kitchen Nightmares by clicking here.

Update: The episode is available here for Hulu Plus subscribers and will available for all later this week. It'll also be available on Fox's website here (although you can unlock it now by entering your cable/satellite subscription info).

It seems like just a week or so ago we were bemoaning the end of Sonic Drive-In's daily winter deals, which we found out about a week before they were to expire.

Well, today we spotted this tweet that changes everything:

Extending our daily deals til the end of February! WEDNESDAY = 3 Piece Chicken Strips for $1.49. Only at Sonic, America's #1 Drive-In!

-- Sonic Drive-In(@Sonic_Rancho) February 2, 2012

The deals are fairly substantial. The Sonic burger, which is on special for 99¢ on Tuesdays, is normally $2.99.

Follow the jump to see the rest of the deals, which are now good until February 29.

After revamping its French fries, Burger King turned to its other popular side, onion rings.

As it did with its fries, the chain will give away orders of rings as a promotion.

The giveaway will happen both Saturday (February 4) and Sunday (February 5) at participating restaurants.

Detalils? Customers will receive a value sized order of rings while supplies last. One free order per customer. Not valid during breakfast hours.

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

Burger King restaurants can be found throughout the Inland Empire.