Food truck festival set for Leap Day

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.

Head to Corona for cheap chili fries today

That’s because the Original Tommy’s in Corona is one of the locations participating in today’s Tommy Tuesday.

In continuing celebration of the chain’s 65th anniversary, Tommy’s has been offering deals at select locations on Tuesdays.

Today’s (November 29) deal, good until 10 p.m., is chili fries for 99. You can get up to five orders at that price.

All you have to do is say the secret phrase: Happy Holidays!

The Corona Tommy’s is at 2280 Compton Ave.

For more information, or to see all participating locations, visit the Facebook event page.

Other Inland Empire Original Tommy’s can be found in Barstow, Chino and Riverside.

Tommy Tuesday returns to the Inland Empire

Original Tommy’s is still celebrating its 65th anniversary with occasional deals.

Next Tuesday, the chain is serving up 99 chiliburgers at only three of its 33 locations.

One of them happens to be in the Inland Empire.

From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday (August 2), you’ll be able to buy up to five chiliburgers at that price at the Original Tommy’s at 2280 Compton Ave. in Corona.

All you need to do to get the deal is utter the secret word: BBQ!

The other two participating locations are in San Diego and Las Vegas.

Click here for the Tommy Tuesday Facebook event page.

Tip-A-Cop next week at Claim Jumper

Claim Jumper is hosting a Tip-A-Cop fundraiser for Special Olympics from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday (April 14).

The premise is simple: Police personnel help out the wait staff and in return, get tipped by guests.

The tips are donated to charity.

I’ve been to several of these Tip-A-Cop events in the past and, although there always seems to be a bit of confusion, they’re usually a lot of fun.

Claim Jumper has an Inland Empire presence in Rancho Cucamonga (12499 Foothill Blvd.), San Bernardino (1905 Commercenter East), Temecula and Corona.

For more information on the Claim Jumper Tip-A-Cop fundraiser, click here.

Nicky’s Week on now at RA Sushi

RA Sushi, with Inland Empire locations in Chino Hills and Corona, is hosting its sixth annual “Nicky’s Week” fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital this week.

The Scottsdale, Ariz.,-based restaurant will donate 100% of the proceeds from select food and beverage items to St. Jude. The fundraiser ends Saturday (June 5).

If you want to help out, RA Sushi, 2785 Cabot Drive, Corona, is open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and for dinner until 11 p.m. through Saturday. Happy hour is 3 to 7 p.m. through Saturday. RA Sushi, 13925 City Center Drive, Chino Hills, is open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and for dinner until 11 p.m. daily. Happy hour is from 3 to 7 p.m. through Saturday.

Meet Me at Mimi’s, Corona-style

Get ready…they’re doing it again.

Tomorrow morning, May 5.

9 a.m.

Mimi’s Cafe, Corona.

If you’re a regular follower of Dine 909, you know the drill: Get there early, get gift certificates.

In the past, Mimi’s has given $100 gift certificates to the first 10 adults (18+) in line, $50 the next 15, and $25 to the next 50, for a total of 75 gift certificates worth $3,000. Not bad for just standing around.

They have been handing out gift certificates to celebrate their grand openings of new restaurants or remodels of older locations. Corona happens to fall in the latter category.

With this remodel, the Corona location gains a full bar and gets a refreshed look.

After 17 years, I believe they’re due.

Why not come out and join the celebration? You might just walk away with a free gift card as a Cinco de Mayo present!

The Corona Mimi’s Cafe is at 2230 Griffin Way, at McKinley Street. They’re open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m daily.