Dessert: 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.