Foodies Enjoy Cruisin’ Cuisine

Ever have trouble deciding where to go eat? There are endless possibilities, but a decision has to be made. Luckily, this problem was eliminated at the third annual Cruisin’ Cuisine in downtown Redlands on Saturday, June 22. With many choices to pick from, Cruisin’ Cuisine was a dining festival ideal for any foodie out there and the question of where to go was of little concern. Restaurants from all across the cuisine spectrum participated, including Mexican and Italian restaurants, as well as bakeries, delis, burger and fondue stands. A grand diversity in foods worked together to satisfy diverse palates for $35 per ticket. Before the event, which began at 6 and ran through 8:30 p.m., guests checked in at the Redlands Chamber Office to exchange their tickets for wristbands. There, they were given a map with the eleven locations of restaurants participating with the event. Each person also received a passport to get signed at each location to be entered into an iPad giveaway drawing once the final destination had been reached. After receiving a passport and map, participants were off to begin their culinary adventures. A cluster of participating restaurants was located directly off of State Street in downtown. Rok N Fondue, located at 25 E. State Street, offered three courses from their menu. The restaurant’s first station consisted of fruit and vegetable appetizers to be dipped in a cheese fondue, and the second featured bits of steak, chicken and shrimp that were cooked on a hot rock directly in front of each guest. Along with the rock entrée, there were also mild and spicy broths the meat was marinated in. Dessert fondue was found at the third table for those who were still hungry after the main entrees. Rok N Fondue has been open in Redlands since January of this year, and the employees take pride in their restaurant on how interactive the experience is for all guests, according to Rok N Fondue server Taylor Cousins. Specializing in Mexican cuisine, Oscar’s Mexican Restaurant at 19 North 5th Street had a table set up outside the restaurant’s entrance. Displayed on the table were empanadas and chips with guacamole for dipping. Oscar’s employee Katie Opitz explained that as soon as Oscar’s found out about the event, they immediately decided to participate in order to stay connected with the community. Oscar’s Mexican Restaurant has been operating at the Redlands location for forty years. When it came time for the dessert round, guests headed over to Wildflowers Fiori di Campo, where the dessert gastropub, Brewcakes, was hosted. Brewcakes is a company that is best known for alcohol-infused cupcakes. At the shop, there was a buffet-sized table with platters of different sweet treats from the bakery. Along with Rok N Fondue, Oscar’s Mexican Restaurant and Brewcakes were also the Corner Bakery Café, Eureka Burgers, Joe Greensleeves Restaurant, Benjarongs, Romano’s Italian Restaurant, Saverino’s Deli, The Lounge 22, and The Old Spaghetti Factory. Each restaurant provided participants with service and food that contributed to an overall memorable event.