We're pleased to be back and even more pleased to bring you the tale of an Arlington Heights favorite that has returned!   Listen in on our review of Biggby Coffee, and our interview with owner Tim Mickelson.  We're sure you'll enjoy this one!

We love hearing from you! If you'd like to tell us about your dining experiences in your town (or anything else that's on your mind), please write to us at cheapdateshow@gmail.com or leave a message at 206 203-3283! You can also join our Facebook page at this link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cheap-Date-Show/253639588763 and follow us on Twitter as "Cheapdate."

"Love" is by The Dream Academy.

This episode's running time: 21:09.

This past Saturday (May 1) we visited our local Baja Fresh restaurant in Rolling Meadows, only to find the signage had been changed to read "Pacifica Mexican Grill."

When we asked the guy at the register what was going on, he indicated that the name had changed that day, and that was about all the information he had. We got the impression that he was probably just as surprised as we were.  The Pacifica Mexican Grill menu is basically the same, albeit stripped down a bit.  All the "Baja Fresh" trappings--  cups, plates, etc.-- were replaced with generic ones.

None of the media outlets covered this, and no press release was issued by Baja Fresh.  We noticed several other people complaining about the stores in their areas suddenly closing, so I wrote to Baja Fresh and got this response:

Thank you for taking the time to contact Baja Fresh. The Baja Fresh restaurants you are inquiring about are no longer members of our franchise community. At Baja Fresh we take guest satisfaction very seriously, and unfortunately there were a number of operational and financial issues that led us to terminate our relationship with our Illinois franchisee and close all Baja Fresh restaurants in the Illinois Market. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our loyal Baja Fresh Customers. There are no immediate plans to open another restaurant in this area; however Baja Fresh currently has 254 restaurants in 20 states and is continuously growing in its number of locations. 

It looks like another good fast-food alternative is gone.

Enjoy this episode of Discover Woodfield!

Listen to our preview of Chefs' Fest 2010, presented by the Woodfield Chicago Northwest Convention Bureau!  The event will be held on May 11, 2010 at Arlington Park Racecourse, and it promises to be a great time for all!

On this show, Joe interviews Dave Parulo, the Bureau's Director of Membership and Community Outreach.  Join the guys as they talk about what to expect at this favorite event, the 17th annual presentation of the area's premier restaurant and hospitality show.  We expect nearly 70 exhibitors this year!

Comments? Send an e-mail to discoverwoodfield@gmail.com or visit the Woodfield Chicago Northwest Convention Bureau's website at www.chicagonorthwest.com.

This episode's running time: 22:14.

We're back to wish you a happy and healthy Holiday Season!!

Joining us this time around is Joe's daughter Becca, who shares her thoughts on two of her favorite spots around the Chicago suburbs: Charles Romano's in Des Plaines, and Chef Ping in Rolling Meadows.

We also mention our beer-expert friend Chris' recent trip to Italy, and you can read his report by clicking here. You'll be thirsty after reading it! And speaking of beer, we also talk about the upcoming 2010 Brewpub Shootout, sponsored by the Chicago Beer Society.

Thanks for all the emails and voice mails-- we love hearing from and corresponding with you! You can drop us a line at cheapdateshow@gmail.com or you can leave a voice mail at 206 203-3283. And you can follow us on Twitter where we post updates as "cheapdate."

Thanks again for listening, and here's wishing you all the best for 2010!!

"Not So Silent Night" is by Charlie Crowe.

This episode's running time: 17:01.

If you're a fan of the Cheap Date Show, be sure to check out our other podcast, Discover Woodfield!

Hi, everybody!

We didn't do a podcast on the event this year, but check out Joe's review of The Chicago Beer Society's 11th Annual Brewpub Shootout.

You can find it on his blog at www.jtl.us!

If you'd like to hear our previous show on the event, check out this episode.

We'll be back soon with a brand-new show!

-- Lisa & Joe

Happy Holidays!

We're back with an all-new show for you to enjoy... This time, we visit a brand-new addition to downtown Arlington Heights: Grand Station Restaurant and Cocktails! Listen in as we talk about the restaurant's expansive drink and food menu.

Drop us a line at cheapdateshow@gmail.com if you'd like to share your thoughts about the show, or you can leave a voice mail at 206 203-3283. And you can follow us on Twitter where we post updates as "cheapdate."

Thanks for listening and have a wonderful holiday season and great 2009!

"Merry Xmas Everybody" is by Slade.

This episode's running time: 22:34.

The one question we get asked more than any other is, "What are your very favorite places?"  On this episode, you get those answers!

Join us as we talk about our favorites among the 100+ restaurants and events we've reviewed on Cheap Date since we started doing this show.  If you're not hungry after hearing this episode, we're not sure what we can do. :-)

And as we wipe away a little tear with our napkins, we announce that this will be the last Cheap Date in this series.  We've had a blast sharing our experiences with you and we hope you got something out of our shows.

The Cheap Date web site and all our old episodes will remain online for the forseeable future, so you can refer back to them for your listening pleasure.   You'll also be able to continue e-mailing us at cheapdateshow@gmail.com, and you can follow us on Twitter where we post under the name "cheapdate."

And be sure to keep us in your feeds, because we will be back one day with something new and exciting, and you won't want to miss it.

In the meantime, thanks for listening!

"My Favorite Things" is by John Coltrane.

"Am I The Same Girl" is by Swing Out Sister.

"Soulful Strut" is by Young-Holt Unlimited.

This episode's running time: 43:39