Be at your computer ready to buy today at 10 a.m., when Twin Cities Originals releases its latest batch of discounted gift cards. Save 30 percent at restaurants such as Afton House Inn in Afton, Biella's in Excelsior, Murray's in Minneapolis, Luci Ancora and St. Clair Broiler in St. Paul, and San Pedro Cafe in Hudson, Wis. Each restaurant offers about 10 $50 certificates and 10 $25 certificates at the discounted price. Certs at restaurants such as Luci Ancora usually sell out within minutes.

The list of TCO restaurants seems to be growing smaller. Recently, I sent an email to info@tcoriginals.com asking for a refund of the $25 I spent on a certificate to Town Talk Diner, which has closed. Within days I got a $25 gift card to use at any TCO restaurant.

Other restaurant deals today: Crowd Cut's daily deal is $30 worth of food at the Edina Grill for $15. Kgb Deals offers a DVD set for $12 (regularly $24) that teaches the basics of cooking. It's called "Cooking for the Clueless."