B is for Bakery

I have found a new favorite OC place — the 85 Degrees Bakery Cafe in Irvine. This bakery is inexpensive and amazing. I have never been a fan of Asian baked goods, mostly because my exposure has been limited to sweet breads filled with red bean paste. This bakery has converted me–Asian pastries rock!

When we first walked in we weren’t exactly sure how it worked–it seemed kind of crazy. There are two separate lines: one line for cake and/or drinks and one line for pastries. If you want pastries (and we did) grab a tray and some tongs, head on over to the self-serve area and start grabbing. There are shelves full of every kind of pastry you could imagine, both sweet and savory. My favorites are the Blueberry Cream Cheese Bun, the Garlic Cheese Bread and the Brioche Bread. When you check out, they individually wrap each item for you. Everything is super cheap, too. We got five or six things for under $10. Don’t be intimidated by the long line, they move you through really fast. We stuck to pastries on our initial visit, we’ll have to come back for cake and drinks. The cakes look amazing and many people were ordering the Sea Salt Latte (which they are famous for). There are several more of the pastries we want to try, we will definitely be back.

There are also many, many Asian restaurants in the Diamond Jamboree complex that look tasty. I can’t wait to try them out!

85 Degrees Bakery Cafe
2700 Alton Parkway, Suite #123
Irvine, CA 92606

M is for Movies

I love going to the movies but very few movies are worth the $13 ticket price. So I was thrilled to learn about Woodbridge Movies 5  dollar theaters. Movies are $2 on most days and $1 on Tuesdays. They show movies that have been out for a month or two. They always have  a couple kids movies showing so it’s a great family activity. It’s also a great cheap date**. They also have $1 hot dogs and the popcorn and other movie snacks are pretty cheap, too. They don’t have stadium seating or anything state-of-the-art but the theaters are clean and comfortable.

You can purchase tickets  online here.

Woodbridge Movies 5
4626 Barranca Pkwy
Irvine, CA 92604

**We’re in a recession so I’ll share my  friend Eric’s idea for the “cheapest date in the world” — go get free samples at Costco and then go to a dollar movie. He used to take his fiancee on these dates all the time and she married him anyway. Maybe it showed he was fiscally responsible?

L is for La Sirena Grill

Please excuse that the posts are Laguna Beach-heavy this week. My parents were in town last week and since Laguna is our original home base in OC, we went back to many of our favorite haunts.

La Sirena Grill is a great Mexican restaurant in downtown Laguna Beach. Located in a charming old house it feels like a high-class version of a hole-in-the-wall, complete with a sidewalk dining. The inside is tiny, barely enough room for a couple of people to order and to grab utensils, salsa, etc. There are only a few tables outside so if you come at lunchtime you may want to have someone save a seat while you order.  Also, this location is the only one to offer breakfast.

I highly recommend their blackened salmon (if you like spicy stuff)–I’ve had it on the salad and the tacos and both are excellent. I’ve never been disappointed with anything I’ve had here.

One of the best things about La Sirena is their use of organic food and sustainable agricultural products. Here is a great article about Scott and Janet Cortellessa, the owners of the La Sirena restaurants, and their commitment to providing a fresh, healthy, sustainable and tasty dining experience.

La Sirena uses free-range beef and chicken that are fed a vegetarian diet without the use of antibiotics or hormones.  They only use wild salmon and shrimp and albacore have been removed from the menu and they are using only sustainable seafood as recommended by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program. They are also using natural pork, organic mixed greens and organic milk, cheese and sour cream.

There are also locations in El Segundo, South Laguna and Irvine.

(The Original) La Sirena Grill
347 Mermaid Street
Laguna Beach, CA  92651

O is for Orange Inn

One of my favorite breakfast spots in the Orange County is the Orange Inn in Laguna Beach. I love to walk the Main Beach in Laguna in the morning and then head over to the Orange Inn for some fresh squeezed o.j. and a breakfast burrito. The Orange Inn is a fave of Laguna locals with their healthy fare and surf hut vibe. The bran muffins, sweet rolls and banana bread are tasty and they are known for their smoothies, shakes and coffee. Their claim to fame is that they are the “The Home of The Original Smoothie.” The famous O.I Smoothie is made with strawberries, banana, dates, fresh juice, protein powder, bee pollen and crushed ice–it’s really good. The Orange Inn isn’t just for breakfast, they have great soup and sandwiches, too.

Just a quick history of the Orange Inn. It was established in 1931 as a refreshment stop between Newport Beach and Laguna Beach for cowboys and field hands. Over the years it became popular as a roadside stop for workers, celebrities and tourists alike. In 1986, it moved down the coast to the center of Laguna Beach on the corner of Cleo and PCH.

Orange Inn
703 S Coast Hwy (at Cleo St)
Laguna Beach, CA 92651

S is for Sleeper Sofa

This post isn’t about something to do in Orange County, but I still have to share. I moved into a new place not too long ago. In a one-bedroom condo I knew I needed to either put in a Murphy bed or find a comfortable sleeper sofa for guests (I know what you’re thinking, a comfortable sleeper? She is nuts!). I didn’t really have the room for a Murphy bed since storage space is at a premium. I did a lot of research and found the Dublin Sleeper sofa from Room & Board. Many of the sleeper sofas I looked at were not only uncomfortable, but they were hideous. The Dublin is both attractive and really comfortable. The mattress features a combination of supportive coils topped with an inflatable air chamber for customizable comfort. It’s actually more comfortable than many mattresses I’ve slept on. Also, Room & Board has great customer service in case anything goes wrong with the sofa.

Room & Board- South Coast Plaza Village Store
1661 West Sunflower Avenue
Santa Ana, CA 92704

F is for Farmers’ Market

Have you been to the Irvine Farmers’ Market? It’s held Saturdays in the shopping center at Campus Drive and Bridge Street (near In-N-Out, across from UC-Irvine). Every Saturday,  8am – Noon (rain or shine).  Seriously, even if it’s pouring rain (like last week), the vendors are still out. The produce selection is phenomenal. You know how some farmers’ markets end up being filled with cutesy craft booths and only have a few food stands? The Irvine market is the real deal. Each booth of fruits and vegetables look better than the last. There are also stands with yummy baked goods, hummus in a variety of fun flavors, fresh pasta, beautiful plants and herbs, fresh seafood and even grass-fed beef.

There are free samples at about every stand, so many in fact, it puts Costco to shame (you could have a great Saturday morning breakfast on samples alone). We bought baby tomatoes, raspberries, grapes, cilantro and sweet corn tamales. Everything we bought was so good. And it was cheap. The prices are really reasonable, much better than the grocery store and the quality of product is much higher and almost entirely organic! For example, the big bunch of cilantro cost me 50 cents!

This market is a must-do for any Orange County resident. Even if you have to drive a little ways, it is totally worth it. I wish they held it twice a week so that I could get the fresh produce in the middle of the week, too.

Make sure to bring a basket or bag, it will make it much easier to carry all your purchases around. Also, the parking fills up fast so it’s best to get there early.

A is for Apology

Hey readers! Sorry I’ve been such a slacker with my blog posts this week. My parents were visiting and we’ve been having a lot of fun, trying lots of new things and taking lots of photos. There will be many new posts shortly, I promise!

Y is for Yogurt

I know I’m the last one to know about this place– today I went to Yogurtland for my first time. I love it! If you’re not familiar with Yogurtland, it’s a yogurt store designed for control freaks. It’s DIY (almost) all the way. The only thing you don’t do is ring up your purchase. You choose the size, how many flavors, how high above the rim to take the yogurt and how many toppings you want (can fit) on your yogurt.  You pay by weight so the more you lump on, the more it will cost you. Choose from 16 different flavors (tart and original options)–like Peanut Butter, Mango, Toasted Coconut, Madagascar Vanilla, Red Velvet Cupcake Batter, Vanilla Wafer, etc. They also have seasonal flavors like Blood Orange, Pumpkin Pie and Candy Cane. Pick from a wide array of the usual toppings like fruit, candy, granola, cereal and cookies. The yogurt pictured above was huge–four flavors and two toppings and cost $3.81. It was totally worth it. I will definitely be returning to Yogurtland.

Just one word of advice–eat quickly! I learned this the hard way. Pumpkin Pie, Madagascar Vanilla, Peanut Butter and Toasted Coconut might be excellent on their own, but they are most definitely not excellent when pooled together at the bottom of the cup!

C is for Cafe Rio

Driving in Costa Mesa the other day,  I was thrilled to see a Cafe Rio sign shining out like a beacon of yumminess.  Cafe Rio is a Utah-based chain of Mexican restaurants with locations all over the West. The decor is kitschy, the food is delicious! It’s been compared to Chipotle or Baja Fresh, but what sets Cafe Rio apart from Chipotle (and the like) is the handmade corn and flour tortillas. Their sauces and guacamole are also freshly prepared.

You’ll find all the usual Mexican dishes–tacos, enchiladas, burritos, tostadas and quesadillas–on Cafe Rio’s menu. Using fresh ingredients, they make your meal right in front of you.

My favorite thing on the menu is the Shredded Chicken Salad–a handmade tortilla, rice, beans, chicken, lettuce, pico, guacamole, tortilla strips, cojita cheese, cilantro and lime and your choice of a creamy tomatillo house or cilantro-lime vinegrette dressing (both are delicious).

Cafe Rio is famous for their Sweet Pork Barbacoa–it’s excellent in salads, tacos and burritos. The fire-grilled steak and chicken are also really good. The fire-grilled salmon tacos are also really tasty. I also love their fresh drinks–I’m partial to the Raspberry Lemon-Lime, but the Horchata is also good.

The line is usually about 10 minutes at lunch and 15 minutes at dinner. Most items run between $6 and $8. Make sure to ask for a Frequent Diner Card. If you buy 10 meals, you get the 11th free!

Don’t listen to the detractors who dismiss Cafe Rio is faux-Mexican food. I don’t think it matters if it’s authentic when it tastes so good!

**Helpful hint – if you go at dinnertime, especially on the weekend, have one of your party hold a table while someone else orders.

Orange County locations:

Cafe Rio
24312 Rockfield Blvd.
Lake Forest
949-334-9292

Cafe Rio
253 E. 17th Street
Costa Mesa
949-335-6800

C is for Coleslaw (and Cornbread)

One of my favorite places to eat in Orange County is Bandera in Corona Del Mar. They offer classic American fare — rotisserie chicken, mashed potatoes, cornbread, ribs, steak– but kicked up a notch. Everything there is good but my favorite is the BBQ Beef Ribs. They are decadent. The ribs come with two sides–garlic mashed potatoes and roasted peanut coleslaw. The potatoes are great, the coleslaw is amazing. I love it (and I don’t even like coleslaw.) I have a recipe for Bandera-esque coleslaw and I thought I would share. Bandera’s cornbread is also a fan and family favorite. I’ve included that recipe, too. Now if I can just figure out how to make their ribs…

ROASTED PEANUT COLESLAW (Like Bandera’s)

2 cups baby spinach, broken up
3/4 head green cabbage, thinly sliced
1/2 jicama, thinly sliced
3 green onions, finely chopped
1/4 cup fresh cilantro

Mix all above ingredients, then add the vinaigrette.

FOR THE VINAIGRETTE:
Add the following ingredients to a small food processor and grind it up. It’s best if you let it sit in the refrigerator for at least one hour.

1/2 cup peanut oil
1/4 cup roasted peanuts
Juice of 1/2 lime
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1/2 teaspoon fresh minced ginger
1 tablespoon sugar
1 green onion
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1/2 teaspoon salt

You can of course vary any of the above ingredients according to personal preference. It’s the closest I’ve found without actually going to Bandera—but you should go sometime, the ribs are worth it!

CORNBREAD (Like Bandera’s)

1 cup butter, melted*
1 cup granulated sugar*
4 eggs
1 (15 oz) can cream style corn
1/2 (4 oz) can chopped green chili peppers, drained
1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or better yet a 12-inch cast iron skillet.

In a large bowl, beat together butter and sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time. Blend in cream corn, chiles, Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheese.

In a separate bowl, stir together flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt. Add flour mixture to corn mixture; stir until smooth. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour, until a toothpick inserted into center of the pan comes out clean. If using the skillet – watch carefully as edges may brown too much and time should be under an hour.

*Some think these quantities make it too rich. Use 1/2 cup butter and less sugar to taste.