Alive in Wonderland

Basking in the beauty at the Beachcomber Cafe in Crystal Cove

I don't know how it its that I've never eaten at The Beachcomber Cafe. It's so quintessential Orange County that it seems like every citizen of this county has had to have dined there, at least once. With fresh food and unique cocktails the cafe has quickly become one of my favorite haunts. The open-air patio offers sweeping views of the coastline and if it gets too chilly, the friendly staff will offer diners a warm blanket for their laps. 

The cafe was once one of the many quant cottages that pepper the intimate coastline of Crystal Cove State Beach.  It was transformed into The Beachcomber Cafe in 2006 by restaurateur Doug Cavanaugh, of Ruby's Cafe fame. (See my interview with Doug here.) In the short time since it opened it has been acclaimed by Gayot and Open Table as "Top Outdoor Dining Experiences in the United States." Not bad and right here in our own county. 

It takes a little work to get down to the cafe -- either by shuttle or hoofing it -- but it's well-worth the time. Get there early as the waiting lists begins to grow starting at 10 a.m. You can book a table online at Thebeachcombercafe.com. 

My boyfriend, Tim, and I had loads of luck on our last visit. It was a warm and crispy clear November morning in Crystal Cove. We only waited about 15 minutes for our tiny table.

When I mentioned I had never had a Bloody Mary Tim ordered me one promptly at the Bootlegger Bar that's located directly behind the restaurant. It immediately became my favorite cocktail and I have not had its equal since -- though I have tried them on several occasions since Beachcomber.  

The menu for breakfast isn't as expansive as most breakfast establishments, but what is offered is fresh, simple and fantastic! The menu rotates seasonally and always offers  one omelet, scramble and frittata.

For me the specialty breakfasts are the show stealers. Apple Pecan or Coconut Macadamia Pancakes look delicious but for me, The Florentine Benedict is the clear choice for best on menu. They also offer a Traditional and Crab Cake Benedict. You can go to the Beachcomber website to see what is being served right now.

The lowdown on The Beachcomber Cafe

Time

Breakfast is served from 7 to 11:30 a.m. Lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dinner (yes dinner!) is served from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Parking

Park in the Los Trancos parking lot off PCH. The shuttle cost is $1, one way. Kids under 12 are free.

Boozy fact

Full bar

Show stealer

The Florentine Benedict

Insider tip

The cafe offers rentals of beach essentials like beach chairs and umbrella rentals during the summer months.

Ruff-rules

No dogs on the patio

Instagram must

Shot of your cocktail from the Bootlegger Bar

My Interview with Le Pain Quotidien's Founder, Alain Coumont

When Le Pain Quotidien opened its doors at Fashion Island I met with organic bread maker and founder Alain Coumont while he was in California for a brief visit. We sat at one end of his signature communal table and talked about his simple beginnings as a young chef in Belgium, the differences between European and American philosophy of food and why he doesn't serve Diet Coke -- among other things. 

Alain was clearly tired from his long flight. He seemed dead serious and initially wasn't up for silliness so early in the morning. We ordered our bowl of coffee; I pulled out my iPhone and we began to talk about how he turned his little Belgium bakery into a successful world-wide enterprise. 

 Me: Has brining your bakery to US been different than you expected? 

Alain: I didn't want to become like those French bakeries that start off authentic but after awhile there are barely any French things left.  They sell bagels and muffins only....and Coke. We are different. When we came to America we tried to say what we are. We would be selling our soul, little by little if we sold only those things.  

Me: It doesn't seem like your philosophy has stopped you from growing and succeeding here. Do you think people are eager for that authenticity? They know they can go get a Diet Coke down the road, they come here for something different. 

Alain: Selling Coke would bring in a million dollar in profit for us in the US -- says my business manager. But I say "no way." We used to sell it, but we can hardly offer organic bread and all of our philosophy and then sell Coke.  We tested pulling it in some shops. Some people complain. American girls screaming "Where's my Diet Coke!" (He throws his arms in the air with the first bit of animation I see in him.) But in the end, we didn't lose any sells. We have conviction.

Me: No one loves a nice cold Diet Coke more than me, but I respect that you won't sell it at Le Pain. I will go somewhere else to get it and come here for something different. 

Alain: Maybe you are somewhat of The Diet Coke junkie (... he says with a smirk.) 

Me: What? Me? That's outrageous! (I pretend to be appalled at the very idea.)

Alain: No, I saw that you liked The Diet Coke on your web site. (...Then he begins a mercifully short lecture on the evils of what Diet Coke does to your insides. Then he smiles at me and when he smiles, his whole face changes. He is open and handsome. He knows I'm not going to give it up.)

Me: I know ... I know ... But there's one thing I like more than Diet Coke it's conviction so when I come here I have your fantastic iced tea. (Changing the subject.) Is that what you're hoping? That people in Orange County will come here and try something new? What would you suggest someone new to the bakery order, let's say in the morning?

Alain: A good slice of bread with a side of organic salmon. Coffee. In Europe it's more important to have good ingredients. The portion and size is not important, it (large portions) shouldn't mean quality. 

Me: What would you hope guests would experience when they come to Le Pain that would be different from other restaurants or bakeries?

Alain: We have an all-day menu. You can come in at lunch time and just have an espresso. The waiter isn't going to kick you out or hurry you along...give you a mean look (then he gives me a mean look). It's built into our business model -- we are here for the people who come here in every way. It's not a theme. We are communal in every way. Authentic. 

We end the interview talking about my new iPhone 4S. He liked the feature and urged me to ask her silly questions. When I shy away from it, he takes it and asks her. We all laugh at her pre-programed response. 

Alain is an acclaimed author and chef in Europe and it's not long before patrons start to recognize him. He hugs them and smiles warmly; obviously happy to have them come over and say hello. He asks all of them to come and sit with him. 

He believes in what he is doing. He is authentic. Le Pain Quoitien is built on Alain's sincere belief in simple, wholesome food and community and it's success will continue to be fueled by those principles.

The lowdown:

Le Pain Quotidien is nestled between Marcy's and Forever 21 at Fashion Island.

Operating hours run along with Fashion Island's hours. 

One menu is served all day with three or four daily specials. 

Table service is available along with retail and take-out options. 

Phone number is: 949-287-5597

For information on Le Pain Quotidien's baking classes, you can go to my post at OC Family. 

 

 

 

 

 

Exclusive tour of the new CHOC Tower

You've seen the billboards alongside Orange County's freeways. Maybe you've seen the construction going on next to CHOC Children's in Orange--the new building getting taller and taller, taking shape. The CHOC Children's tower will open in 2013 and will serve the children of Orange County in new and more efficient ways.

 

CHOC Children's cares for over 250,000 children in our community every year and that number will expand when CHOC adds over 450,00 square feet of state-of-the-art pediatric services. Committed to safety and whole-family care, the new tower will bring all of CHOC's services under one roof for the first time.

I was given the privilege of taking an exclusive tour of the facility for a segment of OC Family TV. The video will give a glimpse inside the tower still under construction. Jan Lansing from CHOC guides me through the new patient rooms, emergency room, pediatric surgical suites and paitent life areas.

How we spent our Memorial Day

 
For the past five years we have been taking our kids to the Memorial Day Service at Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana.  The service runs about 2 hours and we bring our blankets and snacks and sit among the hundreds of families there to honor the men and women who have served our country.  

I love seeing the different generations come together during the ceremony.  My favorite part is when they honor the different branches of service by asking soldiers to stand up as they call out: Marines, Army, Navy, etc.  It touches me every time.  They also recognize soldiers from different wars and conflicts. This was the first year there were no Pearl Harbor survivors represented--not one. It was a shocking reminder we need to take the time to remember. 

Take a look at my photo slideshow below from the service.  It's a valuable OC tradition and I'm happy to say every year it grows!  More people attended this year than any other year! 

If you've served in our county's military "Thank you."  

 

 

New video plus, how much do you know about Children's Hospital of Orange County?

I'm putting a lot of work recently into my videos for OC Family and I'm having a blast making them and I'm getting to meet some incredible Orange County people in the process.  In this new one from CHOC Night at the Honda Center I worked with the ever-patient Bryce from Post Fifth Pictures for the new intro & the shooting and editing.   I really feel like the look and the feeling of these segments are coming together.  With every new one, I get more excited about the series. 

Take a look...there are some shots from the Ducks locker room where a CHOC Patient and his family gets to meet some of the players.  So great. I tried to make the piece fun and light to capture the feeling of the night. We also tried mixing my FLIP footage with the other camera footage.  

And speaking of meeting incredible OC People, Pam De Jong, who is CHOC's Marketing Manager, is a friend of mine and fellow blogger.  A few days ago Pam took me on a tour of Children's Hospital of Orange County and I was, to say the very least, astonished at the amount of work CHOC does for our community and our children. 

Like most Orange County-ians, I wasn't crystal clear on why CHOC was having to raise money. In my (small) mind a hospital is supported by its patients and the insurance companies that pay them. CHOC is actually a non-profit.  I feel at little stupid even admitting that, but it's not a world I think of very often because my children haven't need anything more than stitches there.

Did you know that CHOC NEVER turns away a child? Ever! Did you know that 60% of the kids they treat don't have medical insurance? They spent over $190,000,000 last year on treating kids for everything from cancer to broken arms. Did you know that CHOC is Orange County's ONLY all Children's hospital--treating kids from birth to age 21? CHOC saw 200,000 kids come through their doors last year and treated each one, again, regardless of whether the family was able to pay. 

After my tour I told Pam I felt overwhelmed and a little silly not knowing the impact CHOC had on our community. She said I was like a lot of people, "They don't really know about CHOC until they need it." 

Well, I'm joining Pam in helping to change that, stay tuned! More to come.  I'm not being overly dramatic (who, me?) when I say I believe CHOC is one of Orange County's greatest resources. 

The Anaheim Ducks organization has figured this out already and have partnered with CHOC in fundraising and building their own wing. I snapped these photos when I was walking through with Pam. Again, hockey players (and their wives) they're the best...

  

Lazy Dog Cafe. Raising the Woof in Irvine

The Lazy Dog Cafe opens tonight in Irvine at The Marketplace. I attended the VIP Party on Tuesday night and made this video of the evening. I interviewed the Executive Chef, Gabriel Caliendo and tried to get him to go "Gordon Ramsay" on the staff--no dice. Such a nice guy

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(Patting myself on the back for title of my piece.)

For more information on Lazy Dog, go to their website, and yes, dogs are welcome!

Bob's Big Boy: Reunited and it feels so good

For some reason, most of my fondest memories of being a kid are associated either with food or music. Along with the AM radio,  Bob's Big Boy played a major roll in the first 15 or so years of my life. 

There used to be a Big Boy right down the street from where I grew-up. As a little girl it was a place to go on special occasions or for a special treat to get milk shakes, brownie sundaes, and fried shrimp dinners. 

In High School, Bob's was the meeting spot after concerts, dances, and parties.  We'd hang out in the parking lot, climb on the back of Bob to get our picture taken, and sneak cigarettes from the machine in the lobby. It was THE place to fraternize with your friend over french fries, kind of like Arnold's, but without Leather Tuscadero.

After too long an exile, Bob is back in Orange County and I couldn't wait to bring my kids and Larry (who knew it as Shoney's Big Boy on the East Coast). I ordered usual, which is the same now as when I was an eight-year old, the child's grilled cheese, fries, and a strawberry silver goblet shake.  I'm a little surprised and probably disproportionally happy to report that it was just as good as I remember.  

I don't know why exactly, but watching my daughter enjoy her own shake and kid's chili spaghetti (accompanied by the traditional garlic toast) and then declare it "the .best. spaghetti. ever!" gave me a thrill. Like I knew some sort of pop culture mythos was going to live on.  

Now, here is the big question that has torn Bob's Big Boy enthusiasts apart for decades, pitting traditionalists against progressives: Do you dip your fries in your shake or not?  

Personally, I'm a french fry shake dipper.  I love it. So does my daughter, but the act never fails to produce cringes and shudders from the male side of the table. If you have an opinion, please, by all means, weigh in on the matter. 

I give the return of Bob's Big Boy a big thumbs-up accompanied by a Fonzie-style "Aaayyy."  Now, if only we can get Naugles, Pup-n-Taco, and the lunch counter at Buffum's to come back to OC, then I'd be in retro '70s heaven. 

 We missed you too big guy. We missed you, too.

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Read my story about Bob's Big Boy's strawberry silver goblet shake: 

...and I never cried again. Not really.

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You can go to my Blip.Fm channel to listen to Peaches and Herb's 

Reunited. 

The Rainbow Sandals Outlet, that's where you'll find me

People who aren't from California might not understand our obsession with flip flops. We love our flip flops. We wear them everywhere and devote ourselves to our favorite brands with fervor other parts of the country save for Nascar or, I don't know, reading books. 

Our family's flip flop is the Rainbow Sandal, and if you haven't made the trip with your kids to the outlet, you are missing out on a slice of Orange County history and 25% off all sandals in stock. Simple and comfortable; these sandals last...and last...and last. 

Rainbows have been around since 1974 when a surfer named "Sparky" started making them out of his garage in Laguna. I'm sure no one really took "Sparky" and his whole "Flip Flop business idea" seriously back in '74. But, now they make over 1,000 Rainbows a day behind their San Clemente Outlet and the brand is recognized as one of the leading manufactures of  the flip flop.  

A trip to the outlet is an annual activity for my family. Each kid gets to pick out two pair of Rainbows--which will be worn almost exclusively all summer. "Where are my Rainbows?" is a question I hear at LEAST three or four times a day in the summer--and to which I always reply, "Exactly where you left them." A mandatory deep sigh follows with  optional eye roll. 

Spending time at the outlet is just as much an event as getting the flip flops. They offer free popcorn and stickers to the kids and have three ginormous Rainbow Sandals in front for the kids to sign and make jokes about the size of their Dad's feet (but maybe that's just our family since Larry sports a size 16). 

One of my favorite things about the outlet is the old, thrashed flip flops they've displayed on the beach-shack-like walls; most with handwritten letters detailing where those sandals have been in their lives. It's like a flip flop museum really, and, again, that is something maybe only a Californian can appreciate. 

Rainbow Outlet is open to the public during the summer M-F 8-5 and Sat 10-4:30. It's located 326 Calle de los Molinos in San Clemente (at the Denny's exit). 

If you are one of my out-of-state readers, I will take you here when you come visit.

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This was written for my blog MomCrush at the OC Register. 

There's a big difference between Ducks and elephants

I was invited to The Honda Center by The Ringling Brother's Circus to watch the elephants get their afternoon bath in preparation for opening night of Zing Zang Zoom.  

Emily was in summer camp, but I brought Ben. I told him we were going to The Honda Center, but not to see a Ducks game--I said that many, many, many times.  I swear. I warned him--NO HOCKEY.  I repeated when we parked we're going to watch the elephants take a bath and that's it.

But Ben just heard "Honda Center" and that equals hockey in his mind.  He put on his Ducks camp and when he realized there really was NO HOCKEY involved, he immediately turned his back to the soggy elephants and refused to even look at them.  At one point he hid under a banner and faced the parking lot. He wanted nothing to do with the pachyderms.

When I told Larry what happened he said, "You've created a monster."  Like that's a bad thing.

(Those girls really cleaned up nice.  I snapped this photo on opening night.)

The butterfly release ritual at The St. Regis

(My daughter holding a Monarch butterfly.)

Last Saturday night my family and I joined a handful of other families at The St. Regis Monarch Beach for their weekly Butterfly Release Ritual... and I am so glad we did! I'm always looking for inexpensive activities to do on the weekends and the cost of the whole evening was just $5 for the valet! (Plus tip, of course.)

At seven o'clock we gathered around a small table on the terrace overlooking the ocean, as the staff served (again, let me restate, free) Champagne to the adults and apple juice for the kids. The butterflies were brought out in a large glass jar. The kids gathered around and a white-gloved man read a short poem about making wishes (or something along those lines) while the butterflies readied themselves for flight.

(Look at how beautiful they are.)

Then he released the Monarchs into the soggy Dana Point sky. But what the staff did next was nothing short of magical for the kids. They pulled out tiny triangle cardboard boxes, each containing one perfect, magnificent butterfly and placed them on the fingers of the fidgety, awe-faced children. The Monarchs didn't bolt right away either, they sat on their fingers, for sometimes up to five or so minutes, allowing the kids to pass them back and forth to each other, getting a once in a lifetime, up-close view.

Now, that would have made the trip worth it right there. Free-of-charge magical moment for my kids? Check! But, we were then invited to their storytelling time down by the lawn. We headed down just in time to see Little Red Riding Hood, complete with cape and basket, sit herself down and begin to read her own story. The kids then roasted marshmallows and made s'mores and we all sat around sipping hot chocolate talking to the other families.

Did I mention this was all St. Regis' treat?

When we were waiting for our car at the end of the night, Emily told me that her heart was beating so fast when they brought out the butterflies, she could hardly breathe. You just have to go sometime this summer. It happens every Saturday until Sept. 7th at 7 p.m.; story time is at 7:30 p.m.

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My suggestions for other free things to do in Orange County:

The Santigo Art District's Art Walk--Next one June 20th-Watch my video from last year.

Walking the Bolsa Chica Wetland.

Watching the skateboarders at Van's Skatepark at The Block.

Free OC: Surf City Nights

My family and I have been going down to Surf City Nights in Huntington Beach on Tuesday nights.  It's a nice mix of Farmer's Market, carnival, and street fair. The city closes Main Street between PCH and Orange Street  to cars and you can walk the street with your kids, browsing the fresh cut flowers and fresh fruit stands, snacking on kettle corn, and listening to the array of street performers singing everything from Pink Floyd to Jack Johnson to Sinatra.   

 A few tips if you're going with the kids:

--- Get there early. It's open from  5 pm - 9 pm but, the crowd gets a little more raucous as the night goes on. It kind of loses that whole family feel by seven-ish. We get there right when it opens.

--- Don't bother with the "kids activities," like the jumper, train, and slide. They are all over priced in my opinion.  The OC Balloon Dude (Pictured above on the right) is worth the cash and he does some pretty original animals, but beside that, just enjoying the atmosphere, music, and free entertainment was enough for my kids.  I'm a big believer in letting kids create their own fun anyway.  I hardly ever pay of those sorts of things. 

--- You HAVE to try the dried mango with chili pepper sold by one of the local farmers.  Just take my word for it--addicting.  

--- Don't plan on eating at any of the regular establishments on Main Street--they are packed.  It took us 2 hours to get in and out of BJ's last Tuesday. You're better off  eating at one of the vendors on the street selling fair food or going off the main drag to someplace like PCH Dog...aaaaand now...I have to have their chili fries. 

June Gloom

Does June Gloom get anybody else down a little bit? It does me. It's not just the dreary mornings that zaps my energy, it's the unmet need for summer to hurry up and get here that is disheartening. Like a kid eagerly waiting for their birthday, every morning I wake up, hoping it's here, only to be greeted by gray clouds and drizzle.

I think it's also to blame for my futile denial that I won't be dropping my kids off at school tomorrow. It's hard to believe summer vacation has arrived when you're donning sweaters and raincoats instead of flip flops and sundresses.

Growing up in Orange County, I have should have accepted it by now. It's almost a rite of passage to freeze during those last two weeks of school; signing yearbooks and practicing graduation ceremonies under an overcast sky. Maybe it's something you just can never fully get used to; like seeing Anthony Michael Hall with muscles or ordering a latte at McDonalds.

The one good thing about June Gloom is that it usually wears off by late afternoon, like in the picture above I took of Huntington Beach. It kind of forces you to be hopeful and appreciate when the sun finally shows up for the day. It really is the first sign of summer, which seems weird, you know what I mean...

 

 

All butterflies and lemon drops

I'm so glad I didn't let this one slip by...We almost didn't go to the St. Regis Monarch Beach on Saturday Night to participate in their Butterfly Release ritual. The weather has been gloomy and we were all grousing around all day Saturday, not feeling up to being "amazed" or anything like that. 

Sometimes making those special moments happen for your kids takes an actual effort on our part--the nerve--but it's true. 

 

The staff at the St. Regis brought out the butterflies in a big, beautiful jar, read a story about wishes (or something) and then released twelve Monarchs into the gray, soggy sky. They then pulled out tiny white cardboard boxes, each containing one perfect butterfly and placed them on the sticky fingers of the fidgety children. 

 

It really was a sight to see and later Emily told me her heart was beating so fast she couldn't breathe. I'm so glad we rose above our petulant moods and made the trip. It lifted our spirits. The Lemon Drop helped in the lifting of my spirits, too. I love it when that happens.   

I will write up all the details on The St. Regis later this week on MomCrush.

Taking a poll: Are these bunnies cute or creepy?

 

These bunnies are on the South Coast Plaza carousel right now for Easter.

  Go over to MomCrush to take a poll I've put together  to see what people think of them.  

I personally think they look like they have Dr. Drew on speed dial.

Brewbakers in Huntington Beach

 

Brewbakers is located in a very untrendy industrial park in Huntington Beach, but this place rocks with authenticity and eclectic homestyle fun.  Not Red Robin 'eclectic," not Macaroni Grill "homestyle"-- the real deal.  Stickers are plastered all over the walls, graffiti-adorned tables line the back wall and a bar sits in the middle of it all. 

My friend Keli and I brought our kids there a few weeks ago to make pretzels, eat pizza, and share a pitcher or two of root beer.  The kids got a kick out of slamming the empty picture on the bar and asking for "another and put it on my tab."

The owner was more than happy to play along.  He's that kind of guy.  When I called there by accident, thinking I was calling Keli,  he quickly answered," This is a brewery, there are no wrong numbers, God wanted you to call here. Come down and make a beer."  

Yep, you can make beer or soda and design your own labels for them.  It gets a little raucous on "game nights" (whenever those are) and on the weekends, so if you're going with your kids, go early!  Click here for Brewbaker's website:  HERE. 

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A note about So-So. He  works part-time job at Brewbakers putting the pretzels and pizzas in the oven.  He's also back part-time at Disneyland's haunted mansion.  He's just not allowed to say "whoo whoo haaa haaa" to the kids anymore.  That's all.  

If you want to become a fan of So-So, you can on Facebook.  Here is the official So-So Fan Page.

PJ's Abbey in Orange and a little Orange County history

 

Yesterday I took Marcy to PJ'S Abbey in Orange for a belated birthday lunch. And although she tried to assure me the waitress didn't hate me for asking if they served Coke (not Pepsi) and if it came from a fountain (not the bar squirt gun), I could sense her hostility.  As if drinking Pepsi is the most normal thing in the world. 

 I tried to convince our waitress I would be "low maintenance" the rest of the lunch, but I proved to be the diner she had feared--as if asking for two dressings on the side is a sin or something. 

PJ's Abbey would be the place to ask for forgiveness for all my dining iniquities since it was a church up until 1994. The large stained class window in the front difuses the light streaming in on the lunch-time crowd.  

(See Marcy's picture of me getting the picture of the window.)

 

The artwork throughout the old church is rustic and original, made from old doors and recycled elements. 

After lunch we cruised The Circle. I'm not sure how I feel about all the changes going on around there--lots of the old antique stores have close and newer shops are coming in. Watson's is still there, as it has been since 1899. 

 Local writer Chris Epting sent me his book "Vanishing Orange County" and in it he had this picture of Watson's along with pictures of Sam's Seafood in Huntington Beach and other restaurants still standing in Orange County.

In his introduction he mentions the piece  I wrote for the OC Register called  

"You know you grew up in Orange County in the '70s if..."

For instance your brother looked like mine in his 5th grade class picture.

 

If you're into Orange County history, you can order "Vanishing Orange County" here.