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"Always good, like Grandma's cookies.."
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1134 Useful, 856 Funny, and 952 Cool
Lake Forest, CA
Yelping SinceAugust 2009
Things I LoveNPR, GPS, traveling, shopping, reading, Bollywood movies, blogging, marathoning, sleeping, rainy days, overcast skies, coffee, PG Tips, writing, hiking, chocolate, the great outdoors, owls, ube cake
Find Me Ina coffee shop, Barnes and Noble
My HometownKerman, CA
My Blog Or Website When I'm Not Yelping...building my business, browsing a bookstore..
Why You Should Read My ReviewsBecause I'm just cool like that or I should be
My Second Favorite Website The Last Great Book I ReadWarbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
My First ConcertTori Amos in Irvine (2002, I think)
My Favorite MovieThe Breakfast Club
My Last Meal On Earthdeath by chocolate
Don't Tell Anyone Else But...I might have OCD.
Most Recent DiscoveryGodiva Rewards Club (free chocolate piece every month!)
Current CrushJay Sharky
DateHuntington Beach, CA 92648
Surf City USA Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K
Category: Active Life
We had originally wanted to check out Sugar Shack in HB but considering 20k runners were currently in city limits, it probably wouldn't have been a wise dining choice.
Round Table has an awesome buffet that runs until 1:30pm. Unfortunately, we got there 30 minutes after the buffet ended and decided on orders of personal pizzas which can be a bit pricey here but we were tired and hungry.
This Round Table isn't exactly the best place for customer service. There was a bored teenager taking our orders who was focused on the TV. Oh yeah, the big game is about to start. Hey, pay attention to us! Despite the fact that we were the only ones in the place, it was disappointing that our food took 20-30 minutes to arrive at our table. I've placed orders online or take out and had them arrive in less time. However despite that, our pizzas were fantastic. I will forever be a Round Table fan.
I always indulge my friend and make a stop here even though I know better but for some reason (I'll blame the early morning mind mush), logic escaped me and I forgot all about Vegas and the burnt eggs. At first bite, I was quick to realize the error of my ways. We both scarfed down our food because we needed the fuel.
For the next race, I hope I remember not to come back to McDonalds and start a new tradition. Carl's Jr, perhaps?
Rancho Santa Margari, CA 92688
(949) 459-7710
Starbucks Coffee
Category: Coffee & Tea
This was the case one afternoon when an associate of mine decided we should meet at the Starbucks by his house. It was nice to learn that there are other places near that Starbucks that I could explore later.
As for the Starbucks itself, it comes with plenty of class and provides a great atmosphere for its burnt foam cup of crapola. My vanilla latte was a sad mess of foamy something or other. Couldn't taste the vanilla or anything really. I drank to keep myself warm but enjoyed how laid back the place was and the friendly service but overall I really wish we could start meeting somewhere else.
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Yelp OC's Afternoon Delight Elite Party at Zimzala
Category: Local Flavor
Total Wine and More had a great selection of Pinot Noirs. My particular favorite was a red French Pinot Noir that I got to enjoy out of a plastic cup. I got there a little late due to prior engagements and they were already out of glasses.
Food was little finger food fare that I agree didn't go well with the white attire. I clashed a bit and went all black but hey, it still worked out.
I grabbed some cool Yelp swag including all the little pins. I love pins! Also had a great chat with Judi S. who has been on my friends list since the day I joined Yelp in August 2009 and who I just got to know yesterday. Go figure. It was also great to touch base with our OC CM, Hazel Q and get to know the LA East CM Katie B. Thanks everyone for an awesome cool event. Can't wait for the next one!
Mrs. B's consignment shop is close by and was a natural first choice. It also happened to be the only thing open as it appears the rest of this area keeps some abnormal hours.
The consignment shop looks pretty big from the outside but it's actually pretty tiny. Goes along with everything else here, there seems to be a smallish theme here. It's in a warehouse and the consignments are actually old antiques from the area that are in pretty bad shape but for some reason people still buy them at the outrageously quoted prices.
One big plus is the post office that is located inside. You can get all your post office needs done here and they have a great array of cards conveniently located nearby including some excellent offerings from Papyrus that I snagged at $2 each that originally sell for $5+ at a Papyrus store.
We browsed a few more selections but didn't really find anything of interest besides the cards so we were quick to leave and find other things on our journey in Old Town Tustin.
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 731-9807
Rutabegorz Tustin Restaurant
Categories: Vegetarian, American (New), Sandwiches
When I was working in the area, a co-worker once took me here for lunch to celebrate a project we had both finished. At that time, I fell in love with this wonderfully delightful establishment and the explosion of flavors that the food had to offer. I wanted to come back and visit but hence I no longer work there or live nearby. Yesterday afforded the perfect opportunity however. I was literally down the street in Santa Ana for our summer season marathon kickoff and asked a friend to join me here for lunch.
Rutabegorz is located in a corner off of El Camino Real so can be hard to place but just look for the picnic tables and umbrellas. It's tiny and seating is first come, first serve so find a spot you like and grab it. My friend and I grabbed a high wooden booth that wasn't exactly comfortable but our waitress was quick to notice us and bring out the tropical iced teas we ordered.
The menu offers an abundance of choices. You can easily let your mind wander over the crazy combinations and plate descriptions and it's often hard to decide what to choose. What I like it that everything is vegetarian friendly here even though they serve a good offering of meat dishes. Often the veggies are ignored for starchy items but you can get your 5 food groups here and leave with a healthy satisfying meal. My veggie enchiladas were stuffed with a nice selection of zucchinis, onions, tomatoes, carrots, tomatoes, and potatoes and topped modestly with cheese with a bed of rice and tortilla chips.
My friend's garlic chicken salad was also just as amazing. She put it best by saying "it's so good, all the flavors are just bursting in my mouth." Nice! I hope I can make a return trip again and try some of their other offerings.
So what was I doing there? Bootcamp is an inch away and I dared to enter. My stinky smelly gym clothes wearing attire was frowned upon but I didn't care. I figured it was late enough and no one would really notice. Boy, was I wrong. Ms. High Maintenance with her picture perfect million dollar face, Gucci one piece suit, and a diamond rolex decided to snub her nose at me while she reached around and grabbed the jelly that was behind my slightly fat tush, less than perfect face, some of the finest workout clothes from Target, and my $9 Timex.
Despite the annoying people who shop here, this is probably the biggest Ralph's in history. It stands almost 3 stories high with wider than normal aisles, and I can find some crazy cool stuff here. It's not really in my general vicinity but since it's near bootcamp and I have to drive by it on my way home I might stop occasionally for groceries and I might decide to at least do my hair before I walk in, maybe.
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
(949) 459-7900
Cinnamon Productions Bakery Cafe
Categories: American (Traditional), Breakfast & Brunch
I liked everything about my meal except the microwaved refried beans that were burnt and cold at the same time. I hate that most restaurants use the microwave way too much these days resulting in poor quality food. I did like that I could butter my own bread and it wasn't a cold stick of butter either. The avocados and over easy eggs mixed with salsa on warm tortillas were good but I don't know about it being spicy. Mild was more like it.
My favorite is still the breakfast wraps. My partner in crime had the club sandwich and took a brownie to go. Both looked and by the sounds of it were delicious. They have recently expanded into a full time deli/bakery operation.
3 Previous Reviews: Hide »
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9/6/2009
After my 6 mile run, I came here again for breakfast and made the mistake of taking a seat out front because I was exhausted from the heat and needed a shady spot. Boy, was that a mistake. Not only do you get a view of the parking lot which does provide for some interesting people watching, the kicker is people leave their cars running in the 20 minute spots up front and you get a side of exhaust fumes with your breakfast.
That combined with the Ortega fires and my flushed state of mind just didn't go well. People can be so inconsiderate here and it happened a lot while we were sitting there which was a total of almost 2 hours. Stay indoors or in the adjacent patio. -
8/23/2009
This place was so good I came back the next day! We had gone for a hike and gotten a great scenic view of Mission Viejo and the lake and after 4 miles in the hot miserable heat we were tired and hungry. So we ended up back here and this time I got the veggie breakfast wraps (amazing with a great salsa!!) but I was also drooling over my friend's choices of the tuna and the huevos rancheros. I will have to come back and try those too.
We got here around lunch time and there was a size-able line. The staff was friendly enough to locate a table and get us ordered and seated. We were on the patio again but despite the shade, it was still hot. Thanks for another great meal! I'll be back to try more! -
8/22/2009
Be prepared to be hit by a wall of cinnamon aroma as you walk into this place. Also be prepared to be mesmerized by the baked goods on display. You will need a saliva drip tray as you make your way up to the counter to place an order for any one of their yummy items.
Basically, Cinnamon Productions is a version of Corner Bakery. However there are more baked good to choose from and they don't taste processed. The cinnamon aroma drew me in and had me hooked. I couldn't even think after that. My friends were asking me what I wanted to order and I just knew I had to have dessert, anything else beyond that was lost to me.
They have ample seating and a great shaded patio area that also has heated lamps. It is dog friendly and you will find bowls filled with water for your dogs.
We ordered the Albacore Tuna Sandwiches that come on a yummy cinnamon bread but one friend opted for the wheat bread and it was paired off with the mixed citrus salad. I had the veggie scramble because for some reason all the cinnamon made me think of french toast and pancakes so I had to have something breakfast like and they serve breakfast all day! I love places that serve breakfast all day.
Our food was fantastic, light, and fresh. My eggs weren't greasy and the fruit was ripe. My friends also recommend the Veggie Breakfast Wraps and the Tossed Cobb Salad.
Another thing to note is their breakfast hours. It's always packed at this location but they make sure you don't place an order until there's a seat available and they have staff that monitor the lines and save seats for you so if seats aren't available they have you wait until one is.
I agree that the bread could use some work. It's dry, has no taste and needs a lot of balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and pepper to make it edible. A trick we learned from the chain that is Macaroni Grill.
My order of veggie lasagna was chock full of yummy veggies but got a little soggy towards the end. The side salad I had was more of a casear meet ranch dressing house salad. Couldn't quite place it and no cracked pepper and fresh cheese either?! What was up with that? This place claims to be authentic everything down to the decor but it's still missing a few pieces.
Overall, not bad. I wouldn't mind eating here again.
17 Lists
2 Events
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OC Restaurant Week!
Sunday, Feb 28, 7:00 PM -
Give a Day Get a Disney Day
Wednesday, Dec 15, 12:00 PM
We found parking in the residential areas nearby and walked about a mile or so and got a late start to the race.
Surf City is a friendly race that's literally in my backyard. I enjoyed the beach views and huge waves on PCH but felt the course was a bit redundant especially after mile 5 when you pass the nice houses up on the hill and make a loop around to come back on PCH. Do I really need to see the same view again? It killed my energy and there were hardly any water stops after the last turn around but I did enjoy the Sharkeez and the bottled water. That was refreshing and provided some much needed energy on the course.
This race was a bit more organized than other races I've participated in. Also, it had a killer surfboard medal at the end. I'm definitely looking forward to the California Dreamin' series this year and being a longboard legacy member 3 years straight.
After the race, we got an awesome goody bag full of bananas, apples, energy bars, and pretzels but missed out on the photo ops. We didn't go into the port of potties but decided to use the restroom at the Beachfront hotel off of Huntington.
I'm definitely looking forward to doing Surf City next year and I'm so glad the weather held up.