Orange County has become one of California’s most iconic destinations. The weather is beautiful year round and those that live their permanently enjoy 278 days of sun each year. We actually had above average weather during our trip at the end of January when highs were in the 60s and 70s. Orange County is also home to over forty-two miles of beaches and plenty of hip beach towns.
After four days in a zen-like state induced by perfect California weather, we unfortunately had to go back home to reality. But while we were there we enjoyed spending time with friends, enjoying the outdoors and eating great food.
Food and Drink
Malibu Farm at Lido Island
We arrived in Orange County on a Friday, just after noon. Since our friends were still working, we decided to drive from the airport to Lido Marina Village for lunch. It’s located in a pedestrian-centered marina in Newport Beach and offers a mix of boutiques and al fresco dining.
There are several interesting restaurants in the marina but we ended up at Malibu Farm for a somewhat light and/or healthy lunch . This restaurant is a fresh, farm-to-table place with lots of tasty dishes on the menu.
What I liked about Malibu Farms is that the menu was filled with dishes I’ve never seen before. It was fun to know I would be trying something new and quintesentially Californian! Annie and I shared the chicken and broccoli quesadilla and avocado huarache. Both were entrees were so flavorful and fresh.
The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating although no matter where you are, the feeling is airy and open.
Beachcomber Cafe
We drove down to Crystal Cove on Saturday morning to have breakfast on the beach…literally! The Beachcomber Cafe is located right on the beach. While the wait can be heavy during busy times, the time will fly while you frolic by the ocean.
We asked our server for recommendations and were told that we had to order the beignets as an appetizer. These were little, light puffy doughnuts served with syrup and whipped cream for dunking. For our entrees the server said the brioche French toast was a can’t miss. So we split one of those and an order of the steak chilaquiles, which were listed on the menu as a restaurant favorite.
This was one of the best meals we had on this trip! The French toast was really sweet and unlike anything we’d ever had before. It’s made with brioche bread and they baked it soufflé style, with dulce de leche, candied pecans, fresh strawberries and bananas, powdered sugar, whipped cream and maple syrup. It’s almost like a mix of French toast and bread pudding.
The steak chilaquiles were the perfect complement to the French toast. This dish provided a savory component to counter the French toast’s sweetness. Chilaquiles is a Mexican breakfast dish involving lightly fried corn tortillas, with a meat mixture inside and salsa poured over the top. Beachcomber’s chilaquiles feature a mixture of flank steak, cheese, sour cream, avocado purée, diced tomato and green onions. It was topped with guajillo sauce and a sunny side up egg. Delicious!
Royal Hen
We ate dinner one night at Royal Hen on Balboa Island. It’s an upscale, contemporary, gastropub with a unique and tasty selection of contemporary California cuisine.
You really can’t go wrong with anything off the dinner menu, but we really enjoyed the craft ale fish and chips and the chicken pot pie.
Schooner or Later
A few years after college, Annie lived in Long Beach for a little while. So one day we drove up there to walk around her old stomping grounds. She insisted that we eat lunch at Schooner or Later. This restaurant features waterfront dining and serves breakfast and lunch every day.
The restaurant was featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. We like to check if any triple D restaurants are nearby when we’re traveling, so I was excited try this one. The food here is not sophisticated, but you’ll enjoy the down home, casual comfort food in a great outdoor setting.
The Quiet Woman
We had no plans to go to The Quiet Woman but found ourselves a block away after finishing an early dinner at Pirozzi Corona Del Mar. Our friends had to return home to get back to their children, so Annie and I stopped in for a drink. This was especially fun for Annie who is a big fan of the Real Housewives of Orange County. In an episode of a recent season, a few characters ended up basically having a food fight inside The Quiet Woman.
We sat at the bar and had a few drinks. It was a Monday night, so it was not too crowded, but we enjoyed the atmosphere and drinks. And somehow we managed not to start any food fights!
Activities
Balboa Island
Balboa Island is a quaint, harborside community located in Newport Beach, accessible to the public via bridge, ferry and several public docks. The community is surrounded by a paved concrete boardwalk open to pedestrian traffic. We walked the entire 1.71 mile island perimeter one morning and enjoyed great views of the boats in the marina.
We also walked up and down the island’s Marine Avenue, which is home to chic coastal shops, beach fashions, art and jewelry. It’s also home to cute restaurants and bistros serving up a variety of dishes. Off the main drag, you’ll find million dollar beachfront homes and plently of beautiful rental properties.
We discovered that Balboa Island is home to two famous desserts, the Balboa Bar and Frozen Banana. The local sweet tooth treasures have been mainstays for nearly 75 years, and are dipped in chocolate and covered with a variety of coatings from nuts and sprinkles to cookie crumbs.
Annie and I sampled Balboa Bars from Sugar ‘N Spice, which has been around since 1945. The bar is either vanilla or chocolate ice cream, dipped in chocolate and then covered in toppings. I went with the heath pecan crunch topping because I love toffee, while Annie chose the “everything” topping because she couldn’t decide. They were both delicious!
Corona Del Mar and Balboa Peninsula
Annie and I brought workout clothes so that we could run a few times on this trip. We ran once around Corona Del Mar State Park and another time on the Balboa Peninsula section of Newport Beach. Being able to run outside in January was a treat on its own, but the fantastic views is what made the runs so enjoyable.
Beach Towns
During the course of the trip we visited several cities and neighborhoods that are collectively known as the Orange Coast. They were all lively and cheery and each had their own unique vibe. They all had cute downtowns or main streets with plenty of shops and restaurants.
- Newport Beach – upscale beach town with million dollar houses, charming islands and fancy resorts. The Marriott Hotel and Spa was located here.
- Laguna Beach – huge downtown with cute art galleries, shops and a beautiful beach
- Huntington Beach – known as “Surf City USA”, where you can feel the beach culture most heavily
Bottom Line
Orange County delivers on the typical Southern California fantasy. It has terrific weather, unique shopping, and great dining. And in the same day you can walk by multi-million dollar homes and imagine what that life is like. Or you can hang out at the beach and imagine the care-free life of a beach bum.
For a midwesterner, there’s nothing like feeling the sun on your skin, hearing the ocean waves crashing, or smelling the sea salt air…in January!
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