Friday Fives: Five Memories from California

If you’re reading this on Friday, I am probably on a plane somewhere across the US, but I wanted to give you a quick Friday Fives with some immediate impressions of Southern California. Since this has been a business trip, food has factored a lot into things, but don’t take this list as exhaustive. There’s a lot more to Southern California than this list; these are just some impressions from a North Carolinian Brit:

• Dana Point: Just beyond San Juan Capistrano, this little port town (established by an author, I hasten to add) contains a lot of yachts, some amazing houses sitting on the edge of cliffs overlooking the sea, and, of course, an incredible view of the Pacific Ocean. You can sit on rocks by the shore and watch the waves roar in. Simply breathtaking.
• Avocados: Californians seem to like their avocados. So far, every vegetarian sandwich I’ve had comes with strips of fresh avocado.Thankfully, I like avocados!
• Nick’s: THE restaurant to go to if you find yourself in Laguna Beach. It’s not the cheapest (except when you’re on the company dime, of course) but the service is friendly, and the food is by far the best I’ve had here. You must try their fried deviled eggs and, if you don’t mind alcoholic beverages, their honey blond ale. My stomach is still full…
• Laguna Beach: I’m told this is truly an artist’s town. Just outside Irvine, it was essentially established by arists wanting a nice quiet community to live in. There are, apparently, strict ordinances that keep big retail chains and fast food places out (for the most part) so the vast majority of restaurants and stores are local mom-and-pop types. Power to them!
• Ruby’s: The diner in Irvine where I had lunch on Thursday. It looks like an old 50s diner, and even the wait staff dress to that style. They have typical diner-type food, along with vegetarian and lo-carb options. Their veggie burger is good, but their milkshakes are to die for. They make them the old-fashioned way in a metal shaker, and serve them in a tall glass  along with the remaining milkshake in the shaker, and a spoon!

Thanks for putting up with the brief blogging and my absence from other’s blogs this week. Normal service will be resumed tomorrow… right after I finish INSURGENT…!