Old Friends, New Eats

How about that thunder?

Pleased to see a little El Nino action in this surprisingly dry, rainy season we currently have going on here in Southern California (I wore my boots to work to celebrate the occassion).

The blustery day and windy weekend did not keep me from enjoying the outdoors. Saturday was spent walking the length of La Verne (it sure felt like it) "painting the town purple" to promote the upcoming Claremont/La Verne Relay for Life. I somehow ended up on the leadership committee for the annual American Cancer Society fundraiser (I'm looking at you, Veronica... ), but am honestly having a really good time planning this year's lineup as the Activities Co-Chair. The theme, "Rocking Relay," means the day will be filled with lots of live musical entertainment, including a little shamrockabilly from Craic Haus. I am so excited they agreed to play the event. Save the date - Saturday, April 23 - and come boogie with me! Or consider donating to this worthy cause by clicking on this link.

After successfully plastering the city with our Relay posters, we stopped for a quick breather at Mi Ranchito, where I plunged into a bowl of fresh albondigas.

It was pretty dang good with succulent slabs of steamed carrots and other vegetables in addition to the delicious, well-seasoned meatballs. It was exactly what I needed... but has nothing on Melanie Jager's albondigas soup ;)

The following day I went out to Orange County to conduct some business for my alumnae association. It's crazy how much Orange has changed since my Chapman days. The quaint streets of Orange, lined with antique shops and consigment stores, are no more. Well, at least not like they used to be. Old Towne is definitely becoming a college town. It's not unlike what has become of Claremont and Redlands: the historic city center is bustling with trendy eateries, boutiques, and coffee shops. It's not a bad change. In fact, I'm kind of sad there wasn't such a selection when I was in school! It was Tokyo Cafe for less than stellar sushi, Jalapenos for a burrito, or Zito's for pizza (and, of course, the famous cinnamon knots: cinnamon sugar and butter-coated dough bites that helped contribute to my freshman 15. I'd do it all over again, Zito's...)

I met up with one of my closest college friends, "Momma Heather" as we dub her because she is my sorority "sister-mother", for lunch before business. Though initially overwhelmed by options, we made our decision fairly quickly. Our spot of choice was Linx, an artisan sausage shop located off Chapman Avenue, within walking distance from the university.

The craft beer is abundant and the food options are plentiful. You can choose one of their signature selections or build a bun of your own. Toppings range from bacon marmalade and apple-bacon kraut to chorizo mayo and honey bbq. There are eight sausages to choose from: smoked cheddar brat, spicy Polish kielbasa, and free range chicken floretine to name a few.

I went with the "Beer Brat" - a neurenberger bratwurst (110 year old german recipe, veal and pork) with bacon-apple kraut, beer mustard, and a pretzel roll. They really didn't need to give a description after beer, but seeing it was on a pretzel roll did indeed seal the deal for me. Heather chose the "Sonora Dog" - a griddled frank with applewood smoked bacon, pinto beans, grilled jalapenos and onions, and a four cheese blend piled high on a potato roll.

I was somehow able to restrain myself from ordering a beer, only because I wanted to try their housemade strawberry lemonade and iced tea. The experience overall was excellent; the restaurant was busy, but not overwhelming. The patio has plenty of space and the food came out hot and quick. I highly recommend.

Orange will always hold a special place in my heart. I enjoy revisiting the old haunts, seeing how campus has changed, and reminiscing on the four years I called Old Towne home. And now I'm taking pleasure in learning about the area all over again. Cheers to the old, and in with the new!

From the Inland Empire to Orange County, this was only a snapshot of my weekend. Stay tuned for a special Thursday Thursday post later this week. Until then, stay dry!