From Cheesesteak to Cheesecake: “Local” is Relative

“Really?! You want to eat one of those things?”

Until at that moment, I hadn’t thought wanting to get a Philly cheesesteak in Philly was such a crazy idea. But Phillip’s uncles, who we were visiting a few years back, seemed surprised and disgusted at the thought.

I guess when you have lived your whole life just outside of Philadelphia, you’re over the whole cheesesteak thing.

More recently, while in line at Star Wars Celebration Anaheim, we struck up a conversation with some guys from Germany, who had already been to their bucket-list restaurant for their SoCal trip. It wasn’t a beachside seafood spot, Downtown Disney diner, trendy vegan cafe, or even an L.A. taco truck.

It was the Cheesecake Factory.

To me, that’s part of a big ol’ chain I could eat at whenever (but haven’t for a long time). To them, it’s the hangout from The Big Bang Theory, and something you can’t experience where they’re from.

Local – and interesting – eating is relative.
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June 25, 2015June 25, 2015

Life Crush

1. The Mountains

After a very cold winter in the tiny former mining town of Silver Plume, Colorado, the weather finally cleared up enough for Dram Apothecary to open up their patio on a mid-March Saturday.

On Instagram, they post shots of their rustic bakery-turned-cocktail-tasting-room or of things they make – teas, cocktails, syrups – or of founder Shae Whitney foraging for wild herb ingredients. They are near a place called Snowdrift Gulch, which was especially fitting the months that their photos were of white streets, foggy gray skies, and flurries outside the windows.

Then, one weekend, they posted a photo of their (finally) sunny patio and announced they’d planned a party, complete with a DJ spinning super old school tracks from the ’20s, ’30s, and ’40s.

A lot of people thought that sounded like fun (it did!), but one comment jumped out at me: “I want this life.”

It made me wonder what the commenter’s life was like.

So I clicked over to her Instagram feed.

2. The Beach

The want-your-life commenter is somewhere in Southern California. The previous week her car thermometer had said 92 degrees – while snow was still falling on Dram Apothecary.

She posts amusing photos of dogs, she bakes, and she makes really cool-looking cocktails. She posted a photo of a guy on a beach with a surfboard hashtagged something like #myhusbandishotterthanyours.

It doesn’t seem like a bad life.

In fact, in response to one silly shot, where she is pretending to eat an apple right off the tree, someone commented “life crush.”

In other words, this person has a crush on the life of the woman that wants the life of Shae at Dram Apothecary.

So I clicked over to the life crush-er’s feed.

3. The Campground

It was a private account. But there was a link to a photo blog.

There are lots of photos of friends goofing off on camping trips. Lots of campfires and lakes, woods and desert. There is one of a guy with a marshmallow-toasting stick between his teeth. Another one is this big white, fluffy dog laying in the grass.

Her bio lists her location as Los Angeles, but one post is titled “my home is Colorado”.

So these photos have taken us from Colorado to Southern California and back.

4. Where You Live

Each of the women we’ve visited have scenery around them that is beautiful in its own way, time to have fun, and people to share it all with.

I bet you do too. Try imagining you’re a different person in a different place with a different set of ups and downs in your life.

Then flip through your photos, look at the views, the celebrations, the things that made you laugh, the people you love. And get a little jealous of yourself.

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Note: All the photos in this post are mine. I haven’t included any from the people I mention or linked to the commenters, because my intention is not to single them out or say they should have a different attitude, but to show how we all have those grass-is-greener moments, even if we have it pretty good.

In case you’re curious, here’s where the photos above were taken – 1: Nederland, CO 2: Ridgway, CO 3: San Diego, CA 4: Tempe, AZ 5+6: Sierra Vista, AZ 7: Four Corners area 8: Scottsdale, AZ

June 14, 2015July 24, 2016

Visit the Dinosaurs (They Won’t Bite)

From: Stephanie
To: Phillip
Date: April 22, 2014
Subject: I FOUND THE DINOSAURS!!

You know how when we go to California I’m always like “where are the dinosaurs?”, and you’re like “what?”

Well, add this to the list of things I was not making up: http://retroroadmap.com/spot/giant-dinosaurs-in-the-desert-cabazon-ca/

YEAH!!

We need to go visit them.

I misremembered the location of the life-sized T-Rex and Brontosaurus that had always been a landmark on childhood road trips to California, and I was beginning to think they’d gone extinct.

Clicking around on travel blogs one day, I ended up at Retro Roadmap, which happened to have a post about the Cabazon Dinosaurs right on the front page. It was the classic concrete odd couple I remembered – predator and prey permananetly locked in unmoving tension – about 15 miles outside Palm Springs. I was irrationally excited.

Obviously, this would be a mandatory stop on the way to Star Wars Celebration Anaheim.

After closing time, you can’t go inside or see the new “museum” of animatronic dinosaurs, but you can walk around outside and even picnic under the belly of the Brontosaurus. So we took silly photos, and I did that thing you do as you get older (hey, let’s face it, I’m old enough to have childhood memories of dinosaurs) of telling Phillip exactly what did and didn’t use to be there.

Then we lumbered down the road to hunt for date shakes.
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April 30, 2015July 24, 2016

Down the Street from Disney: Anaheim’s Local Food Corner

For someone on the lookout for the quirky, unique flavor of places you visit, Anaheim’s resort district can seem like a sea of corporate giants. However, if you look closely, you can find local goodness. In fact, there’s one scrappy strip mall with 5 restaurants that aren’t part of national chains.

The Anaheim Resort Centre is on the northeast corner of Harbor Boulevard and Katella Avenue – walking distance from Disneyland and the Anaheim Convention Center. But this is not where you go to meet Disney princesses. These are unfancy, pay-at-the-counter type places for late-night takeout or quick pre-theme park or -convention meals.

Since I couldn’t find enough information before our trip to include this corner in my Anaheim food post, I did some research while I was in town. Menus were acquired, employees were chatted with, tacos were consumed – all so that next time you’re in the neighborhood, you’ll know your options.

Working your way from Katella Avenue north (right to left if you were facing the front of the building), here are the 5 local restaurants:

1. California Pizza Place (menu) – Not to be confused with the far-reaching California Pizza Kitchen, this narrow dining room with walls crammed with retro paraphernalia is the one and only location of California Pizza Place. You can grab a slice at lunch, pancakes in the morning, or call for delivery.

*2. Tanor Mediterranean Grill (menu) – Recently opened Mediterranean/Persian food with shawarma meat spinning and skewers of meat grilled to order. As I was looking over the menu, they handed me a sample of chicken shawarma. It was insanely good. I got it on a wrap, which was fine, but masked the chicken’s awesomeness a bit. Next time, I’d get the chicken straight up with a side of their delicious saffron rice and maybe some quinoa tabouleh. (I’ve never seen quinoa in tabouleh before, but it probably makes it gluten free.)

3. Star Burger (menu) – The menu includes an interesting fusion of burgers, kimchi, and bulkogi (Korean-style grilled beef). The person I spoke to when I stopped by and when I called had limited English. You should be fine ordering straight off the menu, but it might be tricky if you have special requests or questions.

*4. Alertos Mexican Food – This is a family-owned taqueria with five Southern California locations. We split a burrito and a pile of their mini tacos. Our favorites were pastor and pollo asado. Those definitely beat out the (much pricier) food truck tacos I’d had the day before.

5. Panda Kitchen (menu) – Their menu offers the typical playlist of American Chinese food standards. You can call ahead to pick up your order or dine in. There’s lots of seating, but they didn’t want me to take photos.

Besides the 5 independent restaurants above, the Anaheim Resort Centre is home to a Subway, liquor store**, souvenirs and sunglass shop. There’s lots of free parking, which is also rare in the area.

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*We ate at Alertos and Tanor. Both were delicious. I can’t vouch for the other restaurants.

**By the way, isn’t the land of family vacations and overpriced hotel mini bars the perfect location for a liquor store? You can even buy postcards along with your booze for an analog version of a drunk dial. What would that be called? A lush letter? Pissed post? Sloshed snail mail?

April 14, 2015July 24, 2016

Where to eat in the Anaheim Resort District?

Disneyland may be its own world, but it’s at the center of the Anaheim Resort District, a swirling galaxy of hotels, restaurants, and shops. Which means that, even outside of the Park’s hedge-ringed atmosphere, there are a multitude of places to get something to eat.

Whether you’re attending an event at the Anaheim Convention Center (like Star Wars Celebration this weekend) or finishing up a day at the theme parks, I’ve gathered some suggestions to help you navigate nearby options and locate local flavor.

1. Downtown Disney and Disney Hotels

(or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Mouse)

While I’m always on the lookout for quirky independent eateries, there’s nothing wrong with embracing la vita Disney when you’re in Mickey’s backyard. Here are some noteworthy Disney Resort restaurants with no Park admission required.

In Disney Hotels:

Tangaroa Terrace (Disneyland Hotel) – a favorite of Sarah Woloski of the Skywalking through Neverland podcast.
Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar (Disneyland Hotel) – recommended by Genevieve Eldred for drinks. (Genevieve previously shared some great cosplay tips.)
Napa Rose Lounge (Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa) – looks like a nice place to pop in for seasonal small plates. For the full dinner menu, make reservations for the main Napa Rose dining room.

In Downtown Disney:

House of Blues – Last time I was in Anaheim, we headed over here after a day of Disneyland with a bunch of relatives. It has an entire 2-level music hall inside. More pertinent to that particular moment, however, they serve alcohol.
Earl of Sandwich – Sarah’s pick for a quick bite.
Catal Restaurant – frequently recommended as one of the best restaurants in Downtown Disney.

Find character dining, menus, accessibility, hours, etc. on Disneyland Resort’s site.

2. Non-Disney Hotel Restaurants

The whole area is practically solid hotels and most (if not all) of them have a restaurant. Or two. Or their own food court.

Pizza Press at Carousel Inn & Suites – Paul Barrie of the Window to the Magic podcast recommended this place, which has a build-your-own-pizza concept that sounds similar to Fired Pie here in Phoenix.
Chambers Bar & Bistro at Hotel Indigo Anaheim features a “casual gourmet menu” with sandwiches, local produce, and seasonal desserts. (Full disclosure: Hotel Indigo will be putting us up but didn’t ask for this mention. The menu looks good, though, right?)
Anaheim Marriott on southwest side of Convention Center has a bar/restaurant called nFuse, a Starbucks, and a Pizza Hut.
Hilton Anaheim on west side of Convention Center:
- Just Grillin’ Express – Burgers, salads, and fries (spicy or not) made from ingredients delivered daily. The main (and I believe only other) location is about 30 miles north in Alhambra.
- Submarina – a Southern California based sub sandwich chain
- Baja Fresh Express
- Sbarro

3. Food trucks

During Star Wars Celebration, at least 15 chef-owned food trucks local to Southern California will be on the Convention Center’s Grand Plaza. They’ll be open until 9pm Thursday through Saturday and until 5:30p on Sunday. Here’s a sampling:

4. Anaheim Convention Center

While concessions are run by food service giant Aramark, the Convention Center takes its sourcing so seriously that it purchased its own herd of free-range, grass-fed cattle raised through Hearst Ranch and Jack Ranch. The result is local, hormone-free, antibiotic-free beef, certified by the Humane Farm Animal Care and Food Alliance.

Food and beverage may vary by event, but here’s what will be on offer during Star Wars Celebration (admission required):

Hearst Ranch Grill – All-beef hamburgers from the Convention Center’s herd (see above), salmon burgers, veggie burgers, and chicken burgers.

Lobby – ecoGrounds / Java City featuring Rain Forest Allianced Certified, USDA Organic, Fair Trade coffee and espresso drinks, along with all-natural fruit smoothies.

Hall A Food Court

In-house sausages and gourmet hot dogs
Fresh-baked pizzas and stromboli
Hearst Ranch prime rib sandwiches
Made-to-order sandwiches
“Grab-n-Go” stand: salads, sandwiches, fruit cups, yogurt parfaits, whole fruit, beverages, wraps, pastries, hot pretzels, churros, chips

Hall B

Moe’s Southwest Grill – burritos and taco salads.
Hearst Ranch Grill
“Grab-n-Go” stand – salads, sandwiches, fruit cups, yogurt parfaits, whole fruit, beverages, wraps, pastries, hot pretzels, churros, chips.

Exhibit Hall Courtyards

Gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches
Street taco stand – beef, chicken and pork tacos and burritos
Hearst Ranch barbecue stand

Portable stands throughout Halls

Soft serve ice cream stands
Urban Wok with flavorful rice bowls
Candy store – house-made giant cookies, chocolate, caramel-dipped apples and other sweet treats
Bars with local craft beers on tap

– More info –

Disneyland Restaurants Guide (Disney Food Blog)
Disneyland Resort Beer List (Beers and Ears)
Anaheim Garden Walk

Where do you like to eat in Anaheim?