Anaheim Packing District

When looking for something cool for the boys and I to do on our Adventure Day yesterday, I happened upon a listing for the Anaheim Packing District. I’m not sure how we’ve never been here – it’s 100% US!

So many choices!

Basically this place is like an upscale mall food court without having to go to the mall. The best part is that with so many stalls there was literally something for all of us. No fighting. And no drive through. 

We walked through most of the 2-story food paradise before making our choices. 

Aaron and I decided on Vietnamese at Sawleaf. I had the pork belly bahn mi, Aaron had the steak fries. Basically, the first place he saw fries he stopped and go no interest in looking any further. Not much out of his comfort zone but he did eat the five spice aioli so there’s that. His fries were skinny and crispy and the steak tender. 

My bahn mi really hit the spot. The bread was crispy and soft in the center, the meat was tender, the salad crisp and fresh. I missed the daikon I’m used to but the fried jalapeños added a nice bite. The sauce was a bit sweet for my taste but eaten as a whole, a definite A. 

Anthony opted for the Snoop Dawg at Doggone Good Sodas and Dogs with a side of loaded chili. 

The dog had buffalo sauce,  bourbon bacon, and ranch. Paired with a light IPA and he was a happy boy. 

J was the last to decide and he was deliberating between the short rib poutine and the bbq cheeseburger version. While I was waiting for my sandwich, he came up asking what poutine was. Once he heard smothered fries, he was sold. Aa should have waited because Kroft had tons of amazing choices. J’s burger fry concoction was HUGE! Fries, a burger patty, cheese, sauce, fried onions. The fries were larger than Aaron’s and overall a better choice, too. 

Since we were headed to find the chimney cakes (which ended up being 2 blocks away) we didn’t get desserts but future trips will include ice cream bars, snowballs, cotton candy covered drinks, and giant ice cream novelties. 

This place is pretty hipster. $3 valet or try to find a spot on the local streets – we opted for a free lot down the street. Oh yeah, free WiFi, too. Food was about $10/person. Anthony bought his own beer so I have no idea how much he shelled out for that. 

Chimney Cakes – no passport required

If you’ve never heard of Chimney Cakes you’re obviously not as obsessed with sweets as me or don’t watch as many travel food shows and videos as me. That’s ok, I’m here for ya. 

I’m not sure where I first saw these; probably an episode of Delicious Destinations with Andrew Zimmern or a Facebook video. The idea of a hollow churro that could be filled with additional yumminess sounded even more awesome than the looping churro ice cream sundaes from The Loop in Westminster. BUT, convincing E to go to Prague for donuts? Probably not likely. 

Side note – if you’ve never been to The Loop, GO!

So, when I read Nancy Luna’s article in the OC Register about the newly opened House of Chimney Cakes, a plan started. Luckily, the boys and I had a day off today for Veteran’s Day. The boys aren’t usually up for my crazy adventures but once I promised food and no museums and then showed them photos of the chimney cakes they were sold! 

So did they live up to the hype? Ummmm YES!

First off, there are a ton of options which tends to overwhelm us so we opted for two combos on the menu – Oreo (duh) and s’mores. 

Watching them make the cones in front of us was pretty awesome! Rolling out the dough, loading into the special rotisseries, the dripping buttery goodness, rolling them in the coatings. And then all the topping choices! Wow!

When they take them out of the special oven they actually steam from the top looking like delicious volcanos!

The churro-like cones were both crunchy and soft, and not too thick or bready. They made the perfect vessel for the ice cream and toppings. No mushy cones or drippy mess. Perfection. 

Aaron and I shared the s’mores cone which was coated in ground graham crackers and filled with vanilla soft serve, graham crackers, chocolate pieces, chocolate syrup, and a blowtorch toasted marshmallow! There was a surprise Whopper at the bottom of the cone, too. 

Justin & Anthony’s Oreo cone was covered in cookie crumbs and filled with swirled ice cream, syrup, and cookies. 

Will we go back? What do you think? 

Easy parking in the lot. Cones cost us $7.95 each fully loaded. Seating out front. Walking distance to “real food”. Employees were super friendly. 

Avocados – they’re so amazing we have a THREE DAY festival in their honor

Avocados. I’m fairly certain if you don’t like them you have to turn in your California card. Luckily, we don’t have that problem in our house.  No rain this week – matter of fact, we’re back up into triple digits… so when E suggested the Avocado Festival, it was another HELL YEAH moment. A) food fest, B) beach, C) FOOD FEST!

I didn’t realize it at the time he proposed the idea but E just wanted to eat from the world’s largest bowl of guacamole. Or swim in it like Juli and I did at the sprinkle pool. It wasn’t even on display! It could have been a Tupeprware container for all we knew.  Seriously? If you’re going to advertise the WORLD’S LARGEST BOWL OF GUACAMOLE, have it on display, people!  He settled for chips and guac instead which was yummy and plentiful.

It’s usually sweets that get me excited, especially since I’m not big on chips – so I opted for a cone of the avocado mango sorbet. Ice cream? No brainer. Good choice because it was seriously YUMMY!

My AWESOME new shirt from our Huy Fong day. Saw LOTS of people wearing sriracha shirts at the fest! Nothing but love for guac and cock (sauce).

Avocados have been in short supply lately (#thanksglobalwarming) so it was nice to see them guaced, spread, deep fried,  baked, frozen and of course as a photo-op.  The varieties were amazing and the ones as big as our hands, wow!  In the markets they basically have bumpy and smooth (yes, I know they have REAL names) and Lord knows we’ve never been able to grow an avocado tree – so seeing so many different kinds was awesome.

 

 

Looks kind of Veggie Tales-ish – half expected it to start playing the Hairbrush song.

We got about 8,500 steps in, learned a bunch about avocados, and E scored a case of chips. They’re quinoa chips, but still.  I even treated myself to this necklace, customized for (some of) my obsessions. I just need to find an awesome llama charm. Not bad for a Sunday.

Until next time Avo Fest – Stay Golden, California!

 

Road to.. Sadness

I’m not sure when Juli and I decided this as the unofficial name of Route 66 west of Victorville. One thing is certain, we’ve driven it more times than either of us ever wanted to. Together. Alone. With others.  Directions? Take 15 North, exit D (look for the sign for the prison), turn left and go past the ampm (if you need to pee or get a drink STOP HERE), drive until you get really sad or see the sign.

Thankful for xm radio. Music blasting. Often trying to tune out the 14 miles of desolate landscape, deserted and rundown buildings, grafitti covered trains, tumbleweed, odd businesses in the middle of nowhere, a federal prison, and the occasional non-vehicular traveler.

Yes, people walking, pushing strollers and grocery carts, golf carts, and my personal favorite, motorized scooter chairs. Where did they come from? And where the heck are they going? You’re on the road from nowhere to, NOWHERE! You probably should have brought a CAR, you’re in the DESERT, people!!!

Seriously, 14 miles of THIS! This is in danger of trespassing? REALLY? There’s NO DOOR!

So much sadness with a few interesting moments in between.

Like the Cross Eyed Cow pizza parlor. Never stopped for the pizza but the colorful roof cow and VW bus advertisement…

This “city” is the only sign of civilization. If you can call it that. The OFFICIAL roadsign for the post office reads “Oro Grande Post Office”. Why the quotation marks? Is it a ploy to capture wayward travelers? I wouldn’t be shocked.

The abandoned Mohawk gas station. When was the last time gas was $1.99/gallon? Especially on a deserted stretch of highway?

The station graphics are still pretty much intact despite being boarded up. The pumps, not so much.

And Bottle Tree Ranch. We’ve driven by SOOOO many times and never stopped at this roadside attraction. This time, thinking this was my last trip, I took a few minutes to walk through.

So how far do we travel The Road? Fourteen. Miles. Turn at “The Sign”.

Yes, the saddest sign on the saddest road is where we know to turn. We’ve never stayed at “The Inn”. I’m fairly certain horror movies were based on this.

Haven’t stayed here either. Obvious reasons.

After years of traveling 66 to Helendale, our trips are finally coming to an end. The house will be sold soon. Our link to the area officially broken. Goodbye Helendale. Not exactly sad to say farewell.