Rubio's

Rubio's

Various Location in the Western US

By the time Friday rolls around, the last place I want to eat lunch is in my office. 

Tucked into a nearby shopping center is Rubio's; and while this website is usually reserved for family-owned dining destinations, there's just something special about this fast-casual option that deserves mentioning.  Stomach growling, I kidnapped an unbeknownst coworker for an early lunch and we headed out. 

 

In the middle of a business park we found our little oasis, and as I walked up to the entrance I dreamed of fish tacos and anything else that grabbed my attention.  Today, that something extra was a fresh-baked churro.  We were promptly greeted with smiles from both cashiers and cooks.  I quickly placed my order with a cheery young girl before finding a cozy table away from the inevitable lunch rush crowds.  Already salivating, my dining partner and I ambled over to the condiment bar and found a myriad of salsas, vegetables, and my favorite cilantro-onion mix.  I then seated myself away from the bustling front door, kicking back in my seat and enjoying painted murals depicting Southern California beach life.  A few folks at other tables seemed to have the same idea. 

I made small talk with my lunch buddy, but quickly became preoccupied when my name was called.  At that point, my friend was officially ignored, and I found myself staring at some of the most enormous fish tacos I've ever laid eyes on.  Are they always this size?  Did the cooks accurately interpret how hungry I was from a single glance?  I pondered these questions as I took my first crunchy bite of an Original Fish Taco.

I've eaten many variations of fish tacos in my life, from halibut to shark to tilapia and on both flour and corn tortillas.  Quite frankly, Rubio's has some of the best: theirs are on single thick and sturdy corn tortillas, eliminating the need to double up on tortillas like competing establishments with substandard ingredients. The batter is substantially thick and fried to a golden crisp, yet all the while yielding moist, tender fish beneath.  Add a smattering of crunchy shredded cabbage, a light drizzle of secret sauce and a hint of juicy pico de gallo and that's all you need on a Friday afternoon!  Well, that and a side of rice with plenty of onions and cilantro mixed in.  And maybe a warm churro covered in cinnamon sugar.

My coworker washed down his Regal Springs Tilapia Tacos with a cerveza and for an instant we thought about playing hooky for the rest of the day to head to the beach.  Then we remembered we were sitting in the middle of a shopping center.  Well played, Rubio's.  Well played.

Stefano's - Two Guys From Italy

Time for my 9am feeding!

Stefano's - Two Guys From Italy
6705 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA

The only way I justified following up a 1,000-calorie cupcake breakfast with a slice of New York-style pizza was the fact that I was about to hop onto a double-decker bus for a two-hour tour of L.A.  And last time I checked, those contraptions didn't sell food, right?

For a couple of bucks, they threw a substantial slice of cheese into the oven to warm up.  In the meantime, they graciously tossed me a token so I could use the ladies room.  Adorable!

By the time I was finished with my bid-ness, I was presented Breakfast 2.0 consisting of a crispy and chewy crust that supported a tasty cheese blend, oil glistening and ready to be blotted with at least a dozen napkins.  Best buy along the Hollywood Walk of Fame for sure...I'll just skip the cupcake next time.

Sweetie Pies

Innocent facade.  Sweet, sweet evil inside!

Sweetie Pies
520 Main Street
Napa, CA


I'm not sure what it is about travelling that makes me want to devour everything in sight, but that's precisely how I felt during a quick afternoon trip to Napa last Saturday.

I have a sweet tooth.  Not one that causes me to crave a mint after dinner, but rather one that makes me want to shovel fistfuls of sugary anything into my mouth even after eating a four-course meal.  On this particular afternoon, I had just begun my attempt at digesting chowder and half (I swear!) a tri-tip sandwich as I walked by Sweetie Pies.

This adorable little bake shop sells pies - and lots of them - in both standard and individual sizes.  I had my eye on an individual Strawberry Rhubarb, glistening with juices from beneath its clear to-go packaging, until I spied cream-filled cake rolls, chocolate-dipped cupcakes and jars full of moist, chewy cookies.

I chose a towering Raspberry Coconut bar cookie that featured a thick, luscious layer of tart jam sandwiched between coconut streusel and the heftiest graham cracker crust I've ever seen.  I somehow made my way through a small crowd snaking around the pastry cases only to find there were more treats to choose from!  My willpower went into high gear to avoid hoarding creamy whoopie pies.

By a sheer miracle, that Raspberry Coconut bar arrived home completely intact.  The first bite was heavenly.  The crunchy brown top layer of coconut gave way to a tender macaroon-like texture, and the raspberry jam provided enough moisture for that crackery crust.  It was a brick of sugary goodness, one I'll definitely make a trip back for.  I'll add a half-dozen whoopie pies to that order, too.

Loree's Little Shack

Small in size, big on entertainment!

Loree's Little Shack
4835 Pacific Street
Rocklin, CA


Sometimes my GPS fails me.  I search for the closest taqueria only to find it's closed that day, out of business, etc.  That's what happened twice before I came across Loree's.

I parked out back in the gravel lot and chuckled at the permanent "Free Beer Tomorrow" sign as I walked in.

Loree's is half dive bar, half old-school restaurant with truck-stop style comfort food.  A couple of locals were at the bar, already hammered at 9:15 in the morning.  One guy said he "only had to win two more tournaments to become a millionaire in the World Series of Poker".  Sheer entertainment.

The food took longer than expected even though there was only a family of four and a couple who ordered before me.  But, I passed the time checking out the large collection of kitschy items hanging all over the walls and ceilings surrounding me.

To satisfy my ever-present tortilla craving, I ordered the 2 Taco Scramble. Two grilled tortillas were filled with fluffy scrambled eggs, melting cheese, crisp lettuce and juicy tomato, dusted with parmesan, and accompanied by a side of piping-hot home fries.  Wow!  I would return just for that damn breakfast.

Come here for cheap eats and highly amusing people watching!

Roundman's Smokehouse

Don't be a wiener.  Step inside!

Roundman's Smokehouse
412 N. Main Street
Fort Bragg, CA


Roundman's claims they'll smoke anything; in this case, they're referring to meat, fish and cheese as advertised on the signage outside of their Fort Bragg shop.

I can't recall where I read about it, but I came specifically seeking out their Bacon Sausage.  Bacon Sausage?  Sounded like the best of both worlds would soon be converging inside this girl's mouth!  I ordered a few to throw into my cooler as I was about to embark upon my ride back home.

Days later, I took the links out of their butcher paper and fried them up, salivating over the aromas of sausage...and bacon.  The texture confused my palate as I tasted bacon, without the familiar crunch, but with the chewiness of a good, hearty sausage.  I pondered the juxtaposition of flavors and textures, then realized I shouldn't be thinking so hard on a Sunday morning.

Moments later, the last of my Mendocino County souvenirs were gone.

Nelson's Candies

Confectionery gold, right here in Calaveras County!

Nelson's Candies
380 Main Street
Murphys, CA

If every town had a candy shop like Nelson's, there would be no war in the world.

Okay, okay, maybe that's a stretch.  But once I stepped into this adorable store, all of my troubles seemed to disappear.  Greeted by not one, but two friendly ladies, I was delighted when my eyeballs were assaulted by an elaborate selection of classic and unique treats.

   Something interesting immediately caught my attention: Vanilla Cream Pinenut Rolls.  I thought to myself, "Um, really?  Don't those things belong in pesto and El Torito salads?"  I couldn't pass up a giant ball of sugar coated with pine nuts; two seconds in, I was thankful I hadn't passed them over.  The mild nut provided a subtle crunch that balanced the softest, most tender homemade nougat I'd sampled to date.

A variety of chocolate and nutty treats did not disappoint, either, and I walked out with a small bag of chocolate-covered Brazil nuts and macadamias as well as coconut brittle I mistakenly assumed would last for at least a few days.  Oops!