Happy Hour Hopping

View from Cannon's in Dana Point

     Wherever you live, there are always the enticing and delicious-looking restaurants you wistfully pass by, but for those of us on a budget, actually enjoying what they have to offer is usually not a practical decision.  However, Happy Hours can turn these luxurious dreams into an affordable treat for a few inconvenient hours during the day or week - and taking advantage of them can be a fun way to get acquainted with the restaurants in your area. Jordi and I, being the bargain hunters that we are, tend to utilize these deals as our main means of eating out. In fact, this week we went to both Happa J's and Cannon's, and are still within our budget. However, not all happy hours are equal - I wanted to share the ones that offer good food as well as drink specials, and a nice atmosphere to enjoy. So with that in mind, here are some of our favorites:

The Cellar (my all-time favorite):

Where: Downtown San Clemente

When: 4-6 Tues - Sun

What: $5 pizzette's, house wine (usually $9) and beer on tap (think Chimay)

Why: Great little outdoor patio where you can people watch and enjoy the weather. Live music every night! 

Riders Club

Where: North San Clemente

When: Mon-Fri 4-6

What: $2 hotdogs - homemade relish, potato chips and pickled beets. $3-5 high end drafts. Not ever on happy hour special, but they do have the best hamburgers ever, including the portabello mushroom burger.

Why: Local owners are super friendly and knowledgeable; lots of outdoor seating; close to the beach and beach path; everything is high quality and homemade. 

Fisherman's

Where: San Clemente Pier 

When: Mon- Fri 4-7

What: Every day they offer $3 meals such as BBQ chicken, taco's, etc, and a drink special

Why: The food and drinks are ok, but the view while sitting on top of the water and watching the surfers and sunset on a gorgeous day are worth it. (If you don't make it to happy hour, order a soda, coffee or $3 glass of champagne and still enjoy a cheap seat over the water).

Happa J's

Where: South San Clemente

When: Tuesday 4:30-9:30, Sunday 11-3

What: Taco Tuesday - homemade tortillas grilled in front of you, filled with poki, shrimp, etc - for $3!!! It's unbeatable. This deal goes all night, with $2 drafts. Their Sunday poki bowls are awesome.

Why: Really quality food; fun, casual setting; Watch whatever game is going on, a surf video, or sit on the deck. 

Cannon's

Where: Dana Point Harbor

When: Every day 4:30 - 6:30 (yes, even weekends!)

What: Half off drinks and appetizer/small meal deals

Why: The view is amazing! Overlooking all of the Harbor and past San Clemente. Is that La Jolla in the distance? This view would normally cost you a $30 entree at least. 

Velvet Yogurt

Where: San Clemente

When: Fridays 3-5

What: Half off frozen yogurt

Why: This sumptuous but expensive self serve yogurt becomes accessible to the lay people once a week. Stock up!

Mimosa Cafe:

Where: Downtown San Clemente

When: Saturday and Sunday mornings

What: $2 pastries

Why: Mimosa is a classy cafe that can easily set you back a few for eggs benedict and croissant french toast. On the weekends however, you can get their quality coffee or tea with small perfect pastries, and not rob the bank. Filling? Maybe not quite. An affordable weekend treat in a fun setting? Yes! 

Most of these tips are for the San Clemente area - are there any amazing deals near you that others should know about?

Worth the Wait

Saturday morning at Tartine

   
     In a place like San Francisco, waiting in line means you've shown up at the right spot. By the end of our weekend up north for our friends wedding, I was beginning to feel like we shouldn't be wasting our time at places that didn't have a line! It all started our first morning there when our friend Ryan, who we were staying with in the Mission district, told us we had to try Tartine Bakery near his apartment. We had heard of this bakery a couple times before, and decided to check it out. Daunted by the line halfway down the block Ryan reassured us, "It goes fast. Kinda." Half an hour of pleasant conversation later we all found ourselves staring at cases of the massive chocolate croissants, sugary morning buns, hefty cakes and hot quiches. How to decide?? This is always a quandary for me, and I ended up ordering enough breakfast for a small family. Needless to say, the perfected recipes, freshly baked every morning, stood up to their reputation. Although the first bite can tell you it's the most amazing buttery concoction ever, until then all you have to judge by is the line.

      The next morning we wandered to yet another Mission district favorite - Four Barrel Coffee. And again, a long line out the door. This time Ryan was not there to reassure us, but I was more confident in the belief that extreme goodness can lie at the end of a line. We eventually got to the front counter and ordered two coffee's to go. That's it. We put in our milk and headed out the door. After one sip, I was completely taken by surprise, "Whoa, what IS that??" "Yeah, it tastes weird," my husband agreed. "I have NEVER tasted coffee like this. Do I like it? I don't know yet." The final consensus was that I really liked their uniquely tasting coffee, which apparently comes from the way they roast it. And many many people find it worthy of a queue.

Bi-Rite

    
   
     Lastly, while we were walking down the street we saw a tiny little grocery store that looked inviting, with fresh flowers and produce outside, and an awning that said "Bi-Rite". The crowded conditions deterred no one as much as the cheese, bread, deli, wine, and produce lured them in. I was in a tiny little hobbit hole of heaven! It was a perfect gourmet, healthy grocery store in the amount of space of most Orange County kitchens. Mesmerized by the cheese, I dutifully opted for some fresh fruit, and once again jumped in the long line. By this time I was used to the routine, and it bothered me not in the slightest. Although I couldn't buy everything that looked fantastic, the fruit was great and the idea of the store was exciting.

     I realize lines don't always mean something good -  like the line at Macy's to buy Jessica Simpson shoes and get her autograph. Or the DMV, or red lights, or airport security. But when wandering around a new town, a line can mean a sign - this is where the locals deem something good enough to wait for. Where do YOU wait in line in your town?

Hanson's Market

Welcome to Hanson's! 

Mike Cullinan grows these beautiful tomatoes in Oceanside

The smoothie menu -
a work in progress, but so far so delicious.
(Juicing menu hangs above this one)

Owner Ron Castruita, with happy San Clemente moms.

And of course, its on organic cotton :) 

Watch your juice or smoothie being made
through the window...

     Local, organic, vegan, raw, gluten-free, dairy-free, cage-free, free-range, grass-fed, nitrate and nitrite-free, probiotic, herbal, all natural (or shall we say "Au Natural"?) -  Hanson's Market has it all. San Clemente's first health food store finally opened last week, to the relief and excitement of all who were tired of Trader Joes' tiny parking lot, driving to Mother's in Laguna Hills and eating waxy fruit from Ralph's. I was one of these excited residents, but not content to just shop there, I wanted to work there as well and be part of the party. And here I am, on to this next adventure of working at the Market!
     A San Clemente resident for more than 26 years, Ron Castruita and his wife Diana saw a need in the community, decided to go for it, and a few months later Hanson's was born. Hanson's Market is named after Ole Hanson, the founder of San Clemente in the 1920's, and hence the local hotshot of yore.
     Once the city finally found time and energy to pass all the permits (between weekends, holidays, Friday's off, and sick days, it's really quite exhausting for them to sign these papers) Hanson's was up and running. And so were we! The term eight days a week has never been so appropriate as we unloaded produce, fine-tuned juice recipes and hustled to get everything priced. But this is what soft openings are for! In a few weeks when everything is organized and running smoothly, we will have a grand opening with vendors, samples and a more complete representation of what we'll be offering. Right now, some of my favorite things about Hanson's (besides the amazing, fun, and friendly people I get to work with and you get to shop with):
~ Meeting Mike Cullinan, our current tomato supplier from Oceanside, and tasting his freshly picked cherry tomatoes
~ Although the coconuts aren't local, it's pretty fun to pick one out, have it hacked open behind the deli and sip the refreshing, replenishing, and delicious water!!
~ "Oh you would like some extra beets in your juice? Well, go ahead and pick some out over there in the produce area and I'll juice it for you!"
~ Bread baked daily in San Juan Capistrano
~ The herbal supplement corner where certified nutritionists can address your every query.
Whether you'd like to sip a coconut, order some kale juice, or perhaps french cheese is more your style?  it's worth your while to wander over!