I admit I do not eat as much bread as I used to. Not because of gluten paranoia, but because I have become more discerning when it comes to “the staff of life.” Bread is like wine – if the quality is not up to par, the disappointment is crushing because we know what great tastes like.
I
define great bread as:
1.
Freshly baked
2.
Crisp on the outside
3.
Chewy on the inside
Drab, spongy dinner rolls disappoint, as well as nutritionally correct but dull-tasting whole wheat loaves. I enjoy the fresh artisanal bread which most good supermarkets provide, or a croissant from a coffee shop. I almost always pair the latter with a cappuccino.
The croissant-and-cappuccino combo is, in fact, one of my favorite lunches when I eat out. It’s simple, it’s satisfying, and it’s tasteful. And inexpensive – I typically spend between five and seven dollars, including tip.
I
have been fortunate to have sat down in some of Orange County’s best coffee
shops for this special meal . My favorites include:
1.
Zov’s Bakery and Café – 17440 E. 17th St., Tustin (in the Enderle
Center) 714-838-8855. Whether I eat inside or on the patio, I feel special every time I hold one of
Zov’s signature orange coffee cups. (Orange…I wonder why I like that?)
2.
Blue Frog Café – 136 South Glassell Street, Orange
714-538-3764. Make sure to take the stairs to the upstairs loft – or eat
outside, as I did on a late summer afternoon. I had a chocolate mousse this
time – yes, sometimes a sweet pastry or cupcake substitutes for the
croissant (more on cupcakes later!)
3. Kean Coffee – 13681 Newport Avenue,
Suite 14, Tustin 714-838-5326; 2043 Westcliff Drive, Suite 100, Newport Beach
949-642-5326. A happy irony: The Tustin shop used to be a Diedrich Coffee. Then Starbucks bought and
consumed the Diedrich brand, making the short-sighted (and selfish) decision to
change all Diedrich shops to Starbucks stores. Shortly afterwards, Starbucks
imploded (not a moment too soon) and had to close some stores. Now Martin
Diedrich has brought his coffee intelligence back to Tustin (and Newport Beach)
with Kean.
4. FreeSoulCaffé – 191 East Main Street,
Suite 1B, Tustin 714-371-0976. No croissants here, but you will find vegan
treats like pumpkin waffles and delicious dairy-free pastry. You will feel
European in the courtyard complete with fountain.
5.
Le Pain Quotidien – #1103 Fashion Island, 401 Newport Center
Drive, Newport Beach 949-287-5592. I first encountered this shop in Santa
Monica, and when I learned that it would be coming to Orange County, I
rejoiced. Note the handle-free cappuccino cup – most tasteful!
