SoCal.

Back to California I go! 

 

Orange County to start, which was nice to fly through John Wayne instead of LAX. This airport is so quiet!!  One could mistake it for a library...

 

I started my week off in the Fullerton/Anaheim area.  I stayed on Beach Rd close to Knott's Berry Farms.  This is when I realized this is the west coast version of Orlando.  Plenty of tourists, the west coast variety seem to be a bit more emo/darker, than the east coast trailer trash variety.  Same ridiculous traffic, same people who don't know what deoderant or a turn signal is.

 

I was able to have dinner with a dear friend of mine at a Portillo's - a Chicago staple.  My friend and I know each other from Chicago, she used to work for me.  She and her family recently moved to the Orange County area and love it.

 

Portillos

 

Nothing reminds you of great people and great times like the place you'd previously spend a Friday afternoon just unwinding over some delicious food in a fun atmosphere.

 

I was also able to visit a place in Brea called Cabo Grill & Cantina - great salsa!!  The grilled fish tacos could have been a little more grilled though.  Highlight of that meal was the creepy guy asking the bartender why there were cops outside as he hugged his laptop as tightly as he could.  When the cops came in for lunch, the guy ran to the bathroom with his laptop.  I never did see him come back out but I'm going to assume he was watching porn or having a medical episode in there.  I really didn't want to find out.

 

Oh and in Fullerton I went to a place called Heroes - the portions here are INSANE but the food is fantastic - you will eat the leftovers, trust me.

 

From there it was a quick (I mean California quick by the way, 30 miles almost 2 hours at 3pm) drive over to Ontario, CA.  I've never been to this area before, all I can say is STUNNING.  I have an office down in the valley of the mountains that were breath taking.  I would imagine my attitude would be a lot different if I got to look at those mountains every day.  Great people, good weather - couldn't ask for much more.  Oh, except parking at that hotel.  6 spots, really?  Parking at the outlet mall across the street??  Who planned THAT one??  Fail. 

 

My visit in Ontario was short; I have nothing exciting or new about food - oh!  I did see a Chic-fil-A out there, I hadn't expected to, it was next door to the In-n-out burger which we all know I LOVE.

Detroit.

Motor City.

 

I can honestly say, about the only good thing I think has come out of Detroit is... well, Ted Nugent.

 

 

 

  They do have a rather nice airport, kind of amazing given the current financial situation that city is in, but maybe that's because the airport is just outside of Detroit.  Who knows.

 

I have to say, it was eye opening to be there.  The obvious struggles this area is going through is depressing, no one deserves to struggle like that if they are working hard to be positive members of society.

 

I did love some of the old architecture downtown, there's some great historic landmarks, like the old Michigan Central Station in Corktown, Roosevelt Park area.  This building is stunning, and amazingly, still standing. 

 

 

 

Sadly, this is right smack in the middle of Roosevelt Park in Corktown - there are signs posted every where that this is a high crime area, and that's supported by all of the broken glass on the ground.

 

And that, my friends is where you will find Slow's BBQ

 

 

This is where I experienced the Triple Threat.  Pulled pork, bacon and ham on ONE sandwich?!  Really??  Mac-n-cheese to die for and split pea & okra fritters were divine!  They have quite a selection of sauces - pretty much anything to satisfy your every whim.

Triple Threat

 

Other than the architecture and maybe some BBQ, I don't really have anything else to say about Detroit.  It was very distressing to be there.  It's an absolute shame that a city like that can go broke and look like a virtual war zone right here in our own backyard.

 

I do not plan to go back anytime soon, but should I find myself in the area - I do know where I will go to eat!