John Wayne Airport

While John Wayne Airport (SNA) is more of a destination (departure) airport, if you get there early or are waiting for your ride to arrive, Vino Volo is a must. It is relaxing, quiet and has plenty of power outlets . Combine that with a glass of Chardonnay and JWA's free WiFi and you could stay here for days...  OK, maybe hours!

Sidecar Doughnuts

Enjoyed Sidecar Doughnuts (Costa Mesa - www.sidecardoughnuts.com)  for the first time. I created by own taste test! I sampled the cinnamon and brown sugar, lemon loaf, huckleberry and Maple Bacon (my new favorite!!!). They are slightly pricey, but that is a given with all of the natural ingredients they use. Looking for a high end treat? Sidecar will definitely fit the bill.

Lindo Michoacan II

Ended up in Anaheim, CA today for some training. While Anaheim is known worldwide for being home to "the happiest place on earth - Disneyland!"... it is also home to Lindo Michoacan II.

Lindo is a quaint little place that serves up authentic Mexican cuisine. I had a couple of street tacos that were FABULOUS! they have 2 locations... 1 in Santa Ana and 1 in Anaheim. If you are looking for a place that will take you South of the Border, LM II is it!

Lola Gaspar | Santa Ana Artists District, CA

Headed over to Lola Gaspar for lunch today.This is a fun little kitchen and cocktail bar in the artist's district near the civic center in Santa Ana.

We sat inside and started our meal with the bacon wrapped dates stuffed with bleu cheese. Delicious! Next, we ordered the 3 carnitas taco combo which was served with a mound of yellow rice and the grilled pollo piadina with bloomsdale spinach, tomato, cumin yogurt and goat cheese spread in a warm tortilla wrap.

WOW... everything was delicious and fresh.

Eating inside allows you to enjoy their retro-modern look with a large bar. There's also a great little shady patio outside too.

Bring your quarters. Parking is street side with meters. Excellent service, no sign outside and one bathroom for the entire place.

Umami Burger || Costa Mesa, CA

Ummai Burger is located in The Camp, an Urban shopping space in the heart of Orange County. Umami will send you a text to your cell phone when your table is ready, so you are free to roam around.

There are lots of great shops at The Camp so the wait doesn't feel to long. My favorite is the Port and Stilton Burger but you really can't go wrong no matter what burger you choose as long as it has meat in it!

Michael's Donuts || Lake Forest, CA

Michael's has the best apple fritters I've ever tasted, crunchy outside and soft inside and just the right amount of glaze.

Not in the mood for a donut? Their egg burritos are fantastic!

The service is amazing and the people that own Michael's are so happy all the time. Try and wait to have the mom help you with your order. She always throws in some donut holes even when you only buy one donut.

Sorry no pictures yet, I usually eat the donuts or burritos before I make it home!

La Tiendita || San Clemente, California

La Tiendita is my favorite whole-in-the wall, mexican food, in Orange County. They are off the main tourist area and cater to the locals. Their carnita soft tacos with all the extras are especially good after a run along the beach trail.

The dining area is small and this picture at the bottom actually makes it look nicer than it is. There's also a dining patio out back.

Or if you are in the area for breakfast, try their breakfast burrito. Also good for cheap bean burritos and cheap quesadillas. Great service, great prices, great food!

Alta Coffee || Newport Beach, CA

Alta coffee is a neighborhood coffee spot off the main drag in Newport Beach. Drive by too fast and you might miss it.

It's mainly locals and it can get really crowded on the weekends. My favorite is their poached eggs and bacon. Their fresh roasted coffee is terrific too. In the evening they offer live entertainment. For a kick, check out open mike night on Tuesday nights.

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