Costa Mesa is a gold mine...

I found my new favorite coffee shop in Orange County (still love Portfolio up in Long Beach, which is technically LA County, though): Kean Coffee. It is on Westcliff (the eastern end of E. 17th Street) in Costa Mesa...well...technically Newport...and cute, comfy, delicious, and artsy. The baristas all make fun designs on your foam (my friend Brittany and I went and both got pretty leaves) and their baked goods are amazing. We both got their honey vanilla latte, Brit got a biscotti, and I got a cookie. While I've only been once so far, I'm sure it'll become a regular study spot for me next quarter when I actually have reading and homework to do. It's right near my work too (shameless plug: Pure Barre Newport Beach, www.purebarre.com, come in for a great workout to lift, burn, and tone your body to look like a ballerina) so I'm sure I'll be stopping in every so often.

Kean Coffe

2042 Westcliff Drive

Newport Beach, CA 92660

Brunch: Plums, Newport Beach

New bunch local in Newport Beach, courtesy of my roommate:

Plums Cafe and Catering

369 E. 17th Street

Newport Beach, CA 92627

I was having an indecisive morning, and also a greedy morning, craving eggs, meat, and the raspberry pancakes that looked, oh, so good on the menu. Lo and behold, our waiter let me mix-and-match whatever I wanted so I could have a little bit of everything. Amazing. My other roommates also got what they wanted. I don't think there was a bite left on the table when we finished. It was incredible.

Even though the cafe is in a strip mall, they have their own little patio under a skylight which provides a great atmosphere.

To try next time, when I am not starving and all I want is sugar: the Dutch Baby (it takes 30 minutes to cook...it's like a deep dish pancake, the coconut french toast, or the lemon meringue waffle...mmm...

On another note: went to Maya in San Francisco this weekend (where my family went in NYC a few months ago) and it is just as good. Too bad I couldn't bring my leftover mole pablano home on the airplane. Boo. I guess that just makes it that much more better next time.