Newport Beach

After three days in the park, we decided it was time to take a break. We rented a car and drove down to Balboa peninsula at Newport Beach. This place has been home to a number of famous people (don't remember who), and is supposedly the setting of the show "The Real OC" (have never seen it). It is also home to the largest marina of private boats in the world (or something like that).

We spent all our time near the beach and, because of the chilly weather, our only company was the birds and the fishermen along Balboa pier. At one point, we watched as an old man reeled a skate out of the choppy water. He removed the hook with a pair of pliers and casually nudged it over the side with his foot. It looked like a small manta ray and reminded me that we were a long way from home.




At the end of the long pier stands the 1950's styled Ruby's Diner. I understand that this is is now a chain of restaurants but this is the original location. It was a lot of fun to sit in our booth and watch the fisherman and the ocean just outside the window.









These were hands down the best fast-food 'shakes and burgers I've ever had. It pushed Fatburger here in Calgary to a distant second place. This picture shows Tyson with one of our chocolate malteds. I ordered three of these for our family just so I wouldn't have to share with anyone. Is that bad?



This is my Hickory burger. Our time together was short but I still think about it often.



From my research, I knew that we would have to eat at the Crab Cooker. This restaurant was started in 1951 by Bob Roubian. The building used to be a bank and the place-mats proclaim that it is the only fish market/restaurant in the world that keeps its fish in a vault. It is famous for its fresh seafood and casual atmosphere and the food is served on paper plates. Despite this, in 1969 Venture Magazine rated it as one of the top two restaurants in the world! We were lucky and there was no line; however, on some days the line can stretch all the way down the block. I found the following quote from a magazine article in the "Nation's Restaurant News":

"Though he has long since tired of talking about it, Roubian once generated newspaper headlines from coast to coast by refusing a White House request to let the sitting commander-in-chief cut in line for a Crab Cooker table. That man happened to be Richard Nixon, but Roubian points out that any president would have received the same treatment."




Heather and I shared a bowl of their famous Manhattan clam chowder, a skewer of scallops, and a plate of crab claws along with sides of potatoes, rice, and coleslaw. The seafood was fantastic and the price was reasonable. I expected to pay more to eat at one of the top two restaurants in the world (uh, in 1969 that is).







OK, so that was a short recap... but I am trying to get through these posts in time for Christmas. Because who knows... we might have something noteworthy to report.




- C