It’s that time again, were we take a crash course through a town and see the sounds, taste the sights, and enjoy the flavors of another city. This time, we’ve assembled a team (a squad?) and spent 48 hours in Anaheim, CA. Even better, we got Visit Anaheim to hook us up this time on our itinerary. We recruited a makeup artist, an Air Force mechanic, an accountant, and a handsome drifter (yours truly) for a broad set of opinions and interests and proceeded to lay waste to Southern California’s most overlooked destination. Anaheim is a city with a thriving brewery scene, interesting food, activities just for adults, and a unique nightlife so it’s time to see what’s what! If you’re planning your trip, check out Visit Anaheim on Instagram for good ideas.

First up was a little morning air-to-air combat at Flightdeck. This flight simulation center lets you strap into the recreation of an F-16 or 737. As one of our group actually services F-16’s as a day job (lucky!), we knew what we had to do, and that was set him loose on the other tourists and watch him pummel them out of the sky with his simulated missiles.  Before the action, you’re taken through a briefing, taught how to take off and fly the aircraft, and after the combat you land the plane for a full end-to-end experience. We had a blast here, but that might be because all of our squad dominated the top rankings after all the dog fights were over.

Nothing stirs the apatite quite like simulated air combat, so next we headed to the Packing House for some lunch. This former orange and lemon warehouse has been converted into a covered food bazaar of sorts with small restaurants and food vendors stuffed into every nook and cranny. We picked up some sandwiches, jambalaya, bespoke soda (no kidding), and ice cream all under the same roof and left stuffed for little more than $30.

Full of food but not beverage, it was time to visit Anaheim thriving brewery scene. First stop was the perfectly named Anaheim Brewery and a flight of beers at it’s quiet bar. In the afternoon, this brewery had a decidedly local feel with no discernible tourists or picture takers – besides us of course. This is the kind of place to head to when you’re sick of traveling and just want to relax.

Another of Anaheim’s brewery’s that has a decidedly different feel is Unsung Brewery and their mashup of craft beer and comic books of all things. Modern styling, friendly staff (including a portly bulldog), racks of comic books, and tables with great villain and hero quotes inscribed into them, Unsung is a place where your inner child and adult can co-exist. This is a must-visit for the ambience alone, although the beer flight here was stellar as well. The makeup artist in our group loved perusing the classic comics while sipping on a variety of beers.

If craft brews aren’t your thing and you’re looking for something a bit more lively, check out the next door town of Fullerton for their bar and club scene. With a college nearby, these spots skew a bit younger and louder but you’re guaranteed to leave with a story. No matter what your night is full of you’ll want to rest up for day two, at least that’s all we wanted after our full day, so we checked into the Marriott Residence Inn for some shuteye. Like all Residence Inns, our rooms came with kitchenette so we could make a late night without having to pop out of our complimentary robes and slippers. While all the visiting families book theme hotels close to the major parks, you’ll want something a bit quieter and more adult. We had no problem nodding off here.

After a good sleep we were ready for some good waffles, and there’s no better place in Orange County for good waffles than The Original Pancake House. This breakfast spot has been serving up eggs and bacon longer than you’ve been alive, and I think some of the staff have been around the since day one… You can’t go wrong with a bacon waffle, though the dutch baby looked mighty tempting as well.

It was now time for more adrenaline so we strapped ourselves into the electric go-karts of K1 Speed. These karts can reach 40mph, and the indoor circuit is full of challenging curves and overtaking points. At some of the other stops my guests shined, but now they were in my jungle and nobody comes into my jungle and leaves alive. And of course by that I mean I lapped the field and retired undefeated.

Orange County has long been home to many Asian immigrants, and one of the largest enclaves is a thriving Vietnamese community. Viet food has been having a bit of a moment this past year, with Pho and Bahn Mi conquering the culinary consciousness of even middle America, so what better lunch than in arguably the best Vietnamese restaurant in Anaheim’s Little Saigon where they know the truly authentic from the fad dishes. Brodard Restaurant is just such that place. Yes, I realize the name sounds like it’s your grandfather’s favorite steak joint, but this eatery is more know for their fresh spring rolls than for a porterhouse. Take the time to find this gem and one look around will tell you that you’re in the right place. Wall to wall you’ll see locals of the Vietnamese community enjoying dishes from the home country, and you’ll be smart to just point and say “I’ll have what she’s having.”

No vacation is complete with satisfying your sweet tooth, so we gathered up our group and headed out to Joe’s Italian Ice as we waived Anaheim goodbye. These flavored desserts are thick and satisfying, and the perfect accompaniment to a lively conversation as to our favorite spots. Our accountant friend loved the Packing House and I argued the merits of fresh noodles from Brodard, but as noshed on our fanciful ice we agreed that not a single one of missed having not visiting a theme park or the beach. There’s plenty to do in Anaheim that’s off the beaten track, and 48 hours isn’t nearly enough time to do all it.

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Lemon Juice              5tbs
Eggs, separated        4 eggs
Powdered Gelatin  1tbs
Caster Sugar              200 g
Whipped cream       200 ml

Bloom the gelatin in 2 tbsp of water, leave it to soak in the water. Take the four egg yolks and stir them over a warm double boiler, add the sugar and lemon juice. Keep on stirring till the now custard becomes thick. Mix in a tablespoon of warm water with the gelatin, then mix the gelatin into the warm custard. Stir well to avoid lumps. Leave the custard to cool, meanwhile beat the egg whites till stiff.

Fold the custard into the stiff whites and gradually add in the whipped cream while folding. Do not overmix. Take a small bowl, in which you will serve the soufflé, and wrap a silver foil collar around the rim so that it sticks out upwards. Pour the soufflé into the bowl and let it overflow to fill up to the rim of the foil. Leave it to set in a refrigerator till it sets. Remove the foil collar, the soufflé should have set and now support itself. It should resemble a regular baked soufflé.

You may garnish it with chopped pistachios. Unlike a traditional soufflé which can have a wide range of variations, this type of soufflé does not. This dish, more or less, comes under the category of a dessert mousse, and made to appear like a soufflé. Though you can add some other flavors to it, don’t go putting any cheese or veggies in it!

The post The Delicate Soufflé Milanaise appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

It must be taken for as a pudding, although it is prepared in the same way as a regular omelette. The cookbook, Belgian Cuisine, describes Rum Omelettes as, ”a simple dish, much liked by gentlemen”.

You will enjoy this classy dessert and get to practice the impressive skill of flambéing…

Rum Omelettes:
Eggs 3
Milk 2tbs
Salt 1/2 tsp
Caster Sugar 2tbs + 1tbs
Rum 15ml + 20ml
Butter 2tbsp

Whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, 2tbs sugar and 15ml of the Rum. Beat till the sugar dissolves, the more you beat, the lighter and fluffier your omelette gets.

Melt the butter in a preferably non-stick pan. Pour in the egg mixture and evenly spread around the pan, cook over a medium-low flame. Jiggle and shake the pan, side to side, to prevent the omelette from sticking.

When the omelette is cooked, and just a tiny bit slimy on the top, fold the omelette over. Now be quick, sprinkle the omelette over with the tablespoon of caster sugar. Turn your heat up to high and pour the rum over the omelette and some onto the pan so that it splutters. Let the flame from your range ignite the spluttering rum. Let it flambé and immediately put it in your plate whilst it is still alight.

If you possess an electric cooking range, use a flame torch, match or lighter to ignite the rum. Heating the rum beforehand will make it easier.

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