Just opened in November, Surfas is a place Worth Having a visit to!
Just off the Harbor Blvd #405 Exit in Costa Mesa lies yet another shopping center, but the South Coast Collection, or #SOCO http://southcoastcollection.com/html/stores.php is a real upgrade for Orange County shopping. SOCO is home to The Mix, and the first Surfas Culinary District outside of LA and Hot Springs, AR, and is part of the closest thing to a Hipster environment here in OC.
If you consider yourself a #Foodie or just love to eat, Surfas http://www.culinarydistrict.com/ is worth a visit. You will be drawn in by the outside signage that promises all sorts of tasty experiences. Once inside this large warehouse-store the first thing you see is an amazing counter of imported deli meats from Italy, Spain and elsewhere, cheeses from around the world that will make your mouth water. There’s even a counter where you can order cheese platters to enjoy in store. The selection is incredible, but then you look around and find a food wonderland just waiting to be explored.
I fought off the urge to sit at the cheese counter and dive into a platter, because across the store I saw a sign that said “Cafe” and on a loud speaker I could hear customer’s orders being announced as ready for pick up. “Short Rib Sandwich for Eddie!” Setting off toward the cafe we were immediately sidetracked by the wall of refrigerator glass doors which held delicacies of all types inside. Sodas from across the USA and Europe. Ready made pastas and ravioli, Butter from New Zealand, the contents were screaming for my attention and appetite.
We then explored the interior of this huge store for about 30 minutes. Are you looking for a particular type of salt or salt or pepper mill? They have it. How’s about pizza paddles (to remove pizzas from your pizza oven of course!)? They have those in several wood finishes and metal as well. We trolled the aisles looking at Olive Oils and Vinegars – the sample space of this aisle tends to get crowded. We ventured through the canned foods, most imported, then on to the baking section that positively reeked of Chocolate-my favorite aroma.
Although we still were attempting to get to the cafe we continued to peruse the stock, including pots, pans, cake pans – springforms, bundt, cupcakes, you name it. Then we came to plates, cups, wine glasses including unbreakable ones for your yacht, and more toys for cooks. Need a mandolin? a salad dryer/spinner the size of a trash can? You get the idea, if you need it Surfas has it. I can see planning a party here and catering it here as well.
Finally, 45 minutes after entering we’ve reached the Cafe! The blackboard menus look enticing. Soup of the day is Clam Chowder, freshly baked desserts confront us, daring us to look away. We order a Asian Spiced Slow Roasted Pulled Pork Sandwich and the S & S – a cross between a pizza and a flatbread available in Classic, Whole Wheat & Gluten Free. S & S stands for Sausage & Spinach, with Artichoke Hearts too. Be still my heart!
The sandwich arrives with a side salad, on a crusty french baguette. It is divine, the meeting of West (Pulled Pork) and East (Asian Spices). A moment later the loud speaker announces my S & S and I pick up a large 8 slice designer pizza/flatbread. The toppings are great, the cheeses melty, the spices meld beautifully. We can’t finish so we ask for boxes, and the boxes come complete with individualized sayings on them. My box quotes Charles Kuralt “You can find your way across this country by burger joints like a navigator would use stars.” Words to live by!
What’s right with Surfas, the Mix and the SOCO Center would take a few more pages of writing. What’s wrong with Surfas? Their hours are from 9:00 to 6:00 Monday – Saturday and from 10:00 to 5:00 on Sunday. Alas, no dinners! If you work off of Harbor or plan to be in this area just north of South Coast Plaza Mall, stop here and let me know what you think! A trip to Surfas is definitely Worth Having!
Worth Having 