38 JULY 2018 By Elaina Verhoff We all have our favorite California beaches. Mission, Coronado, La Jolla, Del Mar. But for me, nothing beats Laguna Beach. Once upon a time, there were two near- newlyweds who moved into a beach cottage in North Laguna, and I was one of them. For three-and-a-half glorious years, I fulfilled my lifelong dream – watching the sun set over the ocean from my front deck, listening to seals barking as I drifted off to sleep, and starting my weekends with a tumbler of hot coffee in hand, strolling to some of world’s best beaches, shops and cafes. I’ve since returned to my desert roots, but when I go back to Laguna Beach for a visit, I try to make it to some of my favorite spots. Here are a few to consider on your next trip. WHERE TO STAY If I still had my beach cottage, of course you’d be invited to visit. But since I don’t, the next best thing is the Inn at Laguna Beach. Perfectly located on the beach side of the Pacific Coast Highway, you can skip right out the hotel doors and down to the water. They’ll also loan you towels, chairs, umbrellas, buckets and shovels, and even a basketball to shoot some hoops. Truly all the comforts of home. Fresh coffee in the lobby in the morning, fresh cookies in the lobby in the evening, and most importantly, free wine on the rooftop deck overlooking the Pacific every day from 5-6 p.m. BEACHES Main Beach and its iconic lifeguard tower are a big draw to Laguna. But if you want more of a private beach experience, head to the neighborhoods of North Laguna, where hidden staircases lead down to less populated stretches of sandy beaches. Shaw’s Cove, Diver’s Cove, and Fisherman’s Cove, in my opinion, are the best. When I lived there, Shaw’s Cove was the ultimate spot for collecting beach glass and tide pool gazing. FARMERS MARKET Every Saturday morning, there’s a Farmers Market at the top of Forest Avenue in the Lumberyard parking lot. I have the best memories of enjoying toothpick-speared samples of straight-from-the-farm produce, including the biggest variety of pluots (also called plumcots) you can imagine. July should be prime pluot season. I like the Dinosaur Egg variety. CAFES Plenty of new cafes have popped up around Laguna, but my favorite will always be Zinc Café. A perfect Laguna morning involves a coffee and newspaper enjoyed on the patio of Zinc, breathing in the ocean fresh air among the fancy people and pooches. Oatmeal lovers must try the Zinc steel cut oats, topped with a blend of brown sugar, dried fruit and almonds, and a splash of hot milk. (Packages of the Zinc steel- cut oats and fruit and nut mix, available in the Zinc market, were my go-to gift when I’d visit family in Phoenix.) Their eggs and toast are equally delicious. If French toast is your thing, Café Anastasia, just up the street, has caramel French toast to die for. And Penguin Café on the highway is pure greasy spoon deliciousness. ART With its roots as an artist colony, art is everywhere in Laguna! The first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., there’s a free Art Walk. Take the free trolley and enjoy wine and cheese while perusing the galleries along the highway. Trolley stops for first Thursday art walk can be found online. And if you haven’t been to Pageant of the Masters, this art spectacle is unbelievable. From July 7 to September 1, this 90-minute evening show truly brings art to life. FISH TACOS I would be remiss if I did not include the all-important fish taco category. You can’t go wrong with Wahoo’s “1988” fish tacos with chips and plenty of pico de gallo. Carmelitas also has amazing tacos and margaritas. And while a bit touristy, it’s never a bad idea to swing by the Las Brisas patio for a cocktail and maybe some tacos or ceviche. How to do Laguna Beach like a local LIV E M USIC & H A PPY HOU R U NTIL 10 PM Th eh e n ryr e sTau r a n T.c om @THEHENRYRESTAURANT EVERY WEDNESDAY EVERY WEDNESDAY Summer Happy Hour DAILY 3-6PM DAILY 3-6PM Neighborhood Nights 44TH + CAMELBACK 602.429.8020 Endless Summer j o i n u s f o r Through August

39 JULY 2018 By Nick Smith If you went to college, you’re probably familiar with ramen. When most people experience this Japanese dish, the setting is usually a dorm room or a first apartment with very little furniture, and preparation is as easy as it gets. All it takes is opening that orange package, pouring water over the rock-hard noodles, heating it up, and you’ve got a cheap meal that can fill you up. But there’s more to ramen than cheap instant. A lot more in fact, as the true dish is a complex combination of taste and texture. Those looking to try an authentic bowl can now do so nearby, at the newly opened Nishikawa Ramen. Although there are many different types and styles of true ramen, most consist of wheat noodles served in a hot meat-based broth, flavored with soy sauce or miso, and topped with a variety of meats and vegetables. Nishikawa Ramen opened their first location in Chandler before expanding to Arcadia back in April. The inside of the restaurant is small, with a handful of tables and booths for those looking to dine in. Carrying out is a big part of the service at Nishikawa, and the process of ordering food and walking out was quick and painless. There are several different appetizers to start off with, including pork gyoza, which are pan-fried pot stickers with pork and vegetables, served with ponzu sauce, and deep fried spring rolls. Other options include Nishikawa bowls, which are a mixture of fresh vegetables mixed with meat or fish. But the star of the show is, of course, the ramen. There are multiple offerings in this department, but we would highly suggest the Nishikawa Black. Like all the other ramen options (except for the vegetarian version) the dish is served in a traditional pork broth. The flavor of the broth might be the standout of the entire experience. The texture is rich and creamy, with a powerful taste of garlic and saltiness. It takes the cooks at Nishikawa 20 hours of boiling before the broth is ready to go. The meat of this dish is pork chashu, which is slow cooked pork belly. The chashu is perfectly soft, not dry at all. The toppings served included green onion, fried onion, seaweed, egg and sesame seeds. The noodles are chewy and flavorful, made from scratch each morning, and you’ll get a ton of them. Come hungry, as eating all of this in a single sitting will be a tall task. Overall, Nishikawa is exactly what one would hope for, giving those of us who have never been to Japan a chance to taste authentic ramen. If a restaurant can make you crave a steaming hot bowl of food in 110-degree weather, they must be doing something right. NISHIKAWA RAMEN 3141 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix 85016 nishikawa-ramen.com PLACES WE LIKE Pan-Fried Pot Stickers Nishikawa Black Ramen Yokahama Style Ramen TUESDAY FAMILY DEAL NIGHT: Large 2 Item Deep Dish or Extra Large Thin Crust Pizza 1 Appetizer, Mozzarella Sticks, Family Size Salad, & 4 Soft Drinks for the amazing price of $ 30 AWARD-WINNING DEEP DISH AND THIN CRUST PIZZA Order online at ginoseast.com or call 602-441-0704. WE NOW DELIVER! 602-441-0704 Now valid with dine in or take out! CALL TODAY! 602-441-0704 GINOSEAST .COM 3626 E. INDIAN SCHOOL RD. | PHOENIX #WEROLLDEEP @GINOSEASTRAZ 20% OFF YOUR ENTIRE BILL. Must present coupon to receive discount. Offer expires 7/31/18. Cannot be used for Tuesday night family deal. Delivery available through Amazon Restaurants, Uber Eats, Grubhub, Postmates or Doordash.