No compensation was received for this post. I was invited to a Dine & Donate event at Boudin SF which facilitated the writing of this post.
Most of my childhood family vacations were spent at locales that we could drive to. We adopted the term “staycation” before it was a “thing” and our Summers were spent camping in the Santa Ynez mountains or exploring the sights in San Francisco. Even as a tween, I found myself with a very particular palate and I could spot a great restaurant with ease. One of my favorite places to grab a sandwich and a steaming bowl of clam chowder was Boudin SF.
With it’s origins in San Francisco, this old-world bakery has evolved into a brand with more than 30 café style restaurant locations throughout California. One little known fact about Boudin Bakery is that it is San Francisco’s oldest continuously operating company! I have distinctly fond memories of smelling their freshly baked sourdough bread even before the bakery was in sight. Up until we moved to Orange County, the only opportunities I had to get my Boudin “fix” was during our travels to San Francisco or San Diego. These days, the café is my go-to dining venue when shopping at South Coast Plaza or grabbing dinner before a Broadway show at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
Last week, Boudin opened up an additional location in Huntington Beach, California at the 5 Points Plaza. Centrally located on Beach Boulevard, this café offers breakfast, lunch and dinner along with 3 new menu items from the sea! From classics like Clam Chowder in a Sourdough Bread Bowl to comfort foods like grilled cheese and rustic tomato soup, locals can indulge in a hearty meal or get their fresh fix with a salad made with seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients.
The opening of a new Boudin Bakery location is always preceded by a series of philanthropic events which benefit a designated local charity. In Huntington Beach, Boudin partnered with The McKenna Claire Foundation, which seeks to raise awareness and funding for pediatric brain cancer, in a series of Dine & Donate events. Along with raising money and awareness regarding the important work these local organizations are involved with, Dine & Donate is a great way to introduce the community to Boudin.
My mom and I had a lunch date at the Huntington Beach location and while we have our favorite dishes, we decided to get a bit adventurous. I ordered the Grilled Brie with apples and fig jam (my new favorite item!) and my mom ordered the Turkey and Havarti Sandwich paired with their Spring Salad. Much of the menu features gourmet dishes merging unique flavors which is what makes Boudin stand out from other local cafés.
Boudin Bakery is located off of Beach Boulevard in the 5 Points Plaza at 18541 Beach Boulevard. You can view their menu online by visiting BoudinBakery.com.
San Diego will soon be opening up a new location at Balboa Mesa. The grand opening will be held on October 2nd, 2014, preceded by 3 Dine & Donate Events and their Signature Bread Winners Event. Stay tuned for the link to sign up for their Dine & Donate Events, and save the date of October 1st, 2o14. Bread Winners is your opportunity to win free bread for an entire year! Simply be one of the first 100 in line when the doors open. And if you can’t make it, you can participate in their Virtual Bread Winners event by posting a photo or video to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram showing what you would do with a year’s supply of The Original San Francisco Sourdough Bread. Be sure to tag your entries with the hashtag #makemeabreadwinner. Be sure to submit your entry before September 15th, 2014 at 11:59 PM PST. Voting opens on September 16th and winners will be announced on September 29th, 2014.
Images: Rockin’ Mama unless otherwise noted.
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The food and bread looks so good! Sounds like a great place to eat!