Comfort foods are reminiscent of happy times

When I think about “comfort food,” it evokes memories of my Mom’s homemade apple pie steaming fresh from the oven, Aunt Jackie’s lightly crispy fried chicken, or my mother-in-law Mary’s special potato salad, zingy with herbs. What each person considers comfort food is based on many things – their cultural background, life’s experiences during happy times, and family traditions.

Over time, many people have told me what types of items they consider to be comfort food that bring back nostalgic memories. Some of these run fairly consistent in the population and Fallbrook area restaurant owners know it! Comfort food items are traditionally quite reasonable in price – never the highest-priced items on the menu. While there isn’t ample space here to list them all, there are a few local standouts that tribute should be paid to.

The yummy, homemade Cinnamon Roll offered at Garden Center Cafe is one. Served warm and sinfully aromatic, this large roll is liberally topped with chopped nuts and a satisfying brown sugar cinnamon sauce. the crowning glory is that the chef tops it with a generous dollop of butter that gradually begins melting on its way out of the kitchen.

The Cinnamon Roll certainly isn’t the only thing that fits the comfort food list at the Garden Center Cafe. Depending on one’s opinion, it could easily be the French Toast, served fresh off the grill served with delectable Lemon Maple Curd sauce. Need more comfort? There is an option to have it stuffed with cream cheese!

For those who grew up enjoying a Mexican flavor to their food, the Garden Center Cafe’s Huevos Rancheros is a winner. Two fresh eggs are cooked to order and served a top a warm corn tortilla, which is then topped with flavorful ranchero sauce, melted cheese, fresh avocado, and complemented with black beans.

The Chicken Pot Pie at Fallbrook Cafe is also at the top of the comfort food list. Savory and satisfying, this outstanding pie is an extremely generous serving. While the interior is composed of chunks of juicy chicken and assorted vegetables in a creamy gravy, the whole thing is comprehensively wrapped in a very flaky melt-in-your-mouth crust and cooked until golden brown. This has proved popular with all ages!

The menu at Fallbrook Cafe has many comfort food choices – hearty and filling. Examples include Hot Turkey, Roast Beef or Meatloaf Sandwiches served with mashed potatoes and gravy. Many a person can’t resist the Chicken Fried Steak or biscuits and gravy offered at the cafe as well.

Whether one is looking for comfort food at breakfast, lunch, or dinner, this is a good spot.

When on the run, many favor Kentucky Fried Chicken, where more choices than ever abound, and the whole menu can easily be considered as comfort food.

Kentucky Fried Chicken’s new boneless chicken makes it even easier! Hand-breaded, it’s easy food for consumers of all ages to enjoy. The choices of side dishes including cole slaw, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, and biscuits are considered classic favorites by many.

So, no matter when the need arises, comfort food can be found, in several places, in Fallbrook.