A Bit of Brunch Bliss at Active Culture

The morning San Clemente air felt brisk as the sun shone bright. Fred & I found free public three hour parking & walked a brief couple hundred feet to our destination: Active Culture.* We opened the door & spotted a couple of girls waiting to take their order. Both were dressed in head-to-toe activewear. One girl had fresh, chunky mud on her trainers while the other wasn't wearing any shoes at all, just a colorful pair of socks.

Decor

The interior & outside were spacey, open, & light with minimal decorations. The San Clemente Active Culture provides ample seating to fit a great number of guests. At any given moment a new customer traipsed in to order at the counter. They received a sand-filled glass bottle with a number, so the staff could find them to deliver the food.

We chose a seat on the shaded patio outside to enjoy the fresh air. We were the only ones on the patio then, but it was nearly filled by the time we left. The busy main street created a bit of noise but didn't phase me. I like the sport of people-watching.

Service

Nina took care of us & she was friendly as could be. Whenever I finished photographing one food she brought another dish. The rest of the team appeared amicable & ready to take your order or answer any questions.

Food

The Bountiful Bowl came with Greek yogurt, organic açaí, organic granola, flaxseeds, banana, blueberries, strawberries, & raw, organic agave nectar. You can identify the Greek yogurt the moment it hits your mouth — it's creamy, thick, & delicious. The bowl is enormous & so satisfactory with all the fruit, flax, & granola. A good choice for anyone at anytime.

If you're looking for a breakfast sandwich to start off your day, opt for the Deluxe Egg-el (Egg-Bagel). It's a sprouted wheat bagel with scrambled organic eggs, melted cheese, onion, tomato, avocado, & seasoning. The topping was beautifully placed & colorful. You can't go wrong with a classic, hearty, egg ridden breakfast sandwich.

Get a pop of flavor & order Huevos Rancheros, a relatively new item on the menu. The presentation of the organic corn tortillas, organic beans, cheddar cheese, organic eggs, homemade Ranchero sauce, sour cream, avocado, cilantro, & seasoning was mouthwatering. Bonus points for perfectly cooked eggs with a runny yolk. When I punctured one, the yolk came creeping out. Loved it.

The Mushroom Soup was easily my favorite with carrots, green beans, celery, & mushrooms (of course). This soup is the ultimate comfort food; something you'd want to drink or eat on a cold rainy night or in my case a chilly San Clemente morning.

Drink

Nina surprised us with a couple of drinks. She brought a Chocolate Bliss Shake, which is organic, vegan, gluten free, & soy free. The shake is made with their homemade raw organic almond milk, organic frozen coconut base, fair trade organic dark chocolate, raw cocoa powder, & organic vanilla. This was one of the best drinks I've ever had in my entire life & well worth the price. No joke. It's so indulgent, so marvelous. It's no wonder why "Bliss" is already included in the name.

H&M coat (similar) // Cotton On dress (similar) // Italia Deluxe lip liner (similar)

Up next: the Refresh juice. This sexy green drink is organic, vegan, & raw with cucumber, apple, spinach, mint, & lemon. It's totally something I could see myself slurping down to cure a hangover. The only qualm was that I kept tasting the Refresh a couple hours later in my burps. Odd, right?

Verdict

Active Culture is a hip, popular spot in San Clemente. Anytime I mentioned I took a visit there, I was met with groans of jealousy. Even my friend said, "I saw your photo of Active Culture. That place has some yummy food as I’m sure you experienced!" Yes, indeed. I did experience that!

I really liked the Mushroom Soup as well as the Bountiful Bowl, but the all-star champion was the Chocolate Bliss Shake. It was such a magical & unforgettable concoction. I'll likely dream about it every day until I can get my hands on another one. My boyfriend's favorite was the Huevos Rancheros. The friendly staff, abundant seating, & grand variety of food & drink made for a terrific experience. I would easily pay Active Culture another visit.

How does Active Culture look to you? Which item looks the yummiest? :]

You may find Active Culture: 

111 S El Camino Real
San Clemente, CA 92672
(949) 276-4625

www.activeculturecafe.com

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* Disclaimer: Everything was received complimentary from Active Culture. All opinions are 100% mine aka Carmen's. Learn more about my disclosure here. :]