Southern California - Carbo loading in Orange County

I am coming up to Irvine to do the Amtrak Century Sept 12. I live in San Diego, so I am doing the reverse. Coming up on Friday and spending the night down the street from the train station.

I am meeting three or four family friends from LA to help me carbo load the night before. Looking for a recommendations for your favorite restaurant in Orange County. I am looking for a family eatery VS an Olive Garden type of chain. I am a linguine with clams type of guy.... Any favorite places?

What do you guys do the day before a big ride?

Thanks

Rennaissance Bistro, Birch street, Brea.

Linguine with clams the night before a century? That's hardcore.

Maggiano's (http://www.maggianos.com/) at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa.
It's not too expensive and it's a few notches up from Buca de Beppo & Olive Garden, but earlier is better because they can crowd up on Fridays & Saturdays.

I dunno about you, but the last time I did the Amtrak, I had dinner at Jack in the Box the night before and did the the thing in 5.5 hours on my fixer. I think the whole "carbo loading the night before" is over rated. If you aren't eating good the week up to an event, the night before won't help at all.

Roma D' Italia in Tustin
http://www.romaditalia.com/

Linguine 'n clams.

Which wine do you pair that with?

I always have trouble figuring that out and end up with the house cheapo Chianti.

Yeah, carbo loading the nite before is way over rated. What you'll want to do is to take a dump early because that train station at the start gets busy and there's a waiting line to sit on the pot.

I dunno about you, but the last time I did the Amtrak, I had dinner at Jack in the Box the night before and did the the thing in 5.5 hours on my fixer. I think the whole "carbo loading the night before" is over rated. If you aren't eating good the week up to an event, the night before won't help at all.

Carb loading the night before is really pointless. The proper way to do it is to eat a reasonable amount of carbs a few days before leading up to it. But for a "ride" not a "race" I don't exactly see any point to it. Oh and BTW, I'm in agreement with you. =)

Since you will be in Irvine, I'd recommend heading just south of the Irvine Spectrum to Peppino's (http://www.peppinosonline.com/locations.html). It's one of my favorite places to go around there and it's close. They have killer linguine and clams, in both red and white sauces.

Just beat me to it on the Peppino's - a small family chain.
Overheard at an ocean race pre-start once "Those guys thought they were carbo loading but they were just building up a good crap"

http://www.vessia.com/

Great place, off of Alton and Culver

What do you guys do the day before a big ride?



Carnitas Los Reyes at Palmyra and Tustin in Orange. Nuff said.

just eat a big ass bowl of oatmeal in the morning.

There's a Buca-di-beppo right on the border of Irvine & Tustin. Decent linguine & clams.