48. Marianne's 10-20 Ice Cream At Ruby's Diner

Behold our annual 100 Favorite Dishes countdown! Every day until the publication of our fantabulous Best Of Issue, we'll list our favorite meals this year in descending order. Enjoy, pass it on, and tune in daily!

Ruby's Diner is an Orange County original. It's an anti-greasy spoon. You can spot the red and white striped uniforms and practically hear the Shooby Dooby Down jingle as you walk by. It's a clean, well-lit place with classic tunes and a nostalgic vibe. We take them for granted because it's a chain, but they're also a functional brand that families and groups can scoot to when full-service, All-American grub is requested.

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We didn't think they would ever try to improve upon what wasn't broke, but we're glad they did. It began earlier this year, when Ruby's started scooping ice cream dreams crafted by Santa Cruz-based Marianne's out of their Laguna Beach spot. It was a perfect match, instantly upgrading a standard dessert selection. The inspiration to carry them came from a fateful visit to Marianne's a decade ago. Founder Doug Cavanaugh tasted the best darn ice cream he ever had. An all-natural product, their 125 flavor arsenal includes Cantaloupe and Cardamom Pistachio. Only a dozen tastes are currently offered at Laguna and Huntington Beach, but the 17th Street location in Costa Mesa will be carrying them soon enough. Eventually, all locations will feature this ice cream.

So how did we decide on a favorite? Simple. It was the one that incorporated our three favorite sweets: Oreos, fudge and caramel. A triple threat, if you will. Usually, we're lucky to find two of these blended in a gimmicky flavor. All three? It was a sign. Its unusual name is from Marianne's Ice Cream shop address, 1020 Ocean Street. While this Weekling prefers salty and savory, the combined tastes of brownies, caramel squares and Oreo cookies are bliss. Can't beat all our childhood faves sharing one spoonful.

The List:

49. Chile Relleno Pretzel Cheeseburger at OC Fair
50. Lunch at Big Thunder Ranch at Disneyland
51. Pescado A Lo Macho at Muelle Peruvian Cantina
52. Cemita de Milanesa at La Cemita Poblana
53. Meatballs and Polenta at 320 Main
54. Shellfish (Ốc) at Hien Vuong Da Kao
55. Basic Bol at Boldo Bol
56. Bang Bang Shrimp at Bonefish Grill
57. 10-Item Plate at Thuan Kieu Noodle & Grill
58. Leche Frita at Cafe Sevilla
59. Happy Hour Sushi at Ginzaya
60. Red Beans and Rice at Disneyland's French Market
61. Consommé from Tacos y Birria El Güero
62. Fried Chicken Biscuit Sandwich at Little Sparrow
63. Breakfast Taco at Sapphire Laguna
64. Husky Burger at Husky Boy Burgers
65. Love Bagel from Koffee Klatch
66. Kouign Amann From The Crema Cafe & Bakery
67. Chili Lime Popcorn From Green Tomato Grill
68. PB & J At Hopscotch
69. Takuwan Sushi from AnQi by Crustacean
70. Ube Ensaymadas from The Ensaymada Project
71. Pork Bánh Mì at the OC Poultry and Rotisserie Market
72. Tacos Gobernador from Mariscos Los Corales
73. Dutch Baby at the Original Pancake House
74. Doughnuts from Sidecar
75. Lengua Tacos at La Chonita
76. Oysters from Carlsbad Aquafarm at the Orange Homegrown Farmers Market
77. Lemon Miso Crab Melt at Umami Burger in Laguna Beach
78. Pani Puri from Adya
79. The Pocket at the Pocket Burger
80. Gyro Sandwich from Paul's Place
81. Slice of Heaven at Pie-Not
82. Taquitos at El Toro Bravo
83. Peanut Butter and Jelly Donut at the Donuttery
84. Dan Dan Mian at Wei-Shian Noodle
85. Beef Burger at Rider's Club Café
86. Smoked Trout at Provenance
87. Small Plates at A&J Restaurant
88. Corn Cheese at Zoomak Asian Bistro
89. Pumpkin Curry at Bhan Baitong
90. Poke at Costco Tustin II
91. Pambazo at Tacos Radioactivos
92. Beef Pho at Pho Crystal Noodle House
93. Breakfast Burrito from Cafe Calacas
94. Koobideh Plate from Grill Cafe
95. Tacos de Cecina from Alebrije's
97. Breakfast Sausage from Da-Le Ranch
98. Any Special Dinner by Old Vine Cafe's Mark McDonald
99. Tres Amigos Burrito from Piaggio on Wheels
100. Bacon-Wrapped Dates from Lola Gaspar

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