Of all the small public parks that polka dot Pasadena, Grant Park has always been one of my favorites. Myself, with a handful of other CPK have been frequenting this spot for years.
(CPK? I guess I should explain that... While the acronym is most known for California Pizza Kitchen, it is also a term I've coined for Cool Parents with Kids)
OK, now that we've clarified the terminology... Let me continue.My kids and I had dropped by Grant Park recently when I noticed all the new changes happening over at Eddie's Market. Eddie's had forever been the typical neighborhood corner store that in the past, you would go with your friends to buy Pop Rocks, and the likely place where your Uncle Bill would buy smokes against Auntie Annie's wishes...
Through the years, I had always longed for Eddie's Market to be something more.
Eddie's location next to the park was ideal. The building itself had "great bones" in a classic hometown styling that instantly made you feel welcome, but there was still something about the place that was lacking. A missing ingredient if you will.
Enter "Ginger" Corner Market.With my affection for the park well established, I'm predisposed to like Ginger right away. Nowhere in Pasadena does such a "Perfect Storm" exist. Here, in this one spot, you will find a friendly/small/manageable park with play area, easy street parking, and a corner store across the street providing drinks, food, and goodies for kids and parents alike.
Where else can you let your little rugrats run and fun in the park while you sip on your freshly brewed macchiatto or home-made lemonade?
Where else can you eat this well and this healthy while still managing to keep an eye on the already running, already funning rugrats?
To put it simply... Such a place didn't exist. Until now...
While I will not do a complete review, I will hit upon some highlights as to why you should be here yesterday, and why other CPK in the know, are already here...
Let's take a stroll in pictures shall we?
Upon entering Ginger, the "Welcome-ness" that the exterior building exudes has been brought inside. Marble counter tops and period fixtures bring a nostalgic familiarity to the place that was lacking in the previous space.
These baked goodies are the first things that greet you as you walk in. I didn't have any, but they looked lovely. My daughter, who did have some, assured me of their lovely-ness.
Did I mention, they also have ice cream?
And not just any ice cream... Mother Moo's Creamery! My absolute favorite ice cream in So Cal that nobody knows about yet. If you haven't visited their location in Sierra Madre, you don't know ice cream.
Did I also mention that they feature Jones Coffee? Good Job Larry! (OK, disclaimer here, I went to school with Mr. Jones, so I'm biased, but this is darn good coffee. Trust me.)
Let's get to what I had for lunch... My kale salad was very nice with a light orange vinaigrette covering kale, roasted carrots and toasted almonds. The dressing which comes on the side, is just enough to dress the salad without drowning the kale. The problem often times with kale is that it can be dry or can get soggy very quickly. So the tip here is to thoroughly toss the salad before eating so the kale is covered and flavored evenly.
Here's what the kids had for lunch... Grilled Cheese. In the menu, it's described as "cheddar cheese on fruit nut bread." It certainly passed the eyeball test and was quickly devoured by my ravenous rugrats.
Here are the other offerings for your perusal...
I would be remiss if I didn't at least post one picture of the park... Here is the main play area. In the background you will see the big climbing "Spiderweb" thingy. This is the main draw to the park and why my kids love it so much. In fact, my kids don't even refer to it as Grant Park. When they want to come here, they ask to be taken to "Spiderweb Park."
So, if you're a CPK like I am and live in the Pasadena area, don't forget your friends, Grant and Ginger...
Grant and Ginger?
Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers perhaps?
I've never met the owners of this establishment, so I haven't a clue as to where the name derives from, but with Google being your friend... Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers starred in 2 prominent movies, one of them being "Monkey Business" which I find oddly fitting.
"Monkey Business" is certainly the star attraction at the park with Grant, but don't you forget about Ginger...
Ginger is simply the kind of place where good food and good fun never go out of style...
Ginger Corner Market
217 S Michigan Ave
Pasadena, CA 91106
Tel: (626) 795-2447
Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 am - 6:30 pm
Sat-Sun 10:30 am - 6:30 pm
