Bite-sized Nuggets Q+A

Gemma Correll is a freelance illustrator, originally from the U.K. now based in Fullerton, California. Her comics take creativity to a hilarious level, covering everything from forbidden fantasies, dog parenting to personification of her favorite foods. Let’s just say, she’s one friend we’d love a holiday card from.

Artist: Gemma Correll

Published: November 16, 2022

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Fullerton, CA

What’s your takeout routine?

We order takeout pretty often. Maybe every other day for one meal and then we’ll usually have leftovers for the next day. We generally have a 2-cooked-meals-to-one-takeout-meal kind of schedule, although sometimes the takeout “meal” is just coffee.

Where should we eat if we’re in your neighborhood?

I’m in Fullerton, which is in Orange County (next to LA County) and we’re really lucky to have some incredible diversity locally. There’s a lot of amazing East Asian food, like Noodle Street and Uncle Fung on Buena Park. Then there’s the Cuban bakery and restaurant Porto’s in Buena Park–very reasonably priced–and the guava refugiado is one of my favorite snacks. Downtown Fullerton has a fantastic authentic Neapolitan pizza restaurant, Fuoco. Then there’s Smoking Tiger Cafe – I’m obsessed with their strawberry matcha and baked goods. Farolito’s is a small local Mexican restaurant chain that I love. Their Chile relleno is the best.

And for comfort food and other cravings?

I’m British and I love Indian food. Spice Social in downtown Fullerton is a favorite, along with Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen and the Curry Hut. I would eat Spice Social’s yellow dahl and goat’s cheese naan for every meal. There’s even an authentic British pub in downtown Fullerton (the Olde Ship) where I can get my full English breakfast fix when necessary.

Any restaurants you wouldn’t mind traveling for?

Further afield, my current favorite is the Bolo Yao from Kee Wah bakery in Rowland Heights. It’s a warm sweet bun with butter and it’s delicious. Oh, and I can’t forget the incredible Lebanese and Arabic food to be found in Anaheim. The saag bread at Zait and Zaatar with some baba ganoush and falafel from Sahara are a couple of highlights. I’m a big fan of HiroNori and Silverlake Ramen, too.

When ordering takeout for you and others, how do you decide what to get?

I live with my husband, Anthony and 3 pugs. The pugs don’t get a say but sometimes I let Anthony decide. We generally agree on what to order although he tends to err on a slightly healthier side than I do. He stops me from ordering junk food for every meal and reminds me to eat my greens (although he has a penchant for the not-exactly -healthy QuesaBirria tacos, something I don’t eat myself).

Finally, craziest thing you’ve ordered for takeout?

We’ve definitely ordered obscene amounts of donuts in order to meet the take out minimum. I think we ate donuts for every meal one day, which was ridiculous.

What’s the most indulgent guilty pleasure you’ve ordered (example: boba with literally all the fixings)?

Apart from the donuts, we ordered big diner pancake breakfasts on Christmas Day last year. We were spending the day at home so decided to order the full works (eggs, hash browns and a bunch of different toppings – I think I got banana and macadamia). I don’t think we needed to eat another meal that day.

Do you eat your takeout straight out of the containers, or do you plate your food?

It depends on the food but we do usually plate it. Anthony doesn’t like plastic cutlery, so we save ours. We’ve been collecting it to donate to a shelter. We have a drawer full already.

It seems like you really have a thing for pizza. Tell me your favorite toppings, and your “heck no” toppings. Any strong opinions on pineapple as a topping? What’s your favorite style of pizza (neapolitan, deep dish, NYC, etc.)?

Neapolitan is my favorite but I enjoy every style of pizza. I usually go with pretty simple toppings – basil, smoked mozzarella and mushrooms. I am a pineapple-on-pizza fan, but only on American style pizzas, not on Neapolitan, some things are sacred!