Well, I can't write about LA without writing about Canter's. Even though I'm a yoga-obsessed health nut for the most part, I grew up Jewish and I'm a sucker for a great deli. In the Bay Area where I live, nothing comes up to snuff. After all, I grew up around New York City, world capital of delis.

But Canter's in Los Angeles fits the bill.

This is the real deal and by far I think the best deli in LA. Even though the prices are a bit steep and parking can be tough in the West Hollywood location, it's worth it. Try their bagels with cream cheese, lox, onion, tomato, and capers. Their salmon is perfectly smoked and not too salty. This might be my final meal of choice if I was about to be executed!

Or try any of the egg dishes, especially the matzoh brei. Or their cheese blintzes filled with delicious crumbly farmer's cheese and served with sour cream and strawberries. Or their rich chicken soup filled with vegetables and matzo balls or kreplach, little meaty dumplings. Even their half-sour pickles and cabbage salad fragrant with coriander are perfect.

You can't go wrong. I've never had a dish there that wasn't divine and authentic (i.e. like my Russian/Jewish grandmother made).

For Canter's to receive a certificate of true Jewish Deli Authenticity the waitpeople would have to be a little more curt and less friendly, and give you their unsolicited criticisms on what you just ordered (and anything else too!) That's how the delis are New York, but hey, I'm not complaining!