Cool, Hot and Jewish

It’s tough to resist the temptation of calling this list “The Best of Jewish L.A.” Plenty of publications and Web sites anoint restaurants, products and people with the hallowed “best of” label. We don’t go in for such hype.

Instead, our writers and editors weigh in about what they like in the community, from kosher-friendly fro-yo to a venue that draws numerous Israeli musicians. The choices reflect not only the varied tastes of our staff, but also the great diversity of L.A. Jewish life. What are some of your favorite things about Jewish L.A.? E-mail us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and let us know.

New Twists on Challah
For most of us, challah is a weekly staple, predictable and not particularly interesting. There are the familiar additions of raisins or chocolate chips, but the game tends to stay the same, week to week: soft, sweet egg bread in the familiar golden braid. Got Kosher? a cafe, catering company and kosher wholesaler, offers some new twists on the old favorite with a variety of gourmet challahs, spicing up their loaves with everything from turmeric and macadamia nuts to fennel and salt. Perhaps the best version is the simplest: pretzel challah (above), which comes with a dark, delicious pretzel crust that gives way to the same beloved eggy goodness inside. The exterior is firm but not crunchy and the interior is deliciously moist — which is good, because change is always exciting but the classics are the classics for a reason. Got Kosher? 8914 W. Pico Blvd., (310) 858-1920. gotkosherinc.com.
— Alexandra Romanoff, Contributing Writer