Soda Stream seems like the answer to your question. Get the 0.5L optional bottle in addition to the 1L bottle that comes with it.

Agree. If cost is your concern, the smaller and more local you get, the more expensive it is. It is often less resource efficient than larger or distant (yes, even foreign) producers.

Also, buy dry beans rather than canned, grow your own herbs (easier and higher yield than veggies), buy in bulk on sale and freeze (may need 2nd freezer), and make your own bread

No. Sabra hummus sold in stores is the largest Mediterranean salad company in the world. The restaurant is independent and makes its own hummus.

Pat's is one of the older and more reputable ones, but I would post on the Kosher board for more replies.

No, it is not preventable through diet. Mark Bittman is not an M.D., and this is more of an annoying pattern of him awkwardly dabbling in non-cooking topics without qualification or accuracy.

Depends on what area of the city you'll be. I generally like the casual places.

Pico Robertson area: Mexikosher, Jeff's Gourmet Sausage

Valley: Pizza Nosh (way out there), Fish in the Village, Le Sushi

Beverly/La Brea: Ta-eem Grill (heard good things, never been), Pizza Mayven, Fish Grill (also have locations in Malibu, West LA, and I think the Valley). There's also a CY Coffee Bean on Beverly just west of La Brea here.

Mid-City: La Seine (elegant), Cafe of Paris (breakfast/lunch only)

Western Kosher's new Pico location had them for .99, limit 3. Call to see if they still have in stock.
http://westernkosher.com/

The Cask on Pico. All kosher.

There is no such thing as "greedy". It's a matter of costs, supply, and demand. Melrose/Fairfax rent is probably a lot higher than Beverly/Western rent.

Jeff's Sausages on Pico is quite good. I've also heard that Got Kosher also on Pico makes a good Merguez, but I haven't tried it.

Isn't the fact that the bread would be sold in a milchig restaurant enough of a sign? It's different than milchig bread sold in a supermarket selling all types of products.

Tierra Sur in Oxnard. Pricey, but good.

26 by Shiloh's, Shiloh's Steakhouse, Pat's, La Seine, La Gondola

The Holocaust museum has some prepackaged kosher stuff in their cafeteria: http://www.ushmm.org/visit/cafe/

We dip hard boiled (whole or cut in half usually) eggs into the salt water before shulchan oruch (the main meal). Family is from Poland.

Chick n chow on Pico is the first one that comes to mind. They have a few tables or you could take out.

The yeshivish world tends to disregard healthy food or exercise.

Montreal bagels are 1 of the 2 major types of bagel, the other being a NY style bagel.

Not sure about SF but on the way there is Mt. View and Palo Alto, which are about an hour south. Mt. View has The Kitchen Table which is very good nice restaurant. Palo Alto has Izzy's which is a bagel/pizza place. If you're interested, Palo Alto also has a supermarket called Molly Stones which carries a lot of kosher products and meats.

I second Jeff's. Nagila meat and dairy places are also popular.

There is definitely none in LA, and I doubt any in the world outside maybe Israel.

I thought Hebrew National was owned by ConAgra, while Sara Lee owned Sinai.

I think all the major lines offer the frozen meals, and most will try to accommodate you so that you can have some non-packaged food.

Yea, The Kitchen Table is probably the best restaurant around, but it is a drive.

Tierra Sur at Herzog Wine Cellars is good.
http://www.herzogwinecellars.com/html...

Actually, I have noticed supermarket prices down the last few months with very good sales. Gallon of milk is under $2 in CA.

That's his job. He isn't traveling and eating just for pleasure. It is his current career.

I actually find Bourdain boring when he strays into his political commentary. He usually says nothing but vague cliches that seem to have meaning enhanced by camera angles that show him alone pondering the world.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/c...

I really liked this piece, but I imagine it will irritate many fellow CHs.

Oh yea, I like Strubs too. Forgot about them.