[img]96|left|Shachar||no_popup[/img]Dateline Jerusalem — Since all I seem to do is ride buses and trains, or walk throughout my town, I make a point of observing my surroundings.

No wonder so many Americans feel at home in Israel and the reverse, Israelis are comfortable coming to the U.S. American and Israeli products and companies can be found in abundance in both countries. For both, it is like home away from home.

McDonald's golden arches are seen throughout the country. There even is a kosher McDonald's in Israel, the only other one being in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Burger King is very popular here, but not kosher.

Israel, however has its own burger places such as the kosher Burger Bar and Burger Ranch. Kentucky Fried Chicken, kosher in Jerusalem, is a familiar fast food place, but the shops are not drive-thru. I have not seen any drive-thru fast-food restaurants since I have been in Israel. Of course, I do not have a car, so maybe they do exist and I just am unaware of them.

There are a few kosher Pizza Huts and many non-kosher ones throughout the country. I am one of their best kosher customers. I call up and they deliver. They know me because I am probably their only customer who does not speak Hebrew. The kosher version is just as good as I remember their regular pizzas in the U.S. before I became kosher. Domino Pizza shops are here, but they are not kosher. Pizza is everywhere, and kosher pizza is very good.

Israel is famous for their variety of cheeses, and almost all the pizza stands serve pasta dishes as well.

But Delis Are Like Hen’s Teeth

However, it is difficult to find a good deli restaurant, except in Jerusalem and Raanana, where there is a large American contingency. In fact, Raanana has a supermarket called Meatland, one of the few places to find root beer and other popular American products. But Israeli markets sell Coke and Pepsi and 7-Up and Sprite. Although these drinks are always kosher in Israel and the U.S., during Pesach (Passover) these sodas are specially made kosher for Passover.

Of course, here, the fast food that Israelis love, and Americans have learned to love, are falafel and shwarma. Both can be served in a pita (a pocket-type sandwich bread) or wrapped in a laffa (large Arab bread). Falafel are deep fried balls made from ground chickpeas (garbanzo beans) or fava beans and spices. The falafel stands have a variety of condiments and salads that customers add to their falafels.

Almost all falafel pitas are smothered with hummus (mashed chickpeas blended with tahini, which is a sesame seed paste, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and garlic), Israeli salad (tomatoes and cucumbers finely diced), pickles, chips (thick french fries) and a choice of fried eggplant slices, harif (hot red pepper chili paste), baba-ganoush (mashed eggplant dip), and a variety of other vegetables and dips.

Shwarma is made from lamb, turkey or chicken that rotates on a vertical spit while lamb fat and onion drip down as it heats. A large electric knife shaves off the outer edges, which are gathered and stuffed in a pita or laffa. Shwarma is also served with hummus and Israeli salad. Some people like to have it with a very spicy mango sauce.

Grounds for Enjoyment

Israeli coffee is the best. The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf restaurants in the States originated in Israel. They are kosher in the U.S., too. Many people here drink lattes and cafe shachor, similar to but different from Turkish coffee, which is made by boilin finely powdered roast coffee beans in a pot. The dregs settle in the bottom of your cup. Most people drink it with sugar, but I like the “mud” taste and consistency.

Besides food, Home Center and Ace Hardware, as well as Ikea stores can be found all over Israel, but the prices here tend to be higher than in the States. Toys R Us, Best Buy and Simmons mattress stores can also be located in malls (canyons) and outlet store areas. In fact, if the name of the store is written in English, it probably is a company from the U.S., Canada, or England.

But the best part of Israel is that it is similar to California's climate, vegetation and topography. It is like being at home away from home.

L'hitraot. Shachar

Shachar is the Hebrew name of a California-based attorney and former Los Angeles County deputy sheriff who moved to Israel almost three years ago.