I must say, we've been very pleasantly suprised at the quality of the food here -- and it doesn't stop with BBQ and Tex Mex. We've already found better New York style deli than we were accustomed to, and a new one recently opened that supposed to be even better. We were warned to forget about Asian food here, but I stopped for a quick bite on a shopping strip and it was very good, with NY roots in its style and presentation (not found in CA). It was served in a bowl over rice, Chinese style, which I really appreciated. The hot and sour soup was excellent.

Bagels were also a surprise here. They have one prolific bagelry, Einstein's bagels, which makes a fair bagel on par with Noah's -- but not so puffy. But there are others, one called simply The Bagelry, the other Hot Jumbo Bagel. Another league. Dense, flavorful. The center hole open, uncompromised. Very true to a Manhatten bagel. Delightful.

But it's not just us California transplants.