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One of the things I miss most about Los Angeles is the food, any kind of food you could possibly want. Since there are over 90 languages spoken in L. A., one can rest assured that the choices in cuisine are many. But it wasn't haute cuisine that gave me the most joy in this multi-cultural city

First of all, I'll address the obvious. There aren't many American cities that can offer the quality of Mexican food that Los Angeles can, and one of my favorite meals was in East L. A. at a mom and pop restaurant the name of which I can't remember. They spoke no English, but fortunately I was brought there by a good friend whose surname was Ruiz. It was a fine meal in an authentic atmosphere.

Another spot for Mexican food is a chain called Baja Fresh, one location of which was only minutes from my home, on Sunset Blvd. near Crescent Heights. The food was prepared as one waited, and it was not only fresh, it was delicious. I enjoyed taking the food home, as there were just simply too many Hollywood "wannabees" any time I went in.

Let me not forget the best individually owned Mexican restaurant that I patronized, El Coyote on Beverly Blvd. The crowds speak for themselves, as the quality is excellent, and the portions are large. If you go during the dinner hours, you'll probably have to wait for a seat. A friend of mine once celebrated a 20th anniversary here, and he paid for everybody's meal! Great food, great friend.

An institution in Los Angeles is Pink's Hot Dogs. There's always a line around Pink's, which has been serving the public for over 64 years. My favorite was a chili dog with cheese. You can see Pink's in a new Volvo commercial and in a commercial featuring the guys from "Entourage."

Of course there was quite a variety of seafood in this port city. One famous place, Gladstone's, was located on the beach at the very end of Sunset Blvd on Pacific Coast Highway. It's worth the trip, especially if one can be seated at one of the windows overlooking the beach and the Pacific Ocean. The food is well above average and priced within the reach of working folks. The portions are large, so prepare to take something home with you.

Just north on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu is a smaller, less fancy place called The Reel Inn. I prefer it over Gladstone's, as the food is better and no more costly. You order, wait, then take your basket to a seat inside, or outside on the patio. I could eat here at least once a week. It looks like a shack from outside, but don't be fooled.

Deli food is also easily available in this food heaven, The City of Angels. Canter's Delicatessen, in the Fairfax District, is open 24/7 and has been satisfying local palates since the 1930s. I simply adore their Reuben sandwich. It's so large that it's hard to get my mouth around it. Add some cole slaw or potato salad as a side, and slide into a kind of fugue even better than drugs! This is one of the reasons I'm "slightly" overweight.

I'm adding another deli, Jerry's Famous Delicatessen on Ventura Blvd. in Studio City. I must, as it served the best Cobb Salad I've ever had and also provided desserts that were truly magnificent. I'm sure you can get a good pastrami sandwich, too.

Being a southerner, I love good meatloaf. And the best place I found for this was Kate Mantalini's, an upscale eatery on Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills. Add the garlic mashed potatos, and feel true southern comfort. After the world premier of "Driving Miss Daisy," which I attended, at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, I tasted Kate's food for the first time. A close friend who worked for the producer of the film, Richard Zanuck, invited me to one of the most enjoyable evenings I had in my time in California. When one of my old college professors from 1970 came from Alabama to visit his daughter, a local attorney, I picked Kate Matalini's to break bread with him.

To complete my tour, I take you over Laurel Canyon Blvd. from Hollywood into Studio City. At the corner of Ventura and Laurel Canyon Boulevards is the home of the best pancakes in the world, yes, in the world, DuPar's Restaurant. Add a side of "crisp" bacon, and you know that God is a chef. I had my first DuPar's pancakes in 1980 during a visit to one of my oldest friends who had left Alabama, my early home, to become a professional actor, which he did. When I could think of no place I really wanted to eat, DuPar's was always the answer. When I first enjoyed these wonderful pancakes, I could eat a full stack, 5 pancakes. When I left L. A. in 2006, I was able to finish only a short stack, 3 pancakes. But it wasn't for lack of trying.

How I miss the good eating in Los Angeles! An addendum to the variety of food in L. A. is the fact that one could order almost anything delivered to his home. What wonderful culinary memories I have.