Mady's Deli & Cafe, Hollywood

Early each day, the cooks at Mady's Deli & Cafe assemble more than 40 fresh ingredients for their salad bar, chopping up juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and other organic vegetables as they bubble up pots of hard-boiled eggs on the stove. They gather fresh mozzarella and cheddar cheeses, lay out bowls of plump raisins and crunchy sunflower seeds, and craft batches of homemade dressings such as blue cheese, mandarin-orange vinaigrette, and fat-free Italian. Throughout the day, the cooks fold these mostly organic ingredients into customized salads, inviting diners to pick out greens, toppings, dressings, and astrological signs for their unique creations. When not building salads, the chefs slice up a variety of specialty sandwiches, layering crusty rolls with pastrami, roast beef, and grilled chicken. They also extend their culinary expertise to homemade soups and specialty entrees, such as baked lamb and stuffed cabbage. As the cooks busy themselves in the kitchen, their guests can relax beneath colorful umbrellas on the front patio with a cold glass of wine and beer.