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Latke Throwdown Pits Chefs In Battle For Potato Pancake Supremacy
By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Nov 15, 2011
Modified Nov 15, 2011
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By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Nov 15, 2011
Modified Nov 15, 2011
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Sure, Thanksgiving is right around the corner, but you know what major food holiday comes after Thanksgiving? Chanukah! That's right, Chanukah—a Jewish celebration that even a goy can enjoy, thanks to the semi-official food of the holiday: latkes, aka potato pancakes. And if you're a true latke freak, Jewish or not, there's a party for you: the third annual Latke Festival at BAM.
The starting date for the eight-night Chanukah celebration changes every year, and this year the holiday runs from December 20-28. Fortunately, you can get your latke on a little early on at the Festival, which takes place December 19 at 6:30 p.m. Per the organizers, the evening will feature "New York chefs competing in a throwdown of classic and contemporary latkes made with locally-sourced potatoes, eggs, onions, and garlic, along with other secret or signature ingredients of their choosing," which means we could be getting some decidedly nontraditional pancakes.
Participating chefs include Bill Telepan (Telepan), Julian Medina (Toloache), Alex Raji (Txikito, La Vara), Hadley Schmitt (Northern Spy Food Co.), Michael Sullivan (Veselka Bowery) Ron Ben-Israel (Ron Ben-Israel Cakes) and Saul Bolton (The Vanderbilt); and judges include architect Michael Arad, former New York Times restaurant critic Mimi Sheraton, food writer Melissa Clark, and, of course, Marty Markowitz. $30 tickets are available here.
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chanukah
eat cetera
latke
latke festival
potato pancake
Jamie Feldmar
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