Dear Feastlings,
For years, we offered it up to you, and for years, it was mostly just politely declined: Hanukkah, or Channukah, or however you choose to spell it, worked on our menu the way that it has in American culture for ages now, as a sort of cultural co-opting of the Christmas holiday season. Yes, it’s its own holiday, but one that didn’t originally mean the exchange of gifts and all the other attending hoopla and falderal. And at Feast, also, it has long played second fiddle to Christmas in terms of interest among our guests.
That said, when we unceremoniously pulled the rug out from under it, the phone started ringing. What do you mean, no food for Hanukkah? So we’ve hit upon what we think might be a suitable compromise. While sales of Hanukkah food have over the years been underwhelming, the one reason people do call, overwhelmingly, is for latkes. People want them. So on Sunday, December 18th, when the sun goes down and that first candle gets lit and Hanukkah officially begins, we’ll have them for you. And before you get up in arms, since it’s really become much more of a secular holiday over the millennia, yes. We’re offering meat and dairy both in the same meal. You don’t need to eat them together, and honestly, our kitchen isn’t remotely a kosher one, so if you want to keep it Kosher-style, there’s salmon on the menu that comes with its own celery root-and-potato pancake, and I dare say it’s quite delicious.
But for those of you who are in it for some Jewish soul food, you can call and order a few items for the next few days- let’s call Friday the last day to order, just so we know what to order in and prep for you. You can call us at (520) 326-9363 and we’ll have it read for you on Sunday with heating instructions. And the first night will be all taken care of. Here’s the admittedly limited menu:
Latkes: traditional potato pancakes with housemade applesauce and sour cream.
$14/half dozen
Noodle kugel with golden raisins and gratin topping.
$7/serving
Beef brisket with root vegetable tsimmes.
$16/half pound
$30/pound
Just the root vegetable tsimmes.
$6/half pint
$10/pint