Latkes in DGS. Via DGS.By DCist contributor Elizabeth Packer
Tonight marks the start of Hanukkah, the festival of lights. Because Hanukkah commemorates the miracle of oil lasting for eight nights during the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem, it’s a holiday that encourages you to eat foods fried in oil. With that in mind, here are eight ways to enjoy latkes around D.C.
Latkes With a Giant Menorah: Lighting Ceremony of the National Chanukah Menorah
To kick off the holiday, head to the Ellipse at 4 p.m. today for the annual lighting ceremony. The event will feature a musical performance by the United States Army Band, menorah and dreidel kits, and hot latkes and donuts to munch on as you admire the world’s largest menorah. Free tickets are required.
The National Menorah is located on the Ellipse, across from the White House.
Latkes A la Mediterranean: Dino’s Grotto
The Italian spot in Shaw will offer a special olive oil based menu, priced at $39 a person, for the first two nights of Hanukkah and will have all the dishes available a la carte for the remainder of the holiday. Instead of the usual sour cream, their latkes are accompanied by mascarpone.
Dino’s Grotto is located at 1914 9th Street NW.
Latkes In the Suburbs: Parkway Deli
Parkway Deli has been serving up latkes and other traditional Jewish fare in a nondescript strip mall in Silver Spring since 1963. The deli’s extensive menu has something for everyone, but on Hanukkah, everyone should go for the latkes. Add an order of chopped liver, a herring platter or a bowl of borscht for a true Eastern European Jewish feast. And while you’re there, don’t forget a visit to Parkway’s pickle bar.
Parkway Deli is located at 8317 Grubb Road, in Silver Spring, Md.
Latkes On the Go: Cork Market
Stop by the 14th Street store any night of Hanukkah to grab latkes to go. The market will offer both traditional potato as well as zucchini-feta varieties. Pick up a bottle of wine and a wedge of cheese to put together an easy, at-home Hanukkah dinner.
Cork Market is located at 1805 14th Street NW.
Family Style Latkes: DGS Delicatessen
Latkes are a staple on the menu at DGS, but in celebration of Hanukkah, the restaurant will be serving a special family-stye dinner for $27 that includes challah, a pickle plate, latkes and cinnamon donuts. The Hanukkah menu will be replaced for one night only, on December 23rd, for a “classic Jewish Christmas celebration,” a menu of Chinese-Jewish fusion — think kung pao pastrami and beef spare ribs glazed with Slivovitz — cooked up by the chefs from Water & Wall and Toki Underground.
DGS Delicatessen is located at 1317 Connecticut Avenue NW.
Old School Latkes: Loeb’s NY Deli
This New York-style deli first opened its doors in D.C. in 1959, and while no longer housed in its original location, Loeb’s continues to serve a menu full of meaty sandwiches, matzo ball soup, and of course, latkes. A side of crisp potato pancakes, with your choice of applesauce or sour cream, costs just over $5. Loeb’s is a good pick if you’re looking to get your Hanukkah latke fix in an old school, traditional deli atmosphere.
Loeb’s NY Deli is located at 1712 I Street NW.
All You Can Eat Latkes: Latkepalooza at Commissary
On December 22, Commissary will host a special Hanukkah happy hour, where a $15 ticket gives you access to a bottomless latke and donut bar. There will also be Hanukkah-themed drinks and appetizers available, if you’re not too full of fried potato. Ten percent of the event’s proceeds benefit the Jewish Food Experience, and while Latkepalooza is sadly currently sold out, there is a waitlist.
Commissary is located at 1443 P Street NW.
Make Your Own Latkes: Your Kitchen
You can produce delicious latkes yourself. These golden-brown fried treats don’t require much more than potato, egg, flour, salt and confidence around a pot of bubbling hot oil. Once you’re in the kitchen, don’t feel you have to limit yourself to a single starch. If it’s a vegetable and you can grate it, you can probably use it to make latkes. Try sweet potatoes, zucchini, carrots, beets and other root vegetables. The New York Times has a handy round-up of latke recipes to inspire your own Hanukkah miracle.
