GIFT GUIDE

tahto

Pog-tayto,

Please make mine a latke!

by Sy Manello

Flo

otatoes, a universal food, are consumed in many forms in many cultures.
It is, however, at this time of year that thoughts turn to the potato latke,
the fried food that seems synonymous with Chanukah. You may be a tra-
ditionalist and insist on making your own latkes: spending hours grating
by hand (no food processor for you!) and risking bits of fingernail and
flesh. You have perfected the assembly line technique and can handle with
aplomb several baking sheets lined with brown paper bags.
N
You may decide to take the Torn-Sawyer-painting-the-fence approach:
"My, making these pancakes is so much fun that I couldn't relinquish the
task to anyone. Well, if you just want to try ..."
Perhaps you are an ingrained defroster. Okay, then you can purchase
many varieties frozen. Good luck with defrosting and keeping them
crisp. (I still say that this form is the least appealing to me, but is undis-
putable as a time-and-finger-saver.)
The best idea for serving latkes comes from my cousin Elaine. She want-
ed to have latkes to serve to her Hadassah ladies at a citywide meeting in New
Orleans. She had her twin sister Eleanor pick up 400 latkes in Detroit and cart them
by air. Latkes to go!
In the metro Detroit area, there are many places that would love to aid you in your
quest to serve the delectable treat to your Chanukah guests and save you the peeling,
grating, mixing, frying, keeping warm — to say nothing of the oil smell that perme-
ates your house far beyond the eight-day holiday.

If you want to serve latkes to go, may
I suggest that your salvation may be at one
of the following. It is not a comprehensive listing,
but just a beginning reference guide.

• Bloom's Kitchen — No

order is too small for these tradi-
tional "thinner, crisper" latkes,
according to Shirlee. She can give
you applesauce or sour cream; she
now has parve sour cream; 32418
Northwestern Hwy., Farmington
Hills, (248) 855-9463.

• Steve's Deli — No notice is

needed for any order since he
makes a lot, especially at the holi-
day-time. Sides are supplied as the
customer wants, according to
manager Jeff; 6646 Telegraph,
Bloomfield Hills, (248) 932-0800.

• Deli Unique — Good latkes

are always available with sides of
applesauce or sour cream.
Manager Mark says that they usu-
ally go through 1,000-1,200
pounds of potatoes for the pan-
cakes; 6724 Orchard Lake Road,
West Bloomfield, (248) 737-3890.

• Unique Kosher Carry
Out and Catering Inc. —

Give at least two weeks' notice if
you're planning a large order. Rita
says that they come with apple-
sauce. It's a meat establishment,
so no sour cream; but there is no
limit to the size of the order.
(These were the ones that went to
New Orleans); 25270 Greenfield,
"Oak Park, (248) 967-1161.

• Papa Joe's — According to

Tony in the To-Go department, a
single day's notice will suffice for
your order with your choice of
accompaniments; 34244
Woodward, Birmingham,
(248) 723-9400.

• Star Deli — Harry, one of the

men in charge, says that with a
week's notice for a sizeable order,
you too can share in the delight-
ful latkes they produce; 24555
W 12 Mile, Southfield,
(248) 352-7377.

• Peter's Palate Pleaser

— They are "delicious", assures
Quinn. She suggests that 24-48
hours' notice is advised for any
large order and many sides are
available; 1087 W. Long Lake,
Bloomfield Hills. (248) 540-2266.

If you insist on
thawing and heating,
the following stores
reglarly carry kosher
frozen latkes.

• Hiller's Market — (I
checked the one at 14 and
Haggerty in Commerce Twp.)
Dr. Prager's Homestyle Potato
Pancakes come nine in a pack-
age and are "heart healthy;"
Golden makes all natural pota-
to pancakes, eight in a pack-
age; and they also come in veg-
etable and zucchini forms;
Empire triangle latkes with

onion come in a 24 oz. bag.
(248) 960-1990.
(at least in
• Kroger.
Commerce Twp., Farmington
Hills and West Bloomfield)
carries King Cold mini latkes,
10 in a package; Kineret minis
come in a 30 oz bag. The store
also carries the Golden brand.

—

TO GET THE PANCAKE
PART BUT STAY LO-CARB,
YOU CAN CHECK OUT
LATKES ON GOOGLE.
I found at least one "good"
recipe for Cauliflower
Pancakes (Latkes) that
seemed easy to follow. There
was also one that said you
could add some Atkins Bake
Mix, whatever that is.
(Don't forget, you're reading
the words of a devout If-it's-
potato-and-fried-crisp-
I'll-eat-it person!)

Whether it's latkee or latkuh or potato pancake, this
Chanukah treat, as Alton Brown would say, is "Good eats."

GIFT
GUIDE

11/12
2004

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