The Heady Pepper: Latkes and more...

Monday, December 10, 2007

Latkes and more...

Here it is. Probably the first in a very long time - Hanukkah party - here in SW Jutland. The menu consisted of

1. The beautifully simple, yet deliciously surprising potato latkes. I mean surprising to me as I let the shredded potatoes sit over night not realizing they would oxidize into a reddish black color. I wasn't sure what would happen, but I think I discovered a new kind of natural dye for fabrics! Anyway they were tasty. So I've heard.

2. Spanish Tortilla. In keeping with the food-fried-in-oil tradition I thought - what could be more apropos of Hanukkah. I imagine Maimonides could think of no better dish in celebration of Hanukkah!

3. Assorted Jewish soul food staples might not scream Hanukkah, but they sure do go nicely with the starchy, oily stuff. I'm talking about what any non-Jew might consider just "food", but I would consider it all soul food let's say ... for a Yom Kippur Break fast...or a Sunday brunch at a local bagel shop. Tuna salad, egg salad, smoked salmon, herring...

You'll find it all on this table. Unfortunately I shot the picture after the first round so it's not as lush as I wanted it to be for the photo. That's...OK.

That challah looking bread on the right side is not really challah. But as Kim said, "it looks like challah bread. I've never made challah bread so I have no idea. If it looks like it it's good enough for me"...or something like that.

And let's not forget another Hanukkah staple - the Jelly donut. In Denmark it's called a Berliner, but nobody needs to know that for the sake of the Jewishness of this post. The one below is not the actual one that was served. I neglected to snap a shot of the fuller, rounder ones we had and the holes were on the top. Not the sides.

And last, but not least - the company! We were pleased to have special guests - among the other special guests - Kim and Thor who drove all the way from Copenhagen to join us. For a great read check out Kim's blog, kimananda's House of Fortune and perhaps you'll find all of life's answers there.