Although it's early days yet, I'm starting to think about this year's Chanukah party. The first question is when should it be. December weekends are ridiculous, but weeknights are school nights, and some will be less inclined to party. And then there's the issue that Chanukah is crazy close to Christmas this year which will make fitting a party into people's already busy schedules that much harder. But since I believe that holidays should be celebrated during the actual holiday, we'll work with what we have and hope for the best. And I'll send out the invitations early to try and get on as many people's calendars as possible.
The other question I always have about the party is what to serve. Latkes, of course, with the trimmings, are filling and the whole point of the bash, but are they enough? What are the fitting accompaniments for oily, fried potatoes? What are your sides when french fries are your main dish? I've done salad as an antidote. I don't want to even think about a making meat course for the masses. You don't need a starch when starch is the star of the evening. And what is the best beverage to compliment the latkes? Beer, wine? Red or white? Sodas? Punch? A signature cocktail?
Serious research is called for, clearly. I predict evenings in Borders in the Jewish cookbook section to come.
Send all of your menu and other party suggestions right along...
4 comments:
These Chanukah party menus look interesting - all have recipes:
http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/a-latke-vodka-party
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/353421
http://www.recipezaar.com/menu/view.php?menuid=198
How did I know you would be the first person to respond...
Some great ideas, too.
Keep 'em coming!
Interesting how one of them was 6 different kinds of potato-pancakey things, and another was 6 different kinds of vodka -- and ohyes, some latkes, because they're kind of like blini right?
If you did mini-quiches it would look like breakfast. I do like the idea of something eggy (more devilled eggs, you know you want to!), and/or something vegetabley and/or cheesey (like spinach balls or cracker + softcheese/veg spread things). Given how much your friends love beer, I'd say maybe not to rely on that. Wine, perhaps? Vodka just didn't do it for me in that context.
Yeah, the potato pancake recipe and the vodkas are a moot point. It's a traditional recipe and a wine and beer party. I like the spinach balls recipe, and maybe the cucumber salad. Either cheeses or maybe that artichoke dip are also possibilities. And sure, deviled eggs for the masses...
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