Blue and white cups!
December 19, 2019 6:45 AM Subscribe
It's me, the Hanukkah display in your grocery store! And for a limited time, it comes with a lovely matching shower curtain.
More goodies for Members of the Tribe thisholiday Christmas season: Why not read take in a Hallmark movie [NYT] just for you? Or read your children the new soon-to-be-a-classic Hanukkah tale of Shmelf the Elf!
The first night of Chanukah is this Sunday night. So here's 17 different latke recipes! Why 17? Well, because the gematria for 17 is the same as טוב (tov, or "good")! (Okay, yeah, that's a neat coincidence but it's probably just because that's how many recipes Epicurous had available. It's a Chanukka mirakle!)
For what it's worth, some facts about Chanukah / Hanukkah / Chanuka. And if the same old latkes and sufganiyot and chocolate gelt aren't enough for you, here's some other traditional Jewish Chanukah foods.
More goodies for Members of the Tribe this
The first night of Chanukah is this Sunday night. So here's 17 different latke recipes! Why 17? Well, because the gematria for 17 is the same as טוב (tov, or "good")! (Okay, yeah, that's a neat coincidence but it's probably just because that's how many recipes Epicurous had available. It's a Chanukka mirakle!)
For what it's worth, some facts about Chanukah / Hanukkah / Chanuka. And if the same old latkes and sufganiyot and chocolate gelt aren't enough for you, here's some other traditional Jewish Chanukah foods.
I found a tiny gift bag that said "Happy Hannukah" and had a narwhal on it
Mark my words: Narwhals are the new llamas.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 7:00 AM on December 19, 2019 [15 favorites]
Mark my words: Narwhals are the new llamas.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 7:00 AM on December 19, 2019 [15 favorites]
Lighting Hanukkah Candles Under the Swastika's Shadow (nyt, picture and some details on twitter)
posted by ChuraChura at 7:14 AM on December 19, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by ChuraChura at 7:14 AM on December 19, 2019 [3 favorites]
Oy that Hanukkah shower curtain with seder written all over it.
It's become an annual tradition for us to try to track down Hanukkah stuff that isn't cheesy Fiddler on the Roof-style Judaica, with varying degrees of success. Finding Jewish holiday stuff in general that isn't hopelessly tacky is just... difficult.
But those sweet potato latkes are AWESOME.
posted by huskerdont at 7:18 AM on December 19, 2019 [5 favorites]
It's become an annual tradition for us to try to track down Hanukkah stuff that isn't cheesy Fiddler on the Roof-style Judaica, with varying degrees of success. Finding Jewish holiday stuff in general that isn't hopelessly tacky is just... difficult.
But those sweet potato latkes are AWESOME.
posted by huskerdont at 7:18 AM on December 19, 2019 [5 favorites]
Flipping through those latke recipes I noticed an omission that I would like to correct. While it is true I only discovered that this was a thing yesterday, I think in my efforts to be a good Canadian brand ambassador I apologetically offer Poutine Latkes (some of them even look good):
Latke Poutine with Smoked Salmon & Sour Cream Gravy
kosher in the kitch's Poutine Latkes
busy in brooklyn's Poutine Latkes with Parmesan vegetarian gravy
The Potash Twins's Potato Latkes
Latke Poutine Burger
Epic Meal Time's Poutine Latkes
posted by Ashwagandha at 7:23 AM on December 19, 2019 [7 favorites]
Latke Poutine with Smoked Salmon & Sour Cream Gravy
kosher in the kitch's Poutine Latkes
busy in brooklyn's Poutine Latkes with Parmesan vegetarian gravy
The Potash Twins's Potato Latkes
Latke Poutine Burger
Epic Meal Time's Poutine Latkes
posted by Ashwagandha at 7:23 AM on December 19, 2019 [7 favorites]
We have a latke party every year with a Yankee swap. Most of the attendees are Jews (as am I) but last year, the one non-Jewish couple brought that horrible singing rabbi doll as their gift and not as a joke. They actually thought it would be popular and everyone would vie for it. Ugh.
My BFF and I laugh, painfully, about the pathetic grocery store Hannukah display every year. Matzoh for every holiday. Sigh.
posted by Plafield at 7:37 AM on December 19, 2019 [3 favorites]
My BFF and I laugh, painfully, about the pathetic grocery store Hannukah display every year. Matzoh for every holiday. Sigh.
posted by Plafield at 7:37 AM on December 19, 2019 [3 favorites]
I was just wandering around Wegmans yesterday in search of anything even remotely Hanukkah-related, and was pleased to note that at least they got the starting date correct for the second time in a row! (I've lived here for twenty years now; last year was the first time they managed to get it unequivocally right. Oi gevalt.) Anyway, there was some gelt, along with a chocolate dreidel (not really suitable for dreidel-ing) and some cards, but not sure where they've stuck the candles, or anything else for that matter.
posted by thomas j wise at 8:00 AM on December 19, 2019
posted by thomas j wise at 8:00 AM on December 19, 2019
Kind of curious why the article displays a huge stack of Passover matzoh but whatever.
I like those displays because nobody buys it in our store and then all that stuff gets cleared out for literally nothing after the holiday.
posted by JoeZydeco at 8:01 AM on December 19, 2019 [2 favorites]
I like those displays because nobody buys it in our store and then all that stuff gets cleared out for literally nothing after the holiday.
posted by JoeZydeco at 8:01 AM on December 19, 2019 [2 favorites]
The first link is perfect - I felt so seen. Even at my grocery store in a Jewish area (not Jewish but carries kosher meat & dairy) has matzah on for Channukah. And so many more yartzeit candles than Channukah candles. Fortunately, I think we got an extra box from Chabad last year and have enough now.
My big question: is there such a thing as decent tasting gelt? I'd like to gift some to adults (in return for their Christmas chocolate gifts to me), but the chocolate is so gross (and the dark version was even worse) that I wouldn't want to inflict it on them.
posted by jb at 8:14 AM on December 19, 2019 [3 favorites]
My big question: is there such a thing as decent tasting gelt? I'd like to gift some to adults (in return for their Christmas chocolate gifts to me), but the chocolate is so gross (and the dark version was even worse) that I wouldn't want to inflict it on them.
posted by jb at 8:14 AM on December 19, 2019 [3 favorites]
My big question: is there such a thing as decent tasting gelt?
Trader Joe's has some pretty good ones (they're even kosher!)
posted by Mchelly at 8:17 AM on December 19, 2019 [8 favorites]
Trader Joe's has some pretty good ones (they're even kosher!)
posted by Mchelly at 8:17 AM on December 19, 2019 [8 favorites]
I can't find a photo to link to, but my wife and I were quite amused (amazed?) when we found the one shelf of Hanukkah merch at WDW in Nov 2011.
posted by mikelieman at 8:27 AM on December 19, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by mikelieman at 8:27 AM on December 19, 2019 [2 favorites]
Kind of curious why the article displays a huge stack of Passover matzoh but whatever.
I think that's the joke: clueless goyim slapping matzo on everything Jewish even if it has nothing to do with Hannukah, like this ampersandy hand towel.
posted by HeroZero at 8:29 AM on December 19, 2019 [10 favorites]
I think that's the joke: clueless goyim slapping matzo on everything Jewish even if it has nothing to do with Hannukah, like this ampersandy hand towel.
posted by HeroZero at 8:29 AM on December 19, 2019 [10 favorites]
I can't find a photo to link to, but my wife and I were quite amused (amazed?) when we found the one shelf of Hanukkah merch at WDW in Nov 2011.
OMG I totally forgot about Disney World's Chanukah menu snafu!
posted by Mchelly at 8:31 AM on December 19, 2019 [1 favorite]
OMG I totally forgot about Disney World's Chanukah menu snafu!
posted by Mchelly at 8:31 AM on December 19, 2019 [1 favorite]
clueless goyim slapping matzo on everything Jewish
True, but even this goyim knows that Passover matzo is special and different than the regular stuff and is only in the stores for that holiday, not in December. Or maybe I'm wrong there.
posted by JoeZydeco at 8:38 AM on December 19, 2019
True, but even this goyim knows that Passover matzo is special and different than the regular stuff and is only in the stores for that holiday, not in December. Or maybe I'm wrong there.
posted by JoeZydeco at 8:38 AM on December 19, 2019
If you're ever in DC, Hill's Kitchen has a corner of Hannukah stuff that is tasteful and pretty. I can't remember if there are any narwhals, but there's nice wrapping paper and things like that!
posted by schwinggg! at 8:55 AM on December 19, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by schwinggg! at 8:55 AM on December 19, 2019 [1 favorite]
Oof, hilarious, but a little stinging. It makes me realize how little I know about my grandmother's culture, and will probably always be an outsider.
posted by FirstMateKate at 8:56 AM on December 19, 2019
posted by FirstMateKate at 8:56 AM on December 19, 2019
think that's the joke: clueless goyim slapping matzo on everything Jewish even if it has nothing to do with Hannukah, like this ampersandy hand towel.
posted by HeroZero at 8:29 AM on December 19 [3 favorites +] [!]
OMG. Was that hand towel created by AI?
posted by schwinggg! at 9:03 AM on December 19, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by HeroZero at 8:29 AM on December 19 [3 favorites +] [!]
OMG. Was that hand towel created by AI?
posted by schwinggg! at 9:03 AM on December 19, 2019 [4 favorites]
Lots of people use matzo meal in their latkes, it's what I was taught to use growing up. But I've never eaten a PIECE of matzo outside Pesach season. Tam Tams, that's another story.
posted by wellred at 9:06 AM on December 19, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by wellred at 9:06 AM on December 19, 2019 [2 favorites]
Ooof. I see a fair amount of this around here. And the thing is, it's pretty cringe-worthy, but I guess that I also appreciate the effort? Because honestly, I'm very aware that there are people who are just outright hostile, rather than cluelessly trying to be inclusive, and I will take clueless inclusiveness over the kind of person who sees "Happy Holidays" as an affront. But it is kind of shocking when national companies do that stuff.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 9:18 AM on December 19, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 9:18 AM on December 19, 2019 [2 favorites]
We like cute things too! Stop being so serious, everyone!
I was raised in an Xmas tree/Xmas family (that and easter eggs & bunnies were as christian as we got) and when I was a kid, I had a lot of Jewish friends. So we'd hang out at the Jewish Community Center (they had a free to play Asteroids machine!) back in the early '80s. Hannuka was a fun holiday, (and fun to celebrate alongside Xmas) but yeah, the tone of the decorations was so somber and serious as opposed to Xmas stuff. It's sort of unfair.
That shower curtain is something.
posted by SoberHighland at 9:19 AM on December 19, 2019
I was raised in an Xmas tree/Xmas family (that and easter eggs & bunnies were as christian as we got) and when I was a kid, I had a lot of Jewish friends. So we'd hang out at the Jewish Community Center (they had a free to play Asteroids machine!) back in the early '80s. Hannuka was a fun holiday, (and fun to celebrate alongside Xmas) but yeah, the tone of the decorations was so somber and serious as opposed to Xmas stuff. It's sort of unfair.
That shower curtain is something.
posted by SoberHighland at 9:19 AM on December 19, 2019
I'm flashing back many years to an early eCommerce website that sold pinatas for every holiday, including Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 9:59 AM on December 19, 2019
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 9:59 AM on December 19, 2019
If the plan is for you to be beaten, you should eat! Survival comes before observance!
posted by wellred at 10:39 AM on December 19, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by wellred at 10:39 AM on December 19, 2019 [4 favorites]
My big question: is there such a thing as decent tasting gelt?
I really like the gelt from Madelaine Chocolate Company (all of their chocolate is kosher, and actually tastes good).
posted by marfa, texas at 10:58 AM on December 19, 2019 [2 favorites]
I really like the gelt from Madelaine Chocolate Company (all of their chocolate is kosher, and actually tastes good).
posted by marfa, texas at 10:58 AM on December 19, 2019 [2 favorites]
Sorry, for the derail, but I'm fully here for Chanukah, Llamas, & Narwhals!
posted by evilDoug at 10:59 AM on December 19, 2019
posted by evilDoug at 10:59 AM on December 19, 2019
What, no mensch on a bench? No mitzvah moose?
posted by carrioncomfort at 11:21 AM on December 19, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by carrioncomfort at 11:21 AM on December 19, 2019 [2 favorites]
attn fellow lazies: you can just put tater tots in a waffle iron and then eat the taterwaff with sour cream and applesauce
posted by poffin boffin at 11:43 AM on December 19, 2019 [25 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 11:43 AM on December 19, 2019 [25 favorites]
Ashwaghanda, thanks - Ive been planning a canadian-indian-american hannukah dinner for a couple weeks and independently came to the latke-poutine idea, but was thinking of pairing it with a latke chaat.
Also: The first link is perfect - I felt so seen. Even at my grocery store in a Jewish area (not Jewish but carries kosher meat & dairy) has matzah on for Channukah. In CA growing up our Safeway knew to put the matzah out for passover . . . except it was almost always the not kosher-for-passover kind.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 12:09 PM on December 19, 2019 [5 favorites]
Also: The first link is perfect - I felt so seen. Even at my grocery store in a Jewish area (not Jewish but carries kosher meat & dairy) has matzah on for Channukah. In CA growing up our Safeway knew to put the matzah out for passover . . . except it was almost always the not kosher-for-passover kind.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 12:09 PM on December 19, 2019 [5 favorites]
What no mensch on a bench?
I saw the pitch for an investment in this on Shark Tank. This guys business was was shitting the bed (as it should) but for some reason two of the sharks (neither Jewish) thought it was a good investment and got their big business machines behind it's in your face as the only available Hannukah toy out there. Why can't someone invest big bucks in something truly tasteful and useful for Hannukah? Ugh.
posted by Plafield at 12:20 PM on December 19, 2019 [2 favorites]
I saw the pitch for an investment in this on Shark Tank. This guys business was was shitting the bed (as it should) but for some reason two of the sharks (neither Jewish) thought it was a good investment and got their big business machines behind it's in your face as the only available Hannukah toy out there. Why can't someone invest big bucks in something truly tasteful and useful for Hannukah? Ugh.
posted by Plafield at 12:20 PM on December 19, 2019 [2 favorites]
Oof, hilarious, but a little stinging. It makes me realize how little I know about my grandmother's culture, and will probably always be an outsider.
FirstMateKate: as someone who has come to Jewish culture(s) from very far outside (Anglo-Canadian, raised evangelical Christian), it can be intimidating - but I've found that people are very welcoming to those who wish to learn.
If you're interested in learning more, the book Living a Jewish Life is a nice introduction to modern, liberal Jewish practice. For contemporary culture, I've found that Unorthodox, the podcast from Tablet magazine, has been pretty informative - and since the hosts have different backgrounds, different ways of observing, and always have different guests (Jewish and not), it's nice to hear people teaching each other. Also, it's a great source for "News of the Jews" (from serious to silly).
/this is not meant to be an evangelical message, just a hey, if you'd like to find out more, people are nice and there are good books/websites/podcasts message
posted by jb at 12:24 PM on December 19, 2019 [9 favorites]
FirstMateKate: as someone who has come to Jewish culture(s) from very far outside (Anglo-Canadian, raised evangelical Christian), it can be intimidating - but I've found that people are very welcoming to those who wish to learn.
If you're interested in learning more, the book Living a Jewish Life is a nice introduction to modern, liberal Jewish practice. For contemporary culture, I've found that Unorthodox, the podcast from Tablet magazine, has been pretty informative - and since the hosts have different backgrounds, different ways of observing, and always have different guests (Jewish and not), it's nice to hear people teaching each other. Also, it's a great source for "News of the Jews" (from serious to silly).
/this is not meant to be an evangelical message, just a hey, if you'd like to find out more, people are nice and there are good books/websites/podcasts message
posted by jb at 12:24 PM on December 19, 2019 [9 favorites]
was thinking of pairing it with a latke chaat
Ooo, please report back on whether that's as delicious as it sounds.
posted by asperity at 1:03 PM on December 19, 2019 [3 favorites]
Ooo, please report back on whether that's as delicious as it sounds.
posted by asperity at 1:03 PM on December 19, 2019 [3 favorites]
Latke poutine vs latke chaat? Uh... Pourquoi pas les deux.
you can just put tater tots in a waffle iron
Do you have these things in the US? When I'm too lazy to make good latkes we just eat those. I don't even need the waffler!
posted by Ashwagandha at 1:48 PM on December 19, 2019 [2 favorites]
you can just put tater tots in a waffle iron
Do you have these things in the US? When I'm too lazy to make good latkes we just eat those. I don't even need the waffler!
posted by Ashwagandha at 1:48 PM on December 19, 2019 [2 favorites]
Ok. Re: 17 different latke recipes...we are very, very good at standard latkes at our house but use egg as the binder. We may wish to feed a vegan latkes this year- anyone tried a non-egg replacer and had success?
posted by charmedimsure at 2:10 PM on December 19, 2019
posted by charmedimsure at 2:10 PM on December 19, 2019
Indian cuisine has lots and lots of fried things that can be ... borrowed ... for Chanuka. They're super yummy and Indian cuisine is kosher-friendly.
I can't recall exactly which dosa recipe I made last, but recipes from Serious Eats usually work for me, so here you go: Dosa (Indian Rice-and-Lentil Crepes) Recipe
posted by Joe in Australia at 2:14 PM on December 19, 2019 [3 favorites]
I can't recall exactly which dosa recipe I made last, but recipes from Serious Eats usually work for me, so here you go: Dosa (Indian Rice-and-Lentil Crepes) Recipe
posted by Joe in Australia at 2:14 PM on December 19, 2019 [3 favorites]
We may wish to feed a vegan latkes this year- anyone tried a non-egg replacer and had success?
you can use that weird bean mucus water thing i bet
posted by poffin boffin at 3:11 PM on December 19, 2019 [3 favorites]
you can use that weird bean mucus water thing i bet
posted by poffin boffin at 3:11 PM on December 19, 2019 [3 favorites]
i know it sounds super tempting right
posted by poffin boffin at 3:11 PM on December 19, 2019 [8 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 3:11 PM on December 19, 2019 [8 favorites]
That would be aquafaba and it yep, you can make vegan latkes with it.
posted by zinon at 3:25 PM on December 19, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by zinon at 3:25 PM on December 19, 2019 [3 favorites]
I agree that latkes are really, really delicious, but just to re-rail a little bit...
Thank you Mchelly, for this wonderful, hilarious post, which strangely hit me really hard, and made me realize that my usual holiday grumpiness might be more specifically Jewish than I had previous realized.
This very condescending, after-thought-y inclusiveness in the midst of the hegemonic Christian big-deal celebration is so, so familiar. In my mind, I have always called this particular trope "Oh...and a Happy Hannukah, Mr. Hooper" after a moment in "Christmas Eve on Sesame Street." (The line tossed off towards the end of the show, smug Bob McGrath just slightly leaning into the het as if he should be given a medal for it; poor old Will Lee with a shit-eating grin at being finally, briefly recognized.)
The NYT review of the Hanukkah-adjacent Hallmark special is particularly delightful:
Or take the small-town family in “Holiday Date,” who learn the man their daughter brought home is Jewish and — after an incredibly awkward silence and a “Holy Hanukkah” — immediately turn the film into a cross-cultural infomercial. We get mechanical, textbook definitions of menorahs and sufganiyot and dreidels. The Christmas-celebrating mom suddenly appears in an “Oy Vey” apron with a platter of homemade latkes. A small child smiles and declares, “I think Hanukkah rocks.” It would take remarkably little editing to turn the whole thing into a Jewish “Get Out.”
(If you can't or won't go to the Times site, here's the promo photo they use -- which I think I need to carry around in my wallet to explain to gentiles how Christmas feels to me. )
In conclusion, "Bite me, Shmelf."
posted by neroli at 8:30 PM on December 19, 2019 [6 favorites]
Thank you Mchelly, for this wonderful, hilarious post, which strangely hit me really hard, and made me realize that my usual holiday grumpiness might be more specifically Jewish than I had previous realized.
This very condescending, after-thought-y inclusiveness in the midst of the hegemonic Christian big-deal celebration is so, so familiar. In my mind, I have always called this particular trope "Oh...and a Happy Hannukah, Mr. Hooper" after a moment in "Christmas Eve on Sesame Street." (The line tossed off towards the end of the show, smug Bob McGrath just slightly leaning into the het as if he should be given a medal for it; poor old Will Lee with a shit-eating grin at being finally, briefly recognized.)
The NYT review of the Hanukkah-adjacent Hallmark special is particularly delightful:
Or take the small-town family in “Holiday Date,” who learn the man their daughter brought home is Jewish and — after an incredibly awkward silence and a “Holy Hanukkah” — immediately turn the film into a cross-cultural infomercial. We get mechanical, textbook definitions of menorahs and sufganiyot and dreidels. The Christmas-celebrating mom suddenly appears in an “Oy Vey” apron with a platter of homemade latkes. A small child smiles and declares, “I think Hanukkah rocks.” It would take remarkably little editing to turn the whole thing into a Jewish “Get Out.”
(If you can't or won't go to the Times site, here's the promo photo they use -- which I think I need to carry around in my wallet to explain to gentiles how Christmas feels to me. )
In conclusion, "Bite me, Shmelf."
posted by neroli at 8:30 PM on December 19, 2019 [6 favorites]
made me realize that my usual holiday grumpiness might be more specifically Jewish than I had previous realized.
Mine is definitely somewhere between 50% to 75% specifically Jewish, yeah. (I was playing a dumb clicker game last night that repurposed the usual characters as various winter holiday themed characters and which one was the Hanukkah character? Guess. I bet you can't guess. You'd never guess that it was the banker, would you?)
posted by restless_nomad at 8:59 AM on December 20, 2019 [6 favorites]
Mine is definitely somewhere between 50% to 75% specifically Jewish, yeah. (I was playing a dumb clicker game last night that repurposed the usual characters as various winter holiday themed characters and which one was the Hanukkah character? Guess. I bet you can't guess. You'd never guess that it was the banker, would you?)
posted by restless_nomad at 8:59 AM on December 20, 2019 [6 favorites]
This Christmas season, the Holiday Channel has a little surprise up its stockings! We’re bringing diversity home for the holidays with some special, inclusive programming. So trade in your eggnog for a nice, warm mug of whatever a latke is, and curl up in front of the fireplace for A Very Inclusive Christmas!This is so painfully true.
Holly Jolly Hanukkah
Christy, a single mom-Jew and the struggling CEO of The Little Holly Jolly Hanukkah Ornaments Company, meets Kristoffer, a small-town rabbi who was sent to downsize Christy’s company. At first, the two are rivals, but then Christy and Kristoffer get to know each other better, and Jewish ensues.
posted by jeather at 4:45 PM on December 20, 2019 [2 favorites]
Hanukkah sweaters (many problematic): a Twitter thread by Helen Rosner
posted by neroli at 10:36 AM on December 21, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by neroli at 10:36 AM on December 21, 2019 [2 favorites]
Oh, and last years' production:
Six13 - Bohemian Chanukah (A Queen Adaptation)
The Star Wars one is a medley, and the start is the weakest bit IMO. The cantina bit is pretty great.
posted by Joe in Australia at 4:56 PM on December 23, 2019
Six13 - Bohemian Chanukah (A Queen Adaptation)
The Star Wars one is a medley, and the start is the weakest bit IMO. The cantina bit is pretty great.
posted by Joe in Australia at 4:56 PM on December 23, 2019
« Older Circle World | Imagining Titan: creating an otherworldly... Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by wellred at 6:52 AM on December 19, 2019 [16 favorites]