Latkes & Smoked Salmon. Courtesy of The Milky Way.
This year’s Hanukkah starts on the 22nd of December and lasts through December 29, 2019. It starts in three days! If you have not planned ahead, you can still get some latkes in your belly. For the uninitiated, latkes are potato pancakes, usually made with egg, flour and onion. They are awesome and you need to get some. And yes, it’s pronounced just like Andy Kauffman’s character on Taxi.
RESTAURANTS AND TAKE-OUT
The Milky Way in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood will be offering a Hanukkah special featuring three potato latkes and smoked salmon, with apple compote and sour cream for $20. The dairy kosher restaurant run by the Steven Spielberg family will also have a Latke platter available for take out, as well as Hanukkah gelt for the kids. Latkes are $40 a dozen and come with apple compote and sour cream. 24 Hours advance notice is required. Website.
The Larder at Tavern, Chef Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne’s Brentwood restaurant, offers a take-out menu for the Hanukkah. Order a complete braised beef brisket dinner for eight guests at $49 per person. Or build a custom dinner from the à la carte menu, which includes potato latkes with applesauce and crème fraiche, a larder artisanal cheese platter with dried fruit and baguette (and a bunch of tref stuff like bacon-wrapped dates and spiced shrimp if you are not that strict). Website.
Chef Akasha Richmond and Partner Alan Schulman’s Culver City restaurant, AKASHA, will be offering “Vodkas & Latkes” for Hanukkah nightly from December 22 – 29, 2019 (except for December 24th and 25th). The menu will feature a small plate of Yukon Gold Potato Latkes served with your choice of accompaniment. Choose between Fairhill Farms Applesauce and Sour Cream, Smoked Salmon and Horseradish Crème Fraiche, or Duck Confit and Cranberry Chutney. Big Plates include an Old School Brisket with Potato Pancakes, Citrus- Braised Chicken, and a vegan/pareve Couscous dish. Pair your meal with vodka cocktails inspired by first-of-the-season citrus fruits. Latkes can also be ordered for $24 per dozen with Fairhill Farm’s Apple Sauce. by the dozen. Requires 24-hour pre-order notice. Website.
Avalon Hotel Beverly Hills’ poolside restaurant, Viviane, will be offering prix fixe menus all eight nights of Hanukkah with the kitchen’s take on a variety of traditional favorites, like Horseradish-crusted salmon, potato latkes and matzo ball soup. Website.
COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS
Chabad Mount Olympus is hosting “Eight Crazy Nights” of holiday fun. From 12:00 NOON to 2:00pm on Sunday, December 22, enjoys ice skating at Frozen with the Chosen: Chanukah on Ice (Somebody there is really good at naming events!) at Southland Skating Center. Tuesday, December 24 from 7:30-9:00pm learn about whiskey at Shanghai Diamond Kosher Restaurant with Chanukah Sushi & Scotch, an “Interactive Chanukah learning and dining experience.” Join Chabad Mount Olympus on Friday, December 27th for Lights & Latkas: a Chanukah Community Shabbat Dinner. Prayers at 6pm and Dinner at 7 PM. Sunday DEC 29th from 12:00-3:00PM there will be a program for teens called Latka Wars and Latkes and Love. Check out the website for more information.
CMO’s big bash is happening on Saturday, December 28, 2019 from 8 PM – 11:30 PM. Join in the fun at the YJRP Drinks & Dreidels Chanukah Soiree Hollywood Hills Edition at the “private and exclusive” Mulholland Tennis Club. Come party at the open bar happy hour with a latke bar (Whaaaat?), hors d’oeuvres, “Dairy Delights,” a live DJ, a Master Illusionist and a musical Havdalah. Tickets are $32 before December 24, $46 after December 26, and $55 at the door. 2555 Crest View Dr, Los Angeles, California 90046. Website.
JEM Community Center Beverly Hills will be hosting a Menorah Lighting at the swanky Montage Hotel Beverly Hills on Sunday, December 22nd, 2019. The free, family-friendly event will run from 4:30 pm until 6:30 pm. and will feature live music, Latkes, Donuts, Face Painting, Raffles and a gift for every child in attendance. Come celebrate Light, Unity and Liberty! Beverly Canon Gardens: 241 Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. (310) 772-0000. Website.
Head down to the South Bay for “The Largest Chanukah Celebration in Town” taking place Sunday, December 22, 2019 at the Hermosa Beach Pier Plaza. Starting at 3 PM, enjoy live music and performances from the Calypso Tumblers & Growing Garden Academy, Fun Children’s Activities, Hot Latkes & Donuts, plus a Massive Gelt Drop and Gifts for the Children. Sponsored by the Jewish Community Center in Redondo Beach. For More Information Call 310.214.4999. Website.
Monday, December 23rd from 6-9 PM, Jewish Veg – Los Angeles invites you to “Lights And Latkes,” a kid-friendly Hanukkah celebration. The latke feast will be catered by Rainbowlz, which is 100% vegan food from a 100% vegan kitchen. There will be a special presentation by Rabbi Jonathan Klein, Jewish Veg Los Angeles Rabbinic Chair. The evening continues with all the menorah-lighting and dreidl-spinning you could want. The location will be revealed when reservations are made, as it is a private residence in Pacific Palisades. If you require a kosher certified meal, please reach out to Shantal at la@jewishveg.org. The event is co-sponsored by Recruiting For Good and Beth Chayim Chadashim’s Vegan Havurah. Website.
Head over to Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills 300 on Tuesday, December 24, 2019 at 5 PM for “Latkes and Lo Mein!” Join Rabbi Jonathan Aaron and Cantor Lizzie Weiss with the house band for a concert featuring original Temple Emanuel music. There is no better combo than Latkes and Lo Mein! Please be sure to RSVP. Chinese dinner is $10 a person. The event is over at 8 PM. Tickets and more info. Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills 300 North Clark, Beverly Hills, California 90211.
Wednesday, December 25, 2019, from 5 PM – 10:30 PM, join The Shul on the Beach in Venice for a Chanukah Soirée, Wine and Cheese then Menorah Lighting ceremony on the Boardwalk, followed by Live Music, Festive Chanukah Dinner, Latkes, Sufganiyot and more. $20.00 Early Price by Dec.23rd, $25.00 After Dec. 23rd. 505 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291-2403. Website.
KID’S STUFF
Sunday, December 22, at 2:30 PM enjoy Chanukah on ICE, hosted by Chabad Persian Youth Center and Jewish Creative Preschool of LA (This is a different event than the CMO skate). This fun family day features arts & crafts, hot chocolate, latkes. doughnuts, music, entertainment, dreidels, and a skating rink. Admission is free; refreshments are for sale and skate rental is $15. The event is taking place at ICE at Santa Monica at 1324 5th St, Santa Monica, California 90401. Website.
Chabad of the South Bay is presenting a number of events over Hanukkah, but the most exciting-sounding one is the giant lollipop menorah. Yes, you heard that right. Giant Lollipop Menorah! Sunday, December 29, 2019, the free, all-ages event takes place at 4:30 PM at Del Amo Fashion Center. There will also be latkes, hot chocolate, live music, face painting, and donut decorating. The event takes place at the Outdoor Village. Check out the website for more information and additional events.
If you are more of a do-it-yourself-er:
Here is the recipe from my dear adopted Jewish mother, Regina Barton.
