Foods cooked in oil are a Hanukkah tradition, honoring the miracle of oil that burned for eight days. So go ahead. Live a little. Eat the latkes. Here are some warm and comforting dishes to mark the season, starting tonight at sunset.
Build your own Hanukkah feast with dishes from Neighborhood Provisions. The offerings include roasted chicken, brisket, smoked salmon, whitefish dip, latkes, matzoh ball soup, sweet potato and carrot tzimmes, apple bread, babka and more. NOTE: Order by 9 p.m. on Dec. 10 for delivery on Dec. 17. //Hanukkah menu available by delivery only.
Zofia’s Kitchen, a new pop-up pierogi concept by chef Ed Hardy, opens December 11 in Ballston Quarter, with a bevy of creative pierogi options and—get this—a potato latke “doughnut” served with lemon-dill sour cream. A Hanukkah Platter, available through Dec. 18, includes your choice of 25 pierogi (with fillings such as brisket; cream cheese and lox; and smoked whitefish and apple), plus six mini-latke doughnuts with apple butter. //4238 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Ballston)
For a more traditional take on the doughnut, swing by Pastries by Randolph in the Lee Heights Shops for goodies such as sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts) and a festive selection of Hannukah-themed butter cookies, cakes, cupcakes and petit-fours. //4500 Lee Highway, ArlingtonÂ
The catering menu at Brooklyn Bagel Bakery in Ballston includes a High Holidays Extravaganza Box (Jersey-style bagels, nova lox, whitefish salad, egg salad, tuna salad, sliced cheese, cucumber, tomato, red onion, capers, cream cheese, fruit salad and cookies). The family-owned eatery also bakes up traditional noodle kugel using a family recipe from Grandma Iris (must be ordered 48 hours in advance) and challah, and will be serving fresh latkes. //2055 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Ballston)
Bethesda Bagels in Rosslyn is offering family Hanukkah packages with fresh bagels, Ivy City Smokehouse smoked salmon, cream cheese (both plain and chive), tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, capers, lettuce, matzoh ball soup, potato latkes with sides of applesauce and sour cream, cookies, and gelt. A la carte add-ons include chopped liver, whitefish, herring, challah and pickles. //1851 N. Moore St., Arlington (Rosslyn)
The star of a special Hanukkah takeout menu at Celebrity Delly in Falls Church is slow-roasted brisket, paired with sides of mashed potatoes, green beans and latkes with sour cream and applesauce. The regular menu and deli counter also offer standbys such as overstuffed pastrami sandwiches, chopped liver, whitefish salad, matzoh ball soup, hamantaschen and black and white cookies. // 7263A Arlington Blvd., Falls Church
Granted, the preparations aren’t the traditional Jewish way (that being braised), but if you’re willing to bend the rules a little, you can also order mouthwatering smoked brisket by the pound from any number of exceptional barbecue joints in our area, including Ruthie’s All-Day, Liberty Barbecue, Sloppy Mama’s, Texas Jack’s and Smokecraft Modern Barbecue. //Multiple locations.
End things on a sweet note with treats from Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe, where the tempting choices include rugelach, honey cake, macaroons and a whole lot more. We’re also loving the pretty, Hanukkah-themed butter cookies at Village Sweet, and chocolate cupcakes topped with gelt at Bakeshop in Falls Church. //Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe, 2150 N. Culpeper St., Arlington; Village Sweet, 5872 Washington Blvd., Arlington (Westover); Bakeshop Falls Church, 100 E. Fairfax St., Falls Church