Thanksgiving is right around the corner -- and so is Hanukkah! This year, the first day of the eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights falls on the last Thursday of November, which just so happens to be when Americans turn their attention to football and food. Luckily, fried foods fit right in with your Thanksgiving favorites, and you easily can add traditional Jewish treats like kugel and latkes to the holiday spread.
Whether you prefer to call them latkes or potato pancakes, you'll be happy with the crispy-on-the-outside, creamy-on-the-inside version dished up at this family establishment. All the simple ingredients used -- potatoes, yellow onion, egg, and matzo meal -- work together to give this traditional dish surprisingly complex flavor, enjoyable with either applesauce or sour cream. Goldman's also is known for its gefilte fish, brisket, and pastrami. Catering and carryout orders can be placed by calling 480-367-9477.
Open for Thanksgiving/Hanukkah from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., all four Chompie's locations will have dine-in and takeout options. The Chanukah meal -- crispy potato latkes, beef brisket, matzo ball soup, holiday cookies, and more -- is $15.99 per person, or $169.99 for a package that serves 12 to 15 people. Diners can also get whole oven-roasted turkeys, savory Challah stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, homemade pies, pumpkin bagels, cranberry-orange scones, pumpkin crème brulee, cranberry-pumpkin waffles, and more for your Jewish-American celebration. To order, contact Chompie's in Paradise alley Mall, Scottsdale, Tempe, or Chandler.
There are two ways to enjoy deep-fried turkey on Thursday, November 28. Take home a 14-pound. deep-fried turkey from Rico's American Grill, complete with four sides, rolls, sausage gravy, and two pies for $150. Call 602-997-5850 by noon on Tuesday, November 26, to order. Or, dine in at Hole-in-the-Wall Smokehouse BBQ, where Thanksgiving dinner will be served from noon to 10 p.m. Enjoy plenty of fried turkey, smoked prime rib, red butter whipped potatoes, cornbread muffins, and assorted desserts. The family-style feast is $39++ for adults, $35 for seniors, and $19 for kids 10 and under. Call 602-906-3840 for reservations.
All baked goods from this local company are certified kosher. The Hanukkah gift box ($40.95) includes a dozen assorted Belgian chocolate brownies, including caramel, pecan, mint chocolate, toffee crunch, and espresso nib. For a smaller gift, a selection of bite-size Magic Morsels ($29.95), containing six flavors, is also available packaged in a Hanukkah box.
This organic restaurant located in North Phoenix will be offering a special Hanukkah menu from Wednesday, November 27, to Thursday, December 5. Priced at $18, the holiday meal includes all-natural gluten-free brisket, housemade latkes, and glazed carrots. Tryst Café will be open on Thanksgiving Day from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will also be serving roasted turkey, wild mushroom herbed stuffing, and asparagus for $18.
While you're running around town getting ingredients for Thanksgiving, don't forget to swing by Segal's. Kugel and Moroccan braised carrots for your Thanksgiving table. Or order donuts with raspberry or Parisian cream filling, or potato latkes (small $.99/each; large $1.99/each). Call 480-907-7150 to place holiday orders.
You can get some of Karsh's baked goods, like plain or raisin challah, at AJ's Fine Foods. But it's worth a trip down to this kosher bakery, which has been serving the Valley Jewish community since the '60s. There are lots of cakes to choose from, such as honey with or without nuts. And be sure to grab some of every flavor of rugelach to serve alongside the pumpkin pie.
Saturday, November 30, there will be a Grand Menorah lighting ceremony at Westgate. Held in partnership with Chabad of the West Valley, the event will take place from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Traditional foods such as doughnuts and latkes will be served, and kids will receive dreidels and gelt. That night there will also be free holiday carriage rides in Fountain Park.
