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Dear Miriam,
I’m very excited to host a party for the last night of Hanukkah, but I am starting to worry that people will be sick of eating fried foods by then. Or, worse, that they’ll compare my decidedly not gourmet cooking to the delicious fried foods they’ve been eating all week. With only a few days to go, how can I create a failsafe menu that addresses both of these concerns?
Signed,
Fried
Dear Fried,
Fried foods are delicious. If anything, I think that on the last night of a holiday that’s all about oil, people will be happy to indulge in whatever’s there in anticipation of taking a nice long break from such heavy food for a while. Or, they’ll be glad to be at a party and will be gracious and enjoy the company and won’t overthink what they’re eating.
But as long as you’re already in overthinking mode, let’s consider your options. I think your best bet is to do latkes plus. That is, have the latkes as you had planned, but then also have a variety of salads and fresh veggies. For dessert, have the donuts if that’s your vision, but then also have fruit, nuts, and even chocolate as a break from the oil. I’m a big fan of a “decorate your own sugar cookie” station so you can do something fun and pretty that’s also an activity.
Another direction is to stay on theme but go lighter. Make veggie latkes in addition or instead of potatoes. Bake instead of fry, or even make a kugel, which feels on brand yet different. Make pancakes, just because you can, and use gelt in place of chocolate chips. While these things might not be considered “light” in many contexts, in this one, you’re shaking things up just enough.
You can also use this opportunity to highlight the story of Judith and Holofernes (Look it up if you don’t know. Trust me.) and serve a cheese plate and ricotta latkes. You could also look up traditional foods in non-Ashkenazi cultures and experiment with some of those, or host a cooking party with a few friends before the main event so you can try these out together.
If it’s not too late, you can ask people to bring a favorite holiday food from their own culture or family, and then even if it’s all fried, you won’t have to feel self-conscious about your cooking. Mostly, though, know that you’re doing something great by welcoming people into your home, and then relax about the specifics. If you get pre-made latkes, or frozen mozzarella sticks, or takeout samosas, the point of hosting goes far beyond the food. Don’t apologize or make excuses for whatever you serve, and let the beauty of the candles and the togetherness speak for themselves.
Happy Hanukkah,
Miriam
