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A good latke can be hard to find in Boston
By adamg on Tue, 12/05/2017 - 7:09pm
Jewish Boston goes on a latke hunt in time for Channukah. Not as easy as it might seem:
One would think that the Chestnut Hill Wegmans would stock latkes. They have subs, salads, sushi, and a person whose job it is to offer samples of cannoli. However: You will brave the crowds, and you will be sorely disappointed.
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Comments
Both Whole Foods in Newton have them
or you can go to the Butcherie in Brookline. And I'd guess the Star/Shaws and Stop & Shops that serve Newton will have frozen latkes.
What about Bazaar
.
The lengths people will go
To avoid learning how to cook...
Not for the faint of heart
Making latkes requires either strong hands and knuckles that can survive close encounters with a grater, or else owning a food processor. I admire those who are willing and able to tackle this. I admit fresh cooked are the best, but lack of cooking skills isn't the only reason some of us resort to store-bought.
C’mon.
Grating a potato isn’t exactly a serious kitchen skill, or dangerous. And the payoff of making your own vs buying a cold, soggy latke from a grocery store or even one that’s been sitting under a heat lamp is crazy good. Teenagers love this kind of cooking challenge—turn it over to the nieces and nephews and grandkids but make them at home. So worth it.
some of us
Have arthritis and don't have any youngsters nearby.
Yeah, but
Admitted that homemade latkes are indeed crazy good, but they're still not a minor chore. Also, there's really no such thing as latkes for one or two (although they do freeze really well). So if it's just you and you're thinking, "Mmmm, latkes!" it does make sense to find someone else who's making them rather than rolling your own.
Definitely a problem
At which point the latkes become no longer vegetarian. Voice of experience here.
Better Homes and Gardens
The latest issue of Better Homes and Gardens suggested using a spiralizer for making latkes. However, given how my mother had to almost go to the hospital after cutting herself with one, it's probably not much better of an alternative.
When my mom would make them,
When my mom would make them, it would take a lot of counter space, a fry-a-lator, and a giant can of crisco. Not everyone has the space, time, tools, or money to spend on an item like the fryer to justify a once a year use. Times like this it would be good to create a co-op of weird kitchen utensils for people to borrow.
Also, not everyone enjoys cooking!
Skillet
When my mom makes them she uses a skillet, as do I.
You do have a skillet, don’t you?
Oy.
I’m a goy with a TINY counter, some vegetable oil, and a skillet and trust me, I can turn out a great latke. Do whatever you want, but don’t tell me that a grocery store latke is going to be worthy of the name.
Here we go with the "learn
Here we go with the "learn how to cook crowd." I'm sorry I live by myself . Sometimes I just want A latke. Sometimes I just want a few hard boiled eggs. Sometimes I just want a single serving of food and don't want to turn my house upside down to do it. Oh and no I do not plan on making my own greek yogurt.
cafe polonia, euromart
cafe polonia, euromart near andrew sq have potato pancakes year round
Euromart
Euromart gets the potato pancakes in on Fridays.
The best latkes can be found
The best latkes can be found right in your own kitchen! Go to FeedMeBubbe.com and search latkes. You will not be dissappointed and it is the real deal! God Bless Bubbe!!
TJ's Potato Hash Browns better than TJ's Latkes Potato Pancakes!
Trader Joe's Potato Hash Brown Patties http://www.thetraderrater.com/hashbrowns/ are better than Trader Joe's Latkes Potato Pancackes https://www.traderjoes.com/fearless-flyer/article/883
Hash browns are not latkes
Hash browns are not latkes. They are not an adequate substitute.
I'm Not a Fan of Fast Food
But McDonald's hash browns are the best thing ever and superior to any other form of fried potato.
Michael's Deli in Brookline
Has fresh latkes for $2.50 each; or if you order by Friday from their special Chanukah catering menu, $28.00 a dozen.
I've eaten the ones from Whole Foods (River Street, Cambridge) and they are good.
Use a mix
My mother used a mix & the latkes were quite good. A compromise, easier on the knuckles, & doable for one or two people.
A space-saving, cheap alternative to a food processor for latke
making is a $23 Japanese mandoline (use one of the included julienne blades to shred to your desired thickness) and a $7 cut glove to protect your digits from those very sharp blades.
These are common tools in professional kitchens, and great time-savers for many tedious prep chores.
Another worthwhile investment for making latkes or hash browns is a potato ricer, which I use to squeeze out excess moisture from my shredded potatoes, yielding much crisper results. It is also genius in its original application, turning boiled potatoes into beautifully-textured mashed potatoes.
Didn't notice if they retail their latkes, but Mamaleh's
makes my favorite restaurant version in town.
Town Diner in Watertown has
Town Diner in Watertown has about the best ones I have around here in a restaurant. The best I have had at a restaurant was at a Perkins in Batavia New York which is probably the closest one of their places to Boston. The best I have had are my own and that's not bragging. It's one of those things that simply does'nt work unless cooked and eaten fresh which is the reason the correspondent's search came up cold. I typically dislike seeing people respond to a question by giving an answer to a completely different question that nobody asked but in this case I can't help but agree with those who say make your own. It's easy and cheap so how could I not share my recipe which follows: Peel, quarter, and core some apples allowing 1 or 2 apples per person. Put them in a covered pot with an eighth of an inch of water in it. Cook them on the lowest possible heat until they soften slightly then take them off heat. Use a potato masher to crush the apples. Don't mash them completely but leave them in tiny pieces. Add a pinch each of cinnamon and cardamom powder and enough sugar to sweeten to taste. Return to heat and stir until sugar dissolves then take off heat and leave covered. Wash some potatoes allowing 1 large or 2 or 3 small ones per person. Grate the potatoes into a bowl. Add a little flour and enough egg to moisten. Add salt and black pepper to taste. Heat some oil in a pan to sizzling hot. Put in some of the potato mixture and flatten slightly. Cook until the edges brown then turn over and cook the other side an equal length of time. Remove from pan and drain on paper, keeping warm in the oven if necessary until ready to serve. No need to thank me. Lchaim and merry Christmas.