AlwaysPartying: Latke Cook-Off

Maryse Chevrière — December 08, 2009

Clockwise from top left, Gilded Latke from the Plaza Grand Ballroom. Latin Latke from el Museo del Barrio. Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola’s Soul Latke. Great Performances’ New American Latke.

Discerning potato pancake tasters gathered at the Great Performances kitchen last night for a good old-fashioned latke-off. Pans sizzled as four chefs presented their best latke interpretations.

There was a “Soul Latke” with tomato jam and black-eyed pea salad from Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola’s sous chef Sherwin Holloway, and a “New American Latke” with clementine compote and basil foam from Great Performances’ chef de cuisine, Marc Spooner. In another corner, Chef Victoria Saldana of El Café in el Museo del Barrio impressed with a fiery “Latin Latke” topped with a smooth avocado cream.

The best was Plaza Grand Ballroom Executive Chef Jack Kiggin’s “Gilded Latke.” With help from Great Performances founder Liz Neumark, he whipped up a warm crispy bite with cream, smoked salmon and a dollop of luxurious, salty caviar.

No doubt the creative spins on this Hannukah favorite will inspire some ideas for the upcoming holiday.