How to Hanukkah 2015 In the Bay Area

The Festival of Lights is upon us, and so in spectacular tribe tradition, that means an excuse to eat the best of Hanukkah food in the form of latkes, gelt, sufganiyot and more. There aren’t a whole lot of Bay Area places celebrating the Jewish holiday that could, but there are enough. Let one of these restaurants supply your Hanukkah feast this year — cause frying latkes at home makes it smell for days.

Alta CA Holla Brunch

Holla at Alta CA’s Holla Brunch, which is an all-out Hanukkah extravaganza with insane day dishes like falafel hash, pastrami eggs benedict on challah, pecan challah buns and the ultimate of them all, the "Kibosh," a filet mignon with eggs on top of challah with roasted bone marrow horseradish jus. The brunches are being held the weekends of December 5 and December 12, though the first weekend is already sold out. Secure your tickets to the second go round, and see the full menu, here.

Bluestem Brasserie

Hanukkah dishes will grace Bluestem’s menu for one night only on Thursday, December 10. Expect braised brisket with winter vegetable, latkes with smoked trout, horseradish creme fraiche and pickled beets, and matzah ball soup.

Burritt Room + Tavern

From December 6 through December 14 (AKA Hanukkah), Burritt Room + Tavern has added menu specials to the dinner menu starting at 5:30 p.m.: potato latkes with house gravlax, roe and yogurt; matzah ball soup with chicken consomme, heirloom carrots and fine herbs; potato knish with ground sirloin, sauerkraut and caramelized onions; brisket and Brussels with Jerusalem artichoke; pumpkin sufganiyot with cranberry jelly; and rugelach with chocolate and hazelnut.

Canela Bistro

Canela’s prix fixe menu from December 8 through 13 puts a Spanish twist on the holiday with spinach and leek latkes with smoked salmon, homemade apple sauce, and smoked paprika crème fraiche, piquillo glazed beef brisket with noodle kugel and honey-dipped bunuelos with ground walnuts and candied orange peel. The $42 dinner includes a dreidel and can be paired with a Spanish wine flight.

Comal

Comal wins the prize for most clever event name with its upcoming Oaxanukkah dinners that mash-up Mexican and Jewish food to celebrate Hanukkah at the restaurant. On Monday, December 7 and Tuesday, December 8, executive chef Matt Gandin will be serving potato-jalapeño latkes, braised beef brisket and more for $70 per person. Get your tickets for Monday here and for Tuesday here.

Delfina

Harvest Table

You can get a little more religious at Harvest Table this year with its Sunday, December 6 5 p.m. menorah lighting ceremony led by Rabbi Lee Bycel and Gordon Lustig from Congregation Beth Shalom of Napa Valley. Don’t worry — there will also be latkes, sufganiyot and dreidel playing. RSVP here.

Marin Country Mart

Visit the Marin Country Mart Hanukkah Hut for free latkes for shoppers from December 6 to 14. Toppings include organic applesauce from Nana Mae’s Organics and Straus organic sour cream.

1313 Main

Potato latkes served with crème fraiche, chive and smoked salmon roe will be on 1313 Main’s bar snack menu for the duration of the holiday.

Saul’s Restaurant and Deli

Just fill out a Google doc, and 24 hours later you’ll have a Hanukkah miracle in the form of two dozen or more latkes. Or prune & beer-braised brisket, matzah ball soup, sufganiyot, babka and more, all from Saul’s Restaurant and Deli in Berkeley.

Shorty Goldstein’s

You could order an entire catered meal from Shorty Goldstein’s, or you could let them do literally everything for you and attend one of three Hanukkah dinners instead. The seven-course meals include beer and wine pairings, and each dinner is slightly different from the next. Peek the menus and buy tickets here.

Wise Sons

The city’s unofficial hipster Jewish caterer has you covered with fish and meat platters, latkes, mandel bread, babka, kugel and more available for pickup orders here.