Revisiting Hanukkah Feast: A Fresh Perspective on Matzoh Tradition
In the heart of Midtown, modern Mexican restaurant Toloache is offering a unique Hanukkah menu, a culinary celebration of the melding of Chef Julian Medina's culinary heritages.
Julian Medina, a Mexican-born chef, has reinterpreted traditional Hanukkah dishes with a twist of his own, creating a menu that is both familiar and innovative. The menu includes a braised brisket, transformed into soft-shell brisket tacos, a staple dish in Mexico known as tacos suadero. The brisket is shredded and used as a taco filling, served in handmade tacos with avocado.
The standby smoked fish salad is also given a makeover, with tamarind adding a tangy twist, accompanied by flavors of caramelized apples and chipotle vinaigrette.
One of the highlights of the menu is the trio of latkes - potato, zucchini, and cheese. The zucchini latkes, a departure from the traditional applesauce accompaniment, are served with a tomatillo apple salsa sweetened with agave nectar and seasoned with jalapeno. The zucchini and potato latkes are described as light, crispy, and spicy.
Julian Medina has adapted a zucchini latke recipe from his mother-in-law for this special occasion. Annie Sigal Medina, an observant Jewish woman native to the Upper East Side, met Julian through mutual friends at the South Beach Food and Wine Festival nine years ago. The couple converted to Judaism and married six years ago. Today, Annie works with her husband on marketing strategies for the three restaurants.
Maureen Brennan, who writes about food and dining trends in the New York metro area, prefers the companionship of a bowl of matzo ball soup. Julian Medina's version is seasoned with cilantro, jalapeno, and a squeeze of lime, adding a refreshing twist to this traditional dish.
The Hanukkah menu at Toloache is offered to customers during the holiday's eight days. For those interested in recreating these dishes at home, the restaurant has even shared Julian Medina's zucchini latkes recipe.
With this Hanukkah menu, Julian Medina continues to push the boundaries of fusion cuisine, blending the flavours of his Mexican roots with the traditions of his Jewish wife, creating a unique dining experience for all.
Read also:
- Assistance for Muslims in the United Kingdom
- LEgo Building Tasks for Cold Weather
- Adopting This Mentality Reduction can Assist Travelers in Preventing Fatigue During Vacations
- Savor the delectable flaky brioche pastries of Mallorca on your forthcoming journey, a tantalizing alternative to traditional churros.
