Have a Hip Hanukkah

Hanukkah is just around the corner, and with it comes the delectable traditional menu of brisket, salmon, latke, and fried doughnuts!  All delicious, and few guests would wrinkle their noses at a well-prepared menu featuring those items (and if they do...perhaps next year's invitation will get lost in the mail?) but maybe you'd like to inject some modern style into the classic offerings.  Here are a few suggestions:

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine Latke bar
Serve mini potato pancakes with a variety of toppings including creme fraiche, caviar, sauteed cinnamon apples, mango chutney, salmon ceviche...the sky's the limit!  Check out more ideas at Celebrations.com.

Chic Brisket
Prepare your brisket as usual (I love the slow-cooker method) and serve on small chiabatta or brioche rolls with carmelized onions.  Add blue cheese, if you mix meat and dairy.

Mindi's Doughnuts (pictured left)
Hanukkah is the festival of lights, so you can't skimp out on eating something fried!  This recipe for Mindi's Doughnuts and Easy Raspberry Sauce is a fresh take on the fried pastry we all know and love.

Golden Cocktail
With a nod to the gelt you hope to win during a rousing game of dreidel (maybe even the No Limit Texas version), serve champagne, prosecco, or a Goldschlagger cocktail.