Potato pancake (latke) with salt beef, take away from B & K. Photo by Angela Lansbury.
Where? Everywhere!
USA
Potato pancakes are eaten all around the world, from the USA where they are called hash browns.
Europe - UK and Switzerland
Europe and Switzerland
All over Europe. The best known are in Switzerland where they are called Rosti.
UK
In London, England, I recommend the Jewish style version, latkes. Try them in the restaurant or order some to take home form the B & K salt beef bar and deli in Hatch End and Edgware.
When
You will also see latkes for sale at Hanukah.
For a potato pancake Festival
Ukraine
This was established relatively recently. At Korosten near Kiev. Third Saturday in September. The festival of potato pancakes is called the festival of Deruny.
What do they do? Daft things such as throwing potato pancakes from one person to another at a distance to see who can throw furthest. More sensible and widely applicable, demonstrations of cooking from a cookery school.
I looked for recipes and the Wiki extry on latkes gives the options.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latke
Etymology[edit]
The word comes from the Yiddish latke, itself from the East Slavic oladka, a diminutive of oladya 'small fried pancake', which in turn is from Hellenistic Greek ἐλάδιον '(olive) oil', diminutive of Ancient Greek ἔλαιον 'oil'.[3][4]
Latkes served with applesauce and sour cream
Its Modern Hebrew name, levivah (לביבה), is a revival of a word used in the Book of Samuel to describe a dumpling made from kneaded dough, part of the story of Amnon and Tamar.[5] Some interpreters have noted that the homonym levav (לבב) means "heart," and the verbal form of l-v-v occurs in the Song of Songs as well. In the lexicon of Ashkenazi Jews from Udmurtia and Tatarstan there are recorded versions of the kosher-style appellation of latkes during the eight-day Hanukkah holiday.[6]
History[edit]
Some version of latkes goes back to at least the Middle Ages.[7] They were probably made of cheese (probably either ricotta or curd cheese), fried in poppyseed oil or butter, and served with fruit preserves. These cheese latkes were the most common kind of latke in Ashkenazi communities until the 19th century, when the potato arrived in eastern Europe.[7][8][9][10] At the time, the cheapest and most readily available cooking fat was schmaltz, rendered poultry fat (usually from a goose or chicken), and due to Jewish dietary laws, which prohibit the mixing of meat and dairy products, alternatives to the cheese latke were introduced. These included buckwheat or rye flour, or other tubers endemic to the region, such as turnips.[11] As the potato became popular in eastern Europe, it was quickly adopted to the point that today, latke is almost synonymous with potatoes.[7]
Variations[edit]
Latkes today are most commonly made with potatoes, although other vegetables are also sometimes used. There are two main varieties: those made with grated potato and those made with puréed or mashed potato. The textures of these two varieties are different.[citation needed]
Grated potato version[edit]
Latkes made of grated potatoes with onions
Latkes made of grated potatoes are popular. They are prepared by grating potatoes and onions with a box grater or food processor; then excess moisture is squeezed out. The grated potatoes are then mixed with eggs and flour or matzo meal; a vegan version uses chickpea flour and potato starch instead of eggs. The latkes are fried in batches in an oiled pan. The thickness is a matter of personal preference.
Puréed potato version[edit]
The dough for puréed potato latkes is puréed in a food processor. This form of latke is easier to shape, and has a "pudding-like consistency."[12]
Other variations[edit]
Before the potato, latkes were and in some places still are, made from a variety of other vegetables, cheeses, legumes, or starches.[13] Modern recipes often call for the addition of onions and carrots.[14][15] Other versions include zucchini, sweet onion, gruyere (for french onion flavor), and sweet potatoes.[16]
Sephardic Jews make latkes with zucchini and garlic (mücver), omitting dairy-based toppings (yogurt) when served as a side for roasts or meat.[17]
To sum up:
SWITZERLAND
Roesti
Roesti from Switzerland, gets its round shape from the pan. Photo by Encoded 9 in Wikipedia.
UK (& USA)
Jewish latkes
USA
hash brownies
Useful Websites
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potato_pancake
https://ukraine-kiev-tour.com/2018/korosten-potato-pancakes-festival.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korosten
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hash_browns
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latke
Potato Pancake Mix (from the USA)
https://www.instacart.com/products/221974-hungry-jack-potato-pancake-mix-6-0-oz
About the Author
About the Author of this blog, Author Angela Lansbury
BIOGRAPHY
Angela Lansbury B A Hons ACG ALB PM5 EH5 DL5 VC5
The Author of several books, including Etiquette For Every Occasion. Wedding Speeches & Toasts. How to be the Best Man. Quick Quotations. Who Said What When.
Blogs travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com
dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com
translateforfun.blogspot.com
Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters Speakers Club Vice President Public Relations (VPPR), Previous President
Join BHA 1st Wednesday 7pm and 3rd Saturday 2 pm Singapore time
Vice President Public Relations (VP PR) of Tampines Changkat Advanced;
Secretary of weekly online Singapore International Dynamic Toastmasters Speakers’ Club;
Member and past president of Harrovians toastmasters club, UK; Past member of HOD Toastmasters, London. Past member in Singapore of: Toastmasters Club of Singapore (TCS); Tiarel; and Senja Cashew.
More details from Toastmasters International find a club.
Regular attendee at annual Swanwick Writers’ School, England.
Regular attendee at annual Writers’ Holiday, Wales.
Contributor to poetry readings, and after tea courses on: Speaking On Radio To Promote Books; and Plots And Character.
Winner of many club and area speaking contests in the UK and Singapore.
Language advisor to Empire Toastmasters club in Indonesia.
Language and speech workshops in Singapore.
Speaker on radio and TV in England, Scotland, the USA, and Australia.
Compiler of a school course on public speaking for teachers to prepare pupils for school open days with attending ceremonies before government ministers, Singapore.
Former member of Harrow Writers’ Circle, London, and two writing groups in Singapore.
Angela is on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter. She would be delighted to link up with new friends.
I also have a blog on comic poems.
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