Annual Latke Festival at Brooklyn Museum

The 10^th edition of the Latke Festival celebrates the delectable versatility of the potato pancake, on Monday, Dec. 3 at the Brooklyn Museum.

Once again it features celebrity chefs guests and also the chance to vote on the “People’s Choice” Best Latke of the various recipes served.

The Latke Festival showcases more than two dozen latke creations, from the classic to the decadently imaginative, by chefs from such top NYC eateries as Baoburg; Benchmark, Dutch Boy Burger, FONDA, FryGuys, Kulushkat, The Norm, Riss’s Knishes, Shelsky’s of Brooklyn, Veselka, and White Tiger.

Latke loving attendees will vote for their favorite to determine “People’s Choice” Best Latke, while a panel of influencers and food experts will determine the “Judges’ Choice” Best Latke.

New for 2018 is a Judges’ Choice Most Creative and a Best Traditional prize. Competing recipes include such mouth waterers as Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola’s Taro & Leek, tangy braised short ribs and pomegranate reduction, Korso’s Apple Raisin, dill crèmefraiche and Lancaster County porcini mushrooms; and Jacob’s Pickles’ Sliced & Spiced Pastrami, spicy feta schmear will compete for the palates of the judges and guests.

An array of specialty cocktails, wine, beer and other liquid refreshments will help fuel the latke loaded festivities, courtesy of such partners such as: Tito’s Vodka; City Winery; GuS Grown- Up Soda; and Shmaltz Brewing.

Celebrity judges include

• actress Debi Mazar and her celebrity chef husband Gabriele Corcos, hosts of the Food Channel’s Extra Virgin
• Dana Cowin, host of Heritage Radio’s Speaking Broadly (formerly long-time editor of Food & Wine)
• Alexis Mayyasi, editor-in-chief of Gastro Obscura, David Berliner, president and COO of the Brooklyn Musuem
• Howard Axel, CEO of Four Freedoms Park.

The Latke Festival is presented by Great Performances, the acclaimed NYC-based catering and events company, as a benefit for The Sylvia Center, the nonprofit dedicated to teaching nutrition and cooking in underserved communities through hands-on experiences on the farm and in the kitchen.  So you are eating well for a good cause.  We call that a two-fer.

The 10^th Annual Latke Festival will light up the Holiday Season at the Brooklyn Museum  Monday, Dec. 3 from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Tickets are $75, including unlimited latkes and beverages. A $120 ticket grants exclusive access to the chic VIP Lounge, boasting open bar and a buffet loaded with non-latke fare.

For more information about the festival, including last year’s winners and their latkes, visit www.latkefestival.com.

For more information about The Sylvia Center, go to www.sylviacenter.org.

Remember, the IRT 2 and 3 subway lines stop at the front door of the Brooklyn Museum, so you can avoid high-priced car services.