Latkes to Logistics: Turning Hanukkah Traditions into Catering Trends

eileen strauss
7 days ago
5 min read

From classic comfort foods to delivery-ready favorites, make the Festival of Lights shine.

Hanukkah 2025: Sunday evening, December 14 - Monday, December 22

Though nothing quite compares to a recipe for matzah balls or mandel bread handed down through generations, even the most dedicated home cooks can feel holiday fatigue before the first Hanukkah candle is lit. That’s where your restaurant comes in.

Encourage customers to take a break from the kitchen and order their Hanukkah meal from you instead. You’ll help make their celebration stress-free and turn the Festival of Lights into a profitable one for your business.

Know the Meaning Behind the Menu

Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of oil that lasted eight days instead of one, and that story lives on in the food. Dishes like crispy potato latkes and jelly-filled sufganiyot aren’t just crowd-pleasers; they’re symbolic.

For restaurants, authenticity goes a long way. Understanding the roots of each dish and the traditions behind them helps you build menus that resonate. If possible, honor kosher guidelines or offer “kosher-style” transparency with clear ingredient labeling. A simple note such as “prepared in separate cookware” or “dairy-free” can build trust with observant customers.

Pro tip: Train your team to know the holiday basics. When staff can explain the meaning of a dish or suggest a pairing that fits the occasion, it adds depth to the dining experience and shows genuine respect for tradition.

Build a Hanukkah Menu That’s Both Traditional and Trendy

Whether you run a QSR, deli, or full-service restaurant, your Hanukkah catering menu should balance nostalgia and novelty.

Classic comfort meets modern twists when you combine:

Traditional staples: Latkes with applesauce or sour cream, brisket, roasted chicken, kugel, and sufganiyot.
Modern updates: Truffle-infused latkes, smoked-salmon toppers, gluten-free or vegan variations, or doughnuts filled with unexpected flavors like passionfruit or dulce de leche.
Shareable formats: Grazing boards, small-plate spreads, and family-style trays that travel well for delivery or pickup.

Offer catering tiers such as Classic Hanukkah, Modern Twist, and Family Feast. Each should include options that reheat beautifully, plate easily, and stay crisp in transit.

Spotlight on the Classics

A few dishes define Hanukkah so deeply they’re non-negotiable. If you’re building a catering menu, these are the cornerstones worth featuring, and elevating.

Brisket: Brisket is, without a doubt, the quintessential meat of the Jewish holidays, including Hanukkah, and can be the centerpiece of the meal. “Who made the brisket?” is always the first question asked when the tray of thinly sliced, melt-in-your-mouth brisket is brought to the table, as there are probably as many brisket recipes as there are Jewish families. While every family claims to have “the best brisket,” you just can’t go wrong if you start with a flat end cut and roast it “low and slow” for several hours with root vegetables like potato, parsnip, and carrot to thicken and add sweetness to the sauce.

Pro Tip: Don't confuse corned beef brisket with plain brisket. Corned beef is the same cut, but it has been processed with salt and spices.

Challah: A mouthwatering Hanukkah must-have, this braided, egg-based bread is eaten during various Jewish holidays. Soft, rich, and slightly sweet, this braided bread adds warmth and color to any catering package. Serve whole loaves for family-style meals or mini rolls for easier portioning and delivery.

Kugel: Served as a side or main dish, Kugel is versatile, and one of the most traditional items on a Hanukkah menu. This egg noodle casserole can be either sweet or savory, with the sweet version featuring cinnamon and sugar, and the savory option made with spinach, broccoli, or zucchini. LIke latkes, there are also many lower-carb versions of this traditional noodle dish, along with an enormous selection of recipes that fulfill many other dietary and nutritional needs, so gluten-conscious, vegan, and Paleo customers can now also partake in this Hanukkah favorite.

Latkes: Latkes are an absolute must for Hanukkah. These potato pancakes are not only delicious, but they also have a deep cultural and religious history behind them. Standard latkes are fried and served with sour cream or applesauce, but low-carb and keto alternative latkes dishes have become increasingly popular, substituting potatoes with lower-carb veggies like parsnips, zucchini, and cauliflower. The options are endless, but no matter how you fry it, nothing says “Hanukkah” quite like lots and lots of latkes.

Matzah Ball Soup: Comfort in a bowl. Offer it as a starter for family-style meals or in individual containers for easy transport. A rich chicken broth, a few carrots, and a perfectly balanced matzah ball are all it takes to win the table.

Desserts: Wrap up the meal with Hanukkah-inspired desserts. From sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts) to babka, mandel bread, or blue-and-white cookies, dessert is where you can blend tradition and creativity. Keep them photo-ready for social sharing and holiday gifting.

Catering and Delivery: Timing Is Everything

Hanukkah moves on the Hebrew calendar, but the rush always hits fast. Customers tend to order last-minute, so your kitchen, packaging, and promo plan should be ready early.

Operational checklist:

Stock up on frying oil, potatoes, and doughnut ingredients well in advance.
Plan your fry-line workflow; latkes are labor-heavy, so staggering prep or offering par-fried versions helps.
Use leakproof containers that keep crisp items from steaming in transit.
Offer pickup and delivery windows that align with candle-lighting times, when early-evening orders spike.
Promote “Hanukkah-to-Go” bundles on your website and delivery platform pages.

When marketed correctly, delivery isn’t just convenient; it’s a lifeline for families celebrating at home, offices planning staff events, and hosts juggling eight nights of gatherings.

Presentation That Pops

Food may travel, but presentation still sells. Hanukkah is a visual holiday, so blue and white accents, gold foil, and festive packaging add instant appeal.

A few easy upgrades:

Garnish latkes with chives, microgreens, or edible gold dust.
Include chocolate gelt or mini dreidels as fun extras in catering boxes.
Label dishes clearly (dairy, parve, gluten-free) to make serving simple.
Add a card or QR code with reheating tips and serving suggestions.

Small touches turn delivery orders into restaurant-quality celebrations and give your brand free word-of-mouth marketing when guests share their spreads online.

Market Early, Sell Out Often

Catering success comes down to visibility and timing. Start promoting your Hanukkah menu at least three weeks ahead through:

Email blasts and SMS reminders: “Now taking Hanukkah catering orders—from latkes to brisket, delivered right to your door.”
Social media sneak peeks: Behind-the-scenes clips of latkes sizzling or doughnuts dusted with sugar.
Delivery platform updates: Feature your Hanukkah menu as a limited-time category so it’s easy to find.
Corporate outreach: Offer ready-to-serve holiday lunch packages for offices or small-business events.

Add urgency with clear cutoff dates. For example: “Orders close December 10th. Reserve your Hanukkah feast today.”

Post-Festival Follow-Through

Don’t let those eight nights be a one-time spark. Follow up with catering customers through email or text to thank them, ask for feedback, and invite them to order again for New Year’s or upcoming winter events.

Takeaway

This year, let the glow extend beyond the candles in the window. Let it shine on your restaurant as you bring Hanukkah’s eight nights of flavor to life with a menu that connects tradition and trend, creativity and convenience.

Because this isn’t just about frying a few latkes. It’s about preparing for demand, elevating delivery, and giving your customers a holiday to remember.

Hanukkah may come once a year, but it lights up weeks of opportunity. By offering authentic, delivery-ready dishes with a touch of modern flair, restaurants can serve tradition to go — and turn the Festival of Lights into a bright, profitable catering season.

By Eileen Strauss