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Hanukkah commemorates a historical event which took place in the 2nd century BCE when the Jews were ruled by the Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks) ruled by King Antiochus III who tried to force the people of Israel to accept Greek culture. The story goes that a small band of poorly-armed Jews, led by Judah the Maccabee managed, against all odds, to defeat this powerful army and reclaim the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.<\/p>\n
When they tried to light the Temple’s menorah (a holy candelabra), they only found enough oil for one day, but it would have taken seven days more for them to get more oil. Miraculously, they lit the menorah and the oil lasted for the eight days it needed until they could get more oil.<\/p>\n
To celebrate this miracle, Jews practice certain rituals and customs over Hanukkah such as lighting the menorah. Games are also played such as the dreidel (a spinning top) and giving gifts or gelt<\/em> (money) over the eight days.<\/p>\n You thought Christmas was indulgent, like many Jewish festivals, Hanukkah is all about the food. And, because of the miracle of the oil, it’s deep fried foods that are traditionally eaten, such as doughnuts and latkes\u00a0<\/em>(a fried potato and onion pancake, a bit like a rosti).<\/p>\n In places like New York and London, there is a culture around enjoying food from Jewish delis which isn’t limited to the community itself. And here in Manchester too, we have some great places to take advantage of.<\/p>\n Our city has a large Jewish community, predominantly centred around Prestwich and North Manchester.<\/p>\n Michael from JS on the Corner is busy gearing up for their first Hanukkah in their new location. The oldest Jewish restaurant in Manchester, JS had occupied a building on King’s Road, just off Bury New Road in Prestwich,\u00a0since 1956.<\/p>\n At the end of July, due to the pandemic, the brand has adapted to more of a takeaway offering, renaming themselves as JS On The Corner and moving to a different unit on Bury New Road itself.<\/p>\n Owner Michael Isler is really looking forward to Hanukkah this year. He says:<\/p>\n “Hanukkah is a great family time celebrating the miracle of lights that happened many years ago. It’s a time to spend time with family, to eat plenty of doughnuts. You put on about a stone in a week.<\/p>\n “But in all seriousness, I love Hannukah because it’s a festival when you come home, you light the menorah, you spend time with the kids and you have fun, you have games, you give presents. And it’s not like passover where you have to prep for three weeks beforehand, it’s just a very chilled time.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Especially for Hanukkah, JS is getting a doughnut machine and will be serving hot doughnuts throughout the eight days, as well as plenty of fresh latkes.<\/p>\n Other dishes on the kosher menu include burgers, sandwiches, pies and hummus plates with shawarma and falafel.<\/p>\n We also spotted an alternative Hanukkah dish on their menu, a deep fried number called the ‘frap’. The frap consists of smoked beef pastrami, garlic mayo, mustard, onion rings, crispy onions, salty pickles, coleslaw, all inside a wrap which is then breaded and deep fried.<\/p>\n JS is open as normal throughout Hanukkah for takeaway food and deliveries. Orders can be made over the phone on 0161 798 7776, online at jsotc.co.uk<\/a> or by going into the store.<\/p>\n The old JS site on King’s Road has been taken over by another Jewish food operator, Celia’s Kitchen.<\/p>\n The new deli has been set up by long time kosher caterer, Celia Clyne Banqueting, which has been providing banqueting services across the UK for almost 40 years, since 1983. Previously a home economics teacher, Celia was asked to cater a wedding for a friend and it went so well that all kicked off from there.<\/p>\n Celia’s Kitchen launched just three weeks ago during the second national lockdown and it’s been a baptism (or shall we say a bris<\/em>) of fire for the new venue which has been very busy since it opened.<\/p>\n Managing director, Mark Clyne said:<\/p>\n “It’s been really busy. What I felt was that Manchester and the Jewish community needed an outlet where they could buy fresh food, rather than packet food. And, because of the production kitchen we have, we thought we were the people to do it.<\/p>\n “It’s something I’ve wanted to do for years but the right location never came around, and then it did, and so we jumped at it.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n As well as Jewish favourites, like salt beef and bagels, they also have kosher versions of a wide range of cuisines including Chinese, Indian and Middle Eastern food.<\/p>\n Celia’s Kitchen also prides itself on creating huge stacked burgers such as their Once in a Lifetime burger which includes two chargrilled burgers, a chicken schnitzel and then topped with pulled beef and red slaw.<\/p>\n They have created a new huge burger for Hanukkah too called the Mighty Maccabee (remember our friend Judah the Maccabee?).<\/p>\n This has a prime steak burger, topped with a fried latke, salt beef AND pulled beef. There’s also a smaller version (not that small) called the Chanukah burger which is topped with just salt beef and a latke.<\/p>\n Because of the laws of kashrut which mean that meat and milk cannot be eaten together, Jewish food normally has lots of great veggie and fish options so, vegetarians, don’t be scared off by these meaty feasts. There is also a cauliflower schnitzel burger and a Jerusalem falafel burger.<\/p>\n “Being kosher isn’t just a matter of your usual traditional staple dishes, we can do a lot more than that,” says Mark.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Celia’s Kitchen are also making fresh doughnuts for Hanukkah, but not just any doughnuts, (and this is becoming a bit of a theme) these are giant doughnuts, topped with things like Oreos and Lotus Biscoff biscuits. Plus, there are selling Chanukah hampers which include wine, smoked salmon, doughnuts and other sweet treats.<\/p>\n Currently Celia’s Kitchen is delivering across North Manchester and soon they plan to launch their own app and are looking to expand delivery services to South Manchester. Then, Mark tells us, they want to extend their offering to Leeds and other places in the UK.<\/p>\n They also have an event space in the Prestwich deli which can’t be used under current restrictions but will have space to dine in when they can.<\/p>\n Orders can be made over the phone on 0161 820 4441 or on Uber Eats<\/a>, and they can be collected from the deli too.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.eatmcr.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/latkes.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWhat do you eat?<\/h3>\n
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