Festive meals on the go

SALVATORE CAPUTO

Assistant Managing Editor

Jewish News

There are many reasons you might not want to cook for Hanukkah. Maybe you're tired; maybe you've got a big crew coming over; maybe you don't want to ask if your family or guests would prefer applesauce or sour cream for the umpteenth time. Don't worry, we won't judge you. We'd rather give you a hand with some likely places around town to have a Hanukkah dinner out, to pick up a tasty dinner to bring home or places where you may find those special fried-in-oil fixings (mmm, latkes, and we'll take 'em with applesauce and sour cream, thank you).

Dinner packages

Chompie's will offer its "Festive Chanukah Dinner" at its four locations 4-9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1, through Sunday, Dec. 5.

The dinner includes a basket of breads and rolls, choice of soup (mushroom barley, split pea, sweet and sour cabbage or matzah ball), choice of entree (braised brisket of beef with gravy, roast chicken with stuffing or salmon filet with lemon dill), glazed carrots plus a choice of potato side dish (potato latke, oven-roasted potatoes or mashed potatoes) and choice of dessert (apple or cherry cheese strudel with whipped cream, or fudge or cheesecake brownie with whipped cream). Reservations taken for parties of six or more. Cost for the dinner is $16 for adults, $8 for children.

In addition, Chompie's also offers a takeout Hanukkah dinner with a choice of sliced brisket with au jus, savory roasted chicken or sweet apricot glazed chicken. The entrees are accompanied by matzah-ball soup, potato latkes with applesauce, string beans amandine, gravy and dinner rolls and capped off by a tray of holiday cookies. The dinner is available as a package serving 12 to 15 people at $170 or at a per-person price at $16 with a minimum of six people.

There is also a "by the pound, pint or piece" menu for the holiday, with an assortment of latkes (potato, sweet potato or spinach) and holiday cookies to accompany entrees such as sliced brisket or a roasted half chicken. Prices range from $37.50 for a dozen large sweet potato latkes to $4.29 for a loaf of raisin challah. For more price information, call Chompie's individual locations.

Chompie's is located at Paradise Valley Mall, 4550 E. Cactus Road, Phoenix (602-710-2910); 9301 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale (480-860-0475); 1169 E. University Drive, Tempe (480-557-0700); and 3481 W. Frye Road, Chandler (480-398-3008).

Chompie's also can cater, providing food, gelt, candles, pastry trays and/or gift baskets.

Call 480-348-CATR (2287) for details. Visit chompies.com.

Latkes and doughnuts

With traditional sufganiyot (in English, that means jelly doughnuts) available for the eight days of Hanukkah and latkes, roast brisket and chicken served all year round, Scott's Generations is a deli where you can order up all your favorites to create a holiday meal to eat in or take out - or just pick up the fixings you don't want to make at home. The deli is located at 5555 N. Seventh St., Suite 108, Phoenix. Call 602-277-5662 or visit the store for price information. Visit scottsgenerations.com.

Levi Catering & Cafe has kosher sufganiyot - filled with raspberry jelly or Parisian cream - and potato latkes on sale from Nov. 29 through Dec. 10. The doughnuts go for $1.25 each or $12 per dozen. The latkes come in two sizes, the large going for $2 apiece, and the small latkes going for $1 each. There's a complimentary side of applesauce with every dozen latkes ordered. Levi is located on the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. Call 480-907-7150.

Imperial Kosher Market & Deli plans to have kosher sufganiyot and latkes available fresh daily throughout the holiday. To find out about holiday special dinners, call or visit the market closer to the holiday. Imperial is located at 737 E. Glendale Ave., Phoenix. Call 602-286-6999. Visit imperialkosher.com.

You can find latkes on the menu at Goldman's Deli all year round, so why not at Hanukkah? The breakfast plate of three potato latkes goes for $7, eat in or take out. Goldman's will also offer sufganiyot and can cater a Hanukkah dinner. The deli is located at 6929 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale. Call 480-367-9477. Menus are online at goldmansdeliarizona.com.

JJ's Delicatessen is another place where harried cooks can pick up latkes for takeout (or enjoy some there). JJ's makes them year-round. The deli offers latkes in platters, as a meal and a la carte, and can make special-order latkes any time. The regular and catering menus are online at jjsdeliaz.com. JJ's is located at 23425 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite A-6, Scottsdale. Call 480-563-4557.

The venerable Miracle Mile Delicatessen has latkes for dine-in or take-out as well. A plate of three potato pancakes is priced at $6, while individual latkes are priced at $2.25. Menus are online at miraclemiledeli.com. There are three locations: 7700 W. Arrowhead Towne Center, Suite 1145, Glendale (623-979-3430); 1949 E. Camelback Road, Suite 160, Phoenix (602-776-0992); and 7435 E. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd., Scottsdale (480-588-6453).

Baked treats

In addition to its usual tasty lineup of kosher treats, Karsh's Bakery offers cookies decorated with holiday symbols, like Hanukkah menorahs and dreidels, this season. The holiday cookies will be available at the end of November through the end of Hanukkah. For price information, call 602-264-4874 or visit the store at 5555 N. Seventh St., Suite 116, Phoenix.

How about some cupcakes to treat family and friends? Sprinkles is offering a Hanukkah box, Dec. 1-9. The box features red velvet, dark chocolate, and vanilla cupcakes adorned with blue Star of David sugar decorations. The box is sealed with a Star of David sticker and costs $36 a dozen. They can be ordered online at sprinkles.com for pickup or delivery. Sprinkles is located at 4501 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. Call 480-970-4321.

Cookies From Home offers the "Giving in Faith" cookie box with an assortment of cookies in a keepsake box adorned with the Star of David. The boxes, priced at $22, are available through the end of the year. They can be ordered for delivery online at cookiesfromhome.com. Otherwise, visit the brick-and-mortar location at 1605 W. University Drive, Suite 106, Tempe. Call 480-894-1944.

This article includes both kosher and nonkosher establishments. Those noted as kosher are supervised by Greater Phoenix Vaad Hakashruth. Prices and availability are subject to change.