Where to Celebrate Passover 2015
It’s finally spring, which means holiday season is just around the corner. First on deck is Passover (celebrated from April 3rd-11th this year), an eight-day commemoration of the Israelite’s exodus from Egypt. And like any good Jewish holiday, it just so happens to revolve largely around food. So whether you’re devoutly religious, culturally observant or just in it for the good eats, we’ve rounded up some of the best ways to spend Passover this year, from a fun “Progressive Seder” at Joe and Misses Doe, to a traditional sit-down dinner at Mile End.
Mile End
For Passover, Mile End will be holding two special dinners at its Manhattan location, on both Friday April 3rd and Saturday April 4th. The casual Seder will include the core blessings as well as the four questions, followed by dinner with wine pairings for $125 per person, including Chopped Liver with housemade pickles, Matzo Ball Soup laced with smoked chicken and garlic schmaltz, Gefilte Fish topped with fennel, Bitter Greens and Soft Egg dressed with ramp vinaigrette, Lamb Shoulder paired with tsmimmis and rhubarb charoset, and Apple and Almond Cake with caramel and whipped crème fraiche for dessert.
Read MoreKutsher's
While the Tribeca restaurant may have closed last year, it’s actually returning for an exciting, two-night-only Passover “Pop-over” at Ed’s Chowder House. On Friday April 3rd and Saturday April 4th, Kutsher’s will take over the kitchen for an $89, five-course, family-style Seder meal, featuring Chopped Duck and Chicken Liver, Matzo Ball Soup, Wild Halibut Gefilte Fish, Potato Latkes with smoked salmon and caviar, Colorado Lamb Brisket, Roast Chicken with foie gras, sides such as Glazed Heirloom Carrots and Quinoa and Zucchini Gratin, and an assortment of Passover confections, such as Macaroons, Nutella Halvah, chocolate-covered Jellies, and Marshmallow Twists.
Read MoreJoe and Misses Doe
For the sixth year in a row, chef Joe Dobias (and his wife, Jill) will be hosting their infamous Progressive Passover Seder. All of the traditional elements of the holiday meal will be present and accounted for, but slightly reimagined, with all manner of fun and quirky twists. Think an “Elijah’s Punch” cocktail with rum, apple cider and Manischewitz, a Seder Sampler Plate with Fried Matzoh, Matzo Ball Soup with beet balls, Slow Cooked Brisket with horseradish and pastelicos, and an over-the-top Passover Sundae, made with chocolate sorbet, housemade brittle, gooey fudge and coconut.
Read MoreBalaboosta
Einat Admoney always collaborates with very special guests for her annual Seder at Balaboosta, and this year’s no exception — the talented Israeli chef will be teaming up with Anissa’s own Anita Lo on April 6th. So — along with live music and traditional Seder activities — expect an extravagant assortment of traditional dishes, accented with Lo’s signature Asian elements; we’re talking Duck Matzoh Ball Soup with water spinach, Caramelized Porgy with fermented black beans and Persian lime, Beef Brisket paired with red dates, chestnut and harissa, Roasted Butternut Squash with Asian tahini and pumpkin seed brittle, and Sesame Balls with chocolate lemongrass sauce for dessert.
Read MoreShalom Japan
As the name suggests, this Brooklyn restaurant marries both Jewish and Japanese traditions, in totally fun and serious delicious ways. So instead of defaulting to the same old same old for your Passover Seder this year (such as matzo ball soup and gefilte fish), why not try Matzo Ball Ramen with foie gras dumplings, Shana Tova Duck with apples and honey, and Beef Shortrib Cholent paired with horseradish, market beans and barley, washed down with an Oy Vey iz Kir cocktail; Manischewitz topped off with sparkling wine?
Read MoreThe Gorbals
Ilan Hall is known for drawing on his Jewish culinary heritage in decidedly tongue-in-cheek ways at The Gorbals, and Bacon-Wrapped Matzo Balls with horseradish mayonnaise is just for starters. While the aforementioned dish is less than ideal for strictly kosher diners, progressive Jews will appreciate the wealth of kooky options, such as Risotto’d Sunflower Seeds with sunchokes and pomegranate, Chicken Schnitzel with toasted cream puree, Lamb Ribs paired with crispy ginger and crunchy cranberries, and even a “Jewish Lunchbox,” comprised of fried barley, a poached egg, and a gefilte fish cake with dill’d kimchi.
Read MoreEli’s Manhattan
If you’d just as soon spend Passover at home (but don’t actually feel like doing the cooking yourself), Eli’s Manhattan is a one-stop shopping destination for all of your Seder needs. Hit up the catering department for Beet Salad with apples and onions, Bite-Sized Potato Pancakes with caviar, Old Fashioned Beet Brisket and Orange Glazed Cornish Hens, stop by the bakery for Ice Cream Cake, Chocolate Covered Macaroons and Meringue Clouds, and head to Eli’s List for beyond-Manischewitz wine suggestions, chosen from a carefully curated selection of over 200 Old World bottles.
Read MoreHaldi
Why not think outside the box, and head to Haldi in Murray Hill for Passover this year, which serves food representing the unique, Jewish culinary influence on Calcutta? Michelin-starred chef Hemant Mathur prepares traditional Bengali dishes, enhanced by Middle Eastern spices and flavors — try the Aloo Beet Cutlets; potato and peanut-dotted fritters, Chicken Makmura; kofta-esque meatballs in a raisin, almond and cashew gravy, and Bamia Khuta; lamb and okra in a mint-infused sweet and sour sauce.
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