Veselka Reigns at Latke Fest
Image by Courtesy of Sylvia Center
One of the creative contenders at the 7th Annual Latke Festival.
East Village Ukrainian Eatery emerged victorious at the 7th Annual Latke Festival (more casually known as Latkefest, which was held last night at Manhattan’s Metropolitan Pavilion.
Chef Dima Marsteniuk of Veselka (right) took home the top prize. Image by Courtesy of Sylvia Center
With an elegant but haimish “latke mushroom julienne,” beat out stellar competitors like Shelsky’s of Brooklyn, the Vanderbilt, Jacob’s Pickles and Baz Bagel to take home the People’s Choice Best Latke honors.
Chef Dima Marsteniuk of Veselka is a native of Ukraine. “His dish was inspired by historical, cultural staples (mushrooms and potatoes) — not gimmicks or pop culture,” said Jason Birchard, Veselka’s proprietor, whose grandfather opened the restaurant in 1954.
“Dima simply used traditional ingredients in a more gastronomic way,” Birchard said. “The latke was almost croquette-like and could stand on its own.” But Dima didn’t stop there. He topped it with black truffle julienne and a blanket of brûlée parmesan and rainbow micro greens.
Judges included chef Ilan Hall of Esh and TV’s Knife Fight; New York Public Radio president and CEO Laura Walker; Dig Inn owner Adam Eskin; and Google counsel John Flippen.
The evening, which was hosted by Great Performances, benefited The Sylvia Center, whose stated mission is “to inspire young people and their families to establish independent healthy eating habits — so that they may lead healthy and productive lives.” We guess latkes are part of that.
Michael Kaminer is a contributing editor at the Forward.
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