The first night of Hanukah, one of the prettiest and most festive Jewish holidays is a time for family and friends to gather around the table to commemorate the rededication of the temple of Jerusalem by lighting a candle each night for eight days.

Eating foods that are cooked in oil, such as the much beloved potato latke is also very much a part of the celebration. The following menu, centered around potato latkes, is provided by Louise Fiszer, a California-based cooking teacher and author of Jewish Holiday Feasts.

Louise suggests that a crisp California Chardonnay partners well with latkes topped with tart apple sauce or sour cream and a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Merlot are a great match for the brisket.

• Zucchini-Leek Soup
• Spinach and Tangerine Salad
• Potato Latkes
• Low Fat Latkes
• Oven Braised Brisket with Onions and Tomatoes
• Apple-Onion Noodle Kugel

For those who keep a kosher home, kosher wines are widely available and produced under rabbinical supervision in almost every wine producing region. Only kosher items may be used in the kosher wine making process. Since kosher wines are made from the same grape varieties as wines typically found in the marketplace, kosher wines do not differ in taste or quality.

For more information on kosher wines, click here for Felicia Sherbert's It's Not Your Grandmother's Wine.

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