For the last two decades, Chef Kim and her husband Chef Edgar Alvarez have run several restaurants and gourmet shops in Philadelphia — from the four-star Striped Bass restaurant known for its starring role in "The Sixth Sense," to the Delaware Market House, where they won dozens of awards for their prepared dishes and catered holiday meals (www.delawaremarkethouse.com). In December 2009, Kim and Edgar will celebrate the opening of Avenida, their new Latin American restaurant that will feature the dishes Edgar mother taught him to prepare when he was growing up in Guatemala. Stay tuned for more information at www.avenidarestaurant.com. 

For Hanukkah, or any time, Chef Edgar offers this recipe of the favorite Potato Latkas

What you’ll need:

4 idaho potatoes, peeled and shredded on grater
1 lg sweet onion, grated
3 eggs, beaten
2t Salt
1t pepper to taste
Canola oil as needed

Here’s how:

1. Comine grated potatoes and onions in a bowl.
2. Add eggs.
3. Mix well and season with salt and pepper. You may want more salt depending on your taste.
4. In a deep saute pan place about 1 inch of oil.
5. When oil is hot enough, carefully place 1/4 cup of the potato mixture formed like a pancake in the oil followed by 3 more.
6. Lightly fry until golden brown on one side gently turn over and continue to fry on other side until golden brown.
7. Drain onto paper towels.
8. Continue until mixture is finished.
9. Serve hot with a dollop of applesauce or sour cream.