Latke:

Coated and fried in oil, latkes are a classic tradition for Hanukkah, the Jewish holiday that represents the celebration of lights. During the Maccabees’ war against the Syrian-Greeks, Jewish people only had enough oil to light a lamp for one night. However, a miracle of light occurred, and the light lasted eight nights. Today, the Jewish people celebrate by lighting menorahs each of the eight nights of Hanukkah and eating food cooked with oil, like latkes and jelly donuts.

We tried the latke from Lazy Mike’s Delicatessen, located in Falls Church, and it immediately stood out with a perfect savory flavor and balanced texture. The first bite was met with a perfectly crunchy exterior and soft inside. The potato was flawlessly fried, and with each bite, the latke stunned us with its robust, crispy texture and lightly salted taste.

Sweet Rice Donut:

The Buddhist holiday, Bodhi Day, celebrates the enlightenment of Buddha. The holiday features a variety of foods that the Buddha ate as he recovered strength prior to his enlightenment. Many of the foods include dishes with rice and milk, which add sweet undertones to the treat.

Paris Baguette offers an exquisite gummy rice donut sprinkled with sugar and filled with sweet red bean paste, among its daily baked goods. This delicious pastry contains coconut, milk and wheat. While available year-round, the donut’s unique blend of sugar and sweet red bean fillings adds a holiday flavor in December; many cultures adapt rice recipes for various celebrations. The Sweet Rice Donut has a smooth consistency that, despite its sugary outside, provides a balanced sugar level, along with its red bean filling that provides a more savory flavor.

Strawberry Cloud Donut:

During December, various cultures celebrate holidays. While Christmas is traditionally a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus, lots of people who aren’t always religious celebrate Christmas due to its great festivity and charming gift exchange. Some even add a little bit of creativity to their daily foods for the Christmas season.

The Strawberry Cloud Donut at Tous Les Jours consists of a fluffy donut with sugar on the outside of the donut, while the inside has a delicious strawberry filling topped off with a strawberry on top of the donut. This rich and fresh strawberry filling will make you feel more than satisfied after just one bite. The Starberry Cloud Donut at Tous Les Jours is part of their seasonal foods by incorporating their pink and red colors, adding a piece of festivity and life to tasty daily goods.

Red Velvet Cupcake:

No matter the holiday, the wintery season is a time of celebration and joy. There are a wide variety of festivities and traditions that span across a multitude of cultures, all with their own food, practices and stories. Still, there is no better way to experience the overall joy of the holiday season than with a seasonal red velvet cupcake.

Sweetbite’s Cafe and Bakery has the perfect red velvet cupcake. The cream cheese frosting and heart sprinkles add a perfectly balanced sweetness to the treat. The cupcake itself was not too crumbly or sugary, leaving it with a flavorful, but not too rich taste. Available year-round, this cupcake is the ultimate treat for any cold winter day that needs a little added sweetness.