The Jewish High Holidays (Rosh Hashanah, the new year celebration, begins at sundown on Friday, September 18 and Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, begins at sundown on Sunday, September 27) start soon, and, like most Jewish celebrations, they will involve lots of food. If your Bubbe's not around to make brisket and tzimmes, you'll need to find another source for all those traditional dishes. We've found some great catering and dining options for both holidays, so you won't be left eating just apples and honey - or fasting well after the sun goes down.
H.P. Schmaltz & Co. Deli
Whether you're celebrating the new year or coming off a day of fasting, this deli's catering menu is sure to please. The long list of offerings includes brisket, apple and potato tzimmes, sweet noodle kugel, kashka varnishkes, round challah, gefilte fish, bagels, coffee cakes and a whole lot more. Order by September 16 for Rosh Hashanah, by September 25 for Yom Kippur.
Bagel (Old Orchard Shopping Center)
If you'd prefer to go out for your Jewish new year celebration, this Skokie institution offers a traditional Rosh Hashanah meal on both Friday, September 18 (5:30 p.m.) and Saturday, September 19 (6 p.m.) evenings. The candlelight and white tablecloth service meals ($28.95/adult, $12.95 child under 10) will include an array of appetizers (including chopped liver, gefilte fish and your choice of matzoh ball soup or kreplach), a choice of entree (beef brisket au jus, roasted spring chicken, broiled whitefish, sweet & sour meatballs) with sides (carrot-sweet potato and prune tzimmes, oven-baked challah, green beans and onions almondine) and desserts (honey cake and sponge cake). A glass of sweet red or white kosher wine is also included. Call for reservations with credit card.
Max & Benny's Restaurant & Deli
The list of traditional dishes for the High Holiday season is long at this Northbrook institution. For Rosh Hashanah (order by September 14), you can get a full dinner to go for 6-12 people ($159-$295) including sweet & sour meatballs, chicken matzo ball soup, honey-glazed carrots, kugel, honey-laced apple streudel, challah and your choice of brisket, chicken or roasted turkey (available only for 12 people). There are also a number of a la carte items available. For Yom Kippur (order by September 24), it's done tray style - choose from among a lox tray (with bagels, cream cheese, sliced cheese, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers and olives, $11.95/person), dairy tray (with bagels, cheeses, egg salad, tuna salad and whitefish salad, $13.95/person), meat tray (with corned beef, roast beef, turkey, turkey pastrami, salami, chopped liver, onion rolls and condiments, $12.95/person) and fruit and vegetable trays. There are also desserts on offer. If you prefer to dine in, the dining room features a special holiday menu (in addition to the regular menu) on Friday, September 18 and Saturday, September 19.
Max's Delicatessen
This Highland Park deli offers a wide range of carry-out items for Rosh Hashanah including everything from brisket to honey cake. Pick-up is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., or you can choose to eat in the dining room from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. (the Rosh Hashanah menu includes your choice of entree and several side dishes, $19.95/adult, $10.95/kids under 10). On Yom Kippur, break the fast with a selection of dairy, meat, fruit and vegetable trays. The dining room will also be open on Sunday, September 27 from 7 a.m.-3 p.m., and for tray pickups from noon-5 p.m. on Monday, September 28.
Steve's Deli
You can get more than huuuge sandwiches at this Detroit-area transplant - the River North spot's Rosh Hashanah dinners ($19.99/person) include your choice of brisket, salmon, stuffed cabbage, turkey, lemon chicken or apricot chicken, plus traditional soups, sides and sour cream coffee cake. There's also an a la carte menu, and Steve's will be open for dinner for the holiday. For Yom Kippur, you can pick up a tray ($16.99-$28.99/person, choose from "Lots a Lox," trio salad, dairy and deluxe deli options) or build your own "break the fast" meal from tons of choices.
Goddess and Grocer (Damen, Elston and Delaware locations)
Why stop at your basic matzo ball soup, gefilte fish, brisket and honey apple cake meal when you can add more upscale dishes like grilled asparagus with truffle oil ($11.50/pound) and vanilla bean creme brulee ($7/serving)? The shop's diverse catering menu will be available for both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, but you must order at least 24 hours in advance.
Fox & Obel
Every High Holiday staple you can do, this premium grocery shop and caterer can do better. Burgundy braised, black angus beef brisket ($22 for two servings). Roasted root vegetable tzimmes ($18 for six servings). Apple nut cake with Korintje cinnamon ($9 for six servings). They've got it all - plus the more mundane stuff, if that's what you're into. Check out the smoked fish ($119-$239) and smoked salmon ($89-$169) platters for Yom Kippur, too.
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