The Great Debate

Lincoln and Douglas have nothing on the great Latkes v. Hamentashen debate. Which is the ultimate holiday food? There is a book on the subject, debated annually at the University of Chicago. One website (above) proposed these topics for discussion:

• Shape: Two hamantashen glued together to form one of the ultimate Jewish symbols – the Star of David. BUT The latke is the circle of life!
• Name: Hamentashen, stands for ears of Haman. "Would you like to eat the ears of the villain?" Latke is Yiddish for pancake - can you be more Jewish?
• Health: "The latke could be an easily banned substance in New York City" (trans fat ban)
• Popularity: "Citing Google, which returns an impressive 380,000 hits on a search for "latke" and only 62,000 for "hamantaschen"
• Literary: "But soft, what latke through yonder window breaks?"
• Materialist-Feminist (Penn): "For women, it is clear that hamentashen offer far more scope for self-realization, egalitarian relations, and social progress than do latkes."
• Variety: Hamentaschen have so many variations (prune, fig, jelly, apricot) while Latkes are burnt or not burnt
• Duration: Last time I checked you get 8 days of Latkes, and only 1 of Hamentashen (2 if you are in Jerusalem)
• Dressing: Latkes rely on apple sauce or Sour Cream for taste, while Hamentaschen can stand on their own.
• Taste: You be the Judge.