** Picture this **

You’re walking downtown Manhattan and you come across this brunch restaurant called Russ & Daughters. You see a big line-up but you take that as a good sign opposed to an obstacle.

You go inside - you sit down - and order your meal.
” Whats a latke?” you ask.
”It’s shredded potato that’s seasoned to perfection and then fried in a pan until crispy”
You pause - knowing this is exactly what you’ll order - but what kind of salmon?
”Is there a smoked salmon you’d recommend?” you ask.
”You can order a sample of all of them if you’d like”.

Then you order a coffee, a mimosa and latkes with a smoked salmon sampler.
Before you know it you’re asking yourself how you’ve gone without this wonder for so long.

Fast forward another couple of years and your in upstate NYC cooking for a family on vacation.
You feel like you’re so so close to those dreamy Latkes & Salmon but in all reality is over 6 hours of driving away.

Then a guest arrives with a massive cooler bag and a brown paper bag with the perfect amount of grease seeping through the bag.
You know the smell immediately and then you lock eyes with the label.
”Russ & Daughters”

You take this as a sign to make your own latkes until they’re just shy of perfect then source the best smoked salmon in your home town.

Welcome.
To your cookery class.