It's always been a seasonal irony. The Passover meal celebrates a flight from slavery so speedy that the slaves had to take their bread with them before it had a chance to rise. Matzo: the first fast food in recorded history. But preparing the seder is anything but fast - a process that involves days of schlepping for special ingredients and hours of chopping, roasting and baking.
To the Barista's rescue last night, Marc & Eric, who fulfilled the promise of a fast-and-easy seder (for us) by doing the work themselves and packing it up in a bag. On the menu: the traditional chicken and brisket, roasted potatoes and asparagus. But also some old classics with the characteristic Marc & Eric gourmet twist: a pomegranate-infused charoset (chopped apples with nuts), matzo-meal polenta pancakes with mushroom ragout and ginger-glazed carrots so good the kids even asked for seconds.
People who celebrate second-night seders, or who time-shift Passover to the weekends, might give them a call. Or, if you pray on the other side of aisle, they have an Easter Menu up on their website, too.
Next year, Marc & Eric, instead of in Jerusalem, why don't you refashion the Passover Seder as Chinese carryout? Matzo-meal lo mein anyone?
I did their Easter menu and it was fabulous!! Our menu, from the other side, although slightly different did have the fabulous potatoes, asparagus and glazed carrots.
Honestly made my day much more enjoyable with very little cooking or clean up.