Something for the weekend: A special your bubbie would love

The Star and Shamrock is an Irish pub with its own in-house Jewish deli -- a setup reflecting the owners' Irish and Jewish heritage. This is the first Hanukkah celebration for the bar, which opened in April, so co-owner Jason Feldman decided he wanted to do things up right. Through Dec. 9, the Star and Shamrock is offering a special Hanukkah platter of latkes, matzoh ball soup and a house-roasted brisket sandwich for $13.25. "These are the things that remind me of my childhood," growing up in New Jersey, Feldman explains. "It's a little touch of home. We're using my bubbie's matzoh ball soup recipe. We use her recipe for brining the corned beef [in the brisket]."

You can wash down your meal with a tasty He'brew beer on tap or in a bottle; get $1 off either one until the end of Hanukkah. (If you get a draft of Messiah Gold or Genesis Ale with the platter, it will run you $5.25; bottles are $6 or $11, depending on size.)

Also discounted during Hanukkah are cocktails featuring L'Chaim, a kosher rye vodka from Israel. Its crisp taste comes through best in the "Lepracohen", a vodka martini served up with a splash of Jameson.

The real bonus is that these specials are available all day, and the Star and Shamrock opens daily at 11 a.m. for lunch and brunch.

Mark your calendars for Monday, Dec. 13, when Jeremy Cohen, the creator of He'Brew and Coney Island beers, will visit the Star and Shamrock to talk about his new book "Craft Beer Bar Mitzvah."