Latkes (sometimes pronounced LATT-keys) are potato cakes traditionally served on the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. There’s a latke pun:
Q: What kind of key do you have to cook before using?
A: A latke.
The joke has been cited in print since at least 2004.
Wiktionary: latke
Pronunciation
IPA(key): /ˈlɑːt.ki/, /ˈlɑːt.kə/
Noun
latke (plural latkes)
1. A pancake fried in oil, usually made from potatoes and sometimes also onions, traditionally served on Hanukkah.
Google Groups: alt.humor.puns
Kids Puns of the Weak 12-07-04
Stan Kegel
12/7/04
(...)
What kind of key do you have to cook?
A Laitke. (Syman Hirsch)
Google Groups: Sailor’s Clean Humor
Thursday a.m. Clean
stewburner
12/25/08
(...)
What kind of key do you have to cook?
A Laitke.
The Weekly Post (Portola Valley School District)
December 14, 2009
Pg. 10:
What kind of key do you have to cook before using?
A latke.
Twitter
Todd Fritz
@brooklynfritzy
What kind of keys open locks on Chanukah?...Latkes (I gave it a shot, as you were) @dpshow
1:57 PM - 9 Dec 2011
Twitter
ricks99
@ricks99
What kind of key do you have to cook before using?
A ∗lat-key∗! 😊
Happy Hanukkah, y’all!
3:00 PM - 18 Dec 2014
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Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
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