A beloved pop-up Jewish deli in Jersey City is shaking things up on the final night of Hanukkah. Known for honoring Jewish deli tradition while never being afraid to riff, Hank Schwartz’s Delicatessen & Appetizing decided to go delightfully off-book this year, offering its loyal following something both meaningful and unexpected.
Yes, the classics are still there: crispy, golden latkes and chocolate gelt dusted in edible gold to celebrate the season. But on the final night of Hanukkah, owner and self-taught chef Jason Stahl is taking things several steps further with a one-night-only debut that feels both deeply personal and wildly creative.
As part of a kitchen takeover at The Alps in Jersey City, Stahl will unveil The Feast of the Smoked & Cured Fishes — a Jewish deli take on the Italian American Feast of the Seven Fishes traditionally served on Christmas Eve. Inspired by his wife’s Italian family tradition, this reimagined “seacuterie” board celebrates Hanukkah through fish, symbolism, and storytelling.
The concept is elegant in its simplicity: up to eight smoked and cured fishes, one for each night of Hanukkah and one for each candle lit on the menorah.
Expect a board layered with flavor and finesse, featuring selections such as:
- citrus-bright gravlax
- classic Nova smoked salmon
- silky sablefish
- maple-bacon salmon candy
- jazzed-up whitefish spread
- matjes herring
- briny fish roe, and
- smoked trout, among others.
It’s a greatest-hits lineup of Jewish appetizing culture, curated with a chef’s eye and a deli kid’s soul.
But the fish is only part of the story. The board comes alive with thoughtful accompaniments: Hank’s signature za’atar-spiced olives, a dill-forward cucumber salad, and a joyful spread of pickley things — peppadews, capers, and red onions — plus creamy dips and schmears that beg for one more bite. Anchoring it all is hearty Black Rooster dark rye, the perfect canvas for those tangy, briny, richly layered flavors.
It’s the kind of spread that invites lingering, storytelling, and a little noshing between candlelightings.
This Hanukkah moment is just the latest chapter in what’s been an impressive run since 2021. Over the past year alone, Hank’s has been voted Best Breakout Business in Jersey City, nominated for Best Breakfast Sandwich by readers of The Hoboken Girl, and took home Best Artisanal Egg Cream at the National Egg Cream Invitational during Seltzerfest 2025.
Stahl also made his national TV debut on USA Today’s Connecting America, sharing his take on Jewish holiday food traditions, and was recently named among New Jersey’s best Jewish delis by NJ.com.
Not bad for a deli that continues to balance reverence for tradition with the confidence to do something new — even during the most meaningful moments of the year.
The Alps is located at 351 Palisade Avenue in Jersey City
