On 3/20/2016 4:38 PM, jmcquown wrote:

>>>
>>>
>>> One of the big differences between the two is that latkes are usually
>>> really good. When I was working we went on a number of training
>>> sessions and one place in Orillia was a favourite because the food was
>>> so good. A lot of their meals came with potato croquettes, and they
>>> were delicious.
>>>
>> I always thought that there was a difference between potato pancakes
>> and latkes. Now I am not so sure.
>> Janet US
>>
> I was replying to Cindy's description of in which she said she ordered
> potato pancakes at a diner and she was *expecting* something akin to
> latkes and wound up with mashed potato pancakes.
>
> I've never made latkes. I'm not sure what Grandma McQuown made were
> technically latkes. She just called them potato pancakes.
>
> Jill

Latke is the Jewish name for a pancake made with shredded potato flour,
eff.. In English they are called potato pancakes.

Potato pancakes, however, has other meanings in the US. They can be made
from mashed. Wikipedia defines them: Potato pancakes are sometimes
made from mashed potatoes to produce pancake-shaped croquettes.[1]

The definition is a bit loose, but so far, to my knowledge, no one has
been arrested for using the wrong terms. That could happen by the end
of this thread though.