"Ever since I visited a tiny French village in the Ardeche where I tasted a "craque," an extraordinary crisp thin potato pancake as large as a plate, I have changed my view of the taste of potato pancakes. For me they should be thin and crisp. This is only possible if you squeeze out as much water as possible from the grated potato, omit flour or matzah meal as fillers, and gently flatten the pancakes on a very hot skillet. Although the taste of hand-grated potato latkes is superior to that of those grated in the food processor, the difference is definitely marginal. So don't feel guilty if you don't want to use elbow grease and cut your fingers...."