Since 1445

"SOMETIMES THE FIRST DUTY OF INTELLIGENT MEN IS THE RESTATEMENT OF THE OBVIOUS"

GEORGE ORWELL

Pancakes are great to eat!!!

Now that I have stated the obvious let me note that February 20th was "International Pancake Day" (highlighted in Men's Health magazine) this year which has been celebrated in Liberal, Kansas since 1950 when they partnered with the City of Olney, England.

BACKGROUND HISTORY EXCERPTED BELOW:

http://www.swdtimes.com/pancakeday/index2.html

and

http://www.pancakeparlour.com/Annual_Events/Shrove/shrove.html

"In England there are several celebrations on this day but perhaps the best known one is the Pancake Day Race at Olney in Buckinghamshire which has been held since 1445. The race came about when a woman cooking pancakes heard the shriving bell summoning her to confession. She ran to church wearing her apron and still holding her frying pan, and thus without knowing it, started a tradition that has lasted for over five hundred years. "

As my own tribute to pancake day let me highlight some of my favorite versions:

• Buckwheat -- give them a try at Mickey's Diner (downtown) in St. Paul, Minnesota
• Swedish -- my mother is an expert chef with this version. Love 'em!!!
• Potato -- served with a side dish of apple sauce and bacon strips of course. I have always enjoy eating these with my father.
• Oat bran -- ideal venue to have these is Minnesota Grill at Byerly's supermarkets with cranberries and walnuts added by request. Simply delicious. .
• Blueberry -- yes the classic pancake but best served on the North Shore in Minnesota at one of the local coffee shops/restaurants
• Volume -- if you have not seen "Chris Cakes" ( http://www.chriscakes.com/) perform at an event you should. One of their "flippers" cooks huge volumes of pancakes for events like a golf tournament I attended in Iowa then flips and throws pancakes to people across the room which is always entertaining when guests are caught by surprise via flying pancakes.

Consumer choice -- not a government regulator deciding what we should eat -- always produces great results like my list of pancake varieties as restaurants/entrepreneurs pursue customers.

Bon appetit,

Todd