Chow The Consolation of Flapjacks, Part 2
posted by on September 5 at 9:51 AM
Last week, I slogged about some particularly delicious pancakes I had at Seattle’s lovably low-rent Mecca Cafe. Got some nice commiseration in the comments, inspired a person or two to go get themselves a pancake, but still I wondered: Is finding a delicious pancake actually that remarkable? Has anyone ever made a non-delicious pancake?
This past weekend, I travelled to Salt Lake City, where I received an answer to my rhetorical question in the form of a crispy-on-the-outside, phlegmy-on-the-inside flapjack from a seemingly reputable restaurant. It was inedible, I sent it back, earning profuse apologies from the waiter and another pancake exactly like the first. I spit out my test bite of goocake #2, tipped the waiter (it wasn’t his fault), and ran for my life.
But seriously: What the fuck? The people of Utah pride themselves on their “pioneer stock”—how can they fuck up something as elementary as a griddle cake, which presumably sustained their ancestors for centuries? In Utah, does “pancake” secretly mean “charbroiled goo wad”?
Shame on you, Utah. You deserve that giant lake full of undrinkably salty water.
(Everyone else, share your tales of flapjack triumph and heartbreak in the Stranger’s Reader Reviews.)
You were in SLC?! Gross!
In SLC's defense, I've had the best pancakes of my life there (go to Ruth's!). But also the worst.
Hmmm. My best were the ones I made with blueberries my sister picked on our cast-iron stove from wood we chopped in our one-room squatter's cabin in BC.
But the Varsity Inn has some good ones (near Gas Works Park).
I made vegan pancakes for my old lady this weekend. Soy-banana pancakes, which we ate with nectarines, maple syrup and yogurt. A damn fine meal!
you want a pancake that will blow your balls off? head to walla walla, find TOMMY'S DUTCH LUNCH, and go bonkers. no lie, their pancakes are like no other.
plus, you can swing by the pen afterward if you want to do a little sightseeing.
I went to Mecca after last week's post and was not wild about their pancakes. They were good, just not what I like I guess. That said, the Charlestown Cafe in West Seattle has what, for my style, is the best pancakes in Seattle.
Best pancakes in Portland: for a low down greasy spoon damn fine meal go to the Hot Cake House in SE. For something more refined tried the French inspired Bijou Cafe in downtown P-town. Mmmm. delicious.
I just wrote a review of my wonderfully crispy-outside-fluffy-inside pancakes at the 5-Point I had early Monday morning. OMG. So fantastic.
In all fairness for folks to by pass the obvious- The Old Pancake House on Madison just off Bwy. is still just fine.
Lots of variations, very consistently done, nice working class a bit of everybody place.
Love SLC - great place, friendly and more big dicked hot men who love to top than you can shake a stick at ... I don't go there to do the temple tour, again.
Mr. Poe, your perspective on the world is short ... most likely in - dick - itive.
The guys want to fall in love, so I flee after 5-6 days, plus you do begin to feel sanitized; famed as well (you queer bottom stoners) for extra high quality home grown weed - blue haze in 5 tokes, and it activates the hornyies really well.
Pancakes, who gives a shit. Somebody at the Stranger needs testoserone therapy at an early age.
Angel,
Do you mean the IHOP? I've never heard it called "The Old Pancake House" before.
@9 and 11, yeah... That's the IHOP. As in International House of Pancakes. You might be thinking of the Original Pancake House, which is also a breakfast food chain with locations around the Seattle area. For my money, OPH has the better food but the more disgusting coffee.
I don't even know how to reply to you, Earl. I'd rather acknowledge your ever-so knowledgeable existence and leave it at that.
David, I live in Salt Lake and have YET to taste excellent pancakes (that I haven't made myself).
I've switched over to French Toast - somehow the Mormons picked up a few good french toast recipes when they left behind their flapjack abilities.
I've had some awful god damned pancakes in Cheyenne, Wyoming on the occasion of the balloon festival. I probably shouldn't admit that I've been to Wyoming, though.
that Ruth's place up the valley (past the hogle zoo) did have a pretty decent breakfast...
but SLC makes me constipated, so i don't eat much when i'm there.
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