Pancakes Near You

What exactly is a pancake?

When it comes to breakfast, it doesn't really get any better than pancakes, does it? So, for all the pancake fans out there, how about we take a closer look at this widely popular food?

Simply put, the pancake is a thin, flat cake made out of batter and usually cooked in a frying pan. Plus, it most often features syrup on top, as well as other ingredients to give it that extra flavor.

The batter itself typically consists of the following items:

• Eggs
• Milk
• Butter
• Baking powder

As for the toppings, people may use:

• Maple/blueberry/strawberry syrup
• Nutella
• Fruits
• Whipped cream
• Chocolate chips
• Nuts
• Berries
• Banana
• Caramel
• Peanut butter

Of course, this is just to name a few, but there are a lot of possible options.

Who invented the pancake?

Food resembling pancakes actually dates thousands of years ago. In fact, research suggests that people in the stone age cooked something similar to a flat cake. They most likely used primitive tools to produce flour, put it together with water, and bake it on hot rocks.

Another milestone in the history of the pancake revolves around Ötzi the Iceman. This mummy was discovered back in 1991, around 5000 years later after he had died in the Alps. The research on his body gave us information about some of the food he had eaten. And apparently, it included something similar to a pancake.

The Ancient Greeks also had a connection to pancakes. They cooked the so-called "tagenites" which point to a word that means "frying pan." Even the poets Cratinus and Magnes made references to this kind of food back in the 5th century BC. What's more, Athenaeus mentions the term "staititas" (a type of pancake) in his works from the 3rd century AD.

When it comes to the actual word "pancake", the first appearance was in Middle English in the 15th century. Also, the famous cookbook "American Cookery" by Amelia Simmons featured recipes for pancakes. This was in 1796, and the recipes were called "Johnny Cake" and "Indian Slapjack." By the end of the 19th century, the word pancake had become standard in the English language.

What are some pancake fun facts?

Given the popularity and interesting history of the pancake, here are some fan facts about it:

• Thomas Jefferson happened to be a huge fan of pancakes. As a result, he treated his hometown to a unique recipe coming straight from the White House.
• A Pancake Holiday - Shrove Thursday is a holiday also known as Pancake Day. It falls on the last day of feasting before the beginning of Lent. Back in the time, pancakes were a great way to use the remaining milk, eggs, and butter before the fasting for Easter started. - Pancake Syndrome - yup, this is a thing as well. It refers to an allergic reaction to pancakes when consumed in tropical areas.
• The pancake is also known as hot cake, griddle cake, or flapjack.
• The largest pancake to date was made in England in 1994. It measured over 49 feet in diameter and weighed 6614 pounds.
• Ever wondered how high you could toss a pancake? Well, the current record is a height of 31 feet 1 inch, and it was set in New York in 2010.
• Shakespeare was a fan of pancakes as well. He even made sure to mention them in some of his plays.
• One more pancake record for you. The number for most flipped pancakes in just 2 minutes is 349!

What are some different types of pancakes?

Not only does the pancake story goes way back in history, but this food is also a global and cultural phenomenon.

Thus, many countries have different versions and traditions when it comes to pancakes. Of course, the basics are the same, but with some present differences:

• United Kingdom - the pancakes there are usually not leavened and look similar to a crepe.
• Potato pancake - this one is made with a batter that mainly contains potatoes.
• Buttermilk pancake - buttermilk is used rather than milk, and the flavor becomes different. This pancake is fairly popular in Scotland.
• Buckwheat pancake - Tied to regions in Eastern Europe and France, this variant is made with buckwheat flour.
• Palaccinka - Quite famous in Slavic countries, this pancake is thin and looks like the French crepe. However, its blend is ready for use right away and doesn't need to remain idle like its French counterpart.
• Injera - This is the pancake in (East) Africa, typically prepared with teff flour and water which gives it a spongy quality.
• Okonomiyaki - Traditional in Japan, this pancake is made with wheat flour and is prepared on a flat griddle. The name comes from the words "okonomi" and "yaki." The former means "how you like", and the latter means "grilled."
• Boxty - This is a potato pancake popular in Ireland. It gets fried on a griddle pan on both sides.
• Pannenkoek - A pancake that originates from the Netherlands. This one is larger and thinner in size. Typical ingredients include flour, eggs, and milk.

These are just some examples of pancake variants, but keep in mind there are many more of them. As mentioned earlier, the pancake has a notable presence all around the world.

Nutritional value of pancakes

A typical pancake consists of about 86 calories. This includes 3.7 g of total fat, 22 mg of cholesterol, 167 mg of Sodium, 50 mg of Potassium, 11 g of total carbohydrate, as well as 2.4 of protein.

In regards to minerals, a pancake has around 3% Iron, 1% Magnesium, 8% Calcium, and 1% Cobalamin. The percentage numbers are based on the daily value of a 2000 calories diet.

Restaurants with outstanding pancakes

After all this talk about pancakes, we'd sure love to taste some right now. And we expect that you feel the same as well. So, let's check some popular restaurants that make outstanding pancakes. You can visit them and grab breakfast there, or order takeout or delivery via Slice.

If you're in New York, a great place to get pancakes is 94 Corner Cafe. They're located on Broadway and even work 7 days a week. So, whenever you're in the mood for some delicious pancakes breakfast in NYC, you know where to find it.

Next, we got Philly and the popular Villagio Pizza restaurant. You can find them on Frankford Ave, and their fantastic pancakes breakfast comes with butter and syrup. Or if you're in Chicago, we recommend Tutto Fresco. They got pancakes for both breakfast and brunch, and also offer deals and coupons that could come in handy.

Needless to say, if you're elsewhere than the places mentioned above, just check the listings on this page to find a restaurant offering pancakes near you.