Pancake Pandemonium

I should know I’m in for trouble when Cousin Steve starts suggesting menus and/or blog posts. Cousin Steve is a talented graphic artist whose culinary skills consist of ordering takeout.

“Tuesday is International Pancake Day,” he informs me. “Shouldn’t you be covering this?” Hmm. Was that an ulterior motive that just smacked me on the side of the head?

That’s OK. I’m a pushover when it comes to a theme dinner. And, International Pancake Day – not to be confused with the International House of Pancakes – sounds a heck of a lot more appealing than Valentine’s Day – and far tastier than Arbor Day. (Am I developing a holiday phobia?)

So, I invite Cousin Steve and his lady, Diana for and early celebration of International Pancake Day. Apparently, Diana has a bit of a preoccupation with pancakes and is known in some circles as “Pamcake Girl.” And, Cousin Steve is every bit as enthusiastic. “Pancake me away!” he replies.

But griddle me this? Do you have any idea what International Pancake Day is all about? Before sitting down to eat, I must investigate this strange celebration that Hallmark hasn’t quite yet caught up with.

The more religious among us might recognize this coming Tuesday as “Shrove Tuesday.” Those with big appetites might know it as “Fat Tuesday.” For the rest of the world, it’s Carnival, or Mardi Gras, that take-no-prisoners, gluttonous night of indulgence and abandon before Ash Wednesday, and the sacrifice that comes with Lent. Pancakes are one of many traditional forms of pre-Lenten extravagances and preparing and consuming pancakes is one way to quickly use up ingredients like eggs, milk and sugar before the fasting of Lent.

One quaint little tradition associated with the day is the legendary Pancake Race, which first took place in the town of Olney in the United Kingdom in 1445 and still takes place today. Women contestants compete in a foot race, carrying a frying pan, and flipping pancakes all the way to the finish line. (And, we thought Iron Chef was a modern innovation.) International Pancake Day is a somewhat more recent variation on the theme. Since 1950, the town of Liberal, Kansas, has held their own pancake race, challenging the record of Olney in the U.K. The town with the best race time wins. At last count, Liberal was ahead. Now, that is the kind of international diplomacy I can sink my teeth into.

I am no stranger to pancake cookery. Back in my college days at Fordham University, I would fire up my Sunbeam electric fry pan on Sunday morning and start flipping pancakes as the guys in the Roberts Hall dormitory would line up in the corridor with their plates.

The pan is still sizzling after all these years …

And, it’s a great opportunity to bring out some of my best tableware – my set of International House of Pancakes dishes. I swear I didn’t steal them. I bought them at a second-hand store. Really.

So, what to serve? Well, if Cousin Steve thinks he’s getting Bisquick Pancakes and syrup, guess again. This is a global gastronomical event, and no time for the ordinary.

Steve and Diana arrive with episodes of those pancake-loving Powerpuff Girls in hand, and we begin a pantastic journey around the world.

Our first course, featuring bold, Southwestern flavors is Fresh Corn Pancakes with Salsa and Cilantro:

For our entrée, a soaring, savory Dutch Baby Pancake with honey ham and Gruyere cheese:

Dessert features Mini-Cocoa Pancakes studded with mini-chocolate chips, dusted with powdered sugar and drizzled with a rich fudge sauce:

It’s all quite scrumptious, and we never have to exert nearly the kind of ridiculous physical energy those folks in Liberal, Kansas, and Olney, UK will go through on Tuesday.

Diana finishes her last bite of Mini-Cocoa Pancakes, sits back and sighs contentedly. “This is the happiest day of my life,” she says. “Can we come back next week?”

“And, pay no attention to that tent in your backyard,” says Cousin Steve, who dubs me “Mr. Pantastic.” But don’t spread it around. I don’t want the kind of traffic in my driveway that they have at the IHOP on Sunday mornings.

Pancake pandemonium can be exhausting. Before I write this post, I treat myself to a nap. As Cousin Steve says, “The pancake is mightier than the sword.”

©2009 T.W. Barritt all Rights Reserved