The Endless Possibilities of Eggs
While the egg is a familiar ingredient in many breakfasts, do you know the nutritional power and endless possibilities of this breakfast staple? Eggs have numerous cooking roles from adding flavor, moisture, texture, and richness to many our best breakfast dishes that our patrons can’t get enough of. So, we’re excited to share some fun facts about eggs that will leave you craving to crack another egg in the pan.
Going down in history What came first the chicken or the egg? While that debate rages on, ancient history indicates that eggs have been consumed
for centuries with more than 75 billion eggs produced in the U.S. today, about 10% of the world supply. We’re making quite a dent in that figure at The Original Pancake House as we serve more than 25,900 little white bundles a week.
More than 20+ functions Eggs have more than 20 functions in cooking recipes according to the American Egg Board. Eggs provide adhesion to certain foods, binding to other ingredients, and coating for your favorite battered delicacy. They are hard at work in all our pancake, waffle, and crepe batters and provide a lovely texture in our Apple Pancake and Dutch Baby custards.
It’s all in the yolk The egg yolk provides approximately 40% of the daily protein we need in each egg. So next time you’re craving some of our home-made hollandaise sauce on our much loved eggs benedict, go for it!
Outnumbering its breakfast friends Eggs possess an impressive macronutrient composition unmatched by its fellow breakfast ingredients that contributes to its powerhouse of nutrition including the ingredient we all need in the morning: Vitamin D.
And did you know?
- Most eggs are laid during optimal breakfast time: between 7am and 11am.
- There are a whopping 13 nutrients in one egg
- A chef’s hat is said to have a pleat for each of the many ways you can cook eggs.
Often the ingredient-behind-the-scenes, eggs are an absolute necessity in your fridge and in your next meal at The Original Pancake House Denver. Today and every day, we thank eggs for being the rock stars of the kitchen fridge, the packed powerhouses of protein, and delicious delicacies that titillate the most fastidious palette.
Original Pancake House Denver Kids Pancake Recipe Challenge!
OPH Kids Pancake Recipe Challenge – Official Rules
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You are providing your information to OPH Denver and not to Facebook. The information you provide will only be used for customer data.
OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES
OPH Denver Kids Recipe Challenge
Participants must be under 18 years of age to participate in the Kids Recipe Challenge. Parents or Guardians may submit on behalf of children who do not have access to Facebook. Void outside the 50 United States, District of Columbia and where prohibited. Do not proceed to enter if you are not a legal resident of, and located within, one of the 50 United States, or District of Columbia, at the time of entry. Internet access and uploading capability required to enter. By participating, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which are binding and final in all matters relating to this contest.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.
CONTEST PERIOD: The OPH Denver Kids Recipe Challenge (“Contest”) begins at 12:00 a.m. Mountain Standard Time on August 15, 2013 and ends at 11:59 p.m. MST August 2, 2013 (“Contest Period”).
VOTING PERIOD: The OPH Denver Kids Recipe Challenge Voting Period begins 12:00 a.m. MST on September 3, 2013 and ends 11:59 p.m. MST on September 23, 2013.
SPONSOR: The Original Pancake House Denver
ENTRY: To enter, during the Contest Period visit www.facebook.com/ophdenver and visit the ShortStack application tab. Follow the links and instructions provided to upload your recipe. You will also be given the option to upload a photo of your prepared recipe. Submitting a photo is optional and is not required receive an entry. Submitting a photo will not increase your chances of winning. Recipes must: (1) be original (created by the entrant), (2) be in English, (3) be in keeping with Sponsor’s image, (4) not have been previously published, won another competition or contest or been used for advertising or promotional purposes and (5) not infringe upon the copyrights, trademarks, rights of privacy, publicity or other intellectual property or other rights of any person or entity.
Entries must be submitted by the dates and times specified in the contest period. Entries are not limited, but each recipe must be different, submitted as a separate Entry and must meet the above requirements. Entries generated by script, macro, or other automated means or practices, or by any means which subvert the entry process will be void. All Entries become the property of the Sponsor and will not be returned.
By submitting an Entry, entrant acknowledges and agrees that Sponsor may obtain many Entries in connection with this Contest. Entrant waives any and all claims entrant may have had, may have, and/or may have in the future, that any Entry and/or other works accepted, reviewed and/or used by the entrant may be similar to his/her Entry, or that any compensation is due to entrant in connection with such Entry or other works used by Sponsor. By submitting an Entry, entrant hereby grants permission for the Entry to be used in promotional materials and for publicity purposes, and to be posted on social media or other websites. Entrant agrees that OPH Denver is not responsible for any unauthorized use of Entries by third parties. Sponsor does not guarantee the posting of any Entry and reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to remove any posted entry for any reason and at any time.
KIDS PANCAKE RECIPE CHALLENGE PRIZE WINNER: There will be one (1) round of voting to determine Kids Pancake Recipe Challenge Winners:
During the Voting Period from 12:00 a.m. MST on September 3, 2013 through 11:59 p.m. MST on September 23, 2013, all eligible Entries received for the contest period will be posted for voting at www.facebook.com/ophdenver via the ShortStack application tab. Limit one (1) vote per person, per day, per recipe. The one (1) Entry with the highest total number of votes received throughout the Voting Period will be deemed the potential winner. In the event of a tie, a qualified panel of judges selected by Sponsor will determine the winner from among the tied Entries based on the level of recipe creativity. All results are unofficial until verified by Sponsor.VOTE COUNTS DISPLAYED ONLINE MAY NOT BE ACCURATE. RESULTS ARE UNOFFICIAL UNTIL ALL ONLINE VOTES HAVE BEEN TALLIED AND VERIFIED BY SPONSOR.
PRIZES : The Kids Pancake Recipe Challenge Prize: Free breakfast at either OPH Denver location for six (6) persons. Prize may be redeemed at DENVER TECH CENTER location: 8000 E. Belleview Ave., Suite F-10 Greenwood Village, CO 80111 or CHERRY HILLS location: 5900 S. University Blvd., Suite D Greenwood Village, CO 80121. The awarding of any prize is contingent upon full compliance with these Official Rules. All prize details are at Sponsor’s sole discretion.
PRIVACY: Registration via the ShortStack application is required for entry. When you register, we collect personally identifying information about you, including your name, zip code, and email address. The information that you provide will be used solely to contact you regarding this Contest. The information provided will be discarded once the Contest Period concludes. The Sponsor will not use the information provided for mailers or special offers. The Sponsor will not share any personally identifying information, email or mailing addresses with third parties.
RELEASES: By participating in this Contest, entrants agree to release Sponsor and any other organizations affiliated with the sponsorship, fulfillment, administration, prize support, advertisement or promotion of the Contest and each of their respective parents, agents, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, and prize suppliers, and each of their respective officers, directors, agents, representatives and employees, as well as each of their respective successors, representatives and assigns (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from any and all actions, claims, injury, loss or damage arising in any manner, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from participation in this Contest and/or acceptance, use or misuse of any prize.
Quick and Easy Back-to-School Breakfast Recipes
With August underway, gone are the mornings of leisurely breakfasts we all enjoyed over summer vacation. But even with the hustle and bustle of fall schedules, it is still important to start the day off with a nutritious and filling meal! Here are few quick and easy breakfast ideas that will start your busiest mornings off on the right foot.
Peanut Butter Toast: Packed with protein, peanut butter provides energy for hours! One of our favorite “on the go” breakfasts includes a couple slices of toasted bread topped with a generous spread of peanut butter. To make this meal even more delicious add honey, bananas or even raisins.
Pancakes: Don’t have time to go out for pancakes at your favorite Denver breakfast spot? No problem! Make a large batch of pancakes over the weekend and either freeze or store them in the fridge. Pancakes reheat beautifully in the microwave or toaster oven within just minutes. Add a bit of fresh fruit, syrup and butter and you’re ready to eat!
Incredible Eggs: Eggs may seem like a weekend staple, but they are quick and easy to prepare any day of the week. Hard boil eggs the evening before if you are very short on time. A hardboiled egg makes a great meal when served with a banana and a slice of toast. Fried eggs are also quick and easy; they cook within just a couple of minutes and will satisfy hunger pangs throughout the morning.
Oatmeal: Nutritious and delicious! Slow-cooked traditional oatmeal can be made a night in advance, or quick cooking oats make a speedy morning meal. Simply add a bit of fresh fruit or brown sugar and you are ready to roll!
And remember, The Original Pancake House Denver will be here to serve you a splendid breakfast when the weekend comes around or when the kids are out of school!
Family Fun – Things To Do on Summer Vacation
Ah, summer vacation! We still have a few weeks left before the kids go back to school and the lazy mornings and leisurely breakfasts are over. At the Original Pancake House Denver, we love to start our dog days of summer off with a nice big stack of pancakes followed by a little family fun. Here is a list of some of our favorite South Denver attractions to try with the whole family!
Speed Raceway
– Are the kiddos getting a bit restless as home? Perhaps they have a need for speed! The Speed Raceway is an indoor electric go-kart track and provides hours of fun and racing for the whole family. Siblings can race each other (at moderate speeds) around the indoor track and cheer on their friends and fellow racers.
Pirates Cove Family Fun Aquatic Center
– AHOY! For the hottest of summer days, Pirates Cove is just the place to cool you off! With pools, water slides, a lazy river, and play area, Pirates Cove provides hours of refreshing fun for the whole family. We recommend starting with a big breakfast first so everyone has enough energy to swim all day!
Littleton Museum
– Step back in time and enjoy the adventures of life in Littleton circa the 1860’s and 1890’s. Located on 39 acres, the Littleton Museum has served as the primary repository for the history, art, and culture of Littleton. Often cited as one of the top ten local history museums in the United States, the museum consists of two living history farms, a small lake, a collections center, and a main exhibition and administration building.
Centennial Center Park
- The 11-acre, award winning, Centennial Center Park provides children of all ages hours of fun on one of three climbing walls, two expansive, age-appropriate play areas and the Nautilus water play area in the center of the Park. Ideally situated on a slight bluff adjacent to Centennial Civic Center, Centennial Center Park also features “butte” and “meadow” nature areas, three decorative water fountains and a two-story covered shelter to overlook the plaza or enjoy a spectacular Centennial sunset.
Belleview Park
–Located just adjacent to Pirates Cove, Belleview Park offers numerous family friendly activities. Visitors can enjoy a ride on the Miniature Train, play by the creek or on the playground equipment, ride their bikes along the bike paths, and cool off with some concessions sold at the farm. The miniature train has run in Belleview Park for over 30 years, averaging 60,000 riders annually. The train runs every summer from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Kids can enjoy getting to know some farm animals, which include pigs, goats, chickens, and sheep just to name a few.
Westlands Park
– Westlands Park is a hidden jewel in the middle of the Greenwood Village corporate park area. The Westlands playground includes three play areas sized for toddlers to teens. There are two large climbing structures which satisfy both the technical climber as well as the inexperienced child. In addition to the main play area, there are three multi-use playing fields, an in-line hockey rink, a natural water sculpture, a pond and a hike / bike trail.
Cherry Creek State Park
– You can’t beat Colorado State Parks! Cherry Creek State Park has it all with biking and hiking trails, a shooting range, a miniature airport for model planes, and did we mention that nice big reservoir to cool your toes? Bring a picnic and spend the day playing in the outdoors!
Brunswick Zone XL Bowling
– Cool shoes, slick lanes, the sound of pins collapsing, no wonder they say “fun is bowling!” At Brunswick Zone the whole family can escape the heat and get in on the action. Kids of all ages are welcome to take their shot at breaking a score of 200! And when the bowling is done, Brunswick Zone XL also offers laser tag, a large game room and billiards!
You’ll need lots of energy for whatever activities you choose, so be sure to fuel up Original Pancake House Denver with a big breakfast before embarking on your adventures!
Golfing for Firefighters
On June 23 and 24, The Original Pancake House Denver helped sponsor the annual South Metro Professional Firefighters Foundation Gala and Memorial Golf Tournament. One of the largest charity events in the state of Colorado, the tournament raises funds to support professional firefighters and their families who face financial hardships as a result of off-duty emergencies such as accident, injury or death. The foundation is a non-profit organization and provides funds to firefighters and police officers from Denver Fire, Englewood Police, Aurora Fire, West Metro Fire, Arvada Fire, Cunningham Fire, Littleton Fire and many other neighborhoods.
This year’s event included a Sunday night gala followed by a charity golf tournament on Monday. The Original Pancake House Denver sponsored a booth along the course where we gave out fun OPH swag and refreshments to the golfers. With over 200 participants, we had the opportunity to meet several firefighters and their families, as well as members of our community who also support the South Metro Professional Firefighters Foundation.
On behalf of all The Original Pancake House Denver staff, we are proud to participate in this wonderful event and support those who protect and serve local community!
Independence Day: Celebrating family-owned businesses and restaurants in America
In honor of Independence Day, we’d like to celebrate family-owned businesses and restaurants across our great country. Did you know the first Original Pancake House was founded in 1953 in Portland, Oregon by Les Highet and Erma Hueneke? Using her family’s recipes and traditions, Sara Hueneke Ernst, great niece of Erma Hueneke, opened the first Original Pancake House in Denver in 1996. The Original Pancake House Denver has been serving breakfast to hungry patrons for many years, but here are a few American family-run businesses that have been around even longer!
Zambelli Fireworks
Founded by Antonio Zambelli back in 1893, Zambelli Fireworks is still run by the Zambelli family out of Pittsburgh, PA. Today the company supplies more pyrotechnic displays for celebratory events than any other firework company in the country. Of the 2,000 plus annual displays the Zambelli’s create, most occur on the 4th of July. Now that is a booming family business!
Antoine’s Restaurant
We thought we’d been serving pancakes for a long time, but Antoine’s Restaurant in New Orleans, LA has us beat! The oldest family-owned restaurant in America, Antoine’s was established in 1840 by Antoine Alicatore. Specializing in French-Creole cuisine, Antoine’s is famous for inventing Oysters Rockefeller. Today the restaurant boasts 14 dining rooms and seating for 700 patrons!
Martin Guitars
There is nothing more American than good old fashioned Rock –n-Roll! Did you know that Martin Guitars have been an American family-run business since the early 1800s? Martin Guitars was founded by CF Martin Jr. who immigrated to New York City from Germany in 1833. Today Martin Guitars has an 84,000 square foot factory and 500 employees, but it is still run by CF Martin’s great grandson. In 2004, Martin Guitar’s produced its 1,000,000th guitar following the same standards for workmanship and quality that CF Martin outlined in 171 years prior.
On behalf of the Hueneke and Ernst families, we salute each American family-owned business on this 4th of July holiday!
Summer Favorites
Temperatures are rising, the flowers are in bloom, and flip flops abound - summer is here! At The Original Pancake House Denver we like to enjoy the season with a few breakfast items that celebrate summer from beloved vacation destinations. So though you may be dining on breakfast in Denver, your taste buds will be on a summer vacation!
COCONUT BELGIAN WAFFLE –
Dreaming of warm sand between your toes? Take a summer beach vacation with the Coconut Belgian Waffle. Our golden brown Belgian waffle is filled and topped with toasted coconut and lightly dusted with powdered sugar. Served with whipped butter and warm tropical syrup…can you hear the waves and music of the ukulele?
CONTINENTAL CREPES –
If the art and culture of a European adventure are more your style, then slip away to Paris with our Continental Crepes. Enjoy three delicate crepes rolled with sour cream, tempered with Triple Sec and lightly dusted with powdered sugar. Topped with our warm tropical syrup, you’ll be touching down at Charles de Gaulle in no time!
BLUEBERRY PANCAKES –
When it’s a “sco-cha” in Colorado, you might want to head up to Maine! This beautiful northern state is filled with cool lakes, fireflies, campfires and blueberries, yah? To show our appreciation of summer in Maine, we love to dine on Blueberry Pancakes! These classic buttermilk pancakes are filled with plump blueberries and lightly dusted with powdered sugar. Each order is served with whipped butter and warm blueberry compote syrup. It’s wicked good!
Who knew you could travel the world while eating breakfast in Denver? Pack your bags and slide on into a booth at The Original Pancake House Cherry Hills or Denver Tech Center location…your flight will be boarding soon.
Congrats to the 2013 Graduates!
At The Original Pancake House in Denver, some of our favorite breakfast customers are our neighborhood high school kids. As May comes to a close and summer is fast approaching, we would like to extend our congratulations and best wishes to the Class of 2013! You’ve spent many a morning with us, and we thank you for making The Original Pancake House your favorite spot for breakfast in Denver!
We would also like to congratulate a few of our favorite employees on their graduation this month! Your service at The Original Pancake House has been top-notch and we appreciate your hard work. Best wishes in your future endeavors!
Meet the Original Pancake House Denver's Graduates:
Korbin Kinney with DTC Manager and mom Karen Kinney
Graduate Braydin Mehnert
Graduate Aaliyah Navarro with DTC Managers Karen Kinney and Jennifer Cheshek
Graduate Kelsey Amsberry with her twin brother Blake Amsberry
Bacon! Bacon! Bacon!
Who doesn't love bacon? The smell, the sizzle, the crunch and the taste…bacon is so scrumptious it’ll rouse even the sleepiest from their beds. At The Original Pancake House in Denver, we LOVE bacon. People come from near and far just to get a plate full of thick-sliced goodness. In fact, our bacon is so popular we served 30 tons last year. Yes, you read that right, 60,000 pounds of our delicious bacon. Thank you Denver!
In honor of this pork treat, here are a few fun bacon facts:
1. A 250 lb. pig yields approximately 23 lbs. of bacon.
2. Bacon is an ancient treat! The Chinese began curing pork belly around 1500 B.C.
3. In 1924 Oscar Meyer created a patent for the first sliced and packaged bacon.
4. The average American consumes 17.9 lbs. of bacon each year.
5. Dry-curing bacon is the oldest curing method. The meat is rubbed with salt, spice and sugar, and then is hung in a cool place for two weeks.
6. In 1920, a Parisian butcher created the formula for Bacon Cologne.
7. In the U.S. we make bacon from pork belly; however, in Canada they use the loin and in Europe they use the pork shoulder.
8. National Bacon Day is the Saturday before Labor Day.
9. Bacon contains a micro-nutrient called choline. Expectant mothers should eat bacon as this nutrient boosts intelligence levels in unborn children.
10. Bacon is actually addictive! It contains umami which produces an addictive neurochemical response in the brain.
Hungry yet? Brain full of bacon facts? If you are looking for a big bacon breakfast in Denver, The Original Pancake House is here to serve you! We leave you with this quote from one of our Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson: “I had rather be shut up in a very modest cottage with my books, my family, and a few old friends, dining on simple bacon, and letting the world roll on as it liked, than to occupy the most splendid post.”
Sources: www.friendseat.com, www.bacontoday.com, www.yumbacon.webs.com, www.baconsocial.com
What's up with all the plates?
If you’ve ever been to The Original Pancake House, you probably noticed that our restaurants’ walls are decorated with plates. These aren’t just any plates that you can find on today’s department store shelves. Beautiful, hand-painted and handled with care, our plates are just one of the family traditions that makes us The Original Pancake House.
Owner Sara Hueneke Ernst grew up seeing plates displayed in both of her grandparents’ homes. They were collectors and traders and they could never show off all their plates at once. So as family does, they passed them down to Sara, who now proudly displays them here at both of our Denver restaurants and at home.
If you ever see one you just can’t live without, Sara’s been known to trade plates right off the restaurant wall – as long as you bring something equally beautiful to replace it.
The Original Pancake House plate tradition is as old as our original recipes, and serves as a reminder of those special family breakfasts on weekend mornings. Come on in to enjoy one of your own. We’re serving up memories daily!
Throwback Thursday: Back to Our Roots
Let’s take a little walk down memory lane today, and discover how we got started serving breakfast to Denver.
In the beginning…
Sara’s great-aunt, Erma Hueneke, and her chef partner, Les Highet, purchased the very first location in Portland, Oregon in 1953. Back then, it was known as The Pancake House.
There at The Pancake House, Erma and Les introduced their now-famous traditional recipes which remain largely the same to this day.
Then in 1958, Sara’s grandparents, Ferdinand and Genevieve Hueneke, purchased the first official franchise of The Pancake House from Ferd’s sister Erma and her partner Les. They opened up a new location down the road in Salem, Oregon.
That same year, the franchise re-branded as The Original Pancake House, a name which continues today across the country at more than 120 other franchise locations.
Ferd and Gen continued to operate their restaurant until 1970 when their son Tom Hueneke took over. Tom later opened two more locations in Oregon and continued active operations well into the 2000s.
In 1975, Tom brought his 11-year-old daughter in to help out as a coffee girl. That coffee girl worked at The Original Pancake House in many roles for more than 10 years, plus another three years as sous chef in New York before heading out west to open two Denver locations in 1996 and 2000.
Today, we know that coffee girl as Sara Hueneke Ernst – owner, operator and living legacy.
Even as the years have passed, we’ve made sure to stay true to our roots – both in our family tree and in our recipe books. We welcome you and your family to enjoy the same home-cooked dishes we’ve been serving for 60 years, because tradition is delicious. Start yours today.
What's Cooking? Breakfast Foods from Around the World
Ever wonder what restaurants in other countries serve up for breakfast? We were curious to see if anything came close to our Denver breakfast, so check out our round up of morning cuisines from around the world.
South India and Sri Lanka: Appam
(Image: Wikipedia.org)
These bowl-shaped pancakes are made from rice batter and coconut milk and are typically served with a spicy sauce, honey or eggs.
Japan: Nattō, Steamed Rice and Miso Soup
(Image: Myspace.com)
This Japanese breakfast consists of nattō (fermented soy beans) served with steamed rice and a side of miso soup.
France: Croissants, Tartines and Café au Lait
(Image: Smithsonianjourneys.org)
In France, breakfast is usually a small affair, with most people simply enjoying a variety of fresh breads and coffee.
Egypt: Ful Medames
(Image: SeriousEats.com)
This Egyptian breakfast consists of fava beans mixed with garlic, onion, olive oil and lemon juice. It is usually served with a fried egg and pita bread.
No matter where you are in the world, be sure to enjoy the popular breakfast dishes of the area. Because whether it’s the Dominican Republic, Denmark or the Mile High City of Denver, there’s always going to be a local tradition that’s delicious.