Top 5 Reasons to Take Your Family Out to Breakfast
Aside from being the most important meal of the day, breakfast with the family has many other important benefits for you and the kids. Here are our top five reasons to take your family out to breakfast in Denver.
- Time to talk.
Family meals give children and their parents time to focus on one another, talk about their days, and bond as a family. Further, studies show that family meals give children an opportunity to have conversations with adults, as well as to pick up on how adults are using words with each other, which may explain why family meals can help build a child's vocabulary.
- Expose kids to new foods.
Eating out together can be the perfect time to introduce new foods and expand your kids’ palates. After all, who can resist a delightfully fluffy omelet filled with garden veggies or a golden waffle topped with fresh berries? You might be surprised to find fruits and vegetables go right down the hatch when presented in a new way.
- Someone else does the work.
There are so many rewards of going out to breakfast! No last minute trips to the grocery store, no scrambling to get a healthy and filling meal prepared for starving tots, and no dishes! Let us do the hard work while you enjoy time with your family.
- Reduce stress.
Sharing a meal can help reduce stress by giving you a few moments to slow down and enjoy the coffee. When your hardest choice is between crepes and pancakes, you can really relax and enjoy a few moments of downtime.
- Treat yourself!
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and The Original Pancake House has a plethora of scrumptious choices to delight your taste buds. We guarantee a hearty plate of Bacon and Eggs or a Dutch Baby will brighten your day so don’t be afraid to treat yourself!
We hope you have the opportunity to enjoy a special breakfast meal with your family in the near future. We will be happy to host and let you sit back, relax, and enjoy bonding with your kids. Stop in and see us at The Original Pancake House sometime soon!
Peanuts & Cracker Jacks: Funny Food Superstitions of Major League Baseball
Baseball season is in full swing across the country! We love to take our family to Coors Field each summer t
o cheer on our Colorado Rockies and check out the fun and crowds in downtown Denver. On a recent trip to the ball park, we got to talking about Major League Baseball players and their superstitions. Many players have a special song that they play before each at-bat, or a routine that they follow before each game. One of our favorite (now retired) Rockies players, Todd Helton, used to start a game with a full beard. If he didn’t get a hit by the fifth inning, he would shave his beard to a goatee. If he still didn’t have a hit by the seventh inning, he would shave his beard entirely!
We also learned that some players have a special food or meal that they must eat before every game. Hall of Fame third baseman Wade Boggs used to eat chicken before every game. Retired Chicago Cubs pitcher Lee Smith used to sleep through the first four innings of every game and have his teammates wake him up before the fifth inning with a cheeseburger. Drew Storen, relief pitcher for the Washington Nationals, had a grilled cheese sandwich and glass of milk every day during the 2011 season.
Our favorite superstitious player is C.J. Wilson who plays for the Los Angeles Angels. On the days that he is scheduled to pitch, Wilson eats a very specific breakfast. His game day menu includes a vegetable omelet with an English muffin. However, he is allergic to butter, so his English muffin has to be served without! Next time C.J. is in town, we hope he joins us for breakfast in Denver. We would be happy to serve him a lucky veggie omelet and English muffin without butter.
To all the superstitious Major League, Minor League, and Little Leaguers, we wish you luck this baseball season. We are happy to serve you a lucky breakfast before any game, just swing on in to The Original Pancake House!
Fit For a Celebrity - What Do Famous Dads Eat For Breakfast?
On Father’s Day we have the opportunity to celebrate some of the most important men in our lives –Dads! Though the fathers in our family often have celebrity status, we thought it would be fun to look at a few other famous dads and see what they eat for breakfast. Read on to see what we found out:
Brad Pitt:
This super-star celebrity is a father to Maddox, Zahara, Shiloh, Pax, Knox and Vivienne, what a crew! Brad Pitt is known for his abs and spends a lot of time in the gym. Reportedly, Pitt eats a very healthy diet full of lean proteins and whole grains. One of his favorite breakfasts is six eggs and oatmeal porridge with raisins.
David Beckham:
A famous soccer player, model, and husband to fashionista Victoria Beckham, David Beckham has his kids' names - Brooklyn, Romeo, and Cruz -tattooed on his back. David Beckham also works hard to stay in shape and eats a very healthy diet. His favorite breakfast item is a tomato and cheese omelet. Yum!
Will Smith:
Will Smith is father to Jaden, Willow, and Trey, and keeps the family entertained with his jokes and musical stylings. Will Smith is another celebrity dad who has to eat a healthy diet to keep up his physique, but he and the kids like to eat chocolate for breakfast when wife Jada Pinkett Smith is out of town.
Will Ferrell:
You can bet his sons Magnus, Mattias, and Axel never stop laughing with father Will Ferrell around. And though Will’s famous character “Buddy the Elf,” from the movie Elf, enjoys spaghetti, sugared maple syrup, sprinkles, mini-marshmallows, Hershey's chocolate syrup, M&M's, and Frosted Chocolate Fudge Pop-Tarts for breakfast, in real life Will and the kids enjoy eggs and pancakes like the rest of us.
We think each of these celebrity dads could find something to fill their bellies at The Original Pancake House; hopefully they will stop by if they are ever out for breakfast in Denver. And if you need to treat your own dad to a breakfast out, we will be happy to serve him a meal fit for a king. From The Original Pancake House family, we would like to wish all the dads out there a very Happy Father’s Day!
What is Cherry Kijafa Sauce?
One of our favorite breakfast menu items at The Original Pancake House is our Crepes with Cherry Kijafa Sauce. Our version includes three delicate crepes filled and topped with Montmorency cherries simmered in our Kijafa sauce and lightly dusted with powdered sugar. But what exactly is Cherry Kijafa sauce? Let us tell you all about it!
Cherry Kijafa is a type of fortified cherry fruit wine that is produced in Denmark from cherries with added natural flavors. A fortified wine is a wine to which a distilled spirit, usually brandy, is added. Like a cordial, or sweet desert wine, Cherry Kijafa packs a punch with 16% ABV. Cherry fruit wine is produced from cherries, usually tart cherries that provide sufficient acid. Made in much the same way as a traditional grape wine, cherry fruit wines are often slightly spiced. This Danish favorite is exported to many countries in Europe and North America.
For our Cherry Kijafa Sauce recipe, we simmer Montmorency cherries in the Cherry Kijafa wine until the flavors of the wines are absorbed into the cherries and the sauce becomes thick and syrupy. Because Montmorency cherries are naturally tart, the sweet wine sauce balances the flavors so you have a lovely cherry flavor that is not too sweet and not too tart.
In our mind, you can’t find a better topping for a crepe than Cherry Kijafa! The next time you are out for breakfast in Denver, be sure to order the Cherry Kijafa Crepes. Your taste buds won’t be disappointed!
Celebrate National Egg Month!
Happy National Egg Month, Denver! The entire month of May is dedicated to nature’s own miracle food, the egg. At The Original Pancake House, we are excited to celebrate one of our favorite breakfast foods this month. Eggs are not only delicious, they are nutritious have many amazing noteworthy qualities wrapped in their shells. Here are a few fun facts about eggs to share with your family and friends next time you gather round the breakfast table.
Did you know?
Eggs provide high-quality protein, containing all the essential amino acids our bodies need in a near-perfect pattern. In fact, the quality of egg protein is so high that scientists frequently use eggs as the standard for measuring the protein quality of other foods …. now, that’s incredible!
Just how many eggs do we eat?
The average American eats 250 eggs per year, which translates to a total annual consumption of 76.5 billion eggs in the U.S. WOW!
And the grand prize goes to:
Harriet the hen laid the world’s largest egg in 2010, measuring a hefty 9.1 inches in diameter.
Where do chickens come from?
A hen must mate with a rooster in order to fertilize an egg. The eggs you buy at the store or eat in a restaurant are laid by hens that haven’t mated.
We are all the same on the inside:
An egg’s shell color doesn’t indicate the quality or nutritional value of an egg, but rather the breed of the hen that laid it. Hens with white feathers tend to lay white eggs and hens with red feathers tend to lay brown eggs.
Now for the fun part!
If all of these facts are making you hungry, join us for breakfast in Denver! We have a plethora of delicious, and nutritious, egg dishes to sample. Our customers love our eggs benedict, three egg omelets, scrambled eggs, fried eggs, and of course all of the delicious side dishes that accompany them. Happy National Egg Month!
What is a Swedish Pancake?
At The Original Pancake House, Swedish pancakes are one of our favorite menu items. Lacy and sweet, and served with lingonberry sauce and whipped butter, these pancakes are always a special treat. For those of you who have never tried a Swedish pancake, let us entice your taste buds!
Though called a pancake, Swedish pancakes more similarly resemble a traditional French crepe. They are very thin pancakes and are most often served folded or rolled with sweet toppings. Swedish pancakes are known for their richness. High in egg and butter content and low in flour, these pancakes are lighter, fluffier and airier than other forms of pancake. To make Swedish pancakes, we prepare the special batter, spoon onto a hot griddle into a thin layer, and flip, much the same way one would prepare a crepe.
Because Swedish pancakes are especially sweet, they are usually served with lingonberry, any other fruit preserves, or even yogurt. Lingonberry sauce is a traditional Swedish condiment as the berries are quite plentiful in the mountains and forests of the country. Lingonberry sauce is most similar in flavor to a cranberry – slightly sweet and slightly sour – and makes a great accompaniment to sweet Swedish pancakes.
The next time you join us for breakfast in Denver, be sure to try out our Swedish pancakes with Lingonberry sauce. We promise you will enjoy this special treat from a land faraway!
Crepes! Sweet and Savory, Crepes are Enjoyed Around the World.
When we think of Crepes, we often think of French cafes and light, rolled crepes filled with Nutella, bananas, and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Did you know that many countries around the world have their own version of a crepe-like pancake? Though many cultures eat their version of crepes for breakfast, some are more of a savory treat and can be shared at dinner. Here is a look into the tradition of crepes around the globe.
Italy:
Italians enjoy a version of the French crepe called a crespelle. Crespelle are usually made using chestnut flower as opposed to wheat flour and are often filled with savory stuffings such as cured meats, veggies, and Italian cheeses - kind of like a crepe pizza!
India:
In southern India the dosa, or large crepe-like delicacy, is made with fermented rice and lentil batter and is often served with spicy sauces. You will find a masala dosa on many Indian restaurant menus as it is a popular dish involving a dosa stuffed with potatoes and curry.
Malaysia
: In Malaysia they serve a unique waffle weave version of a crepe called a roti jala. These savory crepes are made with turmeric to give them a bright yellow color and unique flavor. The roti are often served as a side dish and are used to mop up flavorful sauces from traditional Malaysian dinners.
South Africa:
The pennekoeke is very similar to a French crepe and is enjoyed as a breakfast treat. In South Africa they fill their pennekoeke with cinnamon custard and a spiced crumble.
Somalia:
In Somalia the anjero, or a crepe-like spongy flatbread is served with most meals. It is made with yeast flour and has a bit of a sour taste, similar to sourdough bread. The anjero is used as a utensil to eat flavorful meats, potatoes, and stews.
It is amazing how many variations on the crepe exist world-wide. If these examples have your mouth watering, we’d be happy to serve you one of our homemade crepes next time you are out for breakfast in Denver. We have many variations of the traditional French crepe on our menu including Cherry Kijafa, Mandarin, Banana Praline, Seasonal Berry, and Continental Crepes. We recommend you try them all!
Hippity Hoppity, Easter Is On Its Way!
One of our favorite Easter traditions is to take our family out to a nice breakfast in Denver to celebrate the holiday. But, on the years that we stay home, we love to make a bunny pancake breakfast for our family and neighbors. Bunny pancakes, plus all the rest of the traditional Easter breakfast fixings, are an easy way to add a little hippity-hop to your breakfast or brunch spread. Here are a few ideas to bring the Easter Bunny to your breakfast table.
- Begin with your favorite pancake recipe and create batter.
- Determine if you have had enough coffee to have a steady hand when spooning out the batter. Bunny pancakes can be made either by dolloping the batter into a bunny face (circle) and ears (two ovals attached to the face), or by simply creating the bunny face and then adding ears using pieces of fruit once the pancake has cooked.
- When creating the bunny face, place two blueberries or chocolate chips in the liquid batter as soon as you have spooned it onto your frying pan. You can also add a nose and whiskers using various fruits and chopped fruit shapes. Get creative! If you are adding batter bunny ears, let the face (circle) set for a minute or two on the pan before you attempt to add each ear. Gently spoon batter into an elongated ear shape on each side and connect to the bunny face. Be careful when flipping!
- If batter ears sound too challenging, try using cantaloupe, pineapple, or bananas for the ears. Arrange your bunny pancake face on the center of the plate and add the fruit to create ears. Try using strips of bacon or sausage to create whiskers.
- Serve and enjoy!
If you are too exhausted after your Easter egg hunt to make your own bunny pancakes, join us at Original Pancake House for a scrumptious brunch. With almost thirty egg dishes, plus pancakes, waffles, and crepes, we have plenty of choices for a delicious, traditional Easter brunch. Happy Easter Denver!
Take our Customer Satisfaction Survey for a chance to win a FREE $50 OPH gift card!
Hello to all our Original Pancake House customers!
In an effort to ensure we continue to provide you with the best possible breakfast experience, we’ve put together a brief customer satisfaction survey. Please take a few minutes to tell us how we are doing. We know you are busy so as a thank you for your time, we’ll enter each respondent into a drawing for a FREE $50 OPH gift card! Just complete the survey and you could win free breakfast for you and your family! As always, we thank you for your continued patronage of OPH and look forward to seeing you soon!
Click HERE to take our brief customer satisfaction survey.
Wishing you a good day and full belly,
The OPH Staff
Make Your Breakfast a Tropical Escape
As we dig out from yet another snow storm in Denver, our minds are wandering to warmer climates. If you can’t fly to your dream beach, why not make your morning meal into a tropical escape? This week we are turning up the thermostat a few degrees and making breakfast with inspiration from the tropics! If we close our eyes, we can almost hear the waves crashing and the warm breeze whispering through the palms...
Here are a few ideas to make your breakfast in Denver a tropical escape:
Tropical Breakfast Parfait
- Dollop 2 tablespoons of vanilla yogurt in the bottom of each of four juice glasses. Top with 4 mandarin orange slices. Sprinkle the oranges with 1 ½ tablespoons of crispy rice cereal, followed by 2 more tablespoons of yogurt. Top with diced pineapple then with another 1 ½ tablespoons cereal.
Tropical Breakfast Bruschetta
– Portion loaf of prepared sweet pound cake into thick slices. Top with cream cheese spread and diced tropical fruits such as strawberry, mango and pineapple. Sprinkle with coconut and enjoy!
Banana Pancakes with Coconut and Macadamia Topping
– Prepare your favorite pancake batter. When spooning raw batter onto hot frying pan, add slices of banana to each pancake so that they cook into the batter. Once pancakes are golden brown, serve warm with shaved coconut and diced macadamia nut toppings, and warm syrup.
Tropical Oatmeal Delight
– Prepare your favorite oatmeal according to package instructions. Serve warm with almond milk, shaved coconut, golden raisins, mango, and pineapple for a bit of tropical zing.
Next time you visit Original Pancake House, be sure to try one of our tropical breakfast menu items. Our Mandarin Crepes, Continental Crepes, Coconut Belgian Waffle, Coconut Pancakes and Hawaiian Pancakes will all instantly transport you to someplace warmer!
Presidential Breakfasts
In honor of President’s Day, we decided to take a look into the morning routine of President Barack Obama as well as a few of the former Presidents of the United States. What our presidents eat is influenced by family heritage, personal preference, physical condition, and social obligation. Take a look at the unique gastronomic portraits of a few of our past presidents!
Barack Obama
: President Obama starts his day with a very hearty breakfast! A typical morning repast includes four to six eggs, potatoes, and wheat toast. Every now and then, Obama enjoys fruit, bacon, and oatmeal.
George W. Bush:
True to his Texas roots, former President George W. Bush loves huevos rancheros and biscuits!
Bill Clinton:
Clinton is known for his unhealthy eating habits and thus it comes as no surprise that his favorite breakfast treats include cinnamon rolls and Egg McMuffins.
George H.W. Bush:
George H.W. Bush was famous for his vocal dislike of broccoli. We do not have much record of what he did like, however, except that he frequently requested corn pudding at many a State Dinner!
Ronald Reagan:
The Reagans were very health conscious in their breakfast habits. Typically, former President Reagan started the day with bran cereal, skim milk, fresh fruit, and decaffeinated coffee. Once a week, Reagan enjoyed a single egg scrambled, poached, or soft-boiled. Reagan usually supplemented his morning repast with whole wheat toast or a home-made muffin.
Jimmy Carter:
Jimmy Carter stuck with his southern roots when it came to morning meals. He preferred ham with redeye gravy, baked grits, and cornbread for breakfast.
Gerald Ford:
Gerald Ford had breakfast habits that are Original Pancake House approved! Ford preferred waffles with strawberries and sour cream, and German apple pancakes!
At the Original Pancake House, we have plenty of breakfast options for both presidential tastes and presidential appetites! Next time you are out for breakfast in Denver, join us for a Gerald Ford-approved apple pancake or Barack Obama’s favorite eggs, potatoes and toast!
A New Spin on Breakfast
The New Year is under way and we can’t think of a better time to try some new recipes and spice up your traditional breakfast repertoire. With an eye for adventure, we’ve collected a few ideas to liven up your Denver breakfast table. Strap on your apron, roll up your sleeves, and get ready for breakfast fun!
Bacon Breakfast Cupcakes:
With a drizzle of spicy Sriracha Sauce, these cupcakes will add zing to your morning! 
Ingredients:
1 bag (20 oz.) refrigerated shredded hash brown potatoes
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
6 eggs
2 tablespoons milk
¾ cup crumbled crisply cooked bacon
¾ cup shredded Cheddar cheese (3 oz)
Sriracha sauce
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place foil liner in each of 12 regular-size muffin cups. Generously spray with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix potatoes, oil, salt and pepper. Divide evenly among cups; press lightly. Bake 45 to 55 minutes or until golden brown. In medium bowl, beat eggs and milk. Stir in bacon and cheese. Firmly press potatoes in muffin cups with bottom of 1/4-cup dry measuring cup. Top each with slightly less than ¼ cup egg mixture. Bake 13 to 16 minutes or until knife inserted in center of egg comes out clean. Cool five minutes. Serve with sauce.
French Toast Kabobs
: Everything tastes better on a stick! These kabobs are fun, bite-sized, and perfect for dipping. Kids love them!
Ingredients:
1 cup milk
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 cups brioche, French or sandwich bread (cut into 2 inch cubes)
1 tablespoon butter or oil
16 strawberries, stems removed
2 bananas, sliced into ½ inch coins
8 wooden skewers
Directions:
Whisk together the milk, eggs, honey and cinnamon. Dip the bread cubes in the milk mixture to coat each side. Heat the butter in a skillet over medium heat and cook the bread for 1 ½ minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Skewer the French toast cubes, strawberries and bananas and serve with maple syrup for dipping.
Waffle BLT
: For this recipe you can either make your own waffles, or save time and use frozen waffles!
Ingredients:
8 frozen waffles
8-12 slices bacon
2 medium tomatoes
4-6 lettuce leaves
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup fresh dill, chopped fine
Directions:
Prepare herb spread by combining mayo and dill. Cover and refrigerate. Meanwhile, prepare bacon in a frying pan or 400-degree oven to desired crispness. When bacon is finished, place cooked slices on paper towels and dab to absorb some of the grease. Next, either prepare your own waffles or toast freezer waffles. Prepare sandwiches by spreading 2 tablespoons of herb spread on each waffle. Top with bacon slices, tomato slices, and lettuce leaves. Top with another waffle. Serve immediately.
Make-Ahead Blueberry Lemon French Toast
: This sweet breakfast treat is a delicious new take on French toast. And the best part, you can prepare it the night before.
Ingredients:
1 (12-count) package sweet dinner rolls, cubed
1 cup blueberries
1½ cup milk
3 large eggs
2 tablespoons maple syrup, or more, to taste
Zest of 1 lemon
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
For the crumb topping:
¼ cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup brown sugar, packed
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ cup unsalted butter, cut into cubes
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
Directions:
Lightly coat a 9x13 baking dish with nonstick spray. Place a layer of bread cubes evenly into the baking dish. Top with blueberries in an even layer, repeating 2 more times and ending with a layer of bread.
In a separate bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, maple syrup, lemon zest, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. Pour mixture evenly over the bread cubes. Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight. After the dish has absorbed liquid for at least two hours, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
To make the crumb topping, combine flour, sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Add cold butter and toss to coat, using your fingers to work the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the bread cubes. Place into oven and bake for 35-45 minutes, or until golden brown.
We hope you try and enjoy some of these new ideas for morning treats. Next time you visit us at Original Pancake House, be sure to let us know how these breakfast recipes turned out. To all our friends in Denver, we wish you a New Year filled with delicious breakfasts and adventure!