Shrove Tuesday marks the start of Lent and 6 weeks of frustrating sacrifice. As well as being a religious date on which people across the globe promise to stop eating unhealthily, it is also when the same people stuff their faces with calorific pancakes filled with enough chocolate to satisfy even the greediest of souls and present them with a Theobromine poisoning scare (Chocolate Poisoning – yes, death by chocolate really is possible).
1) The Breakfast Club: The Breakfast Club is an independent chain of breakfast restaurants situated in Hoxton, Angel, Soho, Spitalfields and Canary Wharf. This hipster haven, named after the cult film, will leave you feeling as full with food as ‘The Brekky Club’ is with bohemian journo types. I suggest the ‘pancakes with berries’; a mouth-watering tower of American style pancakes, topped with a delicious berry coulis, maple syrup and vanilla cream. I'm drooling at the thought of it.
2) La Crêperie de Hampstead: Although crêpes technically aren’t pancakes, this unassuming little kiosk in picturesque Hampstead village had to be included. Since 1980, the stall has been a local favourite and has attracted crowds of North London teens, loyal fans of the stall and numerous celebrities. The Nutella and banana crêpes, prepared in front of you by authentic French-speaking staff, are sure to delight.
3) My Old Dutch: Hailing itself as ‘London’s Original Pancake House’, My Old Dutch, situated in Holborn, Kensington and Chelsea, is a popular chain of homely restaurants. It's claim to fame is offering a mind-boggling amount of topping varieties on their Dutch pannekoeken. Alongside the fairly traditional sweet offerings, the creative savoury menu will make you flip out, if you pardon the pun. My personal favourite is ‘The Amsterdammer’, a bizarre yet delicious mixture of crispy smoked bacon, soft sautéed apples and maple syrup on a large, flat pancake. Their ‘Lite Menu’ means that they even cater for the calorie-conscious consumer. How thoughtful of them.
London is filled with delightful little pancake parlours, some are grand (The Delaunay almost made the list) and some unexpecting (there's a great one in Camden Market). Tweet us at @jetsetgazette, and let us know if you have a favourite place to go for this oh so under-consumed treat.
Josh Zietcer
@mrjoshz
Josh Zietcer
@mrjoshz
