National Pancake Day - March 1st, 2011

(from the It's better with Strawberry Syrup department)

Hi everyone,

Yesterday was National Pancake Day! Rose and I braved the crowds and headed down to IHOP to get our free pancakes!

Rose is ready:


but not quite sure where to begin:


The pancakes were very tasty! And - although the place was crazy busy - we didn't wait too long at all. Kudos to the staff of the Capitol Hill IHOP in Seattle - we had a great time.

IHOP does this each year to raise money for the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. The pancakes are free, but they ask that you'd consider a donation in return. When we left, the Capitol Hill IHOP was about $70.00 from their goal - and they still had several hours to go. I hope they made it!

The history is interesting:

Since beginning its National Pancake Day celebration in 2006, IHOP has raised more than $5.35 million to support charities in the communities in which it operates. While IHOP's National Pancake Day typically takes place on Shrove Tuesday, this year, the company will host its free pancake event one week earlier on Tuesday, March 1 to build buzz and excitement prior to Shrove Tuesday. With your help, we hope to raise $2.3 million for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and other local charities!

Known also as Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras, National Pancake Day dates back several centuries to when the English prepped for fasting during Lent. Strict rules prohibited the eating of all dairy products during Lent, so pancakes were made to use up the supply of eggs, milk, butter and other dairy products...hence the name Pancake Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday

You can read more about it here:
IHOP National Pancake Day - March 1, 2011
and here:
IHOP National Pancake Day - March 1, 2011 - Pancake Day Details
which is where I got the above quote.


Cheers,
Paul