Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Stack 'em up high!

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Noooooo one can make pancakes like my momma, but you'll get a close second during National Pancake Week running through Friday as restaurants in the city celebrate:

It's hard as hell to get into Wicker Park mainstay Bongo Room on weekends, but you always get a lucky break during the week. Sneak in for lunch and order the White Chocolate & Caramel Covered Pretzel Pancakes (crushed pretzel coated pancakes topped with warm white chocolate cream and topped with buttery caramel) or Lemon Ricotta Pancakes topped with crushed ginger snap and brown sugar butter.

David Burke's Primehouse offers a number of sweet and savory options especially for the occasion. For breakfast, indulge in the decadent PB & J Half Dollar Stacks with strawberry syrup or the Chocolate Pancakes with bananas and dried cherry syrup. And during lunch, the unique savory takes include Steak & Egg Pancakes (with mushroom, caramelized onion and spinach), Lobster Pancakes (with truffle butter and chili threads) or Pepper Salmon & Corn Pancakes with preserved onion and caviar crema.

Iconic breakfast joint Ina's, in the West Loop, knows a little something about pancakes, too. Owner Ina Pinkney's been cooking her version of traditional breakfast favorites for more than 30 years, and her Whole Wheat Oatmeal Pancakes are not to be missed—especially when you toss in fresh bananas or blueberries.

Southern-style stacks can be found at Sweet Maple Cafe, in Little Italy. Their Apple Spice Pancakes are certainly filling, and go down good with a side order of bone-in ham or turkey sausage.

And we cannot make this list without Wishbone, with locations in the West Loop and Lakeview. The Fruit Pancakes should start off any day with a smile. Choose from seasonal fresh mango, peach, blueberry, banana or strawberry.

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