If you’re looking for the best pancakes in San Antonio – we’ve got ‘em!
People flip over our pancakes – and for good reason. They’re made from scratch to be fluffy and flavorful. And every single one is cooked to order. Plus, we serve them all day, every day, so whenever you’re in the pancake mood, we’ll make them for you. But before we talk about the famous pancakes at Max & Louie’s New York Diner, let’s discuss the history of pancakes. Why? Because pancakes have been a popular comfort food for eons of human history.
Some anthropologists argue that people ate pancakes 30,000 years ago during the Stone Age, which is the first period we know that man had the tools to make them. We also now have tangible proof of early man eating pancakes: Researchers found pancakes in the stomach of the famous Ötzi the Iceman who lived 5,300 years ago.
In ancient Greece and Rome, pancakes were made from wheat flour, olive oil, honey, and curdled milk. The first reference to the pancake in literature dates to about 500 BC when the Greek poet Cratinus wrote about tiganites, “a pancake hot and shredding morning dew.” Tiganites, are still eaten for breakfast in Greece, usually served warm with honey, nuts and fruits.
Even Shakespeare wrote about pancakes in two of his plays, All’s Well That Ends Well, and As You Like It. Proof that pancakes have long been celebrated and beloved.
The word “pancake” came into standard use in England during the 15th century, and became popular in the United States in the 19th century. Before then, pancakes in the US were known regionally as Indian cakes, hoe cakes, johnnycakes, journey cakes, buckwheat cakes, griddle cakes, and flapjacks. Early American pancakes were made with indigenous ingredients of buckwheat or cornmeal, not wheat.
Happy Pancake Day!
Although all day, every day is Pancake Day here at Max & Louie’s, the official national Pancake Day is on Shrove Tuesday (commonly referred to as Fat Tuesday), the day of feasting before Lent. Long ago, people were not allowed to eat animal products like milk, butter, and eggs during Lent. Consequently, to prevent them from going to waste, people “hid” these perishable ingredients in tall stacks of pancakes. Pancakes became so popular, and consumed in such large amounts, that eventually Shrove or Fat Tuesday became known as Pancake Day.
Pancakes All Over the World
Many people are surprised to learn that pancakes exist in practically every culture around the world, each with its own unique take. And not just for breakfast either. In other cultures, pancakes are also eaten at lunch, dinner and as a snack. Examples of their international appeal include French crepes, Eastern European potato latkes, Irish boxty, Russian blini, Welsh crampog, Indian poori, Hungarian palacsinta, and Dutch pannenkoeken.
It’s perfectly clear – everyone loves pancakes!
Here at Max & Louie’s we start our pancake batter by sifting all the dry ingredients together – flour, sugar, baking powder and salt – then stirring in the wet mix of milk, egg yolks and oil. Finally, we fold in fluffy egg whites whipped into soft peaks. Unlike the ancient cooks, we generously butter a flattop griddle to cook our pancakes, because butter is the secret to the crispy edges.
In addition to our classic pancakes, we make three different varieties of scratch-made flavor-packed pancakes: Blueberry pancakes filled with plump blueberries, nutty banana-pecan pancakes, and over-the-top chocolate chunk pancakes. Each order of our specialty pancakes is also topped with something extra: a house-made blueberry compote, fresh bananas and candied pecans, or chocolate chunks that melt by the time they get to your table.
While our house-made batter and other fresh ingredients are the foundation of our popular pancakes, our unique maple-butter syrup is the crown jewel. We figured, why wait for a cold pat of butter to melt before you pour on the syrup? We combine melted butter and warm syrup so you can dive into the delicious goodness of our pancakes when they hit the table.
Personally, I love our banana-pecan pancakes, that’s why they’re on our menu. But I invite you to try all of our pancakes to find your own favorite. Can’t decide? Order one of each for the ultimate taste test.
Everything we serve here at Max & Louie’s New York Diner has a backstory and a place in our heart. I hope you’ll come in soon and try something new, something nostalgic, or something steeped in tradition.
And while you’re here, ask for me and let me know what you thought of this blog and the video link below.
