Pancakes for Dessert: What a Concept
On our way to Cape Cod for a little family R & R, we stopped for a bite (actually, more than a bite) at 3:15 p.m. at Nick's Diner, a hipster diner in what appears to be Providence, Rhode Island's newly fashionable West Side. My son, Will, ordered the turkey sandwich, my wife, Vicky, ordered the pulled pork and cheddar, and, in the name of responsible food research, I ordered the zucchini and potato soup, the steak sandwich, and a short stack of buttermilk hotcakes with rhubarb compote and whipped cream on the side. My wife grimaced as I ordered the pancakes. "How could you do that?," she asked.
"Look around," I said. "Everyone's ordering breakfast at three in the afternoon. This is a hipster diner in a hipster neighborhood. Plus, we needed something sweet for dessert. I need a little bit of sugar-carb rush to finish the drive. Eating pancakes for dessert can become a new Levine-Bijur family Memorial Day tradition."
The sandwiches ranged from pretty good to very fine. The steak sandwich was slices of sirloin served medium-rare with caramelized onion; the pulled pork was OK, although it tasted more like the barbecue sauce than anything else (it was more of a pork sloppy joe); and the turkey sandwich was helped enormously by the garlic mayo, roasted-tomato jam, smoked bacon, and provolone it was topped with. The grilled bread that the sandwiches were served on helped as well.
The pancakes, however, were sensational—ethereally light with the slightest crispy veneer imaginable. The rhubarb compote and whipped cream were excellent but unnecessary with pancakes this good. I actually didn't get to eat much of the pancakes. The doubting Thomases (otherwise known as Vicky and Will) polished off the pancakes without even acknowledging what a genius move it was to order them for dessert—and without shoving the plate back in my direction.
Next time I'm going for the full order.
Anybody else out there order pancakes for dessert? If any pastry chefs at fancy-pants restaurants want to pick up on this idea, they can rest assured that my lips are sealed, that I will never tell anyone that I invented the idea of having pancakes for dessert on Memorial Day at Nick's on Broadway in Providence, Rhode Island. I have a feeling this is going to be big.
Nick's on Broadway
Address: 500 Broadway Providence RI 02909
Phone: 401-421-0286
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4 Comments:
Pancakes or Waffles are a excellent dessert. I do this alot of occasions such as this as well. If I am making them at home I'll add a little cocoa to the batter for a chocolate hit.
Lilartist at 10:49AM on 05/25/07
When do we eat pancakes? Almost ALWAYS as dessert and sometimes as an afternoon snack. NEVER for breakfast! Must say I live in Europe though...
tantetrijn at 5:02AM on 05/26/07
I make these lemon honey ricotta pancakes that are so good you cannot believe they are made in a skillet. They are blini worthy and yet so fresh and light.
Booyah.
JerzeeTomato at 12:49PM on 05/26/07
nick's on broadway is a pretty great place. it used to be down the street in a grimy, hole-in-the wall place. the new location is nicer, but also pricier. food still delicious, but i miss the old place!
Stacy at 5:07PM on 08/13/07