Holy crepes, it’s Shrove Tuesday again.
Whether you’re looking for where to eat pancakes, chunky American stylee, or searching for the crispiest French galettes, here are our top 10 family-friendly picks for Pancake Day in London 2012:
1. Spitalfields
The Great Spitalfields Pancake Race is an annual tradition that sees tossers of all descriptions racing for charity from the Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, E1 from 12.30pm (Feb 21) (Shoreditch High St overground)
2. Bankside
The Better Bankside Pancake Race kicks off at 12pm from Borough Market’s Jubilee Market, SE1 with teams racing to raise money for Painting in Hospitals. (London Bridge tube)
3. Bexleyheath
The debut event of the Bexleyheath Charity Pancake Race promises to be ‘flipping marvellous’ with competitors racing around the Broadway, in aid of Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice, SE2. From 11am. (Abbey Wood rail)
Look out for other pancake races around town including the Parliamentary Pancake Race, Victoria Tower Gardens in Westminster (10.15am) and the Leadenhall Market Pancake Race in Bank (1pm)
4. Soho
Authentic galettes made with 100% buckwheat flour, as well as traditional crepes both soft and crispy are the order of the day at Soho’s Cafe Creperie on 63 Dean St, W1, opened in 2011. Also check out their sister restaurant in Kensington. (Oxford St tube)
5. West End
L’atelier des Chefs, the popular cooking school on Wigmore St, W1, hosts Pancake Play – a 3D Pancake making masterclass with experimental food experts Polly Betton and Andrew Stellitano. They’ll be building ‘panscapes’ featuring edible rapids, forests and volcanoes. Demos from 4pm; 1 adult/1 child per session, FREE (booking essential) (Feb 18) (Oxford St tube)
6. King’s Cross
For a taste of true Brittany-style galettes, venture to Eat.St’s micro-market on King’s Boulevard, N1C for lunch a la Creperie Nicholas. You’ll find the man with the van whipping up batter for the hungry hordes, typically between 12-2.30pm, Wed-Fri. Check the web site rota to confirm. (King’s Cross tube)
Also find Creperie Nicholas at Real Food Festival on Southbank Centre, SE1 every Fri-Sun
7. Hoxton
Hip, retro brekkie spot The Breakfast Club on 2-4 Rufus St, N1 serves up All-American Pancakes with maple syrup on its regular all-day brunch menu. Branches also in Angel (Camden Passage), Soho and Spitalfields, 8am until late. (Old St tube)
8. Stratford City
Meet Crepeman at the Crêpeaffaire in Westfield, Stratford City for a Pancake Tossing contest. Between 2-5pm, they’re attempting to break the Guinness World Record! Also you can win free pancakes for a year if you guess how many will be sold on Pancake Day at Crêpeaffaire’s across town (branches also in Westfield White City, Soho, Spitalfields and Stanstead Airport).
9. Islington
The Diner on 21 Essex Road, N1 (more branches in Shoreditch, Soho, Camden, Kensal Rise) launches its Pancake Day menu on Monday Feb 20, stacked high with buttermilk pancakes and a host of exotic toppings. (Angel tube)
10. Chelsea
The King’s Road staple, My Old Dutch has been flipping pancakes for the public for 53 years. Head to their Chelsea restaurant or branches in Kensington and Holborn for traditional pancakes with sugar and lemon or more exciting combos. 221 Kings Rd, SW7 (Sloane Square tube)
