5 flapjacks to flip for on National Pancake Day
Friday, Sept. 26, is National Pancake Day, and we have five hotcake hot spots around the region where you can have your own delicious celebrations. Batter up, Sacramento!
Katrina’s Cafe
Driving to Katrina’s Cafe in Auburn can feel almost like a pilgrimage, but once you settle into one of 16 tables inside this sunny and cozy eatery, you’ll feel right at home. For almost 30 years, Katrina’s has been serving up its signature lemon-yogurt pancakes, which come rolled up and sprinkled with a dash of lemon juice and powdered sugar. The batter includes fresh lemon zest and lemon juice, but it’s offset with creamy yogurt for a soft, sweet pancake with just enough pizzazz for the morning. Ask to include fresh fruit and the plate will come topped with seasonal berries like blueberries, blackberries and raspberries from local farms. 456 Grass Valley Hwy.
Auburn. 530-888-1166. katrinas-cafe.com
Nopalitos Southwest Cafe
Amid the huevos rancheros, flavorful tamales, cactus omelets and other Tex-Mex staples, don’t overlook this popular East Sacramento eatery’s celebrated pancakes. Made with batter whipped up from scratch every morning, Nopalitos’ flapjacks are known for their pillowy fluffiness and formidable size; accompanied by bacon and fresh oranges, strawberries or bananas, you may have to bring a friend along to help finish this hot stack. 5530 H St. 452-8226. nopalitoscafe.com
The Original Pancake House
To commemorate the first week of fall, this popular Roseville breakfast spot is putting its pumpkin spice pancakes topped with fresh, whipped cream on the menu this week. The array of pancake options—made fresh every morning after a four-day sourdough-starter process—may seem overwhelming, but look no further than the Dutch Baby, a decadent oven-baked treat that rises high as it bakes and deflates to reveal a moist, dense base with crispy edges, served with butter, lemon and powdered sugar. The pancake world tour continues with Swedish pancakes served with lingonberries, Hawaiian pancakes with crushed pineapple and our locally inspired favorite: the 49er flapjacks—thin, chewy, crepe-like cakes topped with whipped butter and hot syrup. 10000 Fairway Dr. Roseville. 788-3040. pancakesroseville.com
Tower Café
Settle into Tower Café’s sprawling, leafy outdoor patio or one of the indoor rooms strewn with exotic international art and order the New Mexico blueberry cornmeal pancakes, made with flour and cornmeal and fresh blueberries baked right in the batter for a soft, hearty texture like cornbread. Drizzled with maple syrup, it’s the perfect mix of salty-sweet. As a special for National Pancake Day, Tower Café is also making its bacon corn cakes (the same mix as the blueberry cornmeal pancakes but with bacon instead of fruit) served with linguiça and two eggs. 1518 Broadway. 441-0222. towercafe.com
Venita Rhea's
For heath nuts, the buckwheat pancakes at this breakfast institution in Rocklin take the cake. Made with buckwheat flour, they’re a lighter, earthier alternative to pancakes made with traditional flour. And be sure to arrive hungry: The buckwheat pancakes come stacked three cakes high and covering an entire dinner plate. If you’re craving something more decadent, try Venita Rhea’s banana nut pancakes with banana slices and walnuts cooked right in the batter, or the pumpkin pancakes sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. 4415 Granite Dr.
Rocklin. 624.2697. venitarheas.com
