Holiday Traditions: The Nutcracker
We’re nuts about the holidays! Some of our favorite holiday traditions include enjoying the beautiful music from The Nutcracker Ballet. While listening to the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, we decided to do a bit of research on Nutcrackers. Here are a few fun facts:
- Nutcrackers originated in the Erzgebirge region of Germany, which is a mountainous region with many
mining communities - Miners in the area created these wooden crafts as a way of supplementing their income. Nutcrackers are often sold in the Christmas markets around Germany and are often given to children as Christmas presents.
- German legend says that a nutcracker in a home will bring good luck to all that live there, and also to the home itself.
- The largest collection of German Nutcrackersin the world has 4,334 of them in one place. This is a nutcracker museum and is owned by the Loschner Family in the town of Neuhausen, Germany.
Cool! Of course all this research makes us a bit hungry for nuts! To satisfy your next nut craving, be sure to stop by The Original Pancake House when you are out for breakfast in Denver this holiday season. Our Pecan Belgian Waffle or our Cinnamon Almond French Toast will fulfill your nuttiest dreams!
Happy Holidays!
‘Tis the Season to Spread Pancake Cheer!
This time of year we like to think back upon the past twelve months a give thanks to all the amazing customers, 
staff, and friends who support us at The Original Pancake House and who help spread “Pancake Cheer” all year round. We also like to enjoy a bit of pancake cheer at home and bring the holidays to our breakfast table even on the days we can’t enjoy a breakfast out in Denver.
If you are making breakfast for a crowd this holiday season – try our favorite homemade Snowman Pancakes. Simply create your favorite pancake mix and spoon three dollops of the batter onto your griddle in the shape of a snowman. We like to add blueberries or chocolate chips for the eyes, nose, and buttons. You can even try sticking pretzels in the batter for the arms – just be careful when you flip the pancake! These sweet Snowman Pancakes are sure to bring smiles to your family and will certainly impress any visiting in-laws!
Also, don’t forget, if you are looking for a thoughtful and easy stocking stuffer or gift for co-workers, friends, or anyone you’d like to send an end-of-year thanks, we have gift cards! You can spread the gift of pancake cheer to those you love and check off almost every name on your list.
Warmest wishes for the holiday season from your friends at The Original Pancake House in Denver!
Fireside Chat with Melodie Polidori of Polidori Sausage
We love our Polidori Sausage links any time of year, but one of our favorite holiday special menu items is the Polidori Sausage holiday links! As the holiday links recently made their annual debut on our holiday special menu, we thought it might be fun to sit down with Melodie Polidori and learn a bit more about sausage!
Q: Polidori has a long history in Denver, can you tell us a bit about how Polidori Sausage began?
Polidori Sausage just celebrated its 90th year in business. It all began back in August of 1925 when my great grandmother Ana Polidori and her husband Rocco bought a grocery store in North Denver. My grandmother was the butcher at the store while my grandfather ran the grocery part of the store. When my grandmother was not busy cutting pork chops and steaks for customers she would cook up her family heirloom Italian sausage for customers to sample. The aroma of the sausage made customers curious how to get Polidori Sausage. She would sell the sausages from the butcher case. 90 years later we still make her family Italian sausage recipe the same as she did back in 1925.
Q: What are some of the Polidori Family favorite holiday traditions?
Food---Having stuffed shells with Polidori sausage at my grandparents’ house for Christmas and eating turkey with a to die for stuffing with Polidori Stuffing!! Another favorite tradition was making Pizzel’s with my grandmother!!!
Q: Can you tell us what special ingredients make your holiday links so delicious? Or is it a family secret?
It starts with the finest cuts of pork and fresh spices. Cinnamon and nutmeg are two special ingredients as well as fresh currant berries!
Q: What is your favorite breakfast meal?
A breakfast soufflé with Polidori Sausage.
Q: Other than at OPH, where can people find Polidori Sausage in Denver if they need to feed their sausage fix at home? Do you make other types of sausage in addition to breakfast links?
Polidori Sausage can be found at King Soopers, Safeway, Albertson’s, Spinelli’s Market and Max Market. We do make maple sausage links as well commonly used at breakfast restaurants.
Thanks Melodie! The next time you join us for breakfast in Denver, definitely try the special holiday sausage links! You won’t be disappointed. Have a wonderful holiday season!