End of Summer Family Bucket List
With the start of a new school year fast approaching, consider heading out for a family fun day before the end of vacation. To make the day special, start with a hearty breakfast in Denver at Original Pancake House. With menu favorites such as Chocolate Chip Pancakes or OPH Smiley Cakes for the kids, and a plethora of egg dishes and more for the parents, everyone will leave full, happy, and ready to enjoy a day of adventure. Read on to learn about a few of our favorite local spots to spend the day with the family.
Dinosaur Ridge
A part of the Morrison Fossil Area National Park, Dinosaur Ridge is a great place for families to see actual dinosaur footprints sealed by time. Dinosaur Ridge is famous for its Exhibit Hall and summer camps where young people can learn more about paleontology.
Cherry Creek State Park
A perfect spot for nature lovers, Cherry Creek State Park offers families a relaxing spot to spend the day. Enjoy hiking, biking, or horseback riding on the many trails throughout the park. If it is a hot day, rent a canoe or kayak from the marina and picnic on the sandy beaches surrounding the reservoir. Cherry Creek Park even offers an “airstrip” for flying model airplanes and a family shooting range.
Elitch Gardens
Summer vacation isn’t complete until you spend a day at Elitch Gardens. Ride the slides to cool off in the water park and then test your adventurous spirit on the roller coasters and thrill rides. There are attractions, rides, concerts and entertainment for kids ages 4 -100 which means the whole family will enjoy the day.
Tiny Town
Open to the public since 1920, Tiny Town, is a miniature collection of houses, buildings, and railroads to entertain kids of all ages. With more than 90 buildings on display, visitors enjoy stepping back in time with a ride on the railroad and marveling at all of the creations. Located close to Morrison, you get the added bonus of enjoying mountain surroundings on this trip!
The Children’s Museum
If you have younger children, Denver’s Children’s Museum is the place to go to “learn through play.” With interactive exhibits, educational programs, and play areas, the kids will enjoy explorative play with everything from rockets, to bubbles, nature, and painting.
We hope you enjoy these last few weeks of summer, Denver!
Cool Breakfast Treats to Beat the Summer Heat!
Every year in Denver we have a few weeks that are just plain hot. When the thermometer has already reached 80 degrees before breakfast, sometimes you need a cool treat to start your day off on the right note. Here are a few ideas for a refreshing morning meal!
Frozen Nutty Banana:
Cut one firm (but ripe) banana in half and un-peal. Arrange on a small baking sheet or freezer-safe plate, and spread each half evenly with 1 tablespoon of nut butter. Next add toppings such as granola, chia seeds, or flax seeds and cinnamon. Insert a popsicle stick or skewer into the cut end of each half, and freeze until solid (at least 2-3 hours).
Breakfast Parfait:
Grab a large glass or ice cream bowl andadd a scoop of your favorite yogurt, fruit and granola. Continue adding layers until the glass or bowl is full. Enjoy!
Breakfast Smoothie:
Blend one cup of milk, almond milk, or soy milk with ice and one cup of frozen or fresh fruit. Berries and bananas work best! For a thicker shake and extra calcium, add a little yogurt to your blender. For an alternative to the classic fruit smoothie, replace the fruit and yogurt with a banana and 2 tablespoons of peanut or almond butter and blend until smooth.
Nutty Apple:
Select a large apple and slice in half. Remove the core, plus a little additional apple flesh to create a large hole in the center of each half. Fill each hole with peanut or sunflower butter and granola and reassemble apple. Wrap the apple in aluminum foil or plastic wrap and enjoy on the run!
If you are dining out for breakfast in Denver, visit the Original Pancake House! We have several cool treats on our menu including the Fiesta Bowl, a healthy breakfast of non-fat yogurt and our Homemade Granola topped with fresh fruit. Or try our Homemade Granola, a healthy, delectable dish made from thick oats, pecans, raisins, and coconut seasoned with cinnamon and nutmeg, and served with skim milk. Enjoy the summer!
Summer Road Trips in Colorado
With the kids out of school, summer is the perfect time to explore the magnificent state of Colorado. Our state offers nearly unlimited adventures for the family, but here are a few of our favorite places to visit during the summer months.
Glenwood Springs –
An easy three-hour drive from Denver, Glenwood Springs is home to the world’s largest hot springs pool. The whole family will enjoy playing in the water on a hot summer’s day. Glenwood Springs also offers opportunities for hiking, whitewater rafting, fishing, and horseback riding, all nestled within a spectacular canyon of the Colorado River.
Colorado National Monument –
Just past Grand Junction, the Colorado National Monument is a beautiful park with interesting red rock formations, cool hikes, and westward views as far as the eye can see. Be sure to stop in Palisade on your way and visit the orchards and vineyards for a taste of farm fresh Colorado peaches and cherries!
Great Sand Dunes National Park –
Near the sleepy town of Alamosa, Colorado, the Great Sand Dunes rise out of the plateau forming a truly unique natural wonder. Like a bit of the Sahara in the middle of our state, these dunes provide ample opportunity for exploration and family fun. Many folks bring snowboards and skis to slide down the immense slopes.
Mesa Verde National Park –
Near the mountain town of Durango, Mesa Verde National Park is one of only twenty World Heritage sites in the United States. Tour the ancient cliff dwellings, check out petroglyphs and enjoy the natural beauty of this special area. Afterwards, pack a lunch and take a ride on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway.
Each of these destinations offers a unique adventure within an easy drive of Denver. So collect the kids, pack up the car, and head out on a summer road trip! Just be sure to fuel up with a nice big pancake breakfast in Denver before you hit the highway.
Mile High Anniversary Scavenger Hunt Answers!
Thank you to all who participate in the Mile High Anniversary Scavenger Hunt! Folks who answer each daily trivia question with the correct response will be entered to win one of three (3) $50 OPH gift cards, or one (1) Grand Prize to include a $50 OPH gift card plus OPH swag!
And the answers are:
Day 1:
Answer: The first Original Pancake House restaurant opened its doors in Portland, Oregon in 1953!
Day 2:
Answer: When she was just 11-years-old Sara started working at the Original Pancake House as a coffee girl.
Day 3:
Answer: Owner Sara Hueneke Ernst’s collection of beautiful, hand-painted plates. The collection started with family heirlooms Sara received from her grandparents.
Day 4:
Answer: Sara Hueneke Ernst is the great niece of franchise co-founder Erma Hueneke.
Day 5:
Answer: Pancake Man revealed!
Day 6:
Answer: Many of the breakfast menu items at the Original Pancake House Denver feature berries including the popular Seasonal Berry Crepes, Strawberry Belgian Waffles, Blueberry Belgian Waffles, Seasonal Berry French Toast, and our Blueberry Pancakes.
Day 7:
Answer: There are 21 delectable pancake items available at the Original Pancake House Denver, this number does not include seasonal pancake specialties.
The Mile High Anniversary Scavenger Hunt will run for one week from Wednesday, June 18 to Tuesday, June 24, during which time players can participate in daily scavenger hunt challenges. The winners of the prize give-away will be announced on the blog on Friday, June 27.
Original Pancake House Mile High Anniversary Scavenger Hunt
It’s time to celebrate! We are excited to celebrate our 18th anniversary in Denver this June. That’s a full 18 years of delicious Denver breakfast tradition!
In honor of our anniversary, we’re hosting the week-long Mile High Anniversary Online Scavenger Hunt. Kicking off on our anniversary on Wednesday, June 18, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ophdenver daily through Tuesday, June 24 to join in the fun and enter for your chance to win one of four great prizes!
Each day during the Scavenger Hunt, we’ll post an Original Pancake House trivia question on our Facebook page. Participants simply need to find the answer and reply in the comments section of the respective Facebook post. HINT: our website www.ophdenver.com has a lot of titillating information on your favorite Denver pancake house! On Friday, June 27, we will pick one Grand Prize winner and three additional First Prize winners from the correct entries to the daily trivia questions!
OPH Mile High Anniversary Scavenger Hunt prizes include:
One (1) Grand Prize: Original Pancake House Gift Package
· $50 OPH Denver Gift Card
· Adult-size OPH Denver apron
· Child-size OPH Denver apron
· OPH Denver wooden spoon
· OPH Denver mug
Three (3) First Prizes: Original Pancake House Gift Cards
· $50 OPH Denver Gift Card
In order to win, participants must “Like” OPH Denver’s Facebook page. Remember, we’ll only accept one answer per daily challenge, but participants are encouraged to submit an answer to each of the four daily trivia questions. As an added bonus, participants can receive an additional entry in the prize give-away by sharing the scavenger hunt daily challenge posts on their own Facebook pages.
We are excited to celebrate our Mile High Anniversary with you, Denver! Thank you for 18 wonderful years of breakfast tradition. Now for the Scavenger Hunt…on your mark, get set, go!
Meaningful Ways to Celebrate this Memorial Day
Memorial Day marks the non-official beginning of summer. This favorite American holiday is often filled with BBQ’s, time spent with family and friends, and perhaps the first family trip to the pool. At Original Pancake House, we love to celebrate this holiday by taking our families out to a leisurely breakfast in Denver!
In addition to relaxing with family and friends, Memorial Day is meant to be a day of remembrance and a time to celebrate those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. Read on to learn other popular ways to celebrate this Memorial Day.
Displaying the flag:
Flying the American flag on Memorial Day is a great way to show thanks to those who have served our country. According to tradition, the flag should remain at half-mast until noon to honor the men and women who have fallen in combat. Remember it is customary to put your flag up at dawn and take it down by dusk.
Attend the Memorial Day Parade:
Denver will host a Memorial Day parade on Saturday, May 24 at Civic Center Park. The parade begins at 11:30 a.m. and will be followed by a Veterans Memorial Day tribute at the Veterans Monument.
Learn Your Family History:
Memorial Day is a great time to pull out the family photo album and share your own family history with your children. Many of our grandparents and great-grandparents served our country and sharing their story with the next generation is a great way to honor and remember their sacrifices.
Display Memorial Day Poppies
: Red poppies are a symbol of Memorial Day inspired by John McCrea’s 1915 war poem In Flanders Fields. Since the First World War, red poppies have become a way to “keep faith with all who died,” and are a memorial tradition in the United States, England, France, and more than 50 other countries.
On behalf of the Original Pancake House family, we would like to thank all of the men and women who have served our country. Happy Memorial Day, Denver!
Spring Eggstravaganza Recap
As April comes to an end, we also close the curtains on our month-long Spring Eggstravaganza. We’ve had so much fun celebrating eggs with you this past month. One feature of our Eggstravaganza was a weekly Egg-off contest between several of the Original Pancake House favorites. Our customers voted on their favorite egg breakfast dishes via Facebook and the results are in:
Week 1: Fried Eggs claimed victory over Scrambled in our first weekly Egg-off.
Week 2: Denver Omelet took top prize in a heated contest with the ever-popular Joe.
Week 3: After a tight race, Green Chile Eggs Benedict inched ahead of Classic Eggs Benedict to take the win by a nose.
Week 4: In a close contest, Ham & Cheese Omelet earned the win over the Florentine Omelet.
All were close-fought “battles” and for good reason; we have a hard time choosing our favorite egg dishes as well! As a closeout to the Eggstravaganza, we’d also like to share a few additional Eggstra Fun Facts about Eggs.
Did you know…
- Each of the roughly 280 million laying birds in the U.S. produces from 250 to 300 eggs a year. In total, the U.S. produces about 75 billion eggs a year, about 10% of the world supply.
- Normally, hens with white ear lobes lay white eggs, and hens with red ear lobes lay brown eggs. There is no nutritional difference between white and brown eggs.
- A mother hen turns her eggs about 50 times per day.
- The most expensive egg ever sold was the Faberge “Winter Egg” sold in 1994 for $5.6 million.
- Egg size and grade are not related to one another. Size is determined by weight per dozen. Younger hens tend to lay smaller eggs. The size increases as the hen grows older and bigger. Grade refers to the quality of the shell, white and yolk and the size of the air cell.
- There are 7 to 17 thousand tiny pores on the shell surface, a greater number at the large end. As the egg ages, these tiny holes permit moisture and carbon dioxide to move out and air to move in to form the air cell. The egg can also absorb refrigerator odors through the pores, so always refrigerate eggs in their cartons.
Thank you to all our customers and fans who helped us celebrate our Spring Eggstravanza this past month. Whether you joined us for breakfast in Denver and tried one of the 24 fantastic egg dishes on our menu, or you voted in our weekly Facebook Egg-offs, we hope you enjoyed celebrating the incredible egg as much as we did!
Have an eggscellent spring, Denver!
Spring Eggstravaganza!
Join us this month as we celebrate the incredible EGG with our Spring Eggstravaganza! With the arrival of spring and Easter on the way, April is the perfect month to celebrate our favorite breakfast staple. Did you know that the Original Pancake House menu offers over 20 different egg dishes?
This month, visit our Facebook page to vote on our weekly Egg-off! Tell us which featured egg dish is the most eggcellent and you’ll be entered to win a $25 Original Pancake House gift card! We’ll choose one lucky winner each week during the month of April. Simply vote via the comments section on our weekly Facebook Egg-off post, and you’ll be entered to win. If you haven’t visited our Facebook page yet, click here to be our friend!
What else makes eggs so incredible? Follow us on Twitter @OPHDenver this month for fun egg trivia and OPH Egg Favorites! We’ll share fun facts and recipes each day during the month.
And of course, the best way to celebrate our Spring Eggstravaganza is to come on in to Original Pancake House and try a few of our egg favorites. Bring your whole family for the best breakfast in Denver; we look forward to seeing you soon!
The Delicious History of French Toast
At the Original Pancake House, one of our favorite brunch menu items is French toast with a rich French toast history. In fact, we love it so much, we offer four different types on our breakfast menu including Sourdough French Toast, Seasonal Berry French Toast, Cinnamon Almond French Toast, and the Denver breakfast favorite, Banana Praline French Toast.
With French toast on our minds, we were wondering, where did this delightful dish originate? We were intrigued to find that, though the name implies a French origin, the first mention of this meal appears in Roman times. In a cookbook attributed to Apicius, from the 4th or 5th century, a recipe simply called “aliter dulcia," or “another sweet dish,” describes soaking.
Bread in a milk and egg mixture, frying in oil, and then serving with honey. French toast next appears in medieval cookbooks throughout Europe. In France, it was called “pain perdu” or “lost bread,” which probably referred to the fact the cooks used stale or old bread in this dish with a fascinating French toast history. German, English, and Scandinavian cookbooks refer to the dish as “poor knights” bread, which is also a nod to the use of old bread.
The first references to this ancient dish as “French toast” appear in the late 18th century in North America. In New Orleans, the dish maintained its original French name of “pain perdu.” However, in English speaking areas of the North American colonies, the dish became known as French toast as it was popularized by French immigrants.
So, the next time you are out for breakfast in Denver, share the ancient history of French toast with your fellow diners. It is a fascinating story!
Breakfast of Champions: What Do Olympic Athletes Eat for Breakfast?
With the 2014 Winter Olympics underway, we were wondering, what is the true breakfast of champions? With nutrition being just as important as the innumerable hours spent training for the Olympic Games, what do Olympic athletes eat for breakfast? With a bit of research, we found some astounding facts. Did you know that many Olympians, especially those in endurance sports, require 9,000 to 12,000 calories per day?! Amazing! If we were so lucky as to have one of these athletes join us for breakfast in Denver, we might have to serve them one of each item on The Original Pancake House Denver menu!
For a day of training and competition, we found that Olympians focus on a substantial, yet healthy, breakfast. After all, this first meal provides the foundation of energy needed to go for the gold. In general, Olympians start their day with a healthy mix of carbohydrates, fruits and protein. Many will combine a large bowl of whole grain oats with fresh fruit, and milk or yogurt. In addition, you will likely see athletes enjoy eggs, a great source of lean protein, with toast or a bagel for additional energy. Some athletes are reported to eat a whopping 12 eggs for their first meal of the day! And because they continually burn so many calories between training and competition, you will often see competitors munching on bananas and enjoying a glass of chocolate milk to keep their energy high.
From The Original Pancake House Denver, we wish all the athletes on Team USA “good luck” in the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games. And for the twenty Coloradoans competing in Sochi, we would love to have you stop by for an Olympic-worthy breakfast in Denver when you return home!
Heart-friendly Breakfast Ideas
With the start of the New Year, we all strive to make healthy decisions and fresh starts. Thankfully, breakfast is one of the best ways to kick start healthy habits. If you start the day on a good note, it is much easier to continue the trend throughout the rest of your day, week, month, and year. Here are a few breakfast ideas to get your day, and New Year, off to a heart-healthy start.
Breakfast Smoothie
– Combine one cup of low fat milk or soy milk with frozen strawberries and a sliced banana. Blend in your food processor or blender until smooth and frothy. For extra protein, add a scoop of protein powder. Create variety by mixing and matching your fruits.
Incredible Egg-white Sandwich
– Assemble this delicious morning meal with a toasted whole-wheat English muffin, scrambled egg-whites and a slice of tomato. For extra protein, add smoked salmon and you have the perfect brain-boosting breakfast.
Spunky Oatmeal
– Spruce up your oatmeal with the addition of fruit and nuts. Adding tangy rhubarb, blueberries, raspberries, currents, or cranberries can add a much needed zip of flavor to this pantry staple. By adding nuts you’ll get an extra boost of protein, healthy fats, and vitamins to help keep you full and feeling great all morning.
And when you are heading out for breakfast in Denver, try The Original Pancake House Denver’s “Lighter Side” menu. We offer breakfast favorites like Old Fashioned Oatmeal, Cream of Wheat, Scrambled Egg Whites, and Homemade Granola, to name a few. With these heart-friendly options, you can enjoy a delicious, guilt-free breakfast out with your family!
Winter Holiday Food Traditions Around the World
At The Original Pancake House Denver, we love the holiday season. Each year during the months of November and December, we add a few holiday favorites to our Denver breakfast menu – Sara’s Granola Waffle with Maple Whipped Cream, Egg Nog French Toast and our much loved Ho! Ho! Ho! Pancakes, to name a few. These special breakfast traditions always make our season brighter and we love sharing them with our OPH Denver family. Which got us to thinking – we know what we love for a holiday breakfast in Denver, what are some holiday food traditions celebrated by other cultures and religions? We did a bit of research and found a multitude of delicious dishes to make your mouth water!
Mexican Holiday Feast
In a traditional Mexican holiday feast you will likely find tamales on the menu. Because they take so much time and care to prepare, many families only serve them on special occasions. Mexican tamales are wrapped and steamed in a paper or a corn husk and are filled with masa, a corn based dough, and either meat, cheese, fruits, vegetables, or chiles.
In addition to tamales, pan dulce is traditional treat during the holiday season. These sweet rolls are made fresh daily in local panaderias. Almost like a Mexican doughnut, you might find them with a red or green topping and festive sprinkles.
Filipino Christmas Treat
Just after Midnight Mass on Christmas Day, many Filipino families enjoy a Bibingka Especial. This coconut and rice flour cake is lightly sweet, and made with rice or cassava flour. Traditionally, these cakes are cooked over charcoal in a banana-leaf-lined clay pot. Served with tasty toppings, Bibingka Especial is very popular in the Philippines during the Christmas holiday season.
The German Fruitcake
Ah, the infamous fruitcake! Dresdner Stollen, the original and famous fruitcake recipe from Dresden, is sold throughout Germany during the holiday season. Made from rich yeast dough and mixed with candied fruits and nuts, these special holiday loaves are folded before baking to symbolize the baby Jesus in his swaddling clothes.
American Kwanzaa Traditions
Kwanzaa is a weeklong celebration that links African traditions and American customs. Kwanzaa runs from December 26 through January 1 of each year and is always accompanied by friends, family and feasting! On each day of a Kwanzaa celebration, the host serves a dish from a different symbolic place, such as Africa, the Caribbean, and South America. These dishes might include black-eyed peas, shrimp creole, mashed yams, corn bread, or creamed collard greens.
Hanukkah Brunch
Also known as the Festival of Light, Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days and eight nights in the Jewish religion. A typical Hanukkah brunch always includes several delectable dishes. Potato latkes, or crispy potato pancakes, are a staple of many Hanukkah meals. In addition you might find a simple applesauce, or delicious egg frittata. To round out the meal, Jewish families often serve homemade doughnuts, a tribute to the oil that lasted eight days and nights, and traditional rugelach cookies.
Whatever holiday food traditions you celebrate this season, and whatever your heritage, we hope you are able to share a good meal with friends and loved ones! Happy Holidays from The Original Pancake House Denver!