Along with the classic scrambled eggs and bacon, American breakfast just wouldn’t be complete without a stack of pancakes smothered in butter and maple syrup. But did you know pancakes have been around since before the birth of this country? Kua’aina Sandwich, the best burger restaurant in Haleiwa, HI, serves up a mouthwatering menu of unique food such as pineapple burgers, mahi-mahi sandwiches, and crème Brulee pancakes. Their friendly restaurant staff want to share a brief but interesting history lesson on pancakes.

Pancakes have been around for over 30,000 years since the Stone Age; researchers found evidence of the hotcakes in the stomach of Otzi the Iceman in the Italian Alps. There were poems written about pancakes in Ancient Greece and Rome, where they were made from ingredients such as wheat flour, olive oil, curdled milk, and honey. In Renaissance England, they were flavored with apples, sherry, and spices.

The actual name “pancake” was not used until the 15^th century and became standard fare in the 19^th century colonial America. In fact, in the colonies, they were also known as “Johnny Cakes” and “Indian Cakes.” These style of pancakes were made with buckwheat or cornmeal.

As if you needed a designated day to wolf down a stack of pancakes, the Tuesday before Lent is known as “Pancake Day.” During Lent, people were not supposed to eat any animal products, so this was the day where they were meant to use up any perishable items, so they did this by consuming large batches of pancakes.

If you want to try a unique spin on this traditional breakfast dish, order the crème Brulee or maple whipped pancakes at Kua’aina Sandwich, the famous burger restaurant in Haleiwa, HI. They offer a variety of lunch and dinner options made from locally grown produce. Call (808) 637-6067 to order delivery, or visit the website to browse their extensive menu.