Kids Cuisine

Last week, I wrote about Mardi Gras and the British tradition of Pancake Day. I’m sure that got all of you desperately interested in making pancakes. But if it didn’t, if it got you in a mood to eat but not actually make the pancakes, I’ve got some good news for you.

IHOP is giving away free pancakes.

Yep, you heard me right.

IHOP has started a tradition of giving away pancakes on Pancake Day. It is part of a fund-raising effort for the Children’s Miracle Network, a group that supports children’s hospitals around the country. IHOP will give you a free “short stack” (3 pancakes), but they ask you to consider donating to the cause. Sounds like a good deal to me.

Here’s the weird part: this year, free pancake day isn’t actually on Pancake Day, February 5. The folks at IHOP are also politically minded, apparently. Because February 5 is also Super Duper Tuesday, primary election day in many states, IHOP doesn’t want you to not vote because you are busy gorging on free pancakes. So they have moved free pancake day to the following Tuesday, February 12.

Actually, this works out great. Why not make Feb. 5 Make-Pancakes-at-Home Day and Feb. 12 Go-Out-For-Free-Pancakes Day? Works for me!