The Pancake Handbook: Specialties from Bette's Oceanview Diner [A Cookbook]

By Stephen Siegelman, Sue Conley, Bette Kroening

Book Overview

Settle into a plush, red Naugahyde booth at Bette's Oceanview Diner, and you'll be served some of the best pancakes on the planet. Back in 1982, Bette's was founded in Berkeley, California, by a breakfast-loving group of chefs. It has since become one of the Bay Area's favorite breakfast and brunch spots, with people lining up well before the doors open each morning.

In THE PANCAKE HANDBOOK, Bette's classic buttermilk pancakes take their place alongside daily pancake specials, including blueberry yogurt, golden cornmeal, double chocolate, and sourdough-not to mention the signature souffl pancakes, which emerge from the oven spectacularly puffed and golden brown.

Packed with tips on keeping your pancakes fluffy and plenty of topping and syrup suggestions, this revised edition with more than 15 new recipes is sure to become your personal pancake bible.

- A pancake primer from the pancake experts at Bette's Oceanview Diner in Berkeley, California.
- Includes more than 75 recipes and variations.
- First edition sold 20,000 copies.

Reviews
"The most tempting, comforting compilation of pancake recipes I've found."
--Karola Saekel, San Francisco Chronicle

STEVE SIEGELMAN, BETTE KROENING, and SUE CONLEY were among the original founders of Bette's Oceanview Diner in Berkeley, California. Steve is a Berkeley-based food writer for print and television. Bette, the diner's namesake, still owns and runs the restaurant with her husband, Manfred. Sue went on to found Tomales Bay Foods and has become a pioneer in the artisan cheese movement through her Cowgirl Creamery in Point Reyes Station and Artisan Cheese in San Francisco.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1580085377
• ISBN13: 9781580085373
• Release Date: July 2003
• Publisher: Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale
• Length: 129 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.1" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Much more than just great recipies...

Being a former San Francisco resident I've had the pleasure of eating at Bette's Oceanview Diner. The only problem with eating Bette's cakes is your faced with the reality that you own pancakes really don't compare. Now, with this book in hand, I am delighted to say that this is no longer the case. The Pancake Handbook isn't a mere "recipe book". I've tried many recipes throughout the years with varying success. In this book you'll learn that picking the right flour, baking soda and other ingredients is just as important as how they're mixed together. You'll learn about griddle temperature, batter consistency and when to flip for perfect doneness. There are so many simple little tricks to better pancakes and they're all in this book. The recipes cover pancakes of all varieties including; basic, fancy, spiced, cornmeal, whole-wheat, and sourdough. There are chapters on dairy pancakes, crepes, soufflé pancakes, kid's pancakes and toppings. Many of them have variations and add-ins as well as optional ingredients such as how to make buttermilk pancakes when you haven't any buttermilk on hand. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to make great cakes regardless of your current cooking abilities. It is simple to follow and virtually guarantees fantastic results.

Best basic pancake recipe

I used the basic buttermilk pancake recipe to make waffles and they came out better than any other recipe I've used. The book offers a great little history on the diner and gives a wide variety of different pancakes and waffles you can make. I found it very helpful how they listed out the basic pantry items you will need to make the different recipes in the book. It made shopping a lot easier.

Fluffy Yum!!!

This book is a must have for any pancake lover. I was first introduced to The Pancake Handbook through reading a two page spread of excerpts in the LA Times. I tried 3 of the 5 recipes before I bought the book. Every recipe I've tested so far is delicious and superb!!!

Become a PANCAKE EXPERT!!!

Bette's Diner should be on your "MUST list" for Berkeley, CA. But, if that is not possible then using this book will not only take you on a Breakfast "trip," it will make you the BREAKFAST guru in your neck of the woods. The cooks of this book will guide you through every technique and combination. It's the first book I grab if company shows for breakfast. Easy, straight forward and funny, it's a family pleaser. This book is a must for your collection and makes a treasured gift to any bride.