From Best Pancakes Ever to Home Cooking

So today was the day that I was looking forward to the most food wise this whole trip. This was the day I took Karen and Lily to get what I consider the best pancakes ever. And I totally mean EVER. I actually wanted to go the first day we arrived in Denver but based on tiredness and what not decided to hold off until folks were situated to avoid any disappointment. I wanted everyone to be in a good frame of mind, relaxed, and prepared to enjoy the food.

I really have this weird thing were I take dining experiences very serious. When I helped my brother move out here way back in March I had done my homework on places to scope out. I basically do this for any location I travel to. Hell I do this where I live so not even limited to traveling elsewhere. Its probably akin to folk who are all into astrology and what not. Side note- I don't know jack about astrology other than my own personal sign and that's about it. I'm sure I've been told what stuff means and all that but my attention span/retention is not very high. Usually I'm amazed at all the information someone can state about personalities or characteristics. Not sure why I was never invested in any of that. BUT I DIGRESS...

So where is the home of the best pancakes ever? The answer: Snooze A.M. Eatery (http://snoozeeatery.com/)  This place is only about breakfast food as they are only open 6:30 A.M. to 2 P.M. The folks in there are super nice and the decor is very 1950s/60s. Just a very cool atmosphere for sure. For you Pokemon Go folks it is a Poke Stop with a Gym across the street- funny enough I had a conversation with another employee there about Pokemon Go and how he loves it and glad they are a Poke Stop.

For the record I'm really not one for breakfast food most of the time and very rarely for breakfast/brunch times. In the savory vs. sweetness battle, I'm more savory person when it comes to first meals of the day. With that being said the first time I went to Snooze I ordered a Chilaquiles Benedict which as you can tell from my previous post is Mexican favoritism. That was an excellent choice. While ordering the waitress asked if I was a first timer...I'm pretty sure she was talking about the restaurant...and I said yes. She suggested I try at least one pancake. It was then and there one of the best decisions of my life was made.

This visit I did not peruse the menu or contemplate any other options. I went back to that pancake choice: Sweet Potato Pancakes. Here's how the list the description: Our signature sweet potato buttermilk pancakes topped with homemade caramel, candied pecans and ginger butter.

Oh my goodness should be your reaction- unless you have food allergies or some sort of dietary restriction then I'm okay with not being impressed. I ordered and was smiling ear to ear- pretty sure the waiter was kind of like "man that dude is creepy looking" but he knows that stuff is addicting.  Karen decided to go with another pancake which we will get too in a bit. I excitedly waited for pretty sure like the stereotypical kid on X-mas Eve waiting to see what Santa brought. This is what that lovely waiter brought that made my day:

Snooze's Sweet Potato Pancakes

I will have to confirm with Karen but I might have made some sort of sound of excitement. That was quickly followed by repetitive "THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!" and "BEST DAMN PANCAKES EVER KAREN. EVER!!!" The whole time goon smiling and feeling 100% pure happiness. 

Karen ordered some good pancakes as well as she went into wanting to try another type of pancake and dare I say probably doubting my infatuation with the sweet potato pancakes. She ended up ordering the Pineapple Upside Down Pancakes. Just to copy from the menu description: Buttermilk pancakes with caramelized pineapple chunks, housemade vanilla crème anglaise and cinnamon butter

Snooze's Pineapple Upside Down Pancakes

These pancakes were pretty damn good as well. She really enjoyed them BUT...if you guessed correctly...we ended up switching pancakes midway as she confirmed mine were better. Being the type of person who enjoys sharing food a lot- I have several witnesses to vouch for this- I didn't mind at all.  Plus didn't hurt that her pancakes were also very tasty as well. That cinnamon butter tho! OOH WEE! 

Lily got the kid's menu pancakes which she absolutely loved- peanut butter chocolate pancakes, with a cup of fruits and some hash browns.

Snooze's Peanut Butter Chocolate Pancake

She is taking after her old man in that she too likes to try and share food. She was very excited to trade bites with us. I think she loved her pancakes cause then she got all cuddly and gave us kisses afterwards. So was a thumbs up from the whole family.

 Afterwards we hit up the Denver Zoo cause who doesn't love seeing animals. True story- I try to visit zoos every where I visit (that have them). Even though I'm not very outdoorsy I do enjoy seeing animals. I think its from growing up all we typically did/went to was Brookfield Zoo as a family event/trips. Denver Zoo was pretty awesome even though it was in the 90s. Highly recommended as a thing to do while in Denver. Tina will decline even though she's always the one suggesting to go to Brookfield zoo with the kids to Karen every year.... and actually going.

We were so full from breakfast we didn't do lunch. But as a snack/hold over til dinner decided to hit up an ice cream establishment I have previously been to on my first Denver visit- Sweet Action Ice Cream (http://www.sweetactionicecream.com/) They are hand made with local ingredients and it clearly shows. They have some crazy combinations that change on occasion (not sure what the time frame is):

Sweet Action Ice Cream Menu Board

I ended up getting the Colorado Apple Pie, Karen got the Peanut Butter Butterfinger, and Lily got the Salted Butterscotch. I only got a pic of two of the three as Lily wasn't waiting/playing around with hers.

Sweet Action's Colorado Apple Pie

Sweet Action's Peanut Butter Butterfinger

After walking around in hot weather for couple hours at the zoo these cold treats did the job. I think pretty standard move on my part is I like to cook dinner at least once when visiting and staying with someone no matter where I go. Probably inspired by the Olympics I decided to bring together two countries that typically don't get along into complete harmony. So went and grabbed some ingredients for some standard options of mine- Mexican street corn salad and Puerto Rican arroz con gandules. Will have to say Denver supermarkets were kind of a let down on Hispanic food options as I had to look at multiple locations and still didn't get everything I needed. But kind of winged and deviated from the known recipe for the rice. I was told it still came out good- so that's cool in my book.

Mexican Street Corn Salad

Remainder of the arroz con gandules

Not as much unhealthy eating as the previous day however did get some exercise walking around so I would mark this in the not too shabby category.

#FoodGoals,
Reef