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

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.

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.

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!!!

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.