Being a vegetarian means you don’t often get to order the House Special.
So many specialty dishes in restaurants are meat-based, and therefore Moon gets to experience these things a little more than I do.
But Sloane’s– tucked back in a strip mall in Indio, California– had a masterpiece on the brunch menu that caught my eye right away: their famed German Pancake. The description on the menu said to allow 15-18 minutes for preparation– and given its crepe-like appearance, I figured this was a slow-and-low griddled crepe that would require the determined focus of a line cook (so as not to break or overcook this delicate creation).
It was served simply, with butter, lemon, and powered sugar atop– and for all you crepe enthusiasts, you know this is the BEST combination possible for the thin-doughed treat. The acid mixed with the powdery sugar clamps down on the sweetness, and the butter bonds all the flavors together with a delicious undercurrent of fat.
When it finally came, the German Pancake was enormous- the plate literally dwarfed Moon’s big breakfast platter, but I was determined and dug in. The crepe was not paper-thin, nor was it thick and chewy, but a delightful middle ground I hadn’t quite experienced before. The butter pat on top had already begun melting, and the lemons had begun to flavor the dough even before I picked them up to squeeze them. I am proud to say I ate the entire thing, as it was too good to leave any behind.
The server let me know that Sloane’s is actually MORE famous for a gigantic 32-ounce Bloody Mary called the FrankenMary, that comes with a feast as the garnish– a slider, a shrimp skewer, beef jerky sticks, and bacon, among other things– and I remembered again that most House Specials aren’t for vegetarians. But overshadowed by the Bloody Mary or not, the German Pancake is something I have dreamed about since.
5 stars– would DEFINITELY do again.
Posted by Sun
