Pancake Daze

Don't 'flip out' this Pancake day, if tossing isn't your forte try one of these creperies.

Every year on Pancake day I can guarantee I will call my mother and ask her step by step instructions how to create the perfect pancake and every year my kitchen (and last year my cat!) is covered in batter. So this year I say rubbish to the frying pan and will head out to one of the many great Pancake Houses of London.

I've been trying them out in preparation for the day and have whittled down the selection to the best.

My Old Dutch in Chelsea was my first port of call on the pancake hunt. It was on a recommendation that I went here and I was glad I made the effort; Chelsea is a little out of my usual stomping ground. The service as fast and friendly, as it should be in a pancake house, and there was a large selection of savoury treats flipped to order. I'll place a warning here - Pancake Day here will be manic, expect staff to be tossing out in the streets and a packed restaurant. It was last year, so to avoid disappointment book early.

There are variations of pancakes and the French do Crepes. They are thinner and cooked on a flat hot plate rather than in a pan. Cafe Creperie in South Kensington is the superior creperie in London with it's understated no nonsense atmosphere and inspiring menu. It is a small listed building, which is what gives it its character and charm, but does result in you often having to wait for a table.

If you are feeling a little bit pancake fanatic then I would highly recommend The Club Bar and Dining in Soho. The lovely chef's here have thought I a starter, main and dessert choice of pancakes for your taste buds pleasure. We will highly recommend their corn fed chicken, on a tarragon pancake with mushrooms and parmesan sauce. Yep, I dribbled at that too.

American short stack pancakes is how our transatlantic friends favourites and my final choice. Start your day with some of the fattening, filling and smaller version of Shrove Tuesday's delicacy. Eagle Bar Diner in Soho has to be my venue of choice for this. You have the choice of Canadian maple syrup, bacon and Canadian maple syrup, ham and eggs or Blueberries as a topping. This is a fantastic hidden gem and a perfect way to start your Tuesday.