Chopbiscuit on the road dining review: The Dutch Pancake cafe - Stowe, VT

Welcome (again) to another delightful ad hoc Chopbiscuit inspection of some of the USA's most frequented saloons, dining halls, dive bars, food trucks, in-room dining and high end bistro's. At least one of your humble contributors is on the road virtually every week and luckily have the opportunity to dine at some of the finest institutions and loathsome watering holes known to man. Now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, some deity would permit us to be pirates and savage our nutriment.

I like eating. It fascinates me. I sit and look at the food for hours. I often eat while laying down in my hotel room with a bib in my lap and my outlook calendar open. Eating is my tweeting, except it's much cooler. Food is often made into the celebrity of carnage, which makes us appear to be pompous and scarce in regards to the act of eating itself. You eat because you fuel. I eat because I'm hungry. I eat because it's my job. I go out to these establishments to consume their lineups with arrogance.

I then judge it.

Mike D approved

Dutch Pancake Cafe
990 Mountain Road
Stowe, VT 05672
802.253.8921


If you're like me, you enjoy gettin' your "Dutch On" every now and then.Whether it's using your Dutch Oven, or giving one (sorry I had to sneak that one in), Nederland culture is one that sits silently in our hearts. Did you know that 21% of it's culture is located below sea level? Me either. Well, anyways, if you're ever in Stowe, VT you can appreciate a little Dutch right in the heart of the Green Mountains. The Dutch Pancake cafe is located on the famous Mountain Road at the Grey Fox Inn hotel. It was reviewed by the New York Times as “The World’s Most Decadent Breakfast” and by Stowe Guide as “One of Stowe’s Most Unique Dining Attractions”

I had the opportunity to visit the Pancake cafe last weekend with my wife and her family and wasn't disappointed. The cafe serves 80 varieties of Dutch Sweet pancakes. Each Pancake is prepared in a traditional Dutch skillet. They are 12” in diameter and thinner than an American style pancake. Special gourmet ingredients are added to create a unique sweet or savory breakfast treat. I believe it was Mike D from the Beastie Boys that said it best with, "When I'm in Holland I eat the Pannekoeken." What's amazing is that you can do this in Vermont as well - who woulda thunk it.

What I ingested

I decided to go with The Rembrandt, which contained apple, shredded potato, pineapple, raisins, ham and cheddar cheese seasoned with curry. It was a nice mix of savory and sweet flavors with a nice pinch of curry. They even  had some Dutch honey syrup, but I went with the home team and obviously chose a nice Vermont Maple. The pancake was a great filling breakfast, which I was only able to finish about  1/3 of it. This was the Ford F350 of pancakes - enormous.

Concept & Design

The cafe sits within the Grey Fox Inn, which is a standard, resorty style ski hotel nestled right on Mountain road heading up to the mountain. It has a quiet, quaint feel that denotes the Stowe laid back lifestyle. As simple as simple comes, it's a great place for a mellow breakfast with family and friends. Right next to the cafe is the The Pub which serves standard American fare and draught. If you're ever in Stowe, it's a great simple, hearty stop to fill your belly prior to a ski run or hike.

Chopbiscuit on the road dining review: Fridas Taqueria and Grill Stowe, VT

Shredded cabbage goes great with shredded carrots and mayonnaise.

Mexican and Vermont - like peas in a pod

Welcome to another delightful Chopbiscuit inspection of some of the USA's most frequented saloons, dining halls and high end bistro's. At least one of your humble contributors is on the road virtually every week and luckily have the opportunity to dine at some of the finest institutions and loathsome watering holes known to man. Now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, some deity would permit us to be pirates and savage our nutriment.

I like eating. It fascinates me. I sit and look at the food for hours. I often eat while laying down in my hotel room with a bib in my lap and my outlook calendar open. Eating is my tweeting, except it's much cooler. Food is often made into the celebrity of carnage, which makes us appear to be pompous and scarce in regards to the act of eating itself. You eat because you fuel. I eat because I'm hungry. I eat because it's my job. I go out to these establishments to consume their lineups.

I then judge it.

Frida's Taqueria & Grill
128 Main St
Stowe, VT 05672
(802) 253-0333

Want a little Mexican right in the whitest town in America? Located in the historic Butler House in the heart of the village of Stowe, Vermont. Serving lunch and dinner seven days a week, Rita's is a popular dining destination for locals and visitors alike.

What we absorbed

The four of us all started out with the traditional house margarita-tequila, triple sec and lime juice. * I always recommend salt. Do it! For the appetizer's we got the obvious, tableside guacamole and chips. We also ordered Mexican calamares that were pan seared Rhode Island squid with a guajillo chili, pineapple, pumpkinseed sauce. This dish, obviously infuenced by some Fall Harvest flavors.

I ordered the tres tacos which allowed you to choose any three tacos, served with beans and a creative cabbage slaw. The tres tacos I chose were:

Pescado-crisp fried Atlantic cod with cabbage slaw and a roasted jalapeno shallot sauce

Carnitas-slow roasted pork with salsa verde and iceberg lettuce and salsa verde

Carne asada-marinated grilled skirt steak with charred onions and avocado crema

I liked all three although the tortilla's were a little on the damp side.

The rest of the menu had an affluent Mexican highbrow feel with a spring menu flavor profile. If you like basic traditional Mexican, you might want to stay away. The Taqueria had a quaint, village feel and friendly setting. If you're in a mood for a decent margarita and chips, I definitely recommend a stop.