PANCAKE DAY

Tuesday, March 8th, 2011

Whether you have yours sweet or savoury, thick and fluffy or thin and crispy, there’s no denying that pancakes are pretty delicious. Eating them is fun enough, but why not take things a step further and try your luck in one of the many weird and wonderful pancake races that are taking place round the country this Shrove Tuesday? All you need is your own frying pan, a talent for flipping pancakes on the move and perhaps a silly dress…

For Londoners there’s the Great Spitalfield’s Pancake race teams of four compete against each other to win an engraved frying pan (what else!), while plenty of pancakes are provided for all entrants. If you’re in the mood for donning a housewife’s frock, as is the tradition, then join the famous Olney Pancake Race - apparently the oldest in the country having been established in 1445. Sadly, this one’s just for the ladies. If the men want to get involved too there’s the Windsor and Eton Flippin Pancake Challenge and, yes, they still have to dress in the full female garb.

Spectators are more than welcome at all races, so if this all sounds a little too like hard work and you’d rather just stand back and eat, that’s fine. No-one could blame you.