Well I for one find Waffle House rather delightful.

[Fanatical Meat]

Obviously my intent was not conveyed properly. I enjoy Woho, I do not believe it is the bottom of the barrel a lot of people make it out to be. I'm just saying the meal pictured as it sits is something I would prefer to what I get at WoHo. I can't get link sausage at my local WoHos and I like homefries more than hash browns. I don't care for the waffles so the All Star breakfast isn't worth it for me. Thats why I get the Cheesesteak melt whenever I visit, even for breakfast.

I also can't stand IHOP anything even though I love most pancakes. And yes, they add pancake batter to the eggs.

If you end up in the MA area give me a PM I'll take you there.

 

[DrPizza]

It is legal to label syrup "Real Maple Syrup" with surprisingly little "Real Maple Syrup" in it... and I don't just mean when prefaced with "Made With..."

Unless you live where it's made, it's actually pretty hard to get real maple at your typical grocery store to use in your home. You have to go way out of your way to make that at home, so Waffle House is a more authentic home-cooked meal for most people.

I live where it's made - and that restaurant is attached to the "factory" that makes it - they produce 10's of 1000's of gallons of the stuff each year.

 

[OutHouse]

I just found out that i can tap the 4 silver maple trees in my yard. I was under the impression that only sugar maples can be tapped. So this early spring im going to give it a try. From what i have read they are big enough to support 3 taps each. I have 2 red maples in the back yard but they are still to young/small to take a tap.

Since the ratio is like 40-1 im not going to get much but it will be a fun project/process.

on another note, my first batch of home made vanilla extract just finished its 3 month steep.

so if i can make maple syrup from my trees this coming spring i will two home made ingredients for my waffles.

 

[ponyo]

It is legal to label syrup "Real Maple Syrup" with surprisingly little "Real Maple Syrup" in it... and I don't just mean when prefaced with "Made With..."

Unless you live where it's made, it's actually pretty hard to get real maple at your typical grocery store to use in your home. You have to go way out of your way to make that at home, so Waffle House is a more authentic home-cooked meal for most people.

Real maple syrup is easy to get anywhere. Trader Joe's and Costco sell the real stuff for cheap.

The last time I ate the All Star Special at Waffle House, price was $4.95. But I think that was over 20 years ago.

 

[CZroe]

Real maple syrup is easy to get anywhere. Trader Joe's and Costco sell the real stuff for cheap.

The last time I ate the All Star Special at Waffle House, price was $4.95. But I think that was over 20 years ago.

Good example. There: are no Trader Joe's on the south side of Atlanta. The only Costco on the south side is still a 1.5 hour round trip not even counting the time it takes to park and shop, so who here in their right mind would pay for a membership there? Even then, Costco is almost certainly going to be selling something with "Real Maple Syrup," which I already called out as often legal but misleading.

The laws sound so restrictive, yet McDonald's can legally sell "Fruit and Maple Oatmeal" without real maple syrup as long as it has some flavoring was derived from real maple syrup. They can even claim that it has "real maple syrup" (note: Vermont doesn't allow this but the FDA does as do the other states).

 

[ponyo]

Good example. There: are no Trader Joe's on the south side of Atlanta. The only Costco on the south side is still a 1.5 hour round trip not even counting the time it takes to park and shop, so who in their right mind would pay for a membership here? Even then, Costco is almost certainly going to be selling something with "Real Maple Syrup," which I already called out as often legal but misleading.

The laws sound so restrictive, yet McDonald's can legally sell "Fruit and Maple Oatmeal" without real maple syrup as long as it has some flavoring was derived from real maple syrup. They can even claim that it has "real maple syrup" (note: Vermont doesn't allow this but the FDA does as do the other states).

So you're saying this Trader Joe's 100% pure maple syrup is not 100% real?

No Trader Joe's and Costco on south side of Atlanta? Another reason not to live there.

 

[CZroe]

So you're saying this Trader Joe's 100% pure maple syrup is not 100% real?

Not at all saying that. I said that Trader Joe's is hard to get for many/most people.

 

[DrPizza]

Good example. There: are no Trader Joe's on the south side of Atlanta. The only Costco on the south side is still a 1.5 hour round trip not even counting the time it takes to park and shop, so who in their right mind would pay for a membership here? Even then, Costco is almost certainly going to be selling something with "Real Maple Syrup," which I already called out as often legal but misleading.

The laws sound so restrictive, yet McDonald's can legally sell "Fruit and Maple Oatmeal" without real maple syrup as long as it has some flavoring was derived from real maple syrup. They can even claim that it has "real maple syrup" (note: Vermont doesn't allow this but the FDA does as do the other states).

Are you claiming that something that says "pure maple syrup" only has a little bit of maple syrup in it?

And, sorry, I don't care how cheap WH is, when I eat out, I'd much rather eat in a cleaner environment with a nicer decor, and a much better presentation of food. I grabbed this image from foodspotter - this isn't a company image, but rather a regular customer's:

But, if you'd rather have this served to you:

then, I suppose that's your prerogative. Someone said above - better food than you make at home.

And, you'd rather sit in here:

rather than in here:

Then, that's your call as well.

fwiw, shitty pancakes are shitty. Great pancakes are just as good as waffles any day. Here's a blog post about driving an hour and then waiting in line for hours (plural) for buckwheat pancakes. I was kind of surprised - the restaurant they're talking about is one of the closer restaurants in this area - only about 15 minutes from here. http://afullerlife.blogspot.com/2013/04/buckwheat-pancakes-for-real-maple-syrup.html One of my friends posted pictures (on Facebook, so not linking) of the line last spring for buckwheat pancakes in the town he lives in - easily a 2 hour long line for pancakes. Great pancakes with real maple syrup blow away waffles any day. But, average waffles are superior to average pancakes, especially if you're using the fake stuff.

 

[CraKaJaX]

Great pancakes with real maple syrup blow away waffles any day. But, average waffles are superior to average pancakes, especially if you're using the fake stuff.

QFT. Growing up, my grandparents lived just outside of DeLand, FL. There was a place called DeLeon Springs that had a breakfast place that had cook tops on every table so you could sit around and cook your own food. They had a '7 grain batter' that made the best pancakes I've ever had in my life. Buckwheat was in there for sure as was Rye and wheat. I have no idea what else was in it - I wish I'd paid more attention back then. Sadly due to my grandpa coming down with Alzheimers, they had to move in with my parents back here in NY. Highly recommended if you're ever in the area... Not even mentioning the swimming and fishing.

http://www.floridarambler.com/florida-bike-hike-trails/de-leon-springs-state-park-pancake-park/

 

[MongGrel]

We still have a few friends up in Vermont we get the real maple syrup from now and then down here

Is like a Tupelo Honey trade off, but we haven't in awhile.

 

[highland145]

DrP...1%

 

[Fanatical Meat]

UPS delivered one day early. First batch Death Star waffles.

Need to find a new mix Aunt Jermima doesn't make good waffles.

**floor cleaning is on today's agenda**

 

[lxskllr]

UPS delivered one day early. First batch Death Star waffles.

Need to find a new mix Aunt Jermima doesn't make good waffles.

**floor cleaning is on today's agenda**

Looks like it turned out pretty good. Could have a little more time in the iron though.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Looks like it turned out pretty good. Could have a little more time in the iron though.

Yeah I think the iron doesn't get too hot. Direction said 4-5 minutes that one was in for 10 minutes. Overall it works decently for a low cost waffle maker. The force is strong in them.

 

[zinfamous]

I just found out that i can tap the 4 silver maple trees in my yard. I was under the impression that only sugar maples can be tapped. So this early spring im going to give it a try. From what i have read they are big enough to support 3 taps each. I have 2 red maples in the back yard but they are still to young/small to take a tap.

Since the ratio is like 40-1 im not going to get much but it will be a fun project/process.

on another note, my first batch of home made vanilla extract just finished its 3 month steep.

so if i can make maple syrup from my trees this coming spring i will two home made ingredients for my waffles.

:thumbsup:

How do you do the vanilla extract?

This gave me an idea--now I want a birch tree in the backyard so that I can start making birch juice in the summers.

 

[Harrod]

:thumbsup:

How do you do the vanilla extract?

This gave me an idea--now I want a birch tree in the backyard so that I can start making birch juice in the summers.

I made some, I bought about a pound of beans off of amazon, and cut them into 1 inch pieces and put a half pound into a large bottle of vodka. I used the cheapest stuff I could find in a glass bottle.

It took about 4-6 months for it to finish, but when I was done I had close to a gallon of the stuff since I bought 2 bottles. They say that you should split and scrape the beans. But that takes alot of work and the results were the same. I tried both ways.

Here are the beans I used.

http://www.amazon.com/Tahitian-Extr...=1446911653&sr=8-1&keywords=vanilla+beans+1lb

 

[KMFJD]

Are you claiming that something that says "pure maple syrup" only has a little bit of maple syrup in it?

And, sorry, I don't care how cheap WH is, when I eat out, I'd much rather eat in a cleaner environment with a nicer decor, and a much better presentation of food. I grabbed this image from foodspotter - this isn't a company image, but rather a regular customer's:

But, if you'd rather have this served to you:

then, I suppose that's your prerogative. Someone said above - better food than you make at home.

And, you'd rather sit in here:

rather than in here:

Then, that's your call as well.

fwiw, shitty pancakes are shitty. Great pancakes are just as good as waffles any day. Here's a blog post about driving an hour and then waiting in line for hours (plural) for buckwheat pancakes. I was kind of surprised - the restaurant they're talking about is one of the closer restaurants in this area - only about 15 minutes from here. http://afullerlife.blogspot.com/2013/04/buckwheat-pancakes-for-real-maple-syrup.html One of my friends posted pictures (on Facebook, so not linking) of the line last spring for buckwheat pancakes in the town he lives in - easily a 2 hour long line for pancakes. Great pancakes with real maple syrup blow away waffles any day. But, average waffles are superior to average pancakes, especially if you're using the fake stuff.

If your example is open at 3am then it's a no brainer but i doubt it is...

 

[CZroe]

If your example is open at 3am then it's a no brainer but i doubt it is...

Exactly. He forgets that we are comparing a truck stop diner chain to what else is available in the same context. At 3AM I can go to IHOP. I can go to McDonald's. I can go to Steak 'n' Shake. I can go to a truck stop diner. I can go to Waffle House. I can't go where that was made. Even if I could, I don't know anyone looking to spend a fortune for fine dining establishments with reservations and wine lists when they are the only one awake at 3AM or on a holiday road trip when everything else is closed.

CONTEXT.

Just because there's always something better doesn't mean we are supposed to be comparing apples to oranges. "I ate at Mr. Big's in San Diego! My lunch cost me hundreds of dollars! It was so good that I'm never eating off the McDonald's Dollar Menu again!"

 

[MongGrel]

Exactly. He forgets that we are comparing a truck stop diner chain to what else is available in the same context. At 3AM I can go to IHOP. I can go to McDonald's. I can go to Steak 'n' Shake. I can go to a truck stop diner. I can go to Waffle House. I can't go where that was made. Even if I could, I don't know anyone looking to spend a fortune for fine dining establishments with reservations and wine lists when they are the only one awake at 3AM or on a holiday road trip when everything else is closed.

CONTEXT.

Just because there's always something better doesn't mean we are supposed to be comparing apples to oranges. "I ate at Mr. Big's in San Diego! My lunch cost me hundreds of dollars! It was so good that I'm never eating off the McDonald's Dollar Menu again!"

Pretty much this.

Sunday brunch at someplace like the Turtle Bay Hilton at North Shore on Oahu is a whole different thing than popping into a Waffle House.

Used to hang out at North Shore near the place, going into there for a Sunday Brunch now and then was almost mind blowing.

https://www.expedia.com/Oahu-Island-Hotels-Turtle-Bay.h470837.Hotel-Information?semcid=33316-1&kword=Turtle_Bay_Resort!e.ZzZz.3350004279315.0.5358586738.turtle%20bay%20resort.turtle_bay_resort&

Looks they might have even rearranged a few things over time.

 

[DrPizza]

Exactly. He forgets that we are comparing a truck stop diner chain to what else is available in the same context. At 3AM I can go to IHOP. I can go to McDonald's. I can go to Steak 'n' Shake. I can go to a truck stop diner. I can go to Waffle House. I can't go where that was made. Even if I could, I don't know anyone looking to spend a fortune for fine dining establishments with reservations and wine lists when they are the only one awake at 3AM or on a holiday road trip when everything else is closed.

CONTEXT.

Just because there's always something better doesn't mean we are supposed to be comparing apples to oranges. "I ate at Mr. Big's in San Diego! My lunch cost me hundreds of dollars! It was so good that I'm never eating off the McDonald's Dollar Menu again!"

My apologies.

 

[CZroe]

Gotcha. If you're drunk and need some food at 3am when you're not too picky, then WH is perfect. If you're going out to breakfast in the morning with the family, then the place I pointed out is superior. Context. And, it's only about $10 each. If you can't afford $10 for breakfast and have to have a roommate to be able to afford to live in an apartment, while declaring what an awesome city you live in, then it's WH - "we have such a huge variety of great places to dine at! This is the life! But, I eat at Waffle House because it's so expensive to live here, I'm poor."

Trying to get personal?

I've not slept there since Feb & never more than 3 times a mo for the mos prior, yet I renewed the lease for another year this past summer. I'd only showered there 3x. It's a $407mo place to infrequently hang out & play retro games w/my friends (man cave). They just issued new parking passes & I didn't even have the old one (never parked overnight). My music-teacher-by-day, WH-cook-by-night "roommate" practically lives alone & is actually surprised to see me there. He's "my roommate" 'cuz it's the easiest way to describe it, but having one at a place I don't need/barely even use makes me "poor?"

Instead of "Waffle House - for when you're drunk," how about "for when you might otherwise consider IHOP & aren't willing to drive to where Dr.P lives to wait till operating hours for something better?" I've never sipped alcohol in my life, BTW.

I've never called my city "awesome." If you got that impression it's me challenging stereotypes for a widely varied region. My friends & I have talked for 15 years about making "NewnanIsNasty.com" & uploading pictures of all the things we think are... unpleasant.

Edit: Thanks. If it's not clear, I'd love to eat at your preferred place, but even if they had one locally the circumstances where I would consider Waffle House are not the same. Making a food run for coworkers on a graveyard shift is Waffle House. Picking up family from the airport on Thanksgiving or Christmas is Waffle House. Getting back in town late at night after a long road trip is Waffle House. Driving straight through the night and stopping for dinner is Waffle House. Out with friends at 3AM and don't want McDonald's is Waffle House (or IHOP). Getting cheap, filling, breakfast in the morning is... almost anywhere (Cracker Barrel, Chik-fil-a, Golden Corral, IHOP, WH, Panera Bread, multiple local cafes, any fast food place, any coffee place, any bagel place, any donut shop, etc). That's where a place like the one you prefer would stand out as a clear choice.

 

[cavemanmoron]

At Dayton Ohio there is a Waffle House I have eaten at several times, the food was decent
not Awesome, not Awful, but decent.

I like Cracker Barrel better, but Cracker Barrel is not open at 4am.

If you are ever driving down the highway in the middle of the night, Waffle House is Open. Not like Mc'D's 24 hour places, where you can not go inside. Ever need to get rid of the Last coffee and get a new one, get off the Interstate at the "24 hour" Mc'D's" and it is drive thru ONLY. WTF I gotta go pee man.

 

[DrPizza]

At Dayton Ohio there is a Waffle House I have eaten at several times, the food was decent
not Awesome, not Awful, but decent.

I like Cracker Barrel better, but Cracker Barrel is not open at 4am.

If you are ever driving down the highway in the middle of the night, Waffle House is Open. Not like Mc'D's 24 hour places, where you can not go inside. Ever need to get rid of the Last coffee and get a new one, get off the Interstate at the "24 hour" Mc'D's" and it is drive thru ONLY. WTF I gotta go pee man.

fwiw, some of the McD's have the lobby open during the night. Not all are drive-thru only.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

In honor of this thread I sucked it up and went to WH today for the first time in 15 years or so.

It wasn't terrible. The place had been recently renovated so it was very clean and comfortable. I won't be writing a glowing online review about the food but it was what it was - basic fare - exactly what one should expect from WH. I got what I paid for, probably a B-. However, the people working at this particular WH were awesome. For atmosphere it gets an A.

 

[QueBert]

Are you claiming that something that says "pure maple syrup" only has a little bit of maple syrup in it?

And, sorry, I don't care how cheap WH is, when I eat out, I'd much rather eat in a cleaner environment with a nicer decor, and a much better presentation of food. I grabbed this image from foodspotter - this isn't a company image, but rather a regular customer's:

But, if you'd rather have this served to you:

then, I suppose that's your prerogative. Someone said above - better food than you make at home.

And, you'd rather sit in here:

rather than in here:

Then, that's your call as well.

fwiw, shitty pancakes are shitty. Great pancakes are just as good as waffles any day. Here's a blog post about driving an hour and then waiting in line for hours (plural) for buckwheat pancakes. I was kind of surprised - the restaurant they're talking about is one of the closer restaurants in this area - only about 15 minutes from here. http://afullerlife.blogspot.com/2013/04/buckwheat-pancakes-for-real-maple-syrup.html One of my friends posted pictures (on Facebook, so not linking) of the line last spring for buckwheat pancakes in the town he lives in - easily a 2 hour long line for pancakes. Great pancakes with real maple syrup blow away waffles any day. But, average waffles are superior to average pancakes, especially if you're using the fake stuff.

The top pic was probably taken by a hipster, I see fruit, and I see some tiny, dry ass looking sausage patties. I also see French Toast which is presented nicely, but looks very very similar to the one below it. So much so if you arranged the bottom one I bet you couldn't tell the F.T. portion apart. The top plate was artfully arranged and probably way over-priced because of it. Is it better? I'd have to try it, but I don't want a bunch of fucking fruit on my F.T. and I don't want shit like Sage, Tyme & Rosemary sprigs mixed in my damn scrambled eggs. Breakfast is suppose to be a simple affair, snooty people & hipsters fuck it all up by trying to 5 star it. We have some uppty breakfast eatery around here, the F.T is made with cream that came from grass fed cows who some hippy plays the acoustic guitar and sings to so they can be happier. Exergerating a bit, but I want to punch the people who eat there in the face and I hate the pretentiousness of the staff. "We don't serve pancakes, we make crapes with organic home grown locally sourced everything. Now enjoy your $20 breakfast!" The one time I went, I couldn't get maple syrup, that would have made too much sense. I got some bullshit that had pecan & toasted organic coconut flakes and some other bullshit in it.

Deny's is pretty MEH, but at least I can go there and get a fucking breakfast. Not some wait 2 hours for a table to get a breakfast-ish dish which was prepared to a cook pretending they're on Iron Chef. If you put anything green in my eggs I'm stabbing the cook in the ear. I don't want spinach or arugula in my eggs.


Hash House...

WHY AND THE HOLY FUCK are you putting red bell peppers, chives & whatever that orange shit is in my damn gravy? Biscuits & Gravy outside of being bland's nearly impossible to fuck up. But they somehow managed. And why is there a tree branch speared in one of my biscuits? I waited an hour to get a damn table then another 45 minutes to get my food.