Key Revolutionary War location serves historic era delicacies

New York City is, because of its crucial geographical location and relavence in terms of the nation's commencement, a place flooded with historically significant sites. Brooklyn's Old Stone House is one such place, and this past Sunday it was the scene of Sarah Lohman's (of Four Pounds Flour) adventure in pancake mastery to present flavors and cooking styles contemporary to the beginnings of the Old Stone House.

Most at the free pancake extravangaza  were keenly focused on the unique food items, and the fact that Sunday was the first pleasantly Spring-like day this year, with highs in the upper 50's, evidenced by the number of children bounding from one side of the park to the other. Behind the Stone House is an astro-turfed soccer field that for the entirety of the two hours Ms. Lohman served pancakes was steadily occupied by enthusiasts seeking to stretch their legs after the kind of winter only Punxsatawney Phil is capable of forseeing.

Most of us are readily accustomed to the by now widely accepted flavors of IHOP, Bob Evans, Denny's or whichever is your neighborhood pancake serving establishment of choice. Frequently, recipes inlcude a mix (such as Bisquick) added sugar, and other flavorings, and for decades, we have grown to recognize this as the general 'pancake' taste. Ms. Lohman's recipes however, capture flavorful combinations and textures recordant of times long past. After a heated battle of her own to get the hearth's fire burning, pancakes freely flowed, and the first ones off the grill were rosewater and clove. Thankfully, the texture was not the same as the industrial factory conveyor belt style dealt like cards in Vegas by nationwide restaurant chains. The clove stayed in the background and the rosewater lightened up the entire experience, while the type of flour she used in the batter made the pieces just a bit chewier than normal - delicious! Not to be missed was the hard sauce: a mixture of butter, sugar, and brandy, that combined with the real maple syrup wonderfully.

The line for free pancakes snaked out beyond the gate ofThe Old Stone House for the entire two hours pancakes were being served, and everyone left happy. A short tour through the Stone House's museum lets visitor's in on the importance of the ground upon which they stand. From the House's website, quite a litany of events have occured there, "intersecting with the American Revolution, the birth of the Brooklyn Dodgers and the urbanization of Brooklyn." The location is a historical site preserved through the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, and has frequent events - such as the one featuring Ms. Lohman, - as well as chidlren's activities, school visits, and reenactments. For more on their activities and events, visit the website of The Old Stone House. For more on Sarah Lohman, historical tastes, recipes, and her upcoming events, visit Four Pounds Flour.