So for the longest time, I've been against the use of lactose pills, which essentially are designed so people who are lactose intolerant can digest lactose. I don't know exactly why I've been against them I guess I just did not like the concept of eating something that my body did not like digesting. So I've just been avoiding dairy as best I can, definitely a huge learning curve here. I've been finding out that there is dairy in just about everything you eat. I haven't had pizza, chocolate, pancakes or ice cream in six months. Until this past weekend.
I came home to New Jersey to take a class at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), called the flavors of Asia with my mom. This was a total blast, we learned how to make sushi, homemade wontons/dumplings, a light/clean general Tso's chicken, Thai soups, Korean noodles, Chinese stir-fry and Indian desserts. This class was part of the reason for coming home, the real reason was the Califon Firehouse Pancake Breakfast. The mecca for all Califon residents seeking quite possibly the best breakfast in the United States. One catch, it's only served the first Sunday of each month from October to March. It's hard to put into words this experience but I've been going here since I was born so I will attempt. To start off it is served in the "ballroom" of the volunteer Califon firehouse. I guess it's hard to put that sentence into words alone because Califon, NJ is such a unique experience within itself. It is only one square mile and yet we have a fire department, K-8 school, two liquor stores, three pizza parlors, two dry cleaners, a CVS, a Shop-rite, a general store that is 100 years old, and one Chinese restaurant. When you first enter the pancake breakfast you are greeted with a line of Califon locals, girl scout cookies to your left and about 100 different types of shoe laces for sale on your right. You were then greeted by the now deceased "Big Dick" who was the gate keeper of the pancake breakfast. If he wasn't a fan or if you didn't buy his shoelaces, you might not be getting into this culinary treasure trove. Once you pay the now 8 dollars cover charge (all you can eat), used to be 4 dollars, you then start to peer around the room and try to avoid as many familiar faces as possible. This might be the worst part of the pancake breakfast, running into old classmates, teachers, bully's, students, ex-girlfriends, etc, it's definitely inevitable. In order to have the full experience, before you leave the pancake breakfast you have to have at least one awkward encounter with someone, normally starts with the classic line of "how do I know you?" or "I haven't scene you in 10 years!" After your awkward encounter you finally have some time to glance around and really take in the full experience that the pancake breakfast is, it's bright, delicious, energetic, and totally low-brow. The hostess or volunteer fireman seats you at your table which is set up cafeteria style so just big picnic tables all lined up together. Glance down and you see the menu with four items: eggs (three different ways), toast (only white), pancakes and sausage. You put a check mark or X next to each item you would like, I opt for my standards of four sausages and four pancakes (two X's by sausage, two X's by pancakes). This is a total classic, the sausage is made on sight, ground and formed there. The key to their sausage, which i might say is the best I've ever had, is they super finely grind it and they just add salt and pepper. Total perfection of keep it simple stupid. The pancakes are moist, thin and delicious. It all comes to you stacked high on a white diner plate and served to you by a eight year old girl scout. Time to dig in except one miner hitch that I didn't worry about two years ago, I am now lactose intolerant. So I opt for a couple chew-able pills that I take during my first bite. I already know that it will ruin my first bite since they are flavored vanilla ice cream, really you can't make them plain. I know I really like the taste of vanilla ice cream while I dig into sausage and pancakes. Ok back to the story, for me all the pancakes require are butter, no syrup. I add a little bit of ketchup on the side of my plate for the sausage. Your first bit you get the savoriness of the sausage and a little sweetness from the pancake, the texture of the sausage is smooth, the pancakes are light and fluffy. It all combines in your mouth for a unique experience that you can only find in Califon, NJ. After you take your first bite you cannot believe that this whole experience is put together by firefighters who have been cracking open Budweisers since 6 in the morning. I end up eating my whole plate and ordering another plate knowing that this experience is going to be short lived and I might now be back for a couple years. I honestly hope that the fireman in Califon never stop serving breakfast because one day I will come back with my kids, whether I'm living in China or Califon, NJ, this will always be the ultimate experience and ultimate breakfast.
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