Pancakes Around the World

CEBU, Philippines - A stack of freshly made pancakes topped with butter and lashed with syrup may sound to many like the perfect pancake breakfast of champions, but - contrary to what movies and popular advertisements would have us believe - this is not the only "ideal pancake" in the world.

Beyond drowning one's pancake with maple syrup or mixing its batter with buttermilk, here's a quick look at some of the different pancake variations in different parts of the globe.

Kaiserschmarrn (Austria)

The Kaiserschmarrn is a type of shredded pancake that's not only popular in Austria, but also in Hungary, South Germany, and Slovenia. Its name loosely translates to "the shredded pancake of the emperor," and is attributed to have been the favorite of Austria's Emperor (or Kaiser) Franz Joseph I, hence its name.

Considered to be a refined and more formal version of the Schmarrn (the generic name for shredded pancakes in Austria), there are now different variations to Kaiserschmarrn.

Traditionally, it is made of a sweet batter that includes flour, milk, eggs, salt, butter and sugar. The batter is formed into shreds while being fried, then served hot with raisins as toppings.

Scallion Pancakes or Cong You Bing (China)

Widely considered to be a street food specialty, China's Scallion Pancakes or Song You Bing is characteristically described as a non-leavened folded flatbread, prepared with diced green onions or scallions.

Like the Kaiserchmarrn, there are different Scallion Pancake variations; some made with corn instead of diced green onions, others served with chili sauce or soy sauce.

As a non-leavened flatbread, Scallion Pancakes are not made using a batter, but using a dough that's generally prepared with all-purpose flour mixed with peanut oil and water, then fold-fried with scallions in between.

Okonomiyaki (Japan)

Considered as Japan's answer to the pizza, the Okonomiyaki is a Japanese pancake whose name is taken from the Japanese words okonomi (how you want it) and yaki (cooked).

Called by many as "Japanese omelet", a "basic" okonomiyaki batter consists of flour, eggs, shredded cabbage, water and dashi (a kind of instant seasoning made from fish flakes and kelp, usually sold in packets) with both of its sides fried using a pan, then served with a variety of toppings, the most common of which is chopped nori (dried seaweed).

The "how you want it" aspect of the pancake is in how different ingredients can be mixed into it - from green onions to diced vegetables, from sliced squid to octopus, from cheese to thin pork meat strips.

These three are just what the plate can hold at this time. There are still a lot more pancake variations in the different parts of the world. Those others are likely to find their space here too, in due time. (FREEMAN)