Pancake Day - set your own record!
Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday, is one big excuse to gorge yourself on mountains of sweet or savoury pancakes.
I don't mean the thick, spongy kind that are still a delight to eat scattered with sliced banana, blueberries or maple syrup.
No, I mean the thin, British-style pancakes that can be folded or rolled around oozing fillings of Nutella, cream, golden syrup or fruit.
Of course, purists will stick to plain old lemon or orange and sugar - which is truly addictive.
Pancake Day doesn't seem to have a big following in western Canada but marks the day that people were meant to use up the last of their milk, butter and eggs before the start of Lent when these foods were banned.
Not many people observe the religious traditions, but every year Shrove Tuesday is a chance for kids to make themselves sick by trying to beat their previous year's pancake record. Six in my case, but there's plenty who've gone well into double figures.
Oh, and there's that crazy British event where women race through the streets tossing pancakes. Hmm, probably not advised in this weather...
Apparently, Newfoundlanders have embraced the traditions so why not give it a go in Vancouver on February 20, 2007?
Check out recipes at www.bbc.co.uk/food and search for pancake day or Shrove Tuesday for more information.
If you can't face a pile of pancakes, head to the Plaza Club's Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras Bash at 881 Granville Street from 9pm. Call 604-646-0064 for info.
