Flour Power

Breakfast: Lou's Restaurant & Bakery in Hanover, a homey diner that's been open forever.











Cake & pie make Pear happy.












Franco and I each order the eggs & sausage on a toasty biscuit that's about the size of a softball, all covered with cheese, and served with home fries cooked in bacon fat.















The waitress says, "Oh, you're going to be full." I take that as a dare and eat the whole thing.










Trish likes her cider. Unfiltered, as all good cider should be. And tastes like fresh, tart apples.

Trish also gets the homemade corned beef hash. It is chock-full of salty, oniony goodness. Certainly the best hash I've ever had.













Franco agrees. Then gets back to work on his own plate.













Pear gets the poacehd eggs and salsa.














Alex gets strawberry waffles. Like all the other dishes, it's huge. One minute, he's covering it with maple syrup and taking his first bite; two seconds later, it's gone. Vanished.














Now, I'm a fast eater, but I have never seen anyone hoover anything that quickly. My hat is off.

2+ hours later, we're in Boston. Naturally, it's time for a snack, so we go to the world's best bakery, the place where I learned everything I know about baking: Flour Bakery + Cafe!















So what makes a bakery good? There are the superficial things: the location, the pretty things on display, the amount of natural light, kind of seating, etc. Then there's the obvious taste factor. Is everything good? Are there things that are yummy enough to make you cry? Is the menu varied, but not huge & confusing? But the most important thing (to me) are the people who work there. Do they look like they love the place? Are they proud of the food? Does it make them genuinely happy to see you enjoying their snacks?













I love this place. You would, too.

Flour Bakery + Cafe
1595 Washington Street
Boston (South End)
www.flourbakery.com

In between snacks, we actually do work. Really.

That evening, we do a workshop for the Odaiko New England students.











Afterwards, the Pear Marketing Machine goes into high gear. See what happens when taiko-starved New Englanders get hold of taiko merchandise? CDs & t-shirts for everyone!












And then - drinks & late-night snacks at a nearby pub.

Tonight on the Trish Beer-O-Meter: Sam Adams!




































Not a fan. She gives it a 5.

Thanks, Odaiko New England peeps! It was great to see everyone again!