"ihop" news and stories

No doubt Twitter came close to the cybernetic equivalent of a stroke this weekend after Justin Bieber was reported to have been seen getting "cuddly" with fellow teen sensation Selena Gomez. So where were the two spotted cozying up to one another? At some chic Manhattan eatery, or maybe behind the velvet ropes at L.A.'s hotspot du jour? No, it was at an IHOP in Philadelphia.

Note to whoever is in charge of PR for IHOP: Get on your knees and thank the PR gods, because your job of making the Rooty Tooty Fresh 'N Fruity sound cool just got, like, a hundred giga-times easier.

Although it seems from gossip blog reports that scads of anonymous "sources" witnessed Bieber and Gomez making eyes at one another (and TMZ even snapped a pic of the two leaving the restaurant arm-in-arm), no one seems to have bothered to notice what the two were actually eating.

It would seem somehow perfect for these two super-sweet kids to be canoodling over a gooey pile of Cinn-a-Stack pancakes, their noses dabbed with a bit of whipped topping (yes, "topping" not "cream" according to IHOP's menu). But alas, we may never know what the pair ordered, and thus, what particular IHOP carb-bomb was fueling their respective performances after they made their way to the Z100 Jingle Ball at New York's Madison Square Garden. (Read more about the Jingle Ball and see the pics at our sister site popeater.com.)

Even pancakes are joining the vampire craze, with IHOP's Scary-Face Pancake.

Dubbed Count Spatula (in a naming contest won by a kid from Illinois), the buttermilk pancake has a whipped-topping mouth, mini Oreo cookies for eyes, and a strawberry nose. Oh, and it's free for kids 12 and under this Friday, October 29th, at participating IHOP restaurants around the country.

Don't hang out the garlic yet; those fangs are made from candy corn.

The Double Down Sandwich phenomenon is catching on and this time breakfast is taking the hit. Available now through June 20, IHOP is offering customers their newest pancake sensation: "Pancake Stackers." Crustless cheesecake is layered between two of their classic pancakes and are topped with strawberry, blueberry or cinnamon-apple compote (no, we're not joking).

"With our latest promotion, IHOP took the value we're known for and topped it with one of America's favorite flavors -- cheesecake," said Carolyn O'Keefe, IHOP's senior vice president, marketing in an official press release. "We're pleased to offer guests a delicious new way to stack up the fun this spring as they celebrate moms, dads, grads, or just a simple escape from their every day."

Is this something you would try? Talk back to us in the comments.

Flapjack fans have a reason to celebrate Fat Tuesday a week later.

On Feb. 23, IHOP will offer a free short stack of their buttermilk pancakes to every customer from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. In return, pancaking patrons are asked to leave a courtesy short stack of their own for Children's Miracle Network hospitals.

IHOP first celebrated "National Pancake Day" in 2006. Since that time, the restaurant chain has raised more than $3.25 million and served more than 6.1 million pancakes. This year, IHOP hopes to reach a total fundraising effort of $5 million -- making for five million in five years.

Last year's National Pancake Day was IHOP's largest one-day event in the company's 51-year history -- proving free food for a good cause is always a reason to "flip" out.

To find an IHOP near you or to donate online, visit www.ihoppancakeday.com.

Boston Market. Photo: me and the sysop, Flickr.

No kidding -- national restaurant chains are increasingly hungry for family business.

Boston Market will now let more than one child eat for free with an adult. In the "Two Kids Eat Free" promotion, customers get two free Kids' Meals with a $6 minimum adult purchase.

The Boston Market Kids' Meal, which usually costs around $4, comes with a choice of entree (mac n' cheese, chicken drumstick, rotisserie turkey or meatloaf), a small side, cornbread and a kid's size soft drink or milk.