**UPDATE** I have added several additional posts. These include some recipes, as well as links to cookbooks and a crepe machine! Start here to find the recipes
I suppose most, if not all of you dear readers are not old enough to remember the Magic Pan restaurant. While reading the textbook “Service Management” by Fitzsimmons, I was taken back to the restaurant of my youth, and reminded once again of those wafer-thin crepes, and the delightful fillings that so often filled our Sunday afternoons.
The text book, in discussing quality control in delivering a service, mentions the “foolproof machine” that the Magic Pan designed to cook their crepes. (For that same upside down pan, perfect crepe experience, try the VillaWare V5225 Crepe Maker
The “chef” would first place a pan, upside down, on the carousel, allowing it to make a few slow revolutions, and thus get up to temperature. After that, they would remove a pan, wiping the bottom of the pan on a towel that had been embedded with some form of “lubricant” (either butter or vegetable oil). They would then dip the underside of the pan (yes, the outside!) in the batter. Once coated, they would place the pan (again face down) on the carousel, where it would cook the crepe evenly. As a kid, I would love standing there and just watching, watching, watching…
This approach did a few things that guaranteed consistency of delivery:
- The batter on the bottom of the pan meant that they always had the “right” amount of batter for each crepe
- The constant rate of the carousel meant they were always cooked correctly, never over or under cooked.
- By having many slots around the carousel, they were able to “manufacture” a large number of crepes with only one chef.
All pretty doggoned innovative!
So, of course, thinking about the Magic Pan again after so many years set me off on a Google search for the demise of the ‘Pan, and perhaps to find some recipes. Well I found that, and more!
Let’s start with the “and more.” It turns out that the Magic Pan is back! Now the Magic Pan of my memories was a rather nice, upscale, yet casual, dining room with great food. The new Magic Pan is actually a “food court” provider of the same recipes. According to “Cathy2” at LTHForum the Magic Pan has as the culinary roots to heart of the original, but appears to be an all new restaurant. As she writes:
I talked to the manager who advised they had the original chef-trainer from the old Magic Pan fly in from San Franciso to reproduce and train their people for several original Magic Pan dishes: Original Spinach Souffle Crepe; Original Chicken Divan Crepe; Original Crepe Suzette; Original Strawberries and Sour Cream Crepe; Original Chantilly Crepe and Original Cherry Royale Crepe. I remember vaguely the old Magic Pan closed abruptly I believe due to bankruptcy. The manager didn’t remember the circumstances, though he knew all 240+ Magic Pan restaurants closed in one day across the country.
Now, I find that to be quite interesting. All closed–in one day! Wow.
I am somewhat disappointed to learn that they are not using the same innovative cooking machine that I loved watching as a kid. According to Cathy2:
Magic Pan 2005 is no longer a sit down restaurant, it is a fast food crepe stall. There is no large ring of gas with upside down smooth bottom frying pans with dipped crepe batter cooking as it rotates over the circuit. Instead there are three large flat iron plates to cook the crepe batter. The cook selects from buckwheat, cornmeal or wheat flour crepe batter and pours a measured quantity on the pan. Using a t-stick paddle he smoothes and spreads the batter to the outer edges. Once cooked, the crepe is filled and presented to the customer.
I hope to someday learn more about the reasons for the demise of the Magic Pan, and perhaps even how widespread the “ROMP” (return of Magic Pan) may be.  Until then, I will be trying out some of the recipes I found online, and seeking to take a trip down that culinary memory lane.
UPDATE: 30 Dec 2009. In the meantime, I will tell you that I have found a great machine (the VillaWare V5225 Crepe Maker
Please send me any MP recipes! Thanks ever so much.
Fond memories of the MP after theatre in Denver. They stayed opened late! and we always went there.
Linda.Asberry@att.net
I don’t see anyone mention those delicious cheese filled crepes with fresh strawberries and powdered sugar on top. does anyone have the recipe for the filling. I am going to try the NOrthbrook Magic Pan Stand today because I really miss the Magic Pan. Someone should get all the recipes and open up a resturant–I will be there Old Orchard Mall would be a great place for it. Please write me if anyone has the recipe for the Strawberry crepe with the cheese filling. cstat@bornquist.com
My mom, Rosalinda Prospero worked as an accountant at the SF, MAGIC PAN OFFICE at fisherman’s wharf in the 70’s-80’s and is looking for her friend Nancy Denison.
elizabethprosper@aol.com
I think of the MP so often and would love to be able to go there again. I live in Illinois but whenever I would go to another city I would spend time finding out where it was located before I ever left home. My favorite was the one at NorthPark Mall in Dallas – would always head there straight from the airport. In my mind, I can still taste all my favorites – wish they were still around!
– Hi – I loved the MP in Larimer Square in downtown Denver- it was one of my favorites!! I often went with my best friend & sometimes I took myself there as a special treat. I was saddened when it closed – MP had been around for years & it always seemed to be so busy. My favorite all-time meal remains the MP Mandarin Orange Salad, Potage St. Germaine (Soup), Chicken Elegant Crepes and finishing with Southern Praline Crepe. And I hadn’t thought about the crepe-making carousel for years until I found it mentioned in this group. Thanks for all the info about the recipes – I’m off to look for them now!
MP is my all time favorite restaurant! I’ve been missing it for years and was so surprised to find this site. One of my best friends and I would use any excuse to eat there. We were both in our early twenties and the Pan that we frequented was at the Lakeside Mall in Sterling Heights, MI. Never went to the ‘original’ so can’t compare them ~ just know that we Loved ours!! I would also love to see them reopen so I could share the experience and wonderful food with my husband and children!! Would also love to have the recipes so am going to explore the options I’ve seen on here. Thank You!! Add me to the list looking for the real thing ~ recipes to share and a grand reopening of ‘our’ Magic Pans!! The strawberry crepe with cheese filling was also my favorite.
Sorry ~ thought it would add on my email ~ sweetpea-2@juno.com
Hey Dave Iremonger, I remember you!! I worked at the Walnut St Magic Pan in Philadelphia, too. I was the hostess for the longest time!! You guys called me “Miss Magic Pan”, remember? I wish we could get in touch with everybody. Chris George, and the 2 Pauls, and Emily and Melanie and Sue and Rich and Bill…I wonder if there’s a way to find everybody? We sure had a lot of fun back then! At the Magic Pan, working and after work too! I moved to Palo Alto for a while too–and was a Hostess at Boubon Street in Palo Alto! Another fun place. Paul came in one day–maybe he was visiting you! We should do a Magic Pan reunion.
and Strauss! Don’t forget Strauss!
I am another major fan of MP. A caterer in Maryland told me they are coming back. Does anyone know if this is true? I wonder if she was just referiig to the food court stands. One crepe food court stand opened up in Montgomery Mall in Montgomery County, Maryland. It is horrendous. The crepe is like a thick pancake. They are no competition to MP. I would much rather see MP take up food court spots then this horrible company. My first choice is to have the old restaurants back, but I’ll take what I can get.
If anyone knows any information about a return, please let me know. Crepes are on the rise. If anyone is ever at Rehoboth Beach, DE or in that area, go to Rehoboth Ave in the summer and try a crepe from a small stand in Penny Lane, it’s not bad.
Maybe we all need to start chanting, “Magic Pan! Magic Pan! Magic Pan!”
Thanks in advance for any new info.
Lori
OMG What Memories. I started with MP in Chicago, moved to Santa Anita, went into management, went to Omaha then to Dallas, Fort Worth and finally in San Antonio. The management and staff was more like a cult. I loved them all. Training was tough for sure, but wouldn’t take anything for all the lessons learned. Still miss the food. Can’t begin to think of all the crepes I made in the many years with The Pan.
Love You All for All the Great Memories
Judy of the Fort
Go to this address for several Magic Pan recipes from the Magic Pan Project:
http://www.jingles.org/MPRecipes_v101.pdf
Also, this site mentions a Crepe recipe book which I have and was already going to highly recommend here. It has several recipes that are very similar to several Magic Pan recipes: Crepe Cookery by Mable Hoffman (HP Books). It’s available (used) very cheap through Amazon.com Fantastic recipes. I bought it years ago because I loved Magic Pan restaurant (in La Jolla CA) so much! I found this website because I just started teaching my 9-year old daughter how to make crepes using this book and that made me wonder if the Magic Pan recipes were available anywhere. Of course I ate all the great favorites already mentioned (Potage St. Germain, Spinach Souffle, St. Jacques, Ratatouille, etc.) but I was looking specifically for the orange almond salad recipe. It’s at the site I just mentioned and the crepe recipes just mentioned are all in Mable’s book. Enjoy!
Roger,
I’m not sure when you were at the Magic Pan in Lenox Square, but my dad, Bill Vosburgh, was a manager there. Do you know him? I have been researching The Magic Pan trying to get together a recipe book or something similar to give him for Christmas.
Thanks,
Corey sweething1155@aol.com
I remember going to the Magic Pan in South Coast Plaza when I was very young.
I googled the magic pan this morning after watching Jay Leno and seeing Kelsey Grammer say that he worked at one before becoming an actor!
Also, I took french classes in high school and my french teacher had one of those ‘magic pans’ ! i’ve been looking for one for a while now with no luck.
All of the recipes I’ve read in this article ring a bell as I think I tried them all !!!!!!…and they were absolutely DELICIOUS !! I went to the Oakbrook, Il. location many times but much more to the Old Orchard shopping center location. I can remember feeling so comfortable in the atmosphere of those restaurants. Besides all the enjoyment I got from the Magic Pans’ menu and surroundings , it also meant Christmas to me. My mother (God rest her soul) and I had made it a yearly tradition after Christmas shopping at Old Orchard to have dinner there every year for many years…..Have a great meal……a nice glass of wine…….good times!!!! If I had the resources I would absolutely bring it back!
Was thinking about some of the folks I used to work with at Magic Pan. I trained at the Torrance Del Amo Mall before being sent to the Fort Worth location. Not quite as busy as the Dallas one. Then MP brought me back to california where I worked in San Jose and then San Mateo. Left there to work for a restaurant/rock and roll club. Great management and quality control training in a restaurant environment. Interesting co-workers and always excellent food. You can contact me at cheral@dragonlust.com
K thanks for that pdf. Like many others I have fond memories of Magic Pan at Tyson’s Corner, VA. Ive been making Orange/Almond salads with Newman dressing. Now I can try for the keepsake. Alas, nobody has mentioned the Mocha crepe. I always had to scrape the plate. Cheers!
Every Sunday was spent at the Magic Pan for brunch in Kansas City after Mass. My Mom and Dad insisted on it. My brother and I were in High School at the time and it was the early 80’s.
The restauraunt was located in Seville Square at the Country Club Plaza. Because it was such a consistent weekly event, I look back on it fondly. The food, service, and atmosphere were much better than what you receive in restaurants today that market themselves as a higher caliber eating establishment. I live in Denver now and I had dinner last night at Crepes n Crepes with a group of friends. (Also good) It instantly made me think of that time in my life.
Hey ….frequented two MPs often – Beverly Hills and South Coast Plaza.
Have four daughters and will never forget my number two daughter becoming a “woman” at the MP in South Coast Plaza. Embarrassing for her and a memory the entire family will never forget!
We had to leave the restaurant in order to take care of the poor baby (she was 13)….pissed me off, I was right in the middle of my strawberry/cream cheese crepe!! Just kidding …. I wasn’t upset, but I did ask #2 if she couldn’t have waited another fifteen minutes or so.
Life goes on …..jeez!! That was 27 years ago!
Great stuff …. never, ever had a bad meal nor did I ever have to speak with the manager about service or quality of food at either location.
Wish they were still around …. in the evening, the BH store would dim the lights and pipe in great, romantic music. Awwwwww!
Ain’t that wonderful?
majskyking@gmail.com
Worked at MP in Ann Arbor Michigan while I was in high school. I still make a number of the recipes for my family to this day. It was great memories and its nice to hear that many people had good memories of the MP.
The 1st MP I worked- as a hostess in the Galleria Mall in houston- back in the late ’70, I also waitress ed and progressed to line chef. Fro there I transferred to Richmond VA MP as line chef- and finally to Syracuse NY- shoppingtown… would love to hear from other folks who i might have worked/partied with- “back in the day”.
Jan- janileeshuper@yahoo.com
I worked at the Magic Pan in Dallas, Texas in late 70’s. Yes, I was one of the girls with long braids, the uniform, etc. flipping those pans as they went around in a circle. I loved the food and so did SO many others! I wish there were some here in Fl.
My dad took me to the MP in Tysons Corner in McLean Va when I was a young girl. That was a looong time ago. I still remember our date, and my strawberry and cream filled crepe…yummy! I’ll never forget it. I felt so grown up going to a “fancy restaurant” with my dad. Thanks MP.
A good site for up to date and alumni information is :
http://www.themagicpanproject.com
AMAZING HOW MANY PEOPLE REMEMBER THE PAN SO FONDLY
We loved MP! Growing up in the mid to late 70’s, it was almost a family saturday night ritual to visit the MP. I still sit aroung the dinner table with my brothers and parents day dreaming about some of their dishes and wondering how a restaurant that seemed so packed all the time could have just dissappeared off the face of the earth. I am glad they are back…but not quite the same. Although my all time favs were the chicken divan and spinach souffle crepes…we also loved their chicken gumbo soup and some of their salads were fab too! And yes, who did not love watching the crepe carousel go round and round producing a perfect crepe everytime! Would really love to find out why they closed! I hail from Toronto, and the we would frequent was the one in the Eaton Centre! So it was popular north of the border too! Thanks Steve for walk down memory lane!
This is amazing so many people who fondly remember the Magic Pan. I experienced the Magic Pan in Denver and was in awe of the crepe machine and the perfection of the food it Later I worked for the Holiday Inn’s in Anchorage, AK and Reno, NV. While in Reno I found a building a former “Big Yellow House” restaurant empty and waiting to be recreated. I thought back on the Magic Pan and wanted to fill the building with the same ambiance and great food it would have been perfect. But I was not destine to stay in Reno or create a restaurant at that time. Maybe it’s time to find a place for a Magic Pan in Seattle, WA. Anyone know where I can find a crepe carousel from the old Magic Pan?
I loved Magic Pan. Went at least once a week to the one off Rush Street in Chicago, or in Old Orchard. Miss it to this day. The mall cart version in Northbrook awful. What could have gone wrong? We need to bring them back! Weren’t they owned by Stouffer’s?
I worked at the Magic Pan in Boston’s Quincy Market for 7 years! I have such fond memories of the food , the employees & wad the best time of my life! I was sad when I heard that not long after I moved on that the chain had closed! Never heard all the details!! There was a chocolate mousse PIE that I’d love to get the recipe for if anyone has it !! And also … Anyone who worked at the Boston Magic PAN from 1982- 1989 I’d love to hear from you !! Those days were the best
Hi Katherine W. – Walnut Street Magic Pan had an awesome group of coworkers in the late 70’s and you certainly were “Miss Magic Pan”. Sorry I missed you in Palo Alto – Paul F. is a chiropractor near Orlando, but I’ve lost track of everyone else.
Please, please does anyone have any pictures of the crepe machine???????
I was a long-time customer of the Magic Pan at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. It was a huge disappointment when it closed.
Where are the crepe fast food stalls located?
Thank you, and please do keep us informed.
I used to be the crepe cooker at the Magic Pan Les Terrasses in Montreal. I burned my face my first day on the job because I was told I would know if the pan was hot enough by holding it close to my cheek. I had been lifting the pans all day as they turned round and round on the wheel. My arm was so tired it spasmed and the pan went tsss on my skin. The scar went away after a few weeks of vitamin E from the girl who took care of the plants.
I was a very small girl and the pans were heavy. I sucked at making crepes until I changed the recipe and I went from the worst crepe cooker ever to the best. I used to spin the pans in my hands like tennis rackets…
I eventually became a waitress and kept my tip-tray as a souvenir when I left.
My husband and I were regulars at the MP in Torrance, CA. We also visited the San Francisco and Beverly Hills restaurants. My heart broke when they closed. No other restaurant has been able to replace MP. Sure wish they would come back, with the same menu. Heavens, the ham, mushroom, chicken divan, cheese crepes and the dinner salad with mandarin oranges, almonds and that special dressing. Oh, desset crepes were to die for. I have my MP crepe pan and batter dish, but just can’t make them like they did.
i opened up the magic pan in dallas!as an HCA.
grea memories!
bob buterfield was th gm.
PLEASEEEEEE SEND ANY MAJIC PAN RECIPES AVAILABLE…
MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE RESTAURANT!
THX!
RJ IN TEXAS
Worked at the MP in Fox Valley. I’ve told my family stories about working there and how wonderful the food the food was. I try to recreate recipes for my family. Glad to find versions of some recipes on the internet even though they are not quite the same. Have been to Magic Pan Crepe Stand at the Mall of America in Minnesota and it is a big disappointment. Don’t bother going there. Hello to all who worked with me.
Wow…what a trip down memory lane!! I started at the MP in Scottsdale, AZ, transferred to Larimer Square in Denver and ended up at the MP in Toledo, OH – helped open the Ren Cen location in Detroit. I started as salad prep and after nine years of working virtually every position was a manager when they closed all those restaurants – pretty much with-in a two week span. (Our MP got the word on a Saturday that our doors would be locked for good on Tuesday – NOT the most fun staff meeting on Monday! Our “info” on
the closings were that a rich Texan had bought the entire chain (106 restaurants in the US and Canada for $56 million)for his son – turned out to be a giant tax write-off – it supposedly also had something to do with mall leases; those were the days when malls were springing up like mushrooms all over the country, and MP was in on those…..but the leases were 10 – 15 years.
Anyway, that all being said – those were some of the best days of my life – met some of my (to this day) best friends; we were and are family!!!!
Roger Ashton and I were with the Opening Team in April of 1971 at 1475 Larimer St. Denver for the original owners Paulette & Leslie Fono. For the next 15 years we were part of the Magic Pan Family across the nation. Wonderful memories, lifelong friends and great pride for Larimer and the many other restaurants we helped open in the years to follow in Texas, Oklahoma, & Colorado. It was a truly unique time of our lives. At one time 9 members of the Ashton family were on the payroll, talk about nepotism!
Magic Pan will always hold a special place in our hearts, and we often think of the many good friends who came together from coast to coast to create great food, beautiful ambiance and rewarding success.
Sue Ashton
Golden, Colorado
No one mentioned the Magic Pan on Newbury St. in Boston. I only had to walk 2 blocks from my apartment so was there all the time. Dining on the sidewalk cafe was one of the hightlights of summer in Boston. Many fond memories of thirty-some years ago
Nina,Roestta,and Denise are looking for Magic Pan co workers, from the Walnut, and Market Streets Magic Pan. (1970’s-1980’s)
We miss you all, what fun we had!!!!
The wheel goes round and round, I could cook with all nine pans.
There’s a number of Facebook groups with MP info, plus TheMagicPanProject.com. My favorite is People Who Used to Work For Magic Pan Creperies http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=36398329665&v=wall There’s also a picture of the crepe wheel. (I always cooked with 9 pans too.)
To Sue Ashton…..oh, my, too funny!
I remember you and Roger well – you may not
remember me. I transferred from Scottsdale
to Larimer with Jon Tuder (well, soon thereafter)
Art, Sam , Jon and Kris were the managers then,
I think (can’t believe I even recall all the names!)
I worked back of the house with quite a crew 🙂
(1980-81) when Roger was “home” upstairs in his office
he loved coming down and quizzing us in the kitchen
on temps and measurements and specials and prep….
thank goodness I was always right! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Larimer Square was a great place to work, but I left
when Jon got transferred (I went to the Toledo MP) ’cause
Art never would let me out of the kitchen and to the
floor, where I was already trained, too. Oh well.
Anyway, it was great to see a familiar name here and hope
you and Roger are doing well (still in Evergreen?)
Kudos to this webmaster who is keeping the “magic”
in The Magic Pan alive!!!!
There’s a new Facebook group called People Who Used to Work for the Magic Pan Creperies. Lots of stories and answers there. Request to Join!
~Su (Newbury Street, Faneuil Hall, Orland Park, Fox Valley, Columbia, Gaithersburg, Bethesda, Tysons Corner)
I was a manager in Detroit Market [ RenCen/Fairlane] as well as Seville Square in KCMO and Plaza Frontenac [ St Louis ] I have many original print outs of the recipes
As a little girl in Atlanta, Ga my family visited MP at least once a week. I loved the crepes and the most delicious spinach salad. I wish that they would introduce the MP again. I would be a frequent customer!!!!
I just returned from a business trip in MN where we visited the Mall of America. We were on our way out of the mall as it was closing when I spotted the Magic Pan crepe stand. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I almost cried when I saw that they were closed for the night and I knew we wouldn’t be going back to MOM during our trip. I have fond memories of going to the Magic Pan in Newport Beach with my 9th grade French Class. We all got to eat those delicious crepes and we had to order everything in french. What a wonderful restaurant, such delicious Chicken Divan crepes. I was so sad when they closed all the restaurants, but I am so happy now to know that I can always go back to Mall of America one day. I hope they don’t close again before I make it back there!