Diner Week Critique: Funk N’ Waffles (Syracuse, N.Y.)

Review | Written and photographed by Nathan Mattise

Directions | Web site | Overall Rating: 5

What is a diner? In the past I’ve found folks who define it based on cuisine and the smartest man in CNY diners has his own six-point checklist.  Can a diner double as a locale for the best local (and eventually national) bands to perform while in town? Can it sell vinyl and local art on the side? Can you place it in a space below one of the Top 50 college bars in America?

Funk N’ Waffles answers yes to all those. A self-proclaimed cafe started near Syracuse University by two grads has become a go-to hangout for students and community members alike.  Folks come for the music, the atmosphere or perhaps the Gimme! Coffee, but no matter the reason FnW seems to have something everyone can like.

ToTs live, Masters Season II, Trivia Thursdays and off-beat Bourdain

Food Links | Compiled by Nathan Mattise

All via Twitter…

National Pancake Day, Dr Pepper’s Anniversary, Bourdain Part II and the Prince of Po-Tay-Toe

Food Links | Compiled by Nathan Mattise

• Mark your calendars for February 23, 2010. IHOP’s National Pancake Day promo is less than a month away. Until then, they’ve still got a deal to please…

• Other annual culinary certainties: you can depend on Dr Pepper. It’s celebrating its 125th anniversary this year making it the nation’s oldest soda (Note: I used the proper AP Style application of the brand).

• Two quick ‘Cuse food-related items of note: Dino BBQ is expanding throughout the Northeast and… ANTHONY BOURDAIN IS COMING TO SYRACUSE IN APRIL (yep, that means I’ll make a second trip to visit him).

• Finally, I’m not sure how I missed this for the past two years. Meet ToTs – a local rapper who only rhymes about… PO-TAY-TOE.

Food gifts, pop culture food, Top Chef and George Orwell originals

Food Links | Compiled by Nathan Mattise

• Just in time for the holidays, a few quick food gift suggestions including a bacon sandwich spread and this sweet french fry phone (if anyone’s hoping to donate a gift to this site’s cause, I’m just saying…).

• Two great pop-culture food items you probably can’t find for the foodie on your shopping list this year: Tokyo Police Cake and Otto Cheese Puffs.

• The downer about the holidays this year are that it’s desert time for food TV (a.k.a. no Bourdain and Top Chef right now). To help you through the dead period, Travel Channel is running a Bourdain marathon tomorrow and here is some Top Chef reading (the new Voltaggio web site, a Dale recap and a Kevin interview).

• Finally, just in time to bake for your holiday parties, here’s a Diners Without Frosted Tips-approved Christmas pudding recipe… from famous author George Orwell (?).

Diner Critique: The Rise N’ Shine Diner (DeWitt, N.Y.)

Review | Written and photographed by Nathan Mattise

Directions | Web site | Overall Rating: 3

If you’re seeking out a diner near Syracuse, N.Y., I’m not sure how you would ever stumble upon the Rise N’ Shine Diner.  It’s a small establishment with minimal signage, tucked away near a Sunoco on a seldom used road off Erie Boulevard.  To top that off, their web presence is minimal even for a diner. A Google search for their name doesn’t return any reviews, but it does bring you the same Post Standard article that convinced me to make a visit.