There are a lot of diner options in the Syracuse area. One that we've driven by a thousand times but never tried is the Gardenview Diner.
Well, that's our loss. The Gardenview serves up an outstanding Fretta. Pictured above is their half order, served with melted mozzarella.
A Fretta is a regional dish. There are Frittatas from coast to coast, and occasionally we'll run into a restaurant that serves up a Super Scramble or Cowboy Hash, or some other variation. But a real New York Fretta always includes Italian flavors: pepperoni, sausage, onions, peppers, and is frequently served with marinara and cheese.
I've always wondered why two similar dishes with similar names needed differentiation. You say Fretta, I say Frittata? Nope, they really are two distinct dishes, both in preparation and presentation. A Frittata is a dish of eggs and desired additions that are mixed raw, then left untouched while very slowly cooked until set. The result is a crustless quiche, really. A Fretta, on the other hand, is assembled as it's being cooked, and it's cooked much more quickly. The term "fretta", in fact, is Italian for "hurry" or "haste" - a dish well suited for diner fare.
The Gardenview's menu lists this dish as a Frittata, but with all due respect to the owners, it's a Fretta.
And one of the best Hoss has ever had.
it's a blizzard out there. sorry i forgot my online presence, where have you two been these 2 weeks? oh right, right here.
ReplyDeleteby the way, a "fretta" is my favorite kind of "garbage plate"- one with eggs in it. i like my garbage plate with hamburger, egg and pepperoni, and then puked all over the bar's sidewalk out front.