148936 Sun Aug 29 09:50:32 -0700 2004 7 12 Boston Area 0 798807 Finally followed the trail of Chowhound recs to the Deluxe Town Diner in Watertown for breakfast yesterday. Phwoah! Unbelievable corned beef hash, maybe the best I've ever had, certainly the best I've had in Greater Boston in many a moon. Basically a big portion of excellent, very salty corned beef studded with a chunk or two of carrot and potato. Also fabulous were the johnnycakes. These are of the thick, polenta-ish variety, as opposed to the thin, holey variety I remember from my personal Temple of Johnnycakes, the Commons Lunch in Little Compton, RI (which burned down this past spring -- waaah!). Despite my belief that the thin version is more authentic, these were perfectly delicious, crunchy on the outside, plenty of fresh-corn taste on the inside from the use of stone-ground, whole corn meal. Johnnycake purists insist on cornmeal from Kenyon's Grist Mill in West Kingston, RI. I wonder if anyone knows where DTD gets theirs? Friendly, efficient service, lots of circa-1947 atmosphere, excellent filter coffee, and a bird's-eye view from our counter seats of some terrific griddle work: we feel we must return soon to try some of those amazing-looking pancakes. Thanks for the pointer on this one, 'hounds! Sun Aug 29 09:50:32 -0700 2004 0 MC Slim JB 1 798809 I've seen Kenyon's jonnycake meal in the supermarket. Can't recall which, but I think S&S in Malden Ctr or Saugus; they sometimes run out. Call around. Sun Aug 29 09:55:37 -0700 2004 798807 0 Karl S. 2 798813 Oh, I've got a bag of Kenyon's in my kitchen cabinet; it's not terribly hard to find. (Though I have to say that my homemade johnnycakes are not that good, I'm thinking maybe it's a problem of griddle temperature on my electric stovetop: I'm saving my nickels to upgrade to a dual-fuel stove). I am just curious about what is used by those few places in town that offer johnnycakes, and forgot to ask the Deluxe Town folks before we left. Sun Aug 29 10:01:46 -0700 2004 798809 0 MC Slim JB 2 798819 Town Diner's hash is certainly quite excellent. It just isnt really hash at all in the traditional sense. its a lot more like a New England Boiled Dinner (minus the cabbage.) The corned beef comes out tender, soft and watery but with no spicy charred crust whatsoever (they dont grill it or fry it at all so you have a boiled potato instead of a hash brown. (on the other hand it is 75% c. beef) Still a fine product, it just may (or may not) not get your Corned Beef Hash Jones on... The SummerVillan Sun Aug 29 14:42:06 -0700 2004 798809 0 The SummerVillan 3 798820 Actually, they do grill it: I watched it happen. Nice crust it made, too. Wasn't watery, either. Sun Aug 29 15:59:29 -0700 2004 798819 0 MC Slim JB 1 798848 I'm a big fan of cb hash and I love places that make their own hash. Canned hash is only ok if they put a nice crust on it, but nothing beats homemade hash. Rosebud's diner in Davis Sq. makes a mean homemade hash also. I'll have to check out the DTD in Watertown. Mon Aug 30 10:34:20 -0700 2004 798807 0 rl 1 798877 I beg ta diffa. SHAWSHEEN LUNCHEONETTE in Andover has the best corned beef hash. I think it's only available on Sat. And Sun Mon Aug 30 14:40:29 -0700 2004 798807 0 joe 1 799074 Oh my goodness... real johnnycakes? Methinks I need to make new plans for breakfast one of these days... Thu Sep 02 19:27:19 -0700 2004 798807 0 nvrlnd