PITTSBURGH -- Two Pittsburgh restaurant owners are back from Washington, D.C., after serving their now famous hotcakes at the White House on Memorial Day.

Pam Cohen and Gail Klingensmith, owners of Pamela's P&G diners made breakfast for the president and dozens of troops.

Channel 4 Action News' Ari Hait caught up with the women at the Pamela's restaurant in the Strip District. They said the their whirlwind day at the White House was one of the most incredible experiences of their lives.

"It was really surreal. It's hard to believe we were there still," said Pamela's owner Pam Cohen.

Monday began for Cohen and Klingensmith with a 4:30 a.m. wake-up call. By 5:45 a.m. they were on their way to the White House to start cooking.

"We were supposed to have our first platter of them ready to go upstairs at 8:20 (a.m.)," said Cohen.

And they came down for the first platter at 8:10 (a.m.)! That's how it started. And then Pam and I went into action, 'Hurry up! Hurry up!' 'I am! I am!'" Klingensmith said.

The women said the kitchen was much smaller than the grill they're used to and they had to make hundreds of pancakes only three at a time.

Despite having to grill hundreds of hotcakes for hungry soldiers, there was still time for a photo with the president.

"I was covered in grease and I smelled like a pancake. And Gail was covered in strawberries," said Cohen of the photo op.

But the women did get 10 minutes alone with the president and, they said, memories that will last a lifetime.

"Two middle-aged women from Pittsburgh going to the White House to make pancakes. That everything is possible."

The trip to the White House may pay off in other ways as well. Hait reported that the wait staff at Pamela's reports over the last few days they've been much busier with first-time customers. Apparently the presidential seal of approval is good for business.

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