The Scrambled History of the Denver Omelette

Diners menus have traditionally had a strong emphasis on breakfast items. The average diner features a variety of egg-based dishes, especially omelettes. One such dish that is well-known across the country is the Denver, or Western, omelette, which contains ham, green bell peppers, onions and cheese. The origins of the Denver omelette are a little fuzzy and it is not known exactly if the dish was named for the Mile High City. Some historians say that a Western sandwich featuring scrambled eggs with peppers and onions was popular with cowboys working on long cattle drives. Others believe that it was created by Chinese cooks working on the transcontinental railroad who put the scrambled eggs between slices of bread to make it easier for the workers to eat. It is clear that the sandwich eventually evolved into an omelette served without bread. As for the change in name from Western to Denver, James Beard believes that when the railroad was expanded to Utah, the dish was renamed after the major city.