Towering swirls of whipped cream, heaps of juicy strawberries, rich dark chocolate with banana pennies… when it comes to picking toppings for your waffles, is there ever a bad combination?
Waffles are synonymous with Belgium, and best known as a decadent sweet treat. However the modern waffle has humble beginnings – it was served as a savoury snack outside Belgian churches in the Middle Ages. A functional food made from barley and oats, waffles were similar to crackers and designed to be consumed on the hoof.
“Waffles were served as a savoury snack outside Belgian churches in the Middle Ages”
Today they’ve evolved into two main types. The classic Brussels waffle has a rectangular shape and airy dough, while the oval-shaped Liège waffle is made with a brioche-type dough with sugar chunks inside that caramelise into sticky sweet goop when the batter hits the iron.
You won’t have to look too hard to find either waffle on a trip to Brussels. There are plenty of walk-up spots lining the streets – choose what you fancy and point at the toppings you want, usually displayed on the counter top.
For a more relaxing sit down, try the family-run Maison Dandoy tea rooms in Galerie du Roi and order one of each, the only fair way to compare the two.
