Archive for the 'Belgian' Category

Bruxie Gourmet Waffle Sandwiches – Orange

Published by Gastronomer on August 4, 2011 in Belgian, New American, Orange County and Restaurant Review. 14 Comments

The only thing that kept me from dining at Bruxie the moment I finished reading Ila‘s glowing report back in March was forty-some-odd miles. It seemed excessive to brave an hour of traffic in a quest for a waffle sandwich, even if said sandwich came stuffed with coleslaw and fried chicken. So, even though I had Bruxie on the brain, I decided to hold out until I found myself hungry and in Orange County, whenever that would be.

The stars aligned for me and Bruxie one Friday evening in June. My mom, cousins Megan and Madison, and I were driving from Los Angeles to San Diego and needed a break from the bumper to bumper traffic. It just so happened that Bruxie was a short detour from the highway and we were in dire need of dinner.

A trip through Belgium years ago inspired three friends—Dean Simon, Philippe Caupain, and Kelly Mullarney—to get into the waffle business. They’ve been selling waffle mixes to hotels and cruise lines for the past five years and opened this brick and mortar in downtown Orange last year.

We were slightly intimidated by the line snaking down the sidewalk when we arrived at the shop, but it moved impressively swiftly. Before we knew it, it was time to place our order and figure out where to sit. Note: there is no indoor seating or bathrooms available on the premise.

The food was delivered to our table soon after we scored a seat. All of the sandwiches are built upon yeast-leavened Belgium waffles that are light, crisp, and not the least bit sweet.

Cousin Maddie ordered the smoked salmon Bruxie ($7.95), which included dill cream cheese, thin slices of English cucumbers, and fresh chives. Even though Maddie is barely fifty pounds and still requires a child seat when riding in a car, she can tuck away some serious grub. After removing the pesky cucumbers from her Bruxie, she polished it off like a champ. That a girl!

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Wafels & Dinges – New York City

Published by Gastronomer on July 22, 2011 in Belgian, Dessert, Meals on Wheels and Restaurant Review. 10 Comments

As The Astronomer and I strolled from ChikaLicious back to the hotel, we stumbled upon the Wafels & Dinges truck at Astor Place. Even though I had just consumed a hefty Italian dinner followed by a three-course tour de sweets, I couldn’t resist stopping for a taste. I live a gloriously gluttonous existence while on vacation. Plus, I didn’t know if I’d run into the truck again.

Belgium native Thomas DeGeest launched Wafels & Dinges in 2007. Since then, it’s grown into a mini waffle empire complete with one roaming truck, two roving carts, and two permanently parked carts in Central Park. The truck even has a hotline for waffle seekers to keep track of all the action.

I’ll admit it, I was so intent on trying this truck that I programmed the number into my phone before leaving town. I am a waffle lover through and through.

The truck offers three different kinds of waffles: Brussels, Liège, and mini “wafelini.” There are also a plethora of “dinges” including fresh fruit, butter, maple syrup, and whipped cream.

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Shaky Alibi – Los Angeles

Published by Gastronomer on October 21, 2010 in Belgian, Dessert, Los Angeles, Mid-City and Restaurant Review. 9 Comments

After attempting and failing to find a mind-blowingly good Liège waffle in Los Angeles at Holly’s Coffee and at Syrup Desserts, I decided to call it quits on the great waffle hunt. I left a few rocks unturned, namely Lucky Devils and Le Pain Quotidien, but another disappointing specimen would’ve surely put me over the edge.

Even though I had grown weary of the local selection of waffles, I still sought them out while on the road. In Seattle, I encountered brilliantly executed sweet and savory creations at Sweet Iron Waffles. And most recently, I returned to Bonte in Philadelphia, where the Liège waffle obsession was born, and fell in love all over again. Two standout renditions was all it took for waffles to woo me back.

I returned home from my trips with a renewed sense of purpose and drive—I was going to find Los Angeles’ best Liège waffle!

I headed to Shaky Alibi as soon as my enthusiasm for waffles was reignited. Opened by R.J. Milano this past summer, Shaky Alibi is a wafflerie, coffee shop, and tea bar all rolled into one. The waffles, which are made using a family recipe cooked up by the owner’s German-born great grandmother, are made from a yeast dough and are coated in pearl sugar to create a slightly crispy, caramelized shell.

Shaky Alibi serves both sweet and savory varieties. Nastassia, my dining companion this afternoon, and I shared two savory and one sweet. We started with a Black Forest ham with gruyere ($8.95). The waffle was made fresh to order, sliced in half, and filled with ham and cheese that had been microwaved for maximum meltage. A little powdered sugar on top and the plate came our way.

The sandwich’s flavors reminded me of a Monte Cristo, minus the blunt sweetness and oily aftertaste. While I appreciated the sweet and savory double punch, I felt like I didn’t get a true sense of the waffle’s personality. The flavorful filling, coupled with the fact that the waffle was sliced in half, made it difficult to tell whether this baby was the real deal or not.

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Sweet Iron Waffles – Seattle

Published by Gastronomer on April 12, 2010 in Belgian, Breakfast / Brunch, Dessert, Restaurant Review and Seattle. 12 Comments

The timing couldn’t have been anymore perfect. Right before I left for Seattle, I posted about a lackluster Liège waffle served up at Holly’s Coffee. I lamented its pathetic texture and yearned for the real deal. The food blogging gods must have been smiling down upon me because on my second day in the city, I was riding on one of the city’s dependable public buses when I spied a shop specializing in “The Real Liège Waffle!” I made a mental note of the coordinates of Sweet Iron Waffles and swore to return the following day.

After a visit to The Crumpet Shop, The Astronomer, Rosalind, and I indulged in a second breakfast at Sweet Iron. The moment I walked into the shop and saw the Belgian waffle iron and smelled the caramelized sugar, I knew I was in the right place.

As is the norm in these here parts, all of the waffles at Sweet Iron are made with the best organic, local, and all natural ingredients. Most notably, the flour is from The Shepherd’s Grain, an alliance of progressive family farmers who are dedicated to sustainable agriculture.

We started off with a classic Liège waffle ($2.99) made with a brioche-style dough (all natural butter, flour, honey, yeast) and plenty of little pearl sugar beads. Finished with a light sprinkling of powdered sugar, the waffle arrived crisp, warm, and glossily caramelized. Its texture was slightly flaky, while the flavor was ever so sweet. Sweet Iron’s specimen was indeed “The Real Liège Waffle.”

Taking a walk on the savory side, we also ordered a basil and Val de Saone brie waffle ($4.99). Soon after the above photo was snapped, the cheese melted its way into the waffle’s crevices, yielding a sweet, savory, and herbaceous blend. Rosalind was on the fence about whether or not savory toppings went well atop a sweet waffle, but The Astronomer and I were certain it was a winning combination.

Thanks, Sweet Iron Waffles, for erasing the awful memory of Holly’s Coffee.

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Sweet Iron Waffles
1200 3rd Avenue, Suite 110
Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 206-682-3336

Hollys Coffee – Los Angeles (Koreatown)

Published by Gastronomer on March 18, 2010 in Belgian, Chain / Multiple Locations, Dessert, Koreatown, Los Angeles and Restaurant Review. 15 Comments

For every KyoChon and Pappa Rich that’s managed to integrate successfully into the American fast food landscape, there’s a Hollys Coffee to balance things out. While I still believe that Korea has the world’s tastiest chains, not all are created equal. Whereas the aforementioned eateries have mastered their signature dishes—fried chicken and buttery buns, respectively—Hollys Coffee can’t quite seem to execute a decent Belgian waffle.

In addition to “fresh coffee [and] romantic space,” Hollys Coffee promises authentic Belgian waffles from the eastern city of Liège. I encountered my first Liège waffle not in Belgium, but in Philadelphia. Whereas waffles I’d eaten prior were fluffy things made with a loose batter poured onto a hot iron, these dough-based creations were dense, chewy, caramelized, and embedded with beads of pearl sugar. Served warm and without maple syrup, a Liège waffle was the perfect sweet for an afternoon pick-me-up.

There were half a dozen waffles sitting idle behind a glass case when I walked into the shop. After confirming with the person behind the counter that I’d be receiving a fresh one, I placed my order and took a seat. Two minutes later, a waffle tucked into a paper bag arrived.

Even before I took a bite, the waffle’s tepid temperature and limp appearance signaled that I had been duped. I should’ve known better than to seek out Belgian fare at a Korean establishment, but I figured that if a Japanese chain could execute a decent French cream puff then a Korean one could pull off a Belgium waffle. Alas, my logic was flawed.

Now, where can I find a legit Liège waffle in Los Angeles?

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Hollys Coffee
3450 W 6th Street, Ste. 111
Los Angeles, CA 90020
Phone: 213-389-4553