Belgian waffle

Belgian waffles

A Belgian waffle with strawberries and confectioner's sugar
Type Waffle
Place of origin Belgium
Creator Maurice Vermersch
Main ingredients Flour, sugar, baking powder, eggs, milk, butter
Variations Chocolate Chip, Blueberry, Strawberry, Nutella, etc.
Cookbook:Belgian waffles  Belgian waffles

The Belgian waffle is a type of waffle popular in Europe and North America. Compared to the standard American waffle, it is identified by its larger size, lighter batter, larger squares, and a higher grid pattern that forms deep pockets.

What is known in North America as the 'Belgian waffle' does not exist in Belgium. No single type of waffle is identified as a 'Belgian waffle' within Belgium itself, where there are a number of different varieties, including the Brussels waffle and the Liège waffle. As opposed to a traditional North American waffle, the 'Belgian waffle' traditionally uses yeast instead of baking powder,[1] although contemporary Belgian waffles are often made with baking powder.

In North America, they are often eaten as a breakfast food; toppings vary from whipped cream, confectioners sugar, soft fruit, and chocolate spread, to syrup and butter or margarine. Alternatively, they are served with vanilla ice cream and fresh fruit (such as strawberries) as a dessert.

History

The Belgian Village at the 1964 New York World's Fair, where the waffles were popularized.

Originally showcased in 1958[2] at Expo 58 in Brussels, Belgian waffles were introduced to North America by a Belgian named Walter Cleyman at the Century 21 Exposition in Seattle in 1962, and served with whipped cream and strawberries.[3] The waffles were further popularized in the United States during the 1964 New York World's Fair[1] at Flushing Meadows Park. The waffle was introduced by Maurice Vermersch of Brussels, Belgium, and was named the Bel-Gem Waffle. Largely based on a simplified recipe for the Brussels waffles, Vermersch decided to change the name upon observing that many Americans could not correctly identify Brussels as the capital of Belgium.[4][5] These waffles were served with whipped cream and strawberries, and retailed for a dollar.[2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Roberts, Sam (2008-07-27). "A Fair, a Law and the Urban Walker". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 20 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Belgian Waffles". CooksInfo. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  3. ↑ "There's Something for All at Seattle's Fair", Spokane Daily Chronicle, April 24, 1962, p. 2
  4. ↑ "His waffles made memories at the Queens World's Fair". Newsday. 1989-08-22.
  5. ↑ "The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America - Google Books". Books.google.ca. 2013-01-31. Retrieved 2014-02-10.