studentsineurope

Belgian waffles: Not a breakfast food

Waffles on display in Brussles, Belgium

The first time I went to Belgium I couldn’t stop thinking about Belgian waffles – the fluffy, whipped cream-covered, strawberry-smothered breakfast items I’d had so many times at Ihops and local breakfast joints in the States.  Every morning I would wake up and think, this is the day I’m going to get Belgian waffles for breakfast!  But every day I would get funny looks and laughs from locals and end up with no waffles and no breakfast.

After so many failures, I learned pretty quickly that Belgian waffles are never considered a breakfast food by locals in Belgium and it’s neighbor, the Netherlands, where waffles are also very popular.

Instead, waffles (the authentic ones are called Liège waffles) are seen more as an afternoon snack or a dessert, and they’re different than the ones Americans gobble down – they are usually rectangular, not square or circular, and tend to be sweeter and denser than their American counterparts.  They come in different flavors, usually with powdered sugar, chocolate or fruit toppings.  If you’ve never had one, you’re in for quite a treat!

Authentic Belgian waffles can usually be found at small vendors found in various squares and busy streets in Belgium and the Netherlands.  They are more popular and easier to find in the cold, rainy winter months.  Eet smakelijk!