The Eggo waffle is named after a mayonnaise

July 6, 2016 10:13 AM

Mmm. Waffles.

A brief history of the humble and beautiful waffle from Mental Floss.
posted by Etrigan (21 comments total)

Waffle they think of next?
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 10:30 AM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]

needs more caramel candies and liquid smoke.... mmm, sacrilicious.
posted by entropicamericana at 10:32 AM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]

W is for the many ways that you're serve
A is for the admiration you deserve
F because you're fluffy, you're flaky, you're fun
And F is for the flavor that is second to none
L is for how light you are, you melt in my mouth
And E is for eggs! Oh, baby!
posted by SansPoint at 11:12 AM on July 6, 2016 [5 favorites]

wow I had no idea the long history behind waffles, this is neat.

while the Dutch enjoyed them in the afternoons along with tea and chocolate

. . .well I know what I'm doing this afternoon

One of the last times we had a thread like this I learned all kinds of delicious ways to make pancakes that weren't so American *looks hopefully at the rest of the world*
posted by barchan at 11:21 AM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]

Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles.
posted by Sophie1 at 12:02 PM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]

It's all a vast Hollandish plot...
posted by Naberius at 12:14 PM on July 6, 2016

Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles.

You know, I have never once been eating a waffle and thought, man, some chicken would go really well with this.
posted by thelonius at 12:36 PM on July 6, 2016 [3 favorites]

In a previous waffle-themed thread, perhaps an Ask, someone claimed to have a cast iron electric waffle maker.

I've always wanted such a thing, but assumed they'd never existed.

I haven't found any further evidence of this Sasquatch among waffle irons, however.
posted by jamjam at 12:44 PM on July 6, 2016

I've often wondered what sort of contortions Alton Brown had to go through to find an additional use for the waffle iron, so that it wouldn't be banned from his kitchen with all the rest of the uni-taskers. I mean, surely the man didn't go without waffles, right?
And, no, ice cream cones don't count. They're still waffles, just rolled-up.
posted by Thorzdad at 12:55 PM on July 6, 2016

I've often wondered what sort of contortions Alton Brown had to go through to find an additional use for the waffle iron,

Hash browns is my recollection...
posted by leahwrenn at 1:00 PM on July 6, 2016

This is from my friend's site:

When eating a Belgian-style waffle
You should know it's completely unlaffle
To fill all the hollows
With paste made of swallows.
(And not only that, it tastes affle.)
posted by Greg_Ace at 1:12 PM on July 6, 2016

You know, I have never once been eating a waffle and thought, man, some chicken would go really well with this.

You're missing out.
posted by Sophie1 at 1:20 PM on July 6, 2016 [5 favorites]

I never felt like an adult until my wife brought home a waffle iron.
posted by infinitewindow at 1:41 PM on July 6, 2016 [2 favorites]

Thorzdad: "I've often wondered what sort of contortions Alton Brown had to go through to find an additional use for the waffle iron, so that it wouldn't be banned from his kitchen with all the rest of the uni-taskers. I mean, surely the man didn't go without waffles, right?
And, no, ice cream cones don't count. They're still waffles, just rolled-up."

Do you know how many different things you can make in a waffle iron?
posted by Splunge at 3:11 PM on July 6, 2016

Waffles, along with biscuits, were the biggest food revelations when I recently visited the US for the first time. I had a Reese's waffle at Metro Diner, and it was one of the best things ever, and at the same meal I stole half of my companion's egg, bacon and cheese biscuit, and I am now plotting how to recreate these things here in Oz. The lack of a decent waffle iron seems to be my biggest hurdle right now.
posted by geek anachronism at 3:21 PM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]

You know, I have never once been eating a waffle and thought, man, some chicken would go really well with this.

Thank you. People need to let things be what they are. There's only so much you can do to a thing before it becomes another thing. (Looking at you, maple pork souvlaki poutine or whatever the fuck)
posted by cotton dress sock at 3:21 PM on July 6, 2016

You know, I have never once been eating a waffle and thought, man, some chicken would go really well with this.

Genius is only ever obvious in retrospect.
posted by Etrigan at 3:22 PM on July 6, 2016 [7 favorites]

I was actually digging through nineteenth-century Belgian history journals a few years ago and happened on an article translating to "Several Waffle Recipes from the late 18th Century" (includes info back to 1560, though)-- I made a photocopy of course. I mean... wouldn't you? They seem to mostly reuse days-old chunks of "cake" and crush them up and add many, many eggs and milk.
posted by Capybara at 4:14 PM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]

... and add many, many eggs and milk.

"of what Quantity you will", eh?
posted by Greg_Ace at 4:26 PM on July 6, 2016

Are waffles still primarily a dessert/snack style thing in Europe?

I know they are in Asia. When I mentioned I like waffles for breakfast to people in Japan, they were surprised and reacted like I ate a bunch of chocolate chip cookies for breakfast or something. Of course, some Americans do that too...
posted by thefoxgod at 5:38 PM on July 6, 2016

Definitely a snack thing in northern France and Belgium. You often see crepes and waffles on offer at carts and food trucks, with similar sweet toppings. I've never encountered a breakfast waffle there.
posted by Liesl at 5:43 PM on July 6, 2016