\u201cWaffles are a beloved American comfort food,\u201d says Gordon Food Service Corporate Consulting Chef Gerry Ludwig, CEC.\u201cWaffles are a prime opportunity because they\u2019re so popular.\u201d<\/p>\n
In many ways, waffles are the little black dress of the menu. Dress them up or down. Go healthy with whole-grain batters and fresh fruit toppings. Or go healthier and serve sugar-free\/gluten-free \u201cskinny waffles.\u201d<\/p>\n
However you roll out waffles, follow basic item-development principles.<\/p>\n
\u201cMake sure it fits with the theme and brand of your restaurant,\u201d Ludwig advises. \u201cBuild your recipe development around ingredients you have in-house. If one of your specialties is pulled pork, use that for a waffle special. Be consistent with your menu to avoid expanding inventory and increasing food costs.\u201d<\/p>\n
So be creative. The waffle\u2019s culinary heritage may hail from the land of the Walloons, but it\u2019s now as American as apple pie and as global as garammasala\u2014both of which have found their way into waffles. Create signature batters and go seasonal\u2014e.g., caramelapple in fall and gingerbread waffles in winter. Use a variety of flours, grains, and seeds\u2014e.g., whole wheat, rye, buckwheat, rice, grits, and quinoa.<\/p>\n
Offer housemade, infused syrups or fruit compotes. Skip syrup and dust waffles with spices and flavored sugars. Or serve with liquefied peanut butter and jelly, Nutella, gravy, flavored cream cheese, or cheese sauce. Stud those pockets with fresh berries, chocolate chips, roasted nuts, or crumbled, smoky bacon.<\/p>\n
Just remember to preserve waffles\u2019 distinctive mouthfeel, so don\u2019t overload them; serve syrup on the side. <\/p>\n
\u201cPart of the enjoyment of waffles comes from the crispiness.\u201d Ludwig says.<\/p>\n
Mintel market research reported in 2014 that breakfast menus were growth areas on fast-food and casual-dining menus. <\/p>\n
Two major chains seized the opportunity by introducing waffle-based limited-time offers (LTOs).<\/p>\n
Taco Bell launched a waffle taco stuffed with eggs, sausage, or bacon as a way to gain traction in the breakfast daypart. And White Castle introduced three waffle breakfast sandwiches\u2014cheese, bacon, and egg; cheese, sausage, and egg; and one with a fried-chicken patty\u2014all prepared with waffles actually imported from Belgium.<\/p>\n
The popularity of Belgian waffles with strawberries and whipped cream endures on breakfast and dessert menus. Newly emerging is the Liege waffle,topped with coarse Belgian pearl sugar. <\/p>\n
IHOP last year menued a belly bomb with its all-day Very Blueberry Cheesecake and Bac \u2018n\u2019 Cheddar Waffullicious Waffle LTOs. Chicago-based Waffles menus a chocolate chip waffle topped with whipped cream infused with orange syrup and cocoa powder.<\/p>\n
The ultimate savory waffle star is chicken and waffles. This Southern staple has starred on L.A. menus for years and is fast coming to menus everywhere.<\/p>\n
\u201cA signature version of savory chicken and waffles can be a great opportunity on a variety of menus,\u201d Ludwig advises.<\/p>\n
The Pullman Kitchen in New York, for example, menus a Chicken and Waffle entr\u00e9e featuring buttermilk fried chicken on a cornbread waffle, with pepper Jack cheese and Vermont maple syrup. But why stop at chicken? Examples:<\/p>\n
Waffles are ideal carriers for open-faced sandwiches, fold-over handheld sandwiches, and burgers\/sliders. Examples:<\/p>\n
Waffle flights. Mini red velvet, green tea, Mexican chocolate, and Liege waffle with blackberries \u2014Waffles, Chicago.<\/p>\n
Chili and cheese waffle. Beef and bean chili topped with melted Mexican Chihuahua cheese \u2014Bru\u2019s Wiffle, Santa Monica.<\/p>\n
Pizza waffles. Topped with tomato sauce, pepperoni, cheese, mushrooms, and onions \u2014Bru\u2019s Wiffle.<\/p>\n
The bottom line? Waffles add innovation, variety, and differentiation to menus.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019ve never served a waffle, you\u2019ll spend a pretty penny on a good-quality waffle iron,\u201d Ludwig says.\u201cHowever, you\u2019re selling cooked batter with a lot of air. There\u2019s great margin potential, so the payback is huge.\u201d<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Forget cronuts and faddish flapjacks. Waffles have broken beyond breakfast gridlock, and their surging popularity proves that it\u2019s hip to serve squares at any daypart.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":4382,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[68],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4381","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culinary-ideas"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n