Today is national waffle day. Waffles are a breakfast staple and can come in many shapes and sizes, especially considering different regions of the United States.
The typical waffle is made from a batter that consists of flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, milk, butter, and eggs- but that’s just the beginning.
Depending on where you are, the waffle toppings can range from powdered sugar, whipped cream, ice cream, chocolate, caramel, strawberries, bananas, blueberries, cherries, apples & cinnamon, and more. Anything you can think of, even something as simple as butter and syrup, regardless of the combination. You could be in for a good breakfast to start your day, a midnight snack to end your day, or anything in between your day, depending if it’s made right.
Diverse waffle combinations are rumored to have started at the 1904 St. Louis World’s fair. A Syrian immigrant, Ernest Hamwi, was making zalabia (a wafer dessert) next to an ice cream stand and suggested combining treats, creating the first waffle cone, still common for ice cream lovers today. Nearly 120 years later, waffles seem more versatile than ever. Locally, 308 Burger in Stroudsburg offers the 1-80 Sunrise burger, which consists of a Belgian waffle bun, bacon, fried egg, and American cheese.
In St. Louis, MO, where this trend started- hungry consumers can order the blue ox waffle. It consists of a cornmeal waffle made with onions cooked in the batter and topped with slow-cooked brisket, a homemade bourbon-lime sauce, and blue cheese crumbles, according to delish.com. That list continues with the Chicken n’ Watermelon n’ Waffles from Miami Beach, Heart Attack Waffle from New Orleans, Pork Belly & Cornmeal Waffle from Seattle, S’mores Waffle throughout California, and much more.
The question remains, how will you celebrate national waffle day? Will you pop some eggs in the toaster, try your hand at one of these diverse recipes, or maybe leave the cooking to the chefs and buy one at your local restaurant?
