Food Truck Confidential: Waffle Amore

Like any high school junior, I’m always stressed and always hungry. “Killing two birds with one stone” – my mom uses that idiom when I take two SAT II Subject Tests in one sitting, but I think it applies best to this Belgian classic on wheels.

Thick, hearty waffles to please the stomach and calm the frazzled soul for only five dollars each. However, no dessert is ever complete without toppings – bananas, berries, whipped cream, Nutella, maple syrup, the list goes on. The first topping is free, the second $1, and for an unlimited pile of sweet happiness, only two dollars.

I recommend the Speculoos, which resembles a spreadable cookie. It has the consistency of creamy peanut butter but tastes like a fragrant, buttery Belgian snickerdoodle. Or you can have the rich, almost bittersweet Belgian hot fudge, made from scratch by the owner of the truck herself.

Unlike the multitude of toppings, customers won’t have trouble deciding between the Liege and the Brussels waffle. The Liege is more popular with those who have a sweet tooth, due to the dough’s pearl sugar which caramelizes when baked and results in a denser, chewier waffle. The Brussels is crispier, made with yeast batter and baked into rectangular portions much larger than the Liege.

Judy Vandoorne, who opened Waffle Amore on June 1st this year, recommended that I eat my waffle while it was still hot to enjoy the texture and the substantial drizzle of fudge. She definitely has experience after living in Belgium for six weeks to learn the tricks of the waffle trade, as well as entrepreneurial drive and a love for food.

Judy is the genius behind savory creations such as the $8 Brussels waffle which incorporates bacon and cheddar cheese in the dough and is topped with sour cream, green onions, and more cheese like a loaded baked potato. For $7, a Liege waffle topped with a mixed berry maple reduction. The thick, sweet glaze, flecked with airy dollops of whipped cream, was supported by a satisfying and robust waffle platform, crunchy on the outside but soft and chewy on the inside. Definitely filling, but the portion size was lacking in comparison to the price.

Waffle Amore does plan on expanding its menu past desserts – as Judy puts it, “The waffle is the foundation, whether it’s sweet or savory. Then, go nuts. Create your own.” For breakfast, eggs on waffles. For lunch, how about a BLT waffle sandwich? She plans on adding a pumpkin waffle for the November-December season and even a cornbread waffle with vegan chile.

Apparently, “waffle” also means “to hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness.” Stop waffling around, and start eating them instead at Waffle Amore!