General Info
It all started in 2010 - when Rick became obsessed with making waffles according to a genuine traditional recipe. After months and months of trials with a small electric waffle maker - Rick finally found what he was certain was an exceptional waffle; Light, buttery and MOST important - CRISPY on the outside while remaining soft on the inside - allowing the waffle to hold those syrups and sauces without instantly becoming soggy and limp. Rick was finally happy with his waffle - but he discovered he had only made a BRUSSELS waffle. According to Belgian folklore - there was another type of waffle...an amazing waffle....a hybrid of pastry and donut like sweetness... This waffle was so moreish, so delicious with its wonderful textures - it was soft, but light and had crunch too because it was made with a special sugar you could only get from Belgium....Pearl Sugar. It was called a LIEGE waffle - and soon Rick HAD to find a genuine, traditional recipe to do it justice. Many trials ensued...months turned to a few years (seriously!) - but soon Thomas DeGeest of Wafels & Dinges (NY) led Rick to Nol in Tauranga - whose grandfather was a baker in Stavelot during the occupation in World War II. Nol's grandfather possessed a family Belgian Liege waffle recipe that he had passed onto Nol and Nol passed its secret to Rick. Rick created The Hot Wafel in 2013 after finally being satisfied after the journey into waffle making. He even learned that although it sounds the same - the word 'waffle' is spelled 'wafel' in many parts of Europe where the wafel was born. Thus The Hot Wafel seeks to remain true to the heritage of genuine Belgian wafels.