Warm, crispy or soft? Soaked in maple syrup or chocolate fudge? Does it taste like wafer cones? Waffles evoke these thoughts. “It can replace your breakfast or even make a good dessert with a scoop of ice cream on it,” says Immanuel Devavaram, who has introduced the item in the menu at his Chopstix chain of restaurants.
A waffle is like a pancake. It is a leavened batter cooked in moulds. It is patterned to give a characteristic texture, size and shape. There are many variations based on the type of waffle iron and recipe used.
A visit to Cinnamon Tranz in Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka, inspired Immanuel to introduce waffle in his restaurant. “Though I have tasted waffles all around the world, the one I had here with rich chocolate ice cream and choco chips was simply mouth melting and amazing. I wanted to give the same experience to my customers,” he says.
Majority of the restaurants use maida as the flour for waffle batter, but Chopstix uses wheat. “Texture of the waffle depends on the flour used. Those made with maida are rubbery while those made of wheat are softer, says Immanuel.
After a week of trials, the Chopstix introduced waffles in three flavours -- butter scotch, chocolate and fruit-based. Waffle base is the same, only the toppings differ in the three varieties. Maple syrup adds taste to waffles and can be quite addictive. Depending on personal taste, people also like to add strawberry sauce or chocolate fudge.
In fruit based waffles, toppings like bananas pieces, chocolate sticks, sprinkles, whipped cream, fruit compote and ice cream are used. Fruit extracts of raspberry, stawberries, apple, banana and blackcurrant are also liberally used. The butter scotch waffle comes with ice cream and chocolate syrup and sprinkled with almond shavings.
The chocolate and the strawberry-topped waffles are most popular. They are juicy and tasty, a factor achieved by pouring copious amounts of maple syrup. The chocolate chip waffles stand out helped by bowls of rich chocolate sauce. Every single bite of the waffle reveals a burst of chocolate.
Buoyed by the demand for waffles, Immanuel now plans to introduce cinnamon waffles, fruit filled and waffle sandwiches soon.
A plate of waffle costing Rs.150 is available at K.K. Nagar and Bypass road branches of Chopstix.
