Belgian waffles: history of origin and interesting facts
If you ask anyone what Belgium is associated with, most people will name three things — a sculpture of a boy in Brussels, beer and, of course, waffles. Flavorful, airy and crispy, they have long ceased to be just a dish on restaurant menus and have become a real culinary landmark of the country.
Back in the past
Surprisingly, the history of the most famous waffles originates not in Belgium, but in the United States. During the 1962 World’s Fair in Seattle, Belgian pastry chef Walter Clement introduced his unique dish to the Americans. The waffles, served with strawberries and whipped cream, were so well liked by the local population that they soon spread throughout America. It is said that in the first four months after the «premiere» more than half a million waffles were sold in the United States.
It is believed that the name «Belgian» was established because not all Americans knew where Brussels was located. In their homeland, Belgium, the famous waffles are called only Brussels waffles.
Did you know that...
Brussels waffles are made from yeast dough in cast iron waffle makers, which makes them soft on the outside and crispy on the inside. Some pastry chefs add a secret ingredient to it, but what it is they don’t reveal. There is speculation that it could be one of the beers, but there is no proof for this theory.
Brussels waffles are often confused with Liege waffles, which are also made in Belgium, in the city of Liege. But these are different dishes: Liege waffles are drier, more like buns, and their dough contains bits of caramelized sugar.
Classic Belgian waffles are sweet, served with coffee or tea. But there are also unsweetened waffles with different fillings.
Where to try
Of course, it is better to taste any national dish at home, but if you can’t go to Belgium yet — come to Lambic! Our Belgian beer restaurants have everything to feel the real taste of this wonderful country: dozens of varieties of beer, national cuisine and cozy atmosphere. And for Belgian waffles we have allocated a whole section with sweet classics with strawberries and ice cream, and unsweetened potato positions with fish, meat and other fillings. Come — it will be delicious!
Jeju Beer Company: legendary craft from South Korea
When talking about good beer, Belgium, Germany, the Czech Republic and other European countries are most often mentioned. And the reason for this is not that other parts of the globe do not make high-quality foam, it is simply that many varieties simply do not reach Russia. It is about such a case — the famous South Korean beer of Jeju Beer Company — that we will talk today. History of the brewery Jeju Beer Company was founded in 2015 on the largest Korean island of Jeju. The company, whose main mission is to create a new beer culture in the country, became the first global craft brewery in Korea, and in a short period of time — also the most popular. According to analytics, one bottle of Jeju Beer is purchased every three seconds in the country. In 2017, the company introduced a series of new wheat beers, including the already sensational Jeju Wit Ale, Jeju Pellong Ale and Jeju Slice. The highlight of these brews is the composition: the unique flavor of the beer is given by the rind of gamgyul, a citrus plant native to Jeju. Now Jeju Beer Company’s beer is exported to Taiwan, Thailand, India, Hong Kong, Singapore, China and other countries of the world. The global distribution network of the Korean brewery is ensured by partnership with Brooklyn Brewery. Jeju Beer Company is a winner of many festivals, in particular, the winner of silver medals of Australian International Beer Awards and Korea Liquor Awards 2019 in the category of craft beer. Best brews One of the most popular brews is Jeju Wit Ale. It is a luxurious wheat beer with the addition of the aforementioned Jeju Island citrus and coriander. The drink has a delicate floral aroma and a pleasant taste dominated by citrus notes. The beer recipe was developed in collaboration with Garrett Oliver, brewmaster of Brooklyn Brewery and winner of the James Beard Award, which is called the «Oscars» for chefs in the beer industry. Special attention should be paid to Jeju Pellong Ale. This is an American Pale Ale style beer with a citrusy aroma dominated by tones of apricot. The flavor has the sweetness of the tropics. The aftertaste is dry, with a pleasant citrus bitterness. There is also Jeju Geomeong Ale, a dark beer made with local black barley and chocolate malt. The drink has a rich flavor that reveals tones of coffee and dark chocolate. The same notes, as well as malt sweetness, can be felt in the taste of the drink. You don’t have to go to South Korea to try Jeju Beer Company beer. Come to Lambic! Our beer restaurants have hundreds of high quality beers from all over the world. We also have delicious food, excellent service and always cozy atmosphere. We are waiting for you!
23 January 2025
Guinness beer: the history of the brand and the most popular Irish stout
If you ask anyone to name the top 5 most popular dark beers, Guinness would definitely be on the list. This Irish stout is known all over the world, and drinking it has become a whole philosophy. Many Guinness fans travel thousands of kilometers to taste the legendary drink in its homeland, and the list of such fans includes real stars, such as director Chris Hayden. Why Guinness beer is known and loved in any part of the world — this article was analyzed in this article. How it all began The founder of the brand Arthur Guinness was born in 1725 in Ireland. At the age of 27 he inherited a large sum for those times — 100 pounds sterling — and decided to invest it in business, opening his own brewery in the town of Leixlip. In 1959 he moved to Dublin, and although the brewing industry was going through a bad time, he rented a derelict estate near St. James Gate for 9000 years, where he continued to brew his beer. Despite the fact that beer production was in decline during those years, Guinness managed to spin out and even began exporting his products to England. After the death of the businessman, the brewery was inherited by his son, and then it was passed on to his children, until in the 1850s the next owner registered the Guinness trademark. Few people know that the brewery’s creator, Arthur Guinness, did not brew stout at his brewery — only English ale and porter. Guinness Draught, which became famous all over the world, appeared only in 1956, on the 200th anniversary of the lease signed by Arthur Guinness. The secret of success Much of the popularity of «Guinness» is due to competent advertising. From the slogan Guinness is Good For You to the widest range of souvenir products. It is in Guinness invented the so-called «beer widget», which allows you to create a delicate creamy cap when filling from the bottle and tin can. The creators received a Royal Award for this development, and the know-how itself was recognized as the greatest invention of the last 40 years. By the way, the Guinness Book of Records is also directly related to the brand — it was on the company’s initiative that it was first published in 1955. The idea of its creation was simple — to record in one place all the world’s achievements in order to solve the endless disputes of visitors to Irish pubs. Of course, all these interesting points do not fuel interest in Guinness products. But not advertising alone — Guinness beer really has a rich, smooth, creamy flavor, which is dominated by burnt and smoky tones, as well as notes of black coffee and caramel. By the way, the drink owes much of its popularity to the «beer widget» — a nitrogen capsule that creates a recognizable foam cap when bottled. The flavor of the beer is muted, with notes of roasted malt, coffee and milk chocolate. Looking for a place to try Guinness and other popular beers? Come to Lambic! Our chain of beer restaurants features hundreds of labels from around the world, as well as delicious food, great service and a cozy atmosphere. Come — we will find something to surprise you!
23 January 2025