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White Castle ‘waffles’ when asked about menu

July 31, 2017

With its deep toasty pockets and light, lofty batter, few will waffle when offered a Belgian waffle, and leaders at White Castle clearly know that. That is, in part, surely why the brand is featuring the world famous crispy, fluffy cakes as the "bun" for its new sliders, featuring waffles imported from Brussels, a news release said.

The new menu additions include a Nutella hazelnut spread slider, Belgian waffle sundae and a spicey breakfast waffle slider, in addition to the previously introduced, chicken and waffles slider. To promote the new European menu addition, the chain has an LTO where customers can mix and match any two sliders for only $4.

"The Belgian waffles used for our sliders are authentic and imported from a partner in Brussels, Belgium, that began making waffles in 1932, just 11 years after White Castle opened its first restaurant," White Castle Vice President Jamie Richardson, said in a news release. "And nothing says comfort food like a true Belgian waffle.”

The addition is squarely on point with one of the hottest trends in food service now, revolving around menu items that can fill breakfast, dessert, meals, or even snacks yearnings among diners. Indeed, the chain said the new sliders are available for any meal, dessert or snack.  

The Nutella version features the chocolatey nut spread inside two waffles, while the sundae has a scoop of vanilla ice cream and Ghirardelli premium chocolate sauce. The spicey rendition of the waffle additions, has jalapeño cheese atop the chain’s breakfast waffle slider with a fresh cracked egg, hickory-smoked bacon or sausage, all sandwiched between the waffles. The grilled or crispy chicken slider, features that choice of meats with waffles, bacon crumbles and gravy. 

35-second Belgian waffle fun fact: Brussels citizen Maurice Vermersch introduced the menu item originally in the early part of the last century, calling it the "Bel-Gem" waffle, according to a 1989 Newsday article. quoted on a tourist site about Belgium. But then as the waffle became popular with Americans, Vermersch realized many state-side residents didn't know Brussels was Belgium’s capital, so he not only changed the name to the current "Belgian," but also added whipped cream and strawberries to it for those calorie-loving Yanks. I know, makes ya' proud doesn't it, fellow Americans?

Photo: iStock