Waffles. A glorious food eaten throughout the world, made from a batter and cooked between two iron plates that give it its specific pattern and shape. The deep squares that give the waffle its distinct look are begging to be filled with delicious toppings and consumed in an enthusiastic fervor. However, connotations about how and when the delightful waffle should be consumed vary from culture to culture.
In Turkey, and specifically, Istanbul, the waffle is seen as a delicious dessert to be eaten in the afternoon after a stroll along the Bosphorus. It is offered with a plethora of toppings including different sweet sauces, fruits, nuts, and sometimes, even sprinkles. I have to admit that the waffles in Istanbul are one of my favorite desserts, coming in a close second to the splendid Baklava.
However, being an American living in Istanbul, it took me awhile to adjust to eating waffles as just a dessert. For me, waffles are the star of Sunday breakfast and should only be served with maple syrup and fruit. Okay, so the Turkish version still offers the sweetness with the fruitiness that accompanies the golden magnificence so well, but to not have maple syrup? I was bewildered.
Yet, the beloved Turkish Kumpir had me perplexed all the same. Corn inside of a baked potato? Well that is just unheard of in my neck of the woods. It all just goes to show that traveling and exploring food cultures abroad will have to you looking back at how you are used to eating your favorite foods and maybe reminiscing on how hey are prepared at home but also indulging in a new way of looking at and consuming such basic fare such as waffles and potatoes.
In Turkey, and specifically, Istanbul, the waffle is seen as a delicious dessert to be eaten in the afternoon after a stroll along the Bosphorus. It is offered with a plethora of toppings including different sweet sauces, fruits, nuts, and sometimes, even sprinkles. I have to admit that the waffles in Istanbul are one of my favorite desserts, coming in a close second to the splendid Baklava.
However, being an American living in Istanbul, it took me awhile to adjust to eating waffles as just a dessert. For me, waffles are the star of Sunday breakfast and should only be served with maple syrup and fruit. Okay, so the Turkish version still offers the sweetness with the fruitiness that accompanies the golden magnificence so well, but to not have maple syrup? I was bewildered.
Yet, the beloved Turkish Kumpir had me perplexed all the same. Corn inside of a baked potato? Well that is just unheard of in my neck of the woods. It all just goes to show that traveling and exploring food cultures abroad will have to you looking back at how you are used to eating your favorite foods and maybe reminiscing on how hey are prepared at home but also indulging in a new way of looking at and consuming such basic fare such as waffles and potatoes.