Waffle-icious!

Bread and Ink, that cornerstone of life on SE Hawthorne for more than 20 years now, has added Belgian waffles to their menu. How does a Belgian waffle differ from the regular waffle we're used to seeing at Denny's throughout the land? Well, that's what proprietor and dessert maven Mary Fishback set out to resolve after her sons came back from a month in Europe raving about the waffles they'd bought at street carts in Brussels.

The problem was getting the right texture and flavor combination that allows this hand-snack to be consumed while walking the ancient city. Mary discovered that it's a special kind of sugar, called pearl sugar, that's added to the batter just before pouring it into the waffle iron that gives the yeast batter its unique portability.

They'll be serving these treats topped with seasonal fruits and maple syrup and mascarpone, and you may even see them popping up on the evening dessert menu. So if a trip to Brussels isn't in your immediate future, head over to Hawthorne for this most Belgian of treats.

Details: Bread and Ink Cafe, 3610 SE Hawthorne Blvd. Phone 503-239-4756.