Batter baths, half-and-half, and rock-star grill operators are what makes Waffle House shine, so what does France have to do with it?
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00:00Batter baths, half-and-half, and rock star grill operators are what makes Waffle House
00:05waffles shine.
00:06So what does France have to do with it?
00:09The one thing you'll never get during your visit to Waffle House is a reheated waffle.
00:13As co-founder Tom Forkner told Atlanta magazine in 2007,
00:16"...all our food is cooked up front and right in sight."
00:19The claim still holds true for the griddle staple, which short-order cooks make fresh
00:23for every customer who stops by.
00:26Because of the restaurant's layout, it's possible to get a front-row seat to the griddle and
00:29watch the kitchen staff prepare your order in real time.
00:33From employees scooping the batter to the noisy ding of the iron, customers get to witness
00:37each step of the process that leads to the brown, crispy breakfast treat delivered hot
00:41to your table.
00:42Not many dining establishments offer such a transparent, up-close view of the cooking
00:46process, but at Waffle House, it's just another day of business.
00:50Frozen waffles are a uniquely American invention, but once you've hit up a Waffle House in the
00:55morning, it is difficult opting for the toaster version again.
00:59Sure, there's nothing a heavy hand of syrup won't fix, but it's hard to beat the comfort
01:03of a fluffy waffle cooked from scratch.
01:06At the rate Waffle House churns out its signature dish, the fact that it can promise fresh waffles
01:10around the clock doesn't leave its greasy spoon competitors with much of an excuse.
01:14"...you don't come here expecting the French laundry, you come here expecting something
01:18amazing."
01:19"...this is better than the French laundry, man."
01:23What's responsible for the crisp, yet pillowy finish found in a Waffle House waffle?
01:27The trick to achieving this dichotomy is an ingredient stashed in millions of kitchen
01:31refrigerators as we speak.
01:33Half and half, that's right.
01:35The creamer you pour into your coffee is what Waffle House pours into its luscious batter
01:39for springy, chewy waffles, according to one Waffle House employee, Viacora.
01:43The creaminess is only compounded by throwing in a few eggs for peak textural goals.
01:48Now, what exactly is this dairy product made out of, and what does it do?
01:52Essentially, it's composed of equal amounts of milk and heavy whipping cream.
01:56The full-bodied feel of cream, meshed with the thin consistency of milk, blends the best
02:01of both worlds.
02:02It's indulgent, but far lighter than add-ins like heavy cream.
02:06That makes it a fantastic binding agent for waffles.
02:09Most waffle recipes will call for milk as the primary wet ingredient, but half and half
02:13is often recommended as a solid substitution, too.
02:16Described as a sweet cream batter via The Atlantic, Waffle House's signature fluff is
02:21apparent just by ordering the dish in one of its restaurants, back in April 2020, amid
02:25the pandemic.
02:26The restaurant chain started selling its waffle mix in 52-ounce bags.
02:30The mix is now available in 13-ounce boxes.
02:33Just add one egg and a half quart of half-and-half to make six waffles.
02:38There's nothing flashy about whipping up waffles.
02:41You mix together the ingredients and pour the off-white goop into a hot iron.
02:44Nothing to be super excited about, right?
02:46No.
02:47I'm doing now.
02:48Waffle House?
02:49Waffle House is good.
02:55Instead of sighing at the thought of Waffle House, get excited, because the waffles here
02:59are a bit of a specialty.
03:01A former employee shared on Quora about an elevated cooking method the chain uses when
03:05making its batter, and it goes by a little name of the bain-marie, a French term that
03:10translates to Mary's Bath, according to Masterclass.
03:14The bain-marie is a technique that filters hot, boiling water through a vessel in order
03:18to carefully simmer or melt ingredients.
03:20The actual contraption resembles a bucket, but in this video from Jamie Oliver's YouTube
03:25channel, they demonstrate a makeshift version by placing a heatproof bowl on top of a saucepan
03:30of boiling water.
03:31Basically, the steam from the water will emanate through the bowl, creating a barrier for the
03:35ingredients to heat without curdling or burning them.
03:38This practice is used all the time in baking, such as when tempering chocolate or preparing
03:43a custard filling, but any dish requiring a little tender-loving care can benefit from
03:47using the bain-marie, which is also known as a double boiler.
03:51For all its blue-collar posturing, Waffle House deploys a level of craftsmanship in
03:55making its beloved menu offering, and it's an approach that's not obvious on its face.
04:00At any rate, it explains the delicious texture that accompanies its fresh taste.
04:05In addition to slinging piping hot waffles around the clock, Waffle House takes a similar
04:09tack with the batter.
04:11Fresh batches of the creamy mix are prepared every day, and the chain is more than happy
04:15to let everyone know about it.
04:17In fact, it deserves to brag.
04:19Take it from a Waffle House waitress who took to confirming it on Quora, saying,
04:23"...the batter itself is always fresh and made daily at the actual store."
04:27No wonder the waffles are so mouth-watering.
04:29Bon Appétit writer Andrew Knowlton got a top-down view of the beloved breakfast spot
04:34when he worked a 24-hour shift there in 2015 with a stint covering batter preparation.
04:39We'll start off by saying that the batter-making is done in an unconventional way, instead
04:43of using the mixing bowls associated with childhood.
04:46These waffle experts put together the concoction in industrial-sized plastic tubs.
04:52Instead of the trusty wooden spoon, they use a power drill equipped with a whisk at the
04:56end of it.
04:57Power tools aside, the segment confirmed what other folks in the know said to be true, and
05:01that's the fact that the batter, the waffle's lifeblood, is always mixed daily.
05:06Although waffle batter can be assembled in advance, there's something to be said about
05:09a silky batter whisked together that very morning, and on premises where you'll be eating
05:14no less.
05:15Think you can recreate these plate-sized frisbees with just any old waffle iron?
05:19Waffle House doesn't fool around with cheaply made equipment, and in our eyes, it pays off
05:24with perfectly toasted waffles every time.
05:26The Southern chain uses the Wells WB-1E model to churn out its menu headliner.
05:32These are notoriously expensive appliances to acquire.
05:35The restaurant supplier Dubik Fixture & Supply, Inc. shows a listing price of $1,348.
05:42Certainly a far cry from the budget-friendly varieties typical in most home kitchens.
05:46But Waffle House is not operating that way.
05:49In a fast-paced kitchen environment, reliability is a must, and the Wells Waffle Iron provides
05:54that with high-quality features all across the board.
05:57It's constructed out of stainless steel, for one, and the appliance boasts some pretty
06:01nifty features, including an adjustable temperature setting and timer for consistent baking.
06:07As a result, the process is less prone to error when line cooks can simply pour in the
06:11batter and let the waffle iron do the rest of the work.
06:14Waffle House is open 24 hours a day, every day.
06:17There's no doubt the restaurant needs dependable machinery to function, and high-quality appliances
06:22like the Wells Iron allow Waffle House to crank out its signature product with ease.
06:27In return, you get the tastiest breakfast this side of the interstate, no contest.
06:32If you ever need a reminder to grease your cookware, look no further than the waffle
06:36iron.
06:37There's no bigger hassle than prying out a waffle that's glued to the griddle, especially
06:40when it leaves behind a crumbly mess you'll have to scrub away to fully clean.
06:44Waffle House prevents this mishap from occurring with non-stick cooking spray, and it's a small
06:49step that guarantees the franchise's signature offering looks and tastes its very best.
06:54While Waffle House may not be a home, it's housing some smart tricks.
06:58Hey Ben, just a few things to remind you of home, love, Leslie.
07:02Ah, waffle mix.
07:04In an Ask Me Anything discussion on Reddit, an overnight grill operator for Waffle House
07:08answered some pressing questions on what goes on at the griddle, including the waffle-making
07:13process.
07:14The employee says that prior to pouring in the batter, they season the iron with a spray
07:18so the finished waffle doesn't stick once it's finished cooking.
07:21The commenter didn't provide a specific product name, but we gather it's a general-purpose
07:25cooking spray, like what most commercial kitchens have on hand.
07:29Sloppy appearances don't necessarily affect the overall quality of Waffle House's waffles,
07:34but in the restaurant's case, greasing the appliance works twofold, making its griddle
07:38pucks look presentable, and adding a hint of flavor to the browned, crispy exterior.
07:43Be warned, the cooking spray does contain calories.
07:46But for a restaurant where breakfast gets smothered and covered, a spritz of Pam is
07:50probably the least of your worries.
07:53What separates a waffle from any ordinary griddle cake?
07:56The grooves.
07:57Row by row, these toasted pockets cradle optimal amounts of syrup and butter, making each forkful
08:02a sensory delight.
08:04Compared to the plush squares found in Belgian waffles, however, Waffle House's are noticeably
08:08smaller.
08:09This sounds like a bad thing, but if anything, that only makes them better for smothering
08:13in gallons of our favorite liquefied toppings.
08:16Waffle House's particular composition is very much in line with American cooking trends.
08:21Contrary to the European version, U.S. waffles tend to be broad in shape and on the chewier
08:25side, with miniature-sized iron marks.
08:28They're the complete opposite of the generously portioned grids of the ever-popular Belgian
08:33waffle.
08:34In 2019, Waffle House went on record on Twitter to proclaim the superiority of the American-style
08:39waffle in the lead-up to the World Cup matchup between the U.S. and Belgium.
08:44Naturally, this launched a kerfuffle, and a statement from spokesperson Patrick Warner
08:49went on to make clear distinctions between the two nations' offerings.
08:52One of the differences touched on?
08:54The griddle marks.
08:55He shared, per The Atlantic,
08:56"...we serve American waffles.
08:59Belgian waffles are square, ours are round.
09:01Belgian waffles have bigger grids.
09:03Ours are smaller, which is better for syrup distribution.
09:06Wherever you stand in the great waffle divide, there's something to be said about the greatness
09:09that is the American-style mainstay."
09:12And honestly, no diner does it better than Waffle House.
09:16Waffles are a blank canvas for some pretty tasty toppings.
09:19Sugary syrup and a butter pat are the traditional template, of course, but Waffle House offers
09:24a few flourishes fit for shaking up your breakfast.
09:27According to the chain's menu, you can choose from three additional toppings, and predictably,
09:32they're heavy on the sugar.
09:33Chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, and pecans.
09:36Because the garnishes are considered add-ons, visitors pay extra for them, but not much.
09:40For the chocolate or peanut butter chips, as an example, fast food menu prices list
09:44them at 25 cents apiece.
09:46For a waffle already priced at around $3, that's essentially pocket change for a sweetened
09:51dose of flavor.
09:52Ordering any one topping, or heck, all of the above, takes a naked waffle and dresses
09:57it to its full flavor potential, which is the beauty of a Waffle House waffle.
10:02Because the base product is so delicious, it'll taste good no matter what's on it.
10:06In the future, we'd welcome some savory options, but Waffle House's short order format probably
10:11wouldn't stop you from going off the menu and asking for chopped bacon or ham, maybe
10:16even some jalapenos for a fiery kick.
10:18Hey, a foodie can dream.
10:20One customer interviewed by Houston Press had a sweet revelation involving transforming
10:24the morning staple into a solid sweet treat.
10:27They recommended that when you add toppings like whipped cream and chocolate sauce, it's
10:31like a waffle sundae, minus the ice cream.
10:34When Waffle House released its tight-lidded waffle mix to the masses in April 2020, it
10:39wasn't the only secret spilled that year.
10:41In a Twitter post, the restaurant also revealed the makers of its syrup, that golden elixir
10:46brimming with sweet comfort, to be Blackburn, a Southern brand hawked at Denny's, as well
10:51as on the shelves of major grocery retailers.
10:53Blackburn-made syrup, unlike Mrs. Butterworth's or Hungry Jack, is composed of ribbon cane,
10:59a plant that Leaf TV reports produces an unrefined syrup that's dark in hue and sweet in taste.
11:05Shun-Fu Kuei, Blackburn's vice president of sales, told the Marshall News Messenger that
11:09the syrup has more of a bite to it, which makes it very popular in the South.
11:13The plant has fallen out of favor over time, as a result of the industry's widespread preference
11:18for sugarcane, but Blackburn remains a devout user of the region's artisanal specialty.
11:23Naturally, it's a perfect match for the Southern waffle chain's flagship product.
11:27Dispensing it with a heavy hand is never a bad idea, and should your weekly outing to
11:31Waffle House not give you enough of its sickly sweet glory, you can even purchase bottles
11:36of it on Amazon.
11:38Joke all you want about Waffle House's seedy reputation, but to insist the waffles are
11:42only edible after a hard night of partying would be an insult to the talented line cooks
11:46behind the counter.
11:48You may find yourself asking,
11:49"...what makes a strong waffle game?"
11:52At Waffle House, it's the cooks, also known as grill operators.
11:56These individuals are not just cogs in the well-oiled machine at Waffle House, they make
12:00the magic happen with their undeniable skill and expertise.
12:04In fact, the chain has names for these positions, and employees can work their way up to three
12:08potential roles — grill operator, master grill operator, and rock star grill operator.
12:14Just look at one Waffle House grill operator who told Reddit exactly what it takes to man
12:18the cooking station.
12:19As they describe it,
12:20"...workers don't just stroll into the kitchen.
12:22The process," the anonymous poster notes, involves
12:25"...having you cook a lot of food, then a written test, and an evaluation by three bigger
12:30managers prior to landing the role."
12:32Getting a glimpse into the process reveals just how high the standards are for employees
12:36responsible for preparing the food.
12:38And as far as wages go, the amount will be dictated by the employee's ranking, according
12:42to the chain's website.
12:44In other words, work your way up, and the money will definitely follow.
12:47Certainly, there's no doubting the simplicity that goes into making a waffle, but the moment
12:52you enjoy one prepared by an experienced waffle chef, you'll taste the difference almost immediately.