Waffles or French Toast? What's Your Pleasure?

This poll was inspired by Redwinger's "Snow Storms and French Toast" post in the Friends and Fun Forum.

My apologies if this topic or poll has been asked or discussed at some point in time on this forum but I didn't notice it or recall it before.

I also couln't resist asking this one because for me it is a very easy and straight-forward pick (which isn't always the case).

Simply put, are you more of a waffles person or a french toast person?

I'm unquestioningly a French Toast kinda guy! I love the stuff! In fact, I've never had a waffle I liked better. I have the feeling they just aren't my "cup of tea" in terms of their structure and brittle surface texture etc. I definitely prefer the SOFTNESS, general depth and fullness of french toast. It seems to warm the soul and satisfy better, in my humble opinion. Whereas, waffles seem like "warmed wafers" to me - airy, more delicate, less "substance". And I can never get the syrup to absorb "properly" on a waffle like it does with french toast or, of course, pancakes. Some syrup sits on the hard edges, some gets into some of the indented squares but not all of them evenly.... I just find waffles more "frustrating" for whatever reasons. Of course neither is right or wrong. I guess it just depends what you prefer style-wise between those two extremes.

Jeff

[Jenise]

I selected the last option. I despise French toast, and though a waffle can be exquisite if covered in lightly macerated fresh berries (and nothing else, thank you), I'd pass on that every time for a few rashers of good bacon and a tidy pile of hashed browns.

I voted waffles here. I make 'em every Sunday morning.

I selected the last option. I despise French toast, and though a waffle can be exquisite if covered in lightly macerated fresh berries (and nothing else, thank you), I'd pass on that every time for a few rashers of good bacon and a tidy pile of hashed browns.

I'm stunned and polar opposite of your first comment! Didn't you also mention before that you never had and/or despised hot fudge sundaes too??? Is there no room for heavenly culinary seductions on earth anymore?

I'm just kidding. I know all tastes are very individual and unique a lot of times.

And I VERY MUCH agree with your last comment actually! Is hard to go wrong with bacon or hash browns against a lot of things, but is ESPECIALLY an easy preference (for me) against waffles! I must admit there's no contest there! Against some good french toast would be a much tougher call though for me. Would probably depend if I'm in a salty or sweet mood

Heck, just give me both! I can probably find room in the stomach

Jeff

Oh, FRENCH TOAST hands down. I am not a big waffle or pancake fan...but just LOVE French Toast, and any opportunity to have it. Especially at our local diner where they cut it thick and fry it on their seasoned griddles with tons of butter and cinnamon and powered sugar. Oh...YUM! It's one of the few sweet foods I truly love. I don't like chocolate or ice cream, but definitely could have French Toast for dessert .

Oh, FRENCH TOAST hands down. I am not a big waffle or pancake fan...but just LOVE French Toast, and any opportunity to have it. Especially at our local diner where they cut it thick and fry it on their seasoned griddles with tons of butter and cinnamon and powered sugar. Oh...YUM! It's one of the few sweet foods I truly love. I don't like chocolate or ice cream, but definitely could have French Toast for dessert .

Yes, the thick cut is the only way to go! I'm not as wild about the "thin bread-slice" french toast although I have to admit I'd still even enjoy that before I would waffles! I think it's just something in the bread versus "wafer" texture that makes me side with french toast so decisively. I guess I'm just definitely more a "bread/dough" person with most things. Much like how I always prefer warm, soft fresh baked bread (of various kinds) rather than, say, crackers or the more brittle breadsticks. There's nothing like true fresh homemade bread in my book! I think my french toast preference is just an outgrowth of that mentality as well...

This is making me hungry. I have to stop posting this stuff...

Jeff

Light and buttery French Toast dipped in milk and egg, seasoned with cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and topped with coconut syrup. My dil makes one with buttermilk bread with some sort of egg mixture that sits all night. It is wonderful. But I never eat French toast anymore because it settles like a rock. I like crispy pepper bacon and some sort of really crisp fried potatoes....they do fine in my tummy.

I voted for waffles (thick and malty), but love really good custardy French toast almost as much. (Sometimes more...it's a mood-driven thing.)

Dutch Babies!!!!

PANCAKES! CREPES! Making such dishes at home, I'd say I make pancakes 80% of the time, crepes 10%, French toast 7% and waffles 3%. I love waffles, but the proper recipe is tedious (separating eggs, whipping the whites, folding in, etc.) and I have to dig the waffle iron out of the back corner of the pantry. I usually only make waffles if I'm having guests for breakfast, which happens about once every 2 years.

[Jenise]

I selected the last option. I despise French toast, and though a waffle can be exquisite if covered in lightly macerated fresh berries (and nothing else, thank you), I'd pass on that every time for a few rashers of good bacon and a tidy pile of hashed browns.

I'm stunned and polar opposite of your first comment! Didn't you also mention before that you never had and/or despised hot fudge sundaes too??? Is there no room for heavenly culinary seductions on earth anymore?

Yup, that's me! Never had a hot fudge sundae, and I've never had a Belgian waffle. In fact, the only waffles I've ever had, my mother in law made once when we stayed with her. She made them hot at the table so you got your waffle at the peak of perfection and delicate crunchiness, and they were covered with fresh raspberries that dad picked while we were making the waffles. Those were GOOD. But they have eluded my grasp since. Just not much of a breakfast eater and obviously, when given the choice of sweet or savory, sweet never wins.

Dutch Babies!!!!

You're actually right on target with me! Well, not literally. I'm not Dutch by birth (although I may be at some point of the family tree...) but indeed I'd say perhaps my favorite style of foods is Dutch! Delicious!

I recall the family trips we took through Pennsylvania years back, stopping at Dutch restaurants. I remember the atmosphere, how homely it felt and most of all remember the great food! The mashed potatoes, the pastry items, the pies, those cobblers for dessert... Indeed, I could eat that kind of food all day!

But yes, I proudly stand guilty of the Dutch label myself!

And I don't doubt that it probably directly shapes my french toast preference as well...

Jeff

Waffles, French toast, pancakes, yes.
I don't eat them regularly because they take too long to make and clean up afterward. It's usually fruit, toast and coffee.

John

French toast, for me.

I know some people add vanilla to the beaten egg ... I don't bother, just soak the bread in the beaten egg and fry it. One egg per slice of bread is best; sometimes I get mean and use 2 eggs per three slices. White bread is best. And although I've taught myself to call it French toast, I really think of it as Bullock-Driver's Toast. I don't fry it on a hot shovel, but it is Bullock-Driver's Toast all the same.

[Jenise]

I'd like to know how all you waffle and French toast eaters can inhale a carb load like that and not have to go back to bed an hour later.

PANCAKES!

Agree with Howie. Talking about light and tasty pancakes, not the collision mats that they serve in most restaurants including IHOP. Even though we love French Toast and Waffles as well, we still do pancakes most frequently for much the same reasons Howie does.

I'd like to know how all you waffle and French toast eaters can inhale a carb load like that and not have to go back to bed an hour later.

Portion control? It's not that hard.

Personally, I rarely make either but I have a strong preference for waffles as my mother made excellent ones when I was a child. So the memories are there. After constantly talking about waffles, my wife actually bought me a waffle maker for my birthday and she has tried to make waffles, but they're not the same!

Actually, they're quite good. They are in the thin style which she prefers (in Germany they eat thin waffles as an afternoon snack, with whipped cream and fruit) whereas my mother's were thicker.

Either way, one waffle is enough and it doesn't seem to be that overwhelming of a carb-load (admittedly, my usual breakfast is fruit and yogurt, which is much easier to digest)...

I'd like to know how all you waffle and French toast eaters can inhale a carb load like that and not have to go back to bed an hour later.

Coffee? Complex carbohydrates don't produce much of an insulin backlash in most people, Jenise, but rather provide sustained energy. YYMV, of course. I don't use much syrup on either of those and don't eat them early in the morning, so perhaps that helps too. And why is there no entry in the poll for voting for ebelskiver?

Mark Lipton

[Jenise]

Rahsaan, wasn't referring to quantity, just the combination of battered item and sweet topping. Perhaps I'm especially carb-sensitive, but that truly would be an energy killer for me. It's food, but not fuel, and wouldn't provide me with the same boost I'd get from fruit and a little protein.

I'd like to know how all you waffle and French toast eaters can inhale a carb load like that and not have to go back to bed an hour later.

Oh it's easy, you just make breakfast for dinner then you can go right to bed

Jeff

My friend Jay makes a leavened waffle batter that is just out-of-this-world good. (Yes, you have to make it the night before.) I could eat those till I burst.

Wow, I'm excited to see such a close poll here! A true three-way race (at the moment anyways...).

Jeff

Voted equal. I eat waffles much more often but when I'm in the mood for something decadent, nothing beats Joseph Carey's French Toast recipe from Chef on Fire.

This is hard to answer.

1. I make the best French Toast anywhere, so when I have it at a restaurant, it invariably disappoints.

2. The best waffles I've ever had are better than my best French toast.

Waffles are too complicated to make in the morning. I don't want to whip egg whites. If I did make waffles, I'd make a yeast-raised batter, which would elevate the genre beyond the best French Toast. But that's even more work, which would require starting the batter before I woke up or the night before.