#91 – SPEKULOOS SPREAD at WAFELS & DINGES

Once again Time Out New York released their Top 100 Dishes of the year and once again, I’m going to eat my way through every one. And no price point or subway delay will stop me. In no particular order, here’s my take on their Top 100.

Last year, before Time Out released their 2010 list, I was inspired to create my own list of 100 Dishes from the year (I’ll begin releasing this year’s in a few weeks). Funnily enough, one item coincidentally made it on both my list and TONY’s current one. And that is the heavenly spekuloos spread from the Wafels & Dinges truck.

Strangely, the waffles themselves didn’t make the cut, but this out of control dinges (which translates to “thingy” and refers to their toppings) did. The waffles, which come in two versions: the lighter, crispier Brussels waffle and the denser, chewier liege waffle, are both worthy, but it’s that unique spread that I (and I suppose the writers at TONY) dream about.

Spekuloos is a traditional Belgian Christmas cookie (it’s now made all year round) that has a flavor similar to gingerbread or graham crackers. The spread is made from the cookies and has a smooth texture not unlike peanut butter. The spread itself, which is available for purchase by the jar on the truck (or at one of their four roaming carts), is made for the company in Belgium. But it’s only available here.

It goes perfectly on a sweet, chewy liege waffle. The warm flavors of the sauce and the hot, comforting textures of the waffle feel like Christmas, which I’m perfectly happy to celebrate even in the middle of August.

Another amazing discovery, and something you can bet will make my Top 100 this year, is that these guys are now also serving Spekuloos Ice Cream, which is ridiculously good. And their Belgian Madness (Hoegaarden, honey ice cream) is nothing to sneeze at either. Once you taste this stuff, you’ll understand why this is a regular dessert stop on the Food Cart Tours I give several times a week.

The fact that I have tried this delectable dessert numerous times before probably meant I didn’t have to officially return to write this review. But I was more than happy to have another excuse to get a taste of that incredible spekuloos. I just hope it makes Time Out’s list again next year.

Would Wafels & Dinges’ Spekuloos Spread make my Top 100 of the Year? It already did last year and I give it a perfect 10 out of 10. And I can assure you the ice cream version will be raved about again on this blog. Stay tuned.