BASEBALL IS BACK, ALONG WITH TASTE OF BELGIUM’S “REDS VELVET” WAFFLE DESSERT
Signature Reds-themed Dessert Waffle Available for a Limited Time;
Taste of Belgium Bistro Guests to March in Opening Day Parade
CINCINNATI, OH – March 25, 2024 — Forget the peanuts and Cracker Jack®! As baseball fans get ready for Opening Day, Taste of Belgium is celebrating the return of baseball with a special seasonal treat, the “Reds Velvet” Waffle dessert. Available at all nine Taste of Belgium bistros only during “Opening Week”—from March 24 to March 31, 2024—the Reds Velvet Waffle dessert is a house-made, thick, crunchy waffle topped with whipped cream and finished with red sprinkles. Like its namesake cake, this waffle has a subtle chocolate flavor and signature red color as an “over the top” dessert waffle.
Taste of Belgium will also be participating in the 2024 Findlay Market Opening Day Parade – the official start of the Major League Baseball season proper -- which starts at Findlay Market at noon on Thursday, March 28. Walking with their “Let’s Play Waffle Ball” float will be 24 special guests, selected from social media entries, along with founder Jean-François Flechet and representatives from the Taste of Belgium team. They’ll be wearing Taste of Belgium baseball jerseys and caps, complete with “Waffle” Ball Bats. The float features a QR code that parade attendees can scan to receive a free waffle in-bistro at any Taste of Belgium location.
This will be the fourth appearance in the Opening Day Parade for Taste of Belgium, which traces its roots back to modest beginnings in a produce store at Findlay Market. In 2007, the same year as the Cincinnati Reds’ 138th season, Jean-François brought a 120-pound, Belgian-made cast iron waffle maker to Cincinnati, along with his passion to share the flavors and tastes of his Belgian heritage with a wider audience.
Taste of Belgium’s waffle is a twist on a classic Liège waffle recipe, named after the city where founder Jean-François Flechet grew up. The waffle is made from a dough, not a batter, and the recipe relies on a special pearl sugar imported from Belgium. The Belgian pearl sugar caramelizes as it bakes, adding to the waffle’s unique taste and distinctive crunch.
The Reds Velvet Waffle dessert is available in-bistro during breakfast (at select locations), lunch, weekend brunch and dinner, and for carryout or delivery through their delivery partners for $10 and will be gone before you can say “batter’s up”.
Taste of Belgium has a close relationship with the region’s sports teams, having previously been the Official Waffle of the Cincinnati Reds, served at Great American Ballpark, and currently as a Proud Pub Partner of FC Cincinnati. The creation of the limited-time-only Reds Velvet Waffle dessert underscores Taste of Belgium's dedication to authenticity, quality, and, most importantly, the community—and the sports fans—that it serves.
About Taste of Belgium
Founded in 2007 by Jean-François Flechet, using a traditional Belgian waffle recipe and cast-iron waffle maker that Flechet brought back from Belgium, Taste of Belgium began as a small waffle stand at Cincinnati’s historic Findlay Market. Today with nine full-service bistros in Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Dayton, Taste of Belgium is one of the largest restaurant groups in Cincinnati. Taste of Belgium offers a unique, Belgian-inspired culinary experience with a focus on locally sourced ingredients, featuring a diverse menu of Belgian and American fusion dishes and one of the largest selections of Belgian beers in the region. To discover more about Taste of Belgium, visit www.authenticwaffle.com.
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For media: download high-resolution images of Taste of Belgium’s limited-time-only Reds Velvet Waffle dessert here.
Media Contacts:
Ann Keeling or Tamie Sullivan for Taste of Belgium
513-381-3248