Day 115 (7.4.12): It's Recess Time! PB&J Waffles from Bru's

Peanut Butter & Jelly Waffle, Banana Split Waffle, and Fiesta Chicken & Waffle (from Bru's Wiffles)

Amazing, amazing, amazing. Everything that should not be in a waffle is in it, and it tastes GOOD. Did I say good? I meant DELICIOUS. Just like a true wiffle!

I'm trying to figure out where this association came from, but does anyone remember this show?

It was on Nick (or was it Disney?) for a while when I was growing up, and for some reason, whenever I think of PB&J, I think about this show. It probably has something to do with the fact that PB&J = lunch break = recess = something profoundly and psychologically compelling...but I haven't thought that far ahead about it yet.

On second thought, it's probably nothing but a sign of my impending senility. Yeah, that's probably it.

Day 41: Churro Waffle with Cinnamon Ice Cream (The Great Christmas in the Park Tradition)

Churro Waffle with Cinnamon Ice Cream

Status: Restaurant (Bru's Wiffles)

Satisfaction: 10.

Associated with: Christmas in the Park

They say it's a San Jose tradition, but "Christmas in the Park" is really my family's tradition. Every year, the city of San Jose hosts this great event where they close off two blocks in downtown and schools, organizations, and individuals come out to decorate trees like these. Then they set up these archaic-looking animatronic booths that do things like sing Christmas carols in a steely GPS-type voice and look like they've been pulled out of a bad sci-fi film, and everybody walks around and looks at them and sort of smiles and enjoys the cheesy show and everyone else's company. They also set up this booth where you can throw coins at a (fake) reindeer's mouth, and if your coin goes in, it'll ding and say "Ho ho ho, Merry Christmas!" My mom always brings literally a couple pounds' worth of pennies, and we throw pennies for half an hour until our arms get sore and people just stand there cheering us on, which explains both why we own this tradition and how little we care about being the corniest (read--cool) family in the city.

Anyway, every year at this event my parents will buy my brother and me churros like we've five years old again, and we'll stand there with our churros and our bag full of pennies and be the jovialist--that's not a word, but what am I studying in an English doctoral program if I can't make up words?--bunch in town.

Day 38: Belgian Waffle ("I'm Makin' 'Em!")

Belgian Waffle with Maple Syrup

Status: Restaurant (Waffle Chix)

Satisfaction: 10. Surprisingly and amazingly delicious. I would go back for seconds. Maybe thirds.

Associated with: Shrek

If you don't recognize this scene or if, upon hearing the words Donkey and waffle in the same sentence, the words "I'm making waffles!" don't immediately pop into your head in Eddie Murphy's signature sassy voice, then you just need to go. Go, watch Shrek, and then come back and read this again.

If you watch it and still don't understand this reference, sorry--there really was no hope for you to begin with.

Day 28 (3.31.12): Buckwheat Waffle and Biscuit & Gravy (Ehh--What's Up, Doc?)

Buckwheat Waffle and Biscuit & Gravy

Status: Restaurant (Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles)

Satisfaction: 7.

Associated with: Bugs Bunny

Ehh...what's up, doc? Buckwheat and buck teeth are pretty much the same thing in my book, and the only thing I'll think of next time I order a buckwheat waffle is whether or not a pair of bunny teeth is going to pop up in my waffle (sort of like a piece of chicken liver somehow found its way into my otherwise vegetarian-friendly gravy--ew).