Chicago - October 09, 2006

While the Iron’s Hot

Baladoche Opens

Desserts and royalty have a long history. Marie Antoinette and cake? No mystery there.

But the tale of Belgium’s Prince of Liège and waffles is a little less familiar.

That’s all about to change, thanks to the legacy of a very demanding 18th-century prince, a kitchen staff that worked overtime to please his sweet tooth, and a little spot in Lakeview called Baladoché.

Specializing in his highness’s made-to-order Belgian Zücker waffles (a cross between flaky croissants and warm cookies), the portable snacks are already a big hit all over Europe. The secret to their success? A very hot waffle iron and dough laced with pearl sugar chips, resulting in caramel-crunch goodness on the outside and oozy sweetness on the inside.

Grab a waffle — plain or topped with cinnamon-sugar — from the to-go window, or, in a few weeks, snag a spot at the counter or one of the tables inside. Up the sugar ante with the house-made Italian gelato (cappuccino-crunch tops our list) and cute cat-shaped Belgian chocolates.

And in between bites, say a silent thanks to the Prince of Liège for being such a royal pain in the you-know-what.

Baladoché, 2905 North Clark Street, between Surf Street and West Oakdale Avenue (773-880-5090 or baladoche.com).

  Coffee Klatch, Sweet Tooth