Steve Smolders and Jenny Ramirez met and fell in love as teenagers. While Jenny is from America, Steve is a chef trained in French Cuisine who hails from Belgium. Now married and living stateside, the couple wanted to build a business around Steve’s training. They came up with The Belgian Plate by Waffle It & Co, a spot that specializes in Belgian waffles.
Waffle It & Co started as one location, part of the District Kitchen Food Hall in Jersey City. But they now have a second Jersey City location – dubbed The Belgian Plate by Waffle It & Co – as well. This second location is smaller, but allows them to serve waffles directly out of a window. “We can finally do it how it’s done in Europe,” Jenny says.
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Sweet Treats at The Belgian Plate by Waffle It & Co
Unlike their original Waffle It & Co location, The Belgian Plate strictly offers sweet waffles. This means waffles topped with strawberries, bananas, whipped cream, or Nutella, for example. Meanwhile, their District Kitchen Food Hall location includes both sweet and savory waffles; in addition to crepes, soups, omelets, and croissant sandwiches, plus coffee, hot cocoa, and freshly squeezed orange juice.
Popular menu items at The Belgian Plate by Waffle It & Co include the Berlin Banana waffle. This sweet waffle comes loaded with Nutella, bananas or strawberries, and whipped cream. “We can never get rid of it from the menu,” Jenny says. Likewise, the fan favorite Tuscan waffle has strawberries, mascarpone, and a fig glaze. “It came out as a themed waffle on Valentine’s Day, and we never got rid of it,” Jenny explains.
They’ll also make seasonal waffles, such as ones topped with candy canes in December. However, both Jenny and Steve actually prefer their waffles plain, made with pearled sugar. “When you eat it, it’s already sweet on its own,” Jenny says. “You can tell who has had it in Belgium based on their order.”
Visit The Belgian Plate by Waffle It and Co at 210 Hudson St – or 232.5 Pavonia Ave – in Jersey City. Look for them online to learn more.
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The Belgian Plate by Waffle It & Co FAQs
No, they do not accept reservations.
No, they do not have gluten-free options.
The Belgian Plate by Waffle It & Co offers vegetarian options yes.
They do offer takeout, yes.
No, they do not offer delivery.
No, they don’t serve alcohol.
No, they do not have a kids’ menu.
All Photos: © The Belgian Plate by Waffle It & Co
