The Beloved Sweet And Savory American Dish That Leaves The Rest Of The World Confused
As with other cuisines, American dining has its own kind of peculiarities. Among the varying meals, the heavier nature of U.S. breakfasts catches international diners off guard. For instance, many European countries enjoy a simple continental dining option (coffee and a single pastry), so the thought of stacking up pancakes and chowing down on French toast intrigues — an indulgence that lands American breakfast as the meal that Europeans appreciate the most, according to Rick Steves.
No dish better summarizes America's bold acceptance of sweet and savory in a single meal than chicken and waffles. Popularized out of 1930s Harlem, New York City, the meal enthralls with delectable textural contrast: There's an undeniable synergy to crispy poultry meets soft waffle. Yet for many, the idea of covering chicken with butter and syrup feels confusing. Even Redditors on the Southern Food subreddit express bewilderment regarding the pairing, and the food receives many upvotes for most perplexing American dishes on the No Stupid Questions subreddit.
Even for some Americans, the confusion comes down to disparate elements. Some cite that flavors don't quite mingle, while others note that the dish falls apart when each element is low quality. Others, though, love to lean into the decadence: "Sweet and [savory] (and fat) are just very good friends," a Redditor stated. Sample the creation as a chicken and waffle breakfast sandwich or plated side-by-side, and take your own stance on the creation.
Chicken and waffles is well-established in American cuisine
Among the American breakfast and brunch pantheon, chicken and waffles isn't the only dish balancing the sweet-savory concept. For instance, diners won't be surprised to find a bacon or sausage, egg, and pancake plate on a menu, all stacked and doused with maple syrup. At American chains like Wendy's and Whataburger, the similarly flavored honey butter chicken biscuit enjoys a cult regional status. And if you swap Hawaiian rolls for bagels to make a sweeter breakfast sandwich, you won't receive a shocked reaction.
Accordingly, the chicken and waffle duo appeared on American tables through decades of complex influences — the meal isn't a surprising standalone creation. Many accredit the Pennsylvania Dutch for establishing the template in the 18th century – although they likely smothered chicken in gravy rather than sweet syrup. The dish later became established in the South, with enslaved people preparing the meal. Many decades down the line, African-American Southerners transported the concept to Harlem and Los Angeles, thus establishing the meal as a soul food classic. It's believed that the modern iteration of fried chicken, Belgian-style waffles, and syrup emerged in 1930s New York City. So rather than a dish that sprung up as an unusual combo, keep in mind that chicken and waffles are instead deeply ingrained in American culinary history.