Sometimes, when you pursue your dreams, amazing things happen. Our story is a good example of this.
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Antoine Akayyan has been dedicated to promoting Belgian heritage for many years. It was therefore a natural step for him, in 1982, to take over his first tea room. Named “Tea Room – Gaufres de Bruxelles”, it was located in the heart of the historic centre of Brussels, close to the Grand Place, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From then on, he worked tirelessly to develop, improve and update Belgian waffle recipes, both Brussels and Liege waffles, savoury and sweet. On the strength of his experience, and keen to give this iconic Belgian product the recognition it deserves, he decided in early 2025 to open a new, higher-profile establishment, entirely themed around waffles: “La Maison des Gaufres”.
At La Maison des Gaufres, Antoine Akayyan, who is as committed as ever, has updated this icon of Belgian heritage by providing it with the showcase setting it deserves.
La Maison des Gaufres is an absolute must when you’re visiting Brussels, if you’re someone who loves sweet treats and discovering authentic flavours. It also reflects the desire of its founder to make the Belgian waffle a true gastronomic ambassador for Belgium across the world.
The project, driven by a patron who is passionate about Belgian heritage, has been part of an initiative to promote Belgian culinary heritage since 1982.
The waffle originated in what is now Belgium, where it is considered a national culinary emblem. Its history dates back to the Middle Ages in Western Europe. According to Antoine Akayyan, the waffle first appeared in Brussels in the 16th century, seen in paintings and historical accounts. At the time, it was eaten at celebrations and on holy days. It was not until the 18th century that the waffle was said to have been introduced to Liège, inspired by the Brussels speciality.
Another key moment in the international fame of the Belgian waffle was the 1964 World’s Fair in New York, where the “Gaufre de Bruxelles” was popularised in the US as the “Belgian Waffle”. Our famous waffle comes in many guises: in Italy, you find “pizzelle des Abruzzes”, in the Netherlands “stroopwafles” and in China, “bubble waffles”.
In Belgium, there are two main types of waffles: the Liege waffle, which is thicker and caramelised with pearl sugar, and the Brussels waffle, which is lighter, soft in the middle, and crispy on the outside, dusted with icing sugar and often served with other toppings. Another feature is that the Brussels waffle is eaten on the spot, straight off the waffle iron.
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