Belgium, a nation renowned for its gastronomic delights, has long grappled with a divisive question that transcends even the mysteries of chicory: Which waffles reign supreme – Liège or Brussels?
The verdict, as it turns out, comes from none other than Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history with an astonishing seven Olympic medals to her name. In a tweet on the evolving landscape of social media (now marked by a notable absence of capital letters, perhaps a post-Trump phenomenon), Biles shared her culinary revelation, declaring, “still dreaming about the waffles from Belgium.”
When probed on her waffle preference, Biles succinctly responded with a single word – “Liege” – accompanied by three drooling face emojis.
Belgian politicians, ever inclined to utilize gastronomic analogies to elucidate their labyrinthine political machinations, have developed their own lexicon. There’s the concept of “waffle-iron politics,” an intricate system wherein, for every euro (or franc, for those of a more vintage inclination) invested in a project in Wallonia, an equivalent sum is earmarked for a corresponding project in Flanders.
And then there’s the picturesque metaphor of “institutional lasagne” that aptly captures the multi-layered complexity of Belgium’s political architecture. Though some might argue, a more accurate depiction would involve an “institutional lasagne flung from a great height” to truly encapsulate the flamboyance of it all.
