Do you ever wonder how some restaurant come up with their names? I do. So I was curious what Gaufree meant? It turns out Gaufre in French means Waffle. OK, so I still have a question why 2 Es instead of 1 but I am not going to dwell on it, because I am more interested in sharing the delicious food.
I feel so fortunate to be living in California where we get to experience diverse cultures and cuisines. New and innovative ways of preparing an old favorite into new dishes are popping up everywhere. No longer do we have to eat a hamburger on buns or Philly Cheese Steak in French bread. The waffle hamburger, fried chicken, or smoked salmon give old favorites new and fresh flavors.
Owner, Paul Hortobagyi, believes in using farm fresh, range -free, and organic ingredients as much as possible. By partnering with local farms, Gaufree is dedicated to serve food that is delicious and healthy.
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The spacious 2,400 square feet is open and bright. Diners can watch how their food is prepared through the open kitchen. To encourage community interactions, the dining room is equipped with many big tables as well as a community table to diners can get to know each other. .jpg)
During the media tasting, we each got to pick a sandwich or salad, a side, a sweet, and a beverage. I, of course, had to go for the Organic Buttermilk Fried Chicken (Lightly breaded, boneless, skinless farm raised chicken breast with Meyer’s Rum chipotle molasses dip). I also got a side of French Fries. I believe this is probably one of the best selling sandwiches in the house.
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There were four of us sharing the table so we got to order different sandwiches and a salad to share.
Philly Cheese Steak on Pretzel Buns (pictured below top left) and Waffle Philly Cheese Steak (pictured below lower left – Grilled grass fed beef, sauteed peppers, sweet onions, melted Swiss Cheese). Yes, they do offer non-waffle options as well as gluten-free options. The Philly Cheese Steak was the crowd pleaser.
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In a mood for breakfast? Order the Organic Eggs & Applewood Smoked Bacon ( Pictured above upper right – Farm fresh scrambled eggs, bacon, garden herb pesto).
Craving fresh fish? Try the Seared Ahi Tuna (Pictured above lower right).
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We really enjoyed the Belgian Street Corner Fries and Boston Cole Slaw (Mayonnaise, horseradish, celery seeds). The Homemade Pure Cane Sugar Natural Lemonade was particular refreshing. .jpg)
The Kale Salad is great for sharing or for people who want something lighter sometimes. It’s packed with Cucumbers, Thai kaffir leaves, mint, Bermuda onions, garlic, red beets, roasted peanuts, chili oil & Thai basil goat cheese in Kaffir lime dressing.
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The desserts had everyone smiling. Peanut Butter Pie Waffle with Sea Salt Caramel (pictured above top) and Nutella Madness with Sliced Bananas and Whipped Cream (pictured above bottom) were such delights!
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Gaufree also serves McConnell’s Ice Cream, Organic Moto coffee, local California wines, and Belgian hand crafted beer.
My sincere thanks to Mr. Paul Hortobagyi and Gaufree’s entire staff for their hospitality and service. Special thanks to Local SEO Help and Horsing Around LA for organizing the tasting event!
Are you a fan of Waffle Sandwiches? Stop by Gaufree and say ‘Hi’ to Paul and let me know what your favorite is.
Gaufree
Artisan Waffle Sandwiches
3851-A Alton Parkway
Irvine, CA 92606
(949) 222-5622
