Customer Reviews

VillaWare V015-33010-U60 Rose Bouquet Waffler

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I tried out my new waffle maker this morning. Started out using the recommended setting, which just left a nasty doughy mess. Bumped up the setting 3 times until I got something that resembled a waffle. It is supposed to beep to let you know when it is done. Actually, it beeps every time it cycles "on", every time the green light comes on you get a series of really loud beeps like a smoke detector. It's not like I went outside and left the waffles cooking and needed a reminder! If you lift the lid the first time it beeps, it just makes a big nasty mess. By about the second series of beeps, the waffle should be about ready. The design is nice and unusual, an added plus is that it's attractive without being having a licensed character or trademark on it. (Such as Mickey Mouse, Hello Kitty, or "Bam" Emeril). The waffles turned out really nicely, once I figured out the setting I liked, but the beeps are amazingly annoying - not good for anyone in an apartment with thin walls or if you have people still asleep in the house!

This waffler turned out to be a big surprize. I got it to make sweet rolls from my gluten-free, relatively low-carb recipes I used in other wafflers. The shape would be nice with cinnamon and nuts. It is. It works really well for this purpose. But I had no idea I would also be baking great egg omelets in it, filled with chopped fresh vegetables that cooked through perfectly. It also makes great cakes. Make some yeast "bread" in it - works like a charm, whether gluten free or the real McCoy. Try baking a lentil loaf. Beautiful with sauce. How about a meat-loaf? Works great. You can split the waffle for sandwiches or for layering cake. You can bake a little cookie dough in it only filling partway and have a lacy cookie. Bake it longer and it will get crisp. Make thick chocolate "cookies" and fill with ice cream. Wow.

All of this is great as long as you can live with the way runny batter drips through the bottom and makes a big oozy mess, and the alarm beeps at you every time the heat goes off, whether it's ready or not. Hence only four stars.

I can live with it - in fact I use it for more things every day. But I give it five stars for creative possibilities. I am still exploring and nowhere done. How about putting in beaten egg with a little corn masa, strewing chiles and cheese, topping it with more egg/masa - chiles rellenos? Haven't tried it yet, but I think I will go do that now.

I had been looking at this waffler in other catalogs for about a year, but it always seemed to be about $50, which seemed excessive. This was the right price. When I got it, I was slightly disappointed that the top plate is not the rose that you see on the bottom, but a regular gridded waffle - but it doesn't really matter if you put the waffles rose side up! The waffles come out really easily, the included recipes are great (you must try the chocolate one!), and the convenient lights and tones tell you when the waffler is ready, and when the waffle is cooked to the degree you set it to. I have two other waffle irons (a square one and one that makes heart-shaped waffles) but this is now the only one I use. The only other downside is that the waffle it makes is rather small, so if you are serving several people, you need to keep them warm in the oven until you have as many as you need.

I have had this for many months and love making waffles but also love fruit in my waffles and that's a very bad idea with plates you can't take out and soak. The only fruit that will work is apples. Berries burn on to the finish. The manual says just to wipe clean with soft paper towel but the grooves of the roses are deep even if you are just trying to get the excess oil out of them. I have to put it open on its side to let the oil drain onto a paper towel.

The noise of the ready alarm is not that loud on my machine. It doesn't wake my son (who doesn't even wake when the smoke alarm goes off!) I don't mind being next to it and I do mind the smoke alarm out in the hall many feet away.

If anyone has any tips on cleaning I'd be glad to hear them because I'm ready to trash it even though I love the rose motif.

JUST RECEIVED MY MUCH ANTICIPATED WAFFLE IRON IN THE MAIL
OPENED - BROKEN HANDLE
CALLED SUPPLIER THEY SAID CONTACT AMAZON
WAITING TO SEE HOW THIS PANS OUT.
I AM REALLY DISAPPOINTED