By Hien Bui & Britney Tran
Every morning, the sun slants perfectly into Toastie Toastie’s storefront, glinting off the orange chairs and tables out front and into the inviting, warm interior. The smell and sizzle of distant toast envelopes you as you get your first glimpse of the Jaffle, an Australian comfort food that was whisked oceans away to an unassuming corner of Fountain Valley.
Jaffles are toasted pockets of bread with any conceivable filling pressed in between. Toastie Toastie highlights the food’s versatility with their selection of savory and sweet Jaffles, which range from Banana and Nutella to the intriguingly named Chick on the Barbie Jaffle.
Perfectly cooked and loaded with fillings, Toastie Toastie’s jaffles feel like a cozy, warm hug.
Bombay Veggie Jaffle
The Bombay Veggie is an amazing arrangement of Thai flavors. Loaded with a veggie patty, peanut sauce, slaw and melted cheese, this Jaffle manages to be decadent and nutritiously light at the same time. While “fusion” dishes can err on the side of one culture or the other, this Jaffle is the perfect balance of flavors.
Being a flavor largely not found in Fountain Valley, the Bombay Veggie Jaffle is a must-try.
PB & J Jaffle
While a naming opportunity was missed here, the PB & J Jaffle still manages to delight, providing a spin on the classic PB & J sandwich. While thinner than its savory counterparts, this Jaffle offers a homemade quality to it due to the nostalgia of the sandwich.
While other sweet or savory Jaffles may be more show-stopping to the newest Jaffle initiate, the PB & J Jaffle shines in its own subdued, unique way and truly showcases how Australians usually eat the Jaffle—as a beloved snack.
Orange Espresso
The orange espresso, besides being a beautifully gradient drink on par with the best of bubble tea shops, is a dazzling new import straight off the cafes of Asia. Blending fresh citrus with espresso may seem like an insane collaboration, but the duo of flavors work perfectly to create an energizing, refreshing drink.
Summerita Smoothie
A sign outside of Toastie Toastie advertises their plant-based protein smoothies. Tucked next to Crunch Fitness, it is a no-brainer why the colorful chalked board is an advertisement. At the counter, when you order a smoothie, you’re informed that Toastie Toastie makes their smoothies without sugar but you can choose to add it in.
This is a refreshing take on smoothies, which can be a dicey drink for those with blood sugar issues or who are just monitoring their sugar intake.
However, the smoothie still tastes delicious and sweet without added sugar, delivering a drink full of extremely fresh bursts of mango and strawberry. If any smoothie were to keep the anti-smoothie-chain person in your life from making a remark about “being able to make this at home”, it is this smoothie.
Serving up simply delicious food and converting scores of customers to the Jaffle daily, Toastie Toastie looks like it’s here to stay in Fountain Valley.
