As a young child being raised by a single father, I spent a lot of time with my grandmother. She swore up and down that the best dessert was dipping strawberries in sour cream; when she finally insisted I try one, I couldn’t believe the combination of taste. Creamy, tangy, sweet and no matter how awkward it seemed in my head, it just . . . worked. Since then, I’ve tried to keep a clear head around flavor profiles that I don’t understand.

As the Northwest further develops into a leader in food and alcohol culture, gastropubs and buncheons have become a backbone to curious foodies looking for classic comforts with a new twist. Enter chicken and waffles, a southern design for savory eaters to satisfy their sweet tooth. Grab your glasses Grandma, we’re going out for a little role reversal.

Crafted—523 Sherman Ave., Coeur d’Alene $14 *WINNER*

If you’ve spent the day out in the sun on the lake, I promise reprieve comes in a tower of house-made vanilla waffles, crispy fried chicken, sunny-side egg and black pepper bacon stacked high around a moat of green onion whip and sweet and spicy serrano huckleberry syrup.

Yards Bruncheon—1248 W. Summit Pkwy. $13
Just a couple of brunch only establishments grace the Inland Northwest. James Beard nominee Adam Hegsted owns one of the best. With the most delicious real maple syrup I’ve had the pleasure of pouring onto waffle quarters, I could have easily forgotten the chicken even existed.

Cottage Cafe—6902 E. Appleway Blvd. $12

Spokane Valley has its share of secrets. One is this tiny breakfast bistro that has made a name creating country comforts and (my favorite) homemade jellies.  Add southern style fried chicken on a buttermilk waffle and douse it in warm maple and powdered sugar and you have sticky delicious art. (50)

Garageland—230 W. Riverside Ave. $13

If you’re in downtown Spokane looking for a unique dinner spot, grab a warm pile of chewy waffles, honey butter and hand-breaded boneless chicken drizzled with maple syrup and orange segments. There’s no better dessert than riffling through old record collections and free play arcade games on Wednesdays.

Ruins—825 N. Monroe St. $14

Notorious for their rotating seasonal menu, it might be hard to get your hands on Chef Tony’s unique variation. Spiced up with jalapeno bits tossed in the waffle batter, the crispy fried chicken swimming in tarragon-infused butter and roasted apricot honey is something you cannot miss.