I’m hooked on Gossip Girl. It all started after reading through the latest issue of Vogue magazine peppered with Blake Lively dressed in high-fashion Americana. She’s wrapped in fringe, blankets and leather in breathtaking scenes shot in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It reminded me that I had missed the boat on Gossip Girl and that it was streaming on Netflix. I am now 2 seasons, dozens of Blair’s headbands, hundreds of Chuck’s quips and endless scandals in and I still can’t wait to sneak in an episode before starting dinner.

On Gossip Girl, Rufus Humphrey is known for his waffles. He’s the cool Dad from Brooklyn that was once a rock star and then he owned an art gallery and at the end of season 2, he makes waffles for the family and uses his look of disappointment to keep his kids in check.

I’m sorry Rufus, but your waffles don’t look all that great. Kudos on the Sunday morning waffle bar with fruit, whipped cream and chocolate chips, but there are better waffles out there. In one episode, his son Dan casually divulges that they’re made from a store-bought waffle mix and it broke my heart a little. Rufus!

For Rufus and for you, this is my favorite waffle recipe. They’re buttery, flavorful and cutting through them with the side of a fork reveals a tender interior. They are not the rubbery and flavorless waffles that make you want to go back to bed and start over. If I feel like taking my waffles to the next level and I always do, I make this easy fruit syrup. The sour cherries with a hint of lemon and nutmeg is divine and would no doubt cause a scandal of its own in Rufus’ Brooklyn loft.