“Belgian Love” on Main Street serves Belgian food specialties and aids three non-profit organizations

Driving north on Brockport’s Main Street and approaching the railroad overpass, a concession trailer with a sign, “Belgian Love,” stands in the parking lot of The Capen Fire House. Many have stopped and pulled in for a bite and others in a hurry have passed by wondering what it’s all about. Why is it in that location and who runs it?

The concession is owned by WNY Wildlife Service and operated by Tim Wandtke, who is a lieutenant in charge of field operations with the wildlife service. The food offerings are a wide range of authentic Belgian specialties, including desserts and comfort foods.

All the proceeds from the sales go to support the Western New York Wildlife Service, the Brockport Ambulance Corps, and the F.F. Capen Hose Co. #4 Fire Museum, all not-for-profit organizations.  The unusual combination of these three beneficiaries is explained by Tim Wandtke, who is connected to the other two besides his own. He works as groundskeeper at the Brockport Ambulance Corps. And, he has family ties to the museum.

Wandtke is pleased to have the support of the Environmental Science department at The College at Brockport, “Which is actively supporting the cause through campus awareness and assistance through social media,” he said. And, student volunteers from the department will be serving the Belgian breakfast on Sundays.

Wandtke says the trailer was his “brain child” as a unique fund raiser for the organization which he co-founded in 2011 with Virginia Truelson. The trailer has raised funds over the years at fairs, festivals, and other outdoor events.  The idea for the current site and the two additional causes started with his father, Gordon Wandtke, who has been a supporter of the Capen Hose #4 Fire Museum.  After checking with the museum board, Gordon suggested to his son that he add the museum as a worthy cause and suggested the parking lot on Main Street as a good venue.

As for adding the Brockport Ambulance Corps, besides working on their grounds, Wandtke personally identifies with that service. He has been active in EMS most of his adult life and worked in the past for Monroe Ambulance Corps and Rural Metro Corps. He speaks with great concern about the Brockport Ambulance Corps and the museum being “donation driven and dependent on private funding.” He also wants the public to be more aware of the historic museum hidden inside the firehouse which is distinctly marked outside by the 911 memorial sculpture.

WNY Wildlife Service located in Hilton, NY, originally founded in 2011, “Has risen to the forefront becoming a leader in the community as a wildlife rescue organization,” Wandtke said. The web site, www.wnywildlifeservice.org, states, “We are dedicated to preserving New York State’s wildlife one life at a time” and, Wandtke adds, “Our focus … primarily consists of wildlife education, protection and preservation serving Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, and Wayne counties.”

The Hilton facility is a 24-hour triage clinic in Hilton for injured or orphaned wildlife. As a member of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Council, they refer cases to a rehabilitator with the appropriate specialty.  A second location is an extended stay rehabilitation farm in Hamlin.

The WNY Wildlife Service is also founder of the A.W.A.R.E. program in Rochester (Animal Welfare and Rescue Effort).  Wandtke says it is a “movement (to influence) Monroe County to allow WNY Wildlife Service to respond to police calls that report white-tailed deer injured in auto accidents.”

Wandtke is articulate and excited about his Belgian food specialties, attributing his knowledge to a lifetime in the restaurant business, influenced by his father who has Belgian roots. “I have a culinary background,” he said, “and the Wandtkes have been a longstanding restaurant family in Rochester.” Belgian Love offers unique menu items like authentic Belgian waffles, Belgian bratwurst, Belgian fries, Belgian poutine, Belgian Chocolate brownies, Belgian apple crisp streusel, Belgian vanilla ice cream, Belgian coffee and more.  A Belgian breakfast is served all day Sunday.

Wandtke invites everyone to drive up, enjoy the food, and support three valuable organizations that serve locally and beyond. During the next two months, as weather allows, the hours are Wednesday through Saturday 4 to 11 p.m.  On Sunday it runs from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., for the all-day Belgian waffle breakfast.

Belgian Love will be hosting a Chicken BBQ on Saturday, October 28 and a “Bring Your Pet Day” on Sunday, October 29, offering a special treat for your pet.

(Note):  Calls about endangered or nuisance wildlife can be made 24/7 to 585-392-3075 or 585-298-8243.

More information on the Brockport Ambulance Corps, see www.brockportambulance.org.

Tours of the museum can be arranged and donations made by contacting Diana Kruger at 585-637-8719 or on their web site www.capenhosefiremuseum.org.)