Beginning today, Nov. 16, and continuing through Friday, Nov. 19, Waffle Shop is the best late breakfast that can be tracked down in town thanks in huge part to pancakes made with love and a custom sausage mix made just for this event by Landis Meats.
Net proceeds from Waffle Shop are used to fund grants to community non-profit organizations. Consider buying extra sausages and freezing them to enjoy over the next several months. It’s the best kind of win-win scenario.
Here’s what else Barlow had to say about this year’s event which is pick-up and advance order only this year:
Q: In a normal Waffle Shop year, how many meals do you sell and how much money do you raise?
A: In a typical year, we serve anywhere between 400-500 meals each day. In 2019, we raised just over $20,000 that was used to give financial grants to small, local nonprofits serving the poor and marginalized in the Dayton community.
Q: Do you have any estimates for how many folks you expect to serve food to this holiday season via online orders?
A: Hard to estimate but we have the capacity to fulfill about 300 orders each day.
Q: How many pounds of food will you go through for this?
A: Well, we used 60 pounds of flour, 225 pounds of sausage, 48 pies, 20 gallons of soup, 12 pounds of tuna, 22 doz eggs, 11 gal of milk, 16 loaves of bread, 5 pounds of baking powder, 5 pounds of sugar, not counting the soup ingredients and all the other odds and ends to put it all together. We normally feed 400-450 people a day, making around 1,600 waffles in the week and are targeting half of that for 2021 since we are doing take out only.
Q: How many volunteers does it take to cook the food for Waffle Shop?
A: Waffle Shop is run entirely on volunteers. This year, we’ll have about 40 volunteers working each day.
Q: What other interesting facts and figures do you have that you could share?
A: In the past three years, Waffle Shop Grants distributed over $55,000 to our community.
Q: What are your biggest challenges?
A: Our biggest challenge this year is the new format of carry out only. We are used to welcoming the community into our church home for a wonderful meal and a sense of community. We are thrilled to have Waffle Shop return after the heartbreaking but necessary decision to cancel last year, but we will miss some of the non-food items like Elsie’s Attic that are a part of our tradition.
Q: How would you describe the food at Waffle Shop?
A: The best darn waffles in town! We separate the eggs and beat the whites which make the batter extra fluffy. The edges are crisp and the middles are soft and delicious. Add to that our special sausage and this is a meal you will come back for year after year. There is really something for everyone — from the waffles and sausage to soups and salads to wonderful desserts. We like to say, “Come get a great lunch for a great cause for less than $10! "
Q: Can you give details on how ordering and pick-up works for the event?
A: All ordering is placed through our online form. Guests can schedule which day and time frame they’d like to place an order for, and even have the choice between car-side delivery or walking into the church to pick up their order.
Q: What do you think makes Waffle Shop special?
A: This is our 91st year. It is special because of the length of time it has been an institution in Dayton and the fact that all proceeds go to other non-profits in the Dayton area supporting the community in many ways.
HOW TO GO
What: The 91st Annual Waffle Shop To Go, Carry Out Only Event
Where: Christ Episcopal Church, 20 W. First St. Dayton
When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. pick up Nov. 16-19
More information: http://daytonchristepiscopal.com
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