Category: Waffle Write-Up

February Finds

Welcome back! We’ve now made it to the second month of 2018, with no shortage of freezing temperatures and deep snow. If you’ve been feeling the winter blues like we have, maybe some exciting alternative lattes will cheer you up—I know they’re the only thing keeping me going at this point.

This month, Yola’s is featuring a Ceremonial Matcha Latte and a Golden Tumeric Latte.

Matcha is a type of specialty green tea, whose leaves are ground into a fine powder, which make it perfect for mixing into milk-based drinks. Matcha contains natural caffeine that has been described as calming instead of jittery. Warm or cold, this light green drink will definitely pick you up when winter is getting you down.

While Yola’s has had Matcha lattes for a while now, our new Ceremonial Matcha contains no sugar but all the flavor of the traditional Japanese tea.

Our other new February drink that’s trending in coffee shops all over the US is the Golden Tumeric Latte. This warm blend of anti-inflammatory turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, and honey steamed in the milk of your choice is the best way to keep sickness away and make your friends say, “What the heck is that glowing yellow drink?”

Other specialty drinks this month include a rose and earl grey tea latte topped with edible rose petals, a “Romeo and Juliet” raspberry mocha, spicy Mexican hot chocolate, and a red velvet frappe.

Another healthy trend showing up in Yola’s is paleo goodies. If you haven’t heard the term before, the paleo diet focuses on all-natural foods that contain no gluten, dairy, or processed sugars. Our baker, Kelsey Hite of Hite Nutrition, has been cooking up many treats that follow these guidelines and are still somehow just as delicious. Currently in the café we are selling paleo maple pecan scones, raspberry thumbprint shortbread cookies, and even a maple paleo latte!

  

If you’re still craving that real-life sweet stuff, our waffle of the month should suffice. February’s waffle is a Red Velvet Waffle with Cream Cheese Glaze, with one dollar from each purchase going directly to United Madison.

United Madison’s mission is to unite and lift up our community by providing ways for people to better understand and learn from each other. We do this through Positive Service Announcements on Unity, Life Skills or Highlight a Non-Profit or Cause and through a Give Back Initiative; matching needs of our local charities and schools with businesses who can fulfill them.

Learn more about United Madison here:

https://www.facebook.com/unitedmadison/

https://twitter.com/United_Madison

https://www.instagram.com/unitedmadison/

Stop in and warm up at Yola’s with or without your valentine this month – we’ll be waiting with delicious treats and all the coffee you’ll ever need.

 

 

 

Wild for Waffles (and All Breakfasts)

Yola's Cafe Waffles for Charity - Wags

Yola's Cafe Waffles for Charity - WagsWelcome back! A new year has arrived, and with it new chances and hope for what may come. For us at Yola’s, this always includes great coffee, espresso drinks, breakfast and lunch food.

If you know one thing about Yola’s, you know our waffles are to die for (https://spoonuniversity.com/place/the-best-waffles-in-every-state-in-america). Whether your favorite is the popular Patriot or the caramel-covered Nutty Banana, we know what’s up with the dimpled deliciousness that is the waffle.

You may also know that our ever-changing Waffle of the Month benefits a different nonprofit each 30 days, with one dollar of our special going straight to making the world a better place. The Waffle of the Month started when owners Lisa and Lance Ratze wanted to use their café to make a difference in the Madison community.

Here’s a list of all the nonprofits Yola’s has benefited in 2017:

January – PB&J Waffle – Reach-a-Child – reachachild.org

February – Red Velvet Waffle w/Cream Cheese Frosting – DAIS – abuseintervention.org

March – Lucky Charms Waffle – Deaf Unity WI – deafunitywi.org

April – Go Bananas Waffle – Make-A-Wish Wisconsin Chapter – Women for Wish Kids – wisconsin.wish.org

May – Maple Bacon Waffle – Sauk Prairie Against Hunger – makingservicepersonal.org/spah

June – The Braffle – Building Bosses – buildingbosses.com

July – Mega Berry Waffle – Pregnancy Helpline of Madison – pregnancyhelpline.net

August – Smore’s Waffle – The River Food Pantry – riverfoodpantry.org

September – Fat Elvis Waffle – Dane Buy Local Foundation – danebuylocal.com

October – Caramel Apple Waffle – Dane County Humane Society – giveshelter.org

November – Pumpkin Waffle w/ Pumpkin Butter – ReachDane – reachdane.org

December – Cinnamon Roll Waffle – WAGs – Wisconsin Academy for Graduate Service Dogs – wags.net

Looking for a slightly healthier but just as yummy breakfast to make at home? Our partner and good friend at Hite Nutrition has you covered. Check out her recipe for a zucchini, kale, mushroom, and Italian chicken frittata :

ZUCCHINI, KALE, MUSHROOM AND ITALIAN CHICKEN SAUSAGE FRITTATA

~serves 4, gluten-free, Paleo & Whole30 option

– 2 ½ links of Al Fresco Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage, diced (or Whole30 compliant sausage links)

– 2 cups chopped kale

– ¾ cup fresh mushrooms, chopped

– ¼ cup water

– 10 eggs

– 1 cup of zucchini, sliced and halved

– ½ medium onion, chopped

– ¼ cup goat cheese (omit for Paleo & Whole30 options)

– ½ teaspoon garlic powder

– ¼ teaspoon dried sage

– ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary

Preheat oven to 360 degrees F

In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, water, garlic powder, sage, and rosemary; season with salt and pepper, to taste and then set aside.

Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add olive oil and onions and cook for 3 minutes, then add the chicken sausage segments and brown for 3 minutes. Next add the mushrooms, stirring occasionally, until tender and browned, about 4 minutes.

Grease a small bakeware pan (approximately 5 x 7 inch) or oven-proof skillet. Add the cooked vegetables to the pan, along with the chopped kale, and then pour the egg mixture over top of the vegetables. Top with the sliced zucchini and sprinkle the goat cheese over everything.

Place into oven and bake until the top is set and golden brown (it should no longer jiggle), about 25-35 minutes.

Don’t forget you can always come in and create your own breakfast sandwich from any of our local ingredients, try the famous breakfast BLT with an egg, or get crazy and venture for the popular country breakfast waffle, with meat and cheese inside and an egg on top! Breakfast is undoubtedly the most important meal of the day, so hurry in soon!

November Coffee Talk

Welcome to the official blog of Yola’s Cafe! My name is Sam and I’ve been a barista/cook/waffle-maker extraordinaire at Yola’s since July. This blog will serve as a monthly update on what we’re up to here at the cafe. Whether it’s being featured in Madison Magazine, taking home a Dane Buy Local award, volunteering with Feed My Starving Children, or concocting our next Waffle of the Month and new seasonal drinks–you’ll find it all here, and learn a little more about what Yola’s is all about.

Who is Yola, you ask? She was the grandmother of owner Lance Ratze, and the inspiration for the many delectable recipes that Yola’s Cafe is known for. She crafted the waffle recipe that eventually won the cafe the title of “Best Waffles in Wisconsin” by Spoon University and was ultimately the driving force behind opening the café almost nine years ago in January of 2009.

These days, Yola’s is a place for meetings, moms, families, students, and anyone who loves fresh coffee and homemade food. Come on Saturday before a Badger game and feel the buzzing excitement, or bring your laptop and get some work done on a weekday with our free Wi-Fi. There’s no wrong time for comfy chairs and coffee.

Coming up soon: Waffles with Santa and The Grinch! Join us on December 9th and 16th at Dream House Dream Kitchens in Madison, where you and your kids can enjoy a waffle breakfast, professional photos with Santa and The Grinch, glitter tattoos, and more! Get your tickets here before spots run out!

 

 

 

Our Waffle of the Month this November is a Pumpkin Waffle, with $1 from each purchase benefiting Reach Dane, Educating Children and Preparing Families for a Better Tomorrow. Know of a Madison-area charity that deserves a little love? Send us suggestions on Facebook.

New at Yola’s — stop in and check out CityTins, a handheld pack of over 20 coaster gift cards, each of which gets you $10 off a different locally-owned restaurant in Madison. Don’t know where to go next? Use the spinning wheel inside to choose for you.

      

As the craziness of holiday season approaches, come relax with a visit to us baristas and bakers and enjoy a warm peppermint mocha or hot chocolate by our fireplace. Visit the blog next month for a closer look at the local suppliers that make our food stand out.

All the best,

Sam