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ARTS & CULTURE
KANSAN.COM | THURSDAY, SEPT. 3, 2015
HOROSCOPES >> WHAT'S YOUR SIGN?
Aries (March 21-April 19)
Harmony requires effort.
Don't show a loved one unfinished work yet, or
risk an upset, Go for peaceful productive life.
desired).
ty rather than group gatherings. Beware tricks and deception, Advance slowly, and control passionate outbursts (unless desired)
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BREAKFAST IN STYLE
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Preview your act. You're
strong, and yet face a
challenge. A female calls
stuff you don't need.
a controversy. Don't say everything you're thinking! Wait for what develops. Stifle irritation and rude remarks. Avoid splurging impulsively on
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Frustrations and annoying situations could confront you. If so, breathe deeply and avoid comments and actions that you'd regret later. Work could interfere with fun. Don't gamble with the rent. Romance could sneak up on you.
A smoked salmon lox waffle from The Waffle Iron. The restaurant "popped up" in other dining spots in Lawrence and Kansas City over the summer.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Heed recommendations and warnings. Avoid impulsive actions and reactions. Don't get seduced by empty flattery.
Do what you promised, even though costs may be higher than anticipated. Defer gratification.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
Postpone travel and fun until your homework's done. Keep things practical, especially around finances. Changes disrup
the status quo. Make plans without getting stuck on them. Stay flexible. Avoid stupid arguments and things could get lovely.
balance
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Passions are high. Look before leaping. Avoid setting off someone with a short fuse. Nobody in the group is as frugal as you.
Plug financial leaks, and persuade others to keep it simple. Restore missing
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Get in sync with your partner. Stay close to home, and avoid traffic and expense. Watch for misunderstandings or accidents. Balance feelings with facts. Get into household projects. Clean, sort and organize.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Get out with your partner.
Don't discuss money yet.
A disagreement about priorities lies beneath the surface. Wait for the final figures. Stick to your principles.
A waffle crispy treat with toasted marshmallow fluff at The Waffle iron. The restaurant will open this weekend at 7 E. 7th St.
Sagittarius(Nov. 2.2-Dec.21) The action is backstage.
Your partner offer emotional support. Take a walk. Allow time to assim-
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iliate new information. Don't throw money at a problem. Guard against overindulging. Keep com-
plants to yourself and avoid an upset.
Capricorn(Dec. 22-Jan19) Keep cool and calm to save time and money. Misunderstandings could get expensive. Consider options carefully, and have a backup plan. Get into a writing or recording project, and forget the world outside.
the world outside.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb.18)
Bring a creative vision into reality together. In a clash between love and money, hold your temper.
Keep your cool or lose profits. Don't get stopped by past failures.
by past failures.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) You can improve your home without spending a fortune. Realize a dream. Have a work party, and feed everyone who shows up. Dig in the garden.
After a hiatus, The Waffle Iron is settling down and serving up its golden brown plates of art
RYAN MILLER
@Rvanmiller UDk
Rejoice, Lawrence, for this weekend marks the return of The Waffle Iron, a popular food joint for waffle and breakfast enthusiasts.
The restaurant, owned and run by Sam Donnell, faced a short hiatus this summer with the exception of a few weekend pop-ups throughout Lawrence and Kansas City.
While this opening weekend won't feature any new items on the menu, customers can expect some new faces cooking alongside Donnell, who previously worked alone.
"What I'm looking forward to most is having a dedicated person there to help me make waffles," Donnell said. "Up until this point I have done all my craft by myself, and that can take a while. I'm looking forward to having someone there to help me streamline the process and get people food quicker."
With the extra help, Donnell said he hopes to make some changes after this weekend.
"Once everything is settled in more, I will be rolling out some new things, expanding the menu a little bit, but this weekend I'm just looking forward to the best Waffle Iron experience I have ever had," he said.
Donnell said although he's looking forward to more help, the biggest challenge he has faced so far has been hiring
"Finding people to work with me, kind of relinquishing that control has been the hardest part," Donnell said. "You can do everything in your power to make the vision for what your restaurant is going to be, but it really comes down to the people who are working for you. If they aren't on point, that reflects more on your business than it does to them as a person."
people.
The history of The Waffle Iron began with Donnell's master waffle recipe, which he had been working on for years.
"I wanted to try and do something with it, so I found a coffee shop in Lawrence called Decade that offered me an opportunity to come in on the weekends and make waffles, and it just kind of blew up," Donnell said.
Because of the combination of good press and people spreading the word, the coffee shop was soon overloaded with Waffle Iron customers in just a few short months.
"It was the right thing at the right time at the right place," Donnell said.
Donnell found a new location at 7 E. 7th St. He partnered with John Brown's Underground Speakeasy, and he set up shop above it.
Donnell decided to close that location for the summer because the town was quiet.
"Part of running a small operation like I run, I can
on, and I'm able to get really amazing flowers, like garlic flowers, and they are beautiful," Donnell said. "You can't simply buy or get them anywhere."
close when the town is quiet, and open up when things are busy," he said. "Being closed awhile gave me some awesome opportunities to collaborate and spread the waffles."
For Donnell, this included having pop-ups, or setting up shop in a restaurant for a day, over the last few months. He served chicken and waffles at the Basil Leaf Cafe in Lawrence and made an appearance at the Filling Station in Kansas City, Mo.
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A bacon maple waffle dish at The Waffle Iron.
Donnell partnered with Alchemy Coffee in Lawrence for his coffee supply needs. Benjamin Farmer, a co-owner of Alchemy, supplies coffee to The Waffle Iron.
"It been really exciting to work with Waffle Iron because he's just really bringing some really interesting stuff to the Lawrence food scene, especially the breakfast scene." Farmer said of Donnell. "He brings such unique flavor to Lawrence."
"I got into this also because I spent a few years working on farms, so it really got me devoted to the local food system and really kind of convinced me to try and change the food system and help the way people get access to get local food," Donnell said.
Donnell said he's especially excited to be reopening at this time of the year, when fresh produce, tomatoes, peppers, chilies and more are abundant.
Donnell said he tries to emphasize use locally grown food — some of the ingredients are unique to Kansas — at The Waffle Iron.
Donnell said The Waffle Iron gets 30 percent of its wheat from the Moon on the Meadow farm in Lawrence, which has organic "turkey red" wheat. Donnell said he gets his corn from the Sacred Sun Cooperative Farm about 15 miles away in Perry.
"I also work with a local farmer who grows edible flowers for me, she just has a huge farm she grows specialty crops
"The farms I'm working with, that's what's important to me," he said. "There'll be different variations every weekend, depending on what's available, and what's at the farmers market."
Donnell said he was most excited about the infinite possibilities that come with making waffles, and what the future will hold for him and The Waffle Iron.
"The waffle is among the most versatile starches to pat with any food, and it really makes me excited for the future of this enterprise," Donnell said. "I feel like I haven't even scratched the surface for what I can do at The Waffle Iron."
The Waffle Iron will be open this Saturday and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and will be regularly open Fridays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
— Edited by Colleen Hagan
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