The Oct. 7 grand opening of Hello Waffle at a food cart in Camas exceeded the expectations of owner Arika Wright. She sold out of waffles with two hours remaining.
(Dawn Feldhaus/Post-Record)
The Hello Waffle food cart is located at 3151 N.E. Second Ave., in Camas.
Arika White, owner of Hello Waffle, adds whipped cream to a blueberry and banana waffle during Girls Night Out, Sept. 28, in downtown Camas. She provided free samples of waffles topped by Nutella hazelnut spread at the annual event that raises money for the Pink Lemonade Project and the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Oregon/Southwest Washington. White, a vendor at the Camas and Vancouver farmers markets for three years, has opened a food cart in Camas.
Local fans of sweet and savory waffles rejoice: Hello Waffle, a regional farmers market favorite, has found more permanent digs off Northeast Second Avenue in Camas.
Arika White, owner of Hello Waffle, used to serve her “not-just-for-breakfast” waffles, adorned with toppings such as bacon and fresh banana slices at the Camas and Vancouver farmers markets.
Now, Hello Waffle has broken free of the farmers market and has a new drive-thru location at 3151 N.E. Second Ave., in Camas. White celebrated her opening day on Saturday, Oct. 7.
The opening-day event exceeded her expectations, White said. She had made enough batter to create 300 waffles that day, and she ran out of batter five hours after she opened the food cart. She sold out of waffles nearly two hours before her grand opening was supposed to end.
“I am thrilled so many people came out to support us,” White said on her opening day. “At the same time, I hate to turn people away.”
She has been a waffle vendor at the Camas Farmer’s Market since 2015 and the Vancouver Farmers Market since 2016.
White said she usually sells 100 to 120 waffles in a day at either of the farmers markets.
Sue and Kenny Fletcher, Washougal residents who own Paper Tiger Coffee Roasters, of Vancouver, provided free coffee during the Hello Waffle grand opening, and DJ Dan Weisman entertained the breakfast and lunch crowds with music.
The Hello Waffle food cart sells Paper Tiger Americanos, cappuccinos, lattes and mochas, as well as drip coffee and chai lattes.
The waffle menu is seasonal. In the summer, there are fresh peaches, strawberries and blueberries. In the fall, pumpkin cheesecake and caramel apple pie are among the options.
White, a 2012 graduate of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, in Portland, previously co-owned Sugar & Salt Bakery, in Vancouver, with her mother, Tierre Benton. Benton, a Camas resident, still owns that bakery.
White said she became interested in waffles because she loves breakfast foods and wanted to find one that could be easily served from a food cart.
“I feel like we serve a delicious waffle that is fantastic on its own and is a great base for all kinds of toppings,” she said. “I love coming up with new toppings.”
Gluten-free and vegan waffles are available.
Through the winter months, the Hello Waffle cart will be open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Saturdays. Information, email hellowafflecart@gmail.com or visit www.facebook.com/hellowafflecart.
