Rabbit Dash Coffee House, Port Elgin

Rabbit Dash Coffee House

by Sandra J. Howe for Mar/16 MOSAIC

Step out of the cold and into the welcoming warmth of Rabbit Dash Coffee House at 688 Goderich St., Port Elgin. The smell of fresh espresso and baked goods wafts in the air. Staff and customers are relaxed and friendly. Gourmet beverages are made to order by smiling baristas. Tables are painted with built-in checkerboards. The walls are adorned with local artists' fine work. Life is good!

Jon Hepplewhite says, “I am the third owner of this cafe. I came here as a teen skipping school, and loved the place. There were management changes, and it looked like it might close. We have such a strong community here that I wanted to keep it going so I took it over. We serve really high-quality and ethical products, and connect powerfully with people. We love what we do!”

Jon and his fun-loving, artsy staff offer great customer service, often calling loyal patrons by name. It feels like community is happening here. I order a Chunky Monkey Waffle, complete with banana, peanut butter, whipped cream, and chocolate. Heavenly! Waffles are served from 7am to 3pm and feature great names like Saucy Rabbit, Lumberjack, and Salted Caramel. The homemade daily soup and salad taste wonderful too, and use fresh, seasonal ingredients. For a sweet fix, don't miss the Nanaimo bars.

Rabbit Dash also sells certified, fair-trade, organic coffees and high-quality loose leaf teas in bulk. The jars and dispensers add the flavour of an old-time general store. A variety of espresso makers, coffee grinders, silk-screened t-shirts, artwork, and mouth-watering chocolate are also on display. So come in, savour a fancy latte, play checkers, take a coffee break at Rabbit Dash Coffee House (www.rabbitdash.ca). You deserve it!

Regular Waffle Batter

2 Eggs

2 c. Flour

1 and 3/4 c. Milk

1/2 c. Vegetable Oil

1 tbsp. Sugar

4 tsp. Baking Powder

1/4 tsp. Salt

1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

Beat eggs in a large bowl with hand beater until fluffy. Stir in all other ingredients until just smooth, no lumps. Pour into waffle maker and cook until golden brown. Top with all your favourite toppings: fruit, yogurt, syrup, marmelade, chocolate syrup, peanut butter, whipped cream. Make it your own yummy creation!

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