I had just moved to town, and one of my new friends kept trying to tell me about this place I had to try for lunch. It’s downtown, and in a church basement. Only open for about a month each Feb.-March. And the specialty of the house is … tomato aspic? Hunh?

She finally dragged me to the Calvary Church Waffle Shop, and it’s safe to say that my life has never been the same. It’s easy to start with the food — my personal favorite is the (homemade) chicken salad with (homemade) mayonnaise, though I’m also glad they’re serving fish pudding twice a week now. (I know it sounds gross; it’s totally divine.) Here’s a link to the Waffle Shop menu; local schoolkids sometimes serve as waitstaff, as in the picture.

But the real amazement of Waffle Shop is the spiritual center it brings to Lent, a time of sacrifice and discipline, through the Lenten Preaching Series that goes on upstairs. I know that going to church in the middle of the day seems oxymoronic to some people, but the speakers at Calvary mostly make the trip worth it. Here’s a link to this year’s schedule. My favorites include Gina Stewart, Micah Greenstein and Barbara Lundblad.

This week is the first week of Waffle Shop and Lenten Preaching. Promise yourself to give both a try this year. I know you won’t be sorry.