Dad’s Belgian Waffles

All Saints Catholic Church in New Richland held its annual all-you-can-eat Dad’s Belgian Waffles breakfast during its 2026 Fall Festival on Sunday, Sept. 27. They saw around 300 guests come through their line. Gretchen Supalla and Linda Timmerman were selling tickets at the door; they totaled up everyone’s bill quickly, so hungry diners didn’t have to wait any longer than necessary to join the line.

 

With 12 waffle irons in front of him and a wall of syrup to his left, John Morgan, owner of Dad’s Belgian Waffles out of Algona, Iowa for the past 29 years, kept the line moving and the waffles flowing. In between the waffles and syrup stood volunteers passing out sausage links.

 

Once diners received their waffles, it became decision time–homemade whipped cream, maple syrup, strawberry syrup, blueberry, boysenberry or sugar-free maple? Along with in-house dining in the church basement, there was also a to-go option for which volunteers and guests put together meals for those who were unable to attend. Morgan was asked what his record for total waffles in a day is. After a long pause for thought, he replied, “There was that one day a few years back, I served a little over 3,000 waffles. That was the most for me.” He added, “Last year around this time I served my one-millionth plate.” One child was asked what boysenberry syrup tasted like and he said, “If you take a raspberry and mix it in a blender with a melon.”

 

Church members report that the annual breakfast started around 1985 as a turkey dinner which later changed to a pulled pork dinner, and then eventually became the Dad’s Belgian Waffle breakfast. Morgan, the waffle caterer, brought everything with him except for the juice, milk and coffee; the fall festival committee brought that.

 

Churchgoers upstairs were treated to a quilt display during the 8 a.m. service. Said Supalla, “The Women of All Saints and a few from Sacred Heart draped their quilts over the pews, so everyone could see them.”

 

Outside was a children’s activity area offering gourd and pumpkin painting, corn hole games and soccer. In a grassy open area was the silent auction. On the auction block for the day was a wide variety of items including plate sets, homemade quilts, a soup kettle with various soups inside, Casey’s Pizza certificates, a mini fridge with accompanying beer, a meat raffle from Neighbor's Meats, and more. Next to that was the Country Store, selling produce, baked goods, candy and some thrift items.

 

Anyone interested in booking Dad’s Belgian Waffles for an event can contact Morgan at waffles@netamumail.com or call 515-295-9403.