When Waffle Champion hit the streets with its mobile kitchen in 2011, it was a runaway success with diners.

Despite the favor its flavors curried, the Waffle Champion food truck yielded low returns on the initial investment by chefs Todd Woodruff and Tara Taylor. So, Taylor decided she wanted to move to Seattle and Woodruff opted to take the road show onto firm ground in 2013, landing in Midtown at 1212 N Walker Ave., suite 100.

Woodruff, who got his start cooking at Boulevard Steakhouse then Cheever's Cafe, points to chef Cally Johnson as his cooking mentor and Keith Paul, president of A Good Egg Dining Group, as his operating mentor.

Waffle Champion's success has allowed Woodruff to start sniffing around in Tulsa for a space to expand, but nothing is remotely close on that front.