The Inside Scoop on Yala: A Greek Ice Cream Shop Is Coming to Georgetown
Artisanal ice cream is not new to D.C., but Chrys Kefalas is confident his new shop, Yala Greek Ice Cream, will serve ice cream the city has never tasted before. (3143 N Street NW)
'There's something unique about ice cream from Rhodes,' Kefalas shared about the style of ice cream he plans on churning from the Greek island his family is from. 'It is the best, and I am willing to put it up against any other ice cream anywhere.'
What gives this ice cream the edge over competitors? Kefalas credits both the creamy yet light texture and flavor, which comes down to technique and ingredient sourcing. The focus is not in the mixings in the ice cream, he says, but rather the base made with farm-fresh cream and 'premium ingredients' sourced from the Mediterranean and select producers around the world. A 'carefully balanced milk and cream-to-sugar ratio' is meant to keep the frozen dessert light and not overly sweet, according to Kefalas.
Yala in Greek loosely translates to milk (pronounced more like gála) but also honors the term 'let's go' in Arabic, as a nod to the inherent influence of ingredients that the Middle East shares with Greece, like pistachios, mint, and phyllo. As for the ice cream flavors, they range from Greek classics like baklava and cherry studded with chocolate chunks to familiar American favorites like rocky road and cookies and cream. A strawberry vegan sorbet and several frozen Greek yogurt options (which Kefalas stresses taste vastly different from standard frozen yogurt) will also be available.
Kefalas recently brought his staff to the place that influenced his new Georgetown shop, which happens to open on National Ice Cream Day (Sunday, July 20). Calling in from the Greek isle of Rhodes at 1 a.m., Kefalas was there with his team this spring to experience its ice cream for themselves — and enjoy the beaches and warm weather before tourist season picks up.
Growing up in a Greek American household, Kefalas would travel to Rhodes in the summers with his family.
'My first memory of this ice cream is having it with my parents and grandmother in Rhodes,' says Kefalas. 'I remember having this great ice cream and when I would come back to the States, nothing compared.'
To honor the familial connection, a cartoon of his papou (grandfather) will be adorned throughout Yala's decor and much of the shop's ethos is dedicated to Kefalas' grandfather, who was usually absent on his summer trips to Rhodes.
'He didn't make many trips back to Greece because he was working in restaurants trying to provide for my family and create a better life for us,' Kefalas said about why he wanted to incorporate his grandfather's memory in the shop. 'He was the soul of our family. And he taught me a lot about treating everybody like family, welcoming everyone, taking great pride and making things the best.'
Kefalas' late grandfather started and ran the Baltimore seafood restaurant Costas Inn, while also helping out at his brother's Jimmy's Famous Seafood. Both restaurants are still open and operating today, serving as a testament to his grandfather's hospitality, standards, and determination.
While his grandson has now made D.C. his home with husband and local radio star Tommy McFly, Kefalas hopes to follow in his grandfather's culinary success noting, 'The one type of food that represents my papou best is ice cream. It's about bringing joy to people, and I think we have the opportunity to do that with Yala Greek ice cream.' See More: Coming Attractions
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