Corvallis kitchen introduces chicken and waffles for those who are gluten-free.

Mario and Tesh Paradiso launched 4 Chicken and Waffles two years ago, driven by Tesh's craving for a delicious meal.

“Ninety-nine percent of the market offers things like, ‘Here’s a salad and some bread that’s not very good,’” Tesh Paradiso remarked. “I longed for fried chicken. I craved fried foods.”

Tesh Paradiso suffers from celiac disease, which causes her body to react negatively to gluten by launching an immune response that harms her small intestine. Additionally, she is unable to consume dairy products.

Her partner, Mario Paradiso, doesn't have any food allergies. Additionally, he's an excellent cook, having been raised in a family that owned a restaurant.

Thus, the duo resolved to create their very own establishment — a haven where Mario could serve Tesh the comforting dishes she longed for, and where individuals like her could savor the crunchiness, indulgence, and rich flavors that are frequently restricted for those with severe allergies.

The dedicated effort has led to the success of 4 Chicken and Waffles, which offers gluten-free and dairy-free chicken and waffles to the residents of Corvallis from its cozy, tucked-away spot. Following a challenging flood incident a few months back, the establishment has bounced back stronger than ever, now branching out to provide frozen waffles to Oregon State University, along with various coffee shops and grocery stores throughout the state.

Modest beginnings

Mario Paradiso mentioned that the duo likely created around 300 different varieties of waffles in their quest to perfect the restaurant's signature recipe. The initial waffle iron they used was sourced from Bi-Mart.

While taste-testing, Tesh Paradiso would often think something tasted really good, but her husband, who knew what classic waffles or fried chicken should taste like, wouldn’t be satisfied.

"You've spent too much time out there," he teased Tesh Paradiso.

The ultimate waffle batter includes gluten-free flour, club soda, and eggs. However, the recipe for the chicken breading remains a closely guarded secret, according to Mario Paradiso. 

The couple began their journey with very little money in their bank account but managed to secure an affordable rental in a downtown building that also accommodates businesses like the piercing studio Rising Tides and the beauty salon Vanity Salon.

4 Chicken and Waffles continues to operate in the basement of the establishment, with meals being handed out directly from the kitchen through a window. The couple is assisted by their daughter, who recently completed her cosmetology studies, her boyfriend, and their 17-year-old son, who, as Mario Paradiso puts it, occasionally "shuffles in" to lend a hand.

Initially, 4 Chicken and Waffles did not promote itself as gluten- and dairy-free. However, as the business expanded, Mario and Tesh Paradiso decided to highlight this aspect, attracting a steady influx of customers with allergies. Even now, they continue to be amazed by the deliciousness of their dishes.

"The most rewarding moment," Tess Paradiso shared, "is when individuals return to the window, tears in their eyes, thankful for experiencing something they believed was lost to them forever."

"That's what fuels our motivation," she remarked.

"We lost it all."

Around seven or eight months back, 4 Chicken and Waffles experienced a flooding incident that forced the restaurant to shut its doors for three months.

A sump pump-related fiasco — sump pumps are used to move water from a basement to the outside of a building — caused the building's basement to flood overnight. 

Tess Paradiso recalled, “When we arrived, there was about two feet of water everywhere. We lost it all.”

4 Chicken and Waffles underwent renovations, resulting in the closure of the entire downstairs area, which included the installation of new walls in the kitchen.

Upon the family's return, they found themselves needing to rebuild from the ground up, beginning with a limited menu. However, it wasn't long after they reopened that the restaurant became incredibly busy, as Mario Paradiso noted.

Returned and improved like never before!

Prior to the flood, Mario and Tesh Paradiso entered into a lease agreement for 4 Waffles Kitchen, situated beneath the Starbucks on Southwest Madison Avenue. This establishment serves as their bakery, where they prepare, freeze, package, and box their waffles for distribution.

This space is useful, as Mario and Tesh Paradiso have expanded their business beyond the restaurant and into coffee shops, including Margin Coffee Roasters, The Brim Coffee Co. and Sidekicks Gourmet and Espresso in Albany, as well as to all Market of Choice locations in Oregon. They also sell them at OSU.

According to Tesh Paradiso, OSU students who have allergies previously traveled to 4 Chicken and Waffles due to the lack of appropriate choices available on campus. Although the college provided gluten-free alternatives, there were instances where these items were mixed with gluten-containing foods, posing a risk to individuals with celiac disease.

A notable segment of 2 Chicken and Waffles' clientele consists of college students, especially OSU athletes who prefer to stay under the radar.

“They’re always saying, ‘I have this hidden gem,’ and then they’ll take a date to this spot,” Tesh Paradiso remarked with a playful grin.

Operating a restaurant—and now a bakery as well—requires a lot of effort, but Mario and Tesh Paradiso find their drive in the positive impact they're having on people's lives. While they aspire to have a more hands-on approach in the future, they are currently reveling in the vibrant atmosphere of their comeback after the flood, broadening their distribution efforts, and providing quality food to a community that truly deserves it.

4 Chicken and Waffles operates from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.