Chrys Kefalas, a former Maryland U.S. Senate candidate, is set to open Yala (“Yala” is the Greek word for “milk”) at what could be the nation’s first authentic Greek ice cream shop this summer in Georgetown.
According to BizJournals, the new venture will operate out of approximately 1,208 square feet at 3143 N St. NW. Kefalas stated, “The one thing I always wanted to do was make something my papou would be proud of,” referring to his grandfather and the inspiration behind the brand.
Yala Greek Ice Cream brings generations of Greek ice cream-making tradition to the U.S., rooted in the legacy of Kefalas’ “Papou” (grandfather in Greek), who believed in making everything the best and sharing his heart with everyone. The company creates hand-crafted ice cream using farm-fresh milk and premium ingredients sourced from Greece, the Mediterranean, and world-renowned producers.
Each flavor reflects a commitment to quality, developed with techniques perfected in Greece and churned in America. According to the BizJournals report, traditional recipes incorporate ingredients such as cow’s milk, Greek fruit preserves, Greek yogurt, honey, and sea salt, which enhance both taste and texture. Yala also offers variations like kaimaki, which includes mastiha resin, salep powder, and sheep’s milk to yield a softer texture, similar to gelato.
