Masao is redefining fresh
Masao is Des Moines’ greatest application yet of the miracle of overnight air freight. It is also dramatic evidence that technology shrunk the world more than anything else did. When [...]
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Posted September 03, 2025in Food Dude
Posted August 06, 2025in Food Dude
Des Moines’ international renaissance
The local food scene is rifting. Two different sports bars, Blue Shark and Perfect Ten, both failed in just a few months at the same address on Ingersoll. Two Mexican [...]
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Posted July 02, 2025in Food Dude
Is soul food the new BBQ?
Soul food is having a moment in Des Moines. Two new brick and mortar cafés devoted entirely to this African-American style of southern roots cooking are up and running. Every [...]
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Posted June 04, 2025in Food Dude
Graziano Brothers — in the place where it all began
In 1903, brothers Francesco, 21, and Luigi, 17, Graziano left their Calabrian hometown San Morello to emigrate to the U.S. Like many Calabrians before them, and many more later, their [...]
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Posted April 30, 2025in Food Dude
Los Laureles — it’s still the one
In 1989, CITYVIEW predecessor Skywalker began publishing the column “Since I Quit Drinking.” It was a take on the Rip Van Winkle legend that used new sobriety as awakening to [...]
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Posted April 02, 2025in Food Dude
Chicago Speakeasy is an ode to comfort
The year was 1978, a most Dickensian time. A murder/suicide in Jonestown, Guyana, ended 909 American lives while Israel and Egypt were finding accord at Camp David, Maryland. Argentina won [...]
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Posted March 05, 2025in Food Dude
The ‘Killer’ vibes of B & B Grocery, Meat and Deli
B & B Grocery, Meat and Deli is the beating heart of Sevastopol. It has been since the first Brooks brothers, John and “Archie,” opened for business in 1922. “Everyone [...]
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Posted February 05, 2025in Food Dude
Christopher’s — a family heirloom
Joe and Red Giudicessi bought Christopher’s in 1961. The purchase included a sign too expensive to replace, so they kept the name someone else liked. Before that, they ran a [...]
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Posted January 01, 2025in Food Dude
La Mie remains true to its French roots
Because we have been covering the local food scene since the late 1980s, we’re often asked what jump-started the Des Moines restaurant renaissance. Good bread is our best answer. A [...]
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Posted December 04, 2024in Food Dude
Harbinger of invention
Jim Duncan will further reckon the year in food in his Daily Umbrella column the last two weeks of the month. www.thedailyumbrella.com December is the month of reckoning. We sum [...]
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