Andreas 3 and Fernando’s add to Mexican scene
Mexican restaurants cluster in Des Moines. In the early to mid 20th century, Valley Junction was synonymous with Mexican food. Around the end of the last century, a six-block stretch [...]
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Posted September 04, 2013in Food Dude
Posted August 28, 2013in Food Dude
Akebono 515 continues Des Moines’ sushi roll
The last 10 years brought a sushi renaissance to Des Moines. I realized the depth of our town’s craving for raw fish and rice at a food court this summer. [...]
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Posted August 21, 2013in Food Dude
‘America’s worst restaurant meal’
The franchise restaurant industry has been busy this summer reacting to trends and troubles. Darden restaurants had a particularly bad summer after stomach viruses, traced to salad mixes, struck a [...]
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Posted August 14, 2013in Food Dude
Papa Lacona has quirky take on tradition
No family has contributed more to the central Iowa food scene than Teresa Lacona’s. Her sons founded Noah’s Ark and Mama Lacona’s. The next generation added Bambino’s. Lucca, Gusto and [...]
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Posted August 07, 2013in Food Dude
Siouxland treats in West Des Moines
Iowa has played a major role in loose meat sandwich history. Sioux City’s Ye Old Tavern (now Gus’s Family Restaurant) and Muscatine’s Maid-Rite both claim to have invented them in [...]
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Posted July 31, 2013in Food Dude
The sports bar with a wine cellar
Wine Spectator’s annual “The List” is out with mega star restaurateur Thomas Keller on the cover. It honors 3,793 restaurants worldwide deemed worthy of its awards for wine excellence, including [...]
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Posted July 24, 2013in Food Dude
Solo dining, without regret or shame
A new cafe in Amsterdam only provides small tables with single chairs, requiring customers to come solo. In America, dining alone is more awkward, particularly, it seems, for ladies. Female [...]
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Posted July 17, 2013in Food Dude
Lunch on The Patio
Some canons are only temporary. June is no longer the biggest month for weddings in Iowa. Wedding planners, caterers and cake makers all tell me that October and September are [...]
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Posted July 10, 2013in Food Dude
Some new summer treats
Summer, not spring, is the season of rebirth in central Iowa, especially in years like this when plantings are delayed by record-setting rainfall. I spent last week gadding about various [...]
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Posted July 03, 2013in Food Dude
Great China is great restaurant
To stay current, food writers pay considerable attention to what’s new. Sometimes a place of significant excellence can slip into the deeper levels of our consciousness. After writing about a [...]
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