New Tastings at Proof

Proof's new tasting menu offers small bites perfect for trying out everything chef Diego Rodriguez has to offer, like this cappelletti with green cabbage, pickled mustard seeds and cauliflower.

FOOD AND DINING
Revisiting: Proof—and the Brand-New Tasting Menu

Writer: Karla Walsh

He’s only 24, but chef Diego Rodriguez—whom you might remember from our Culinary Young Guns feature in 2020—has already racked up some impressive accolades and experience. In the three years since he took over as Proof’s executive chef, his family has been featured on a moving episode of Andrew Zimmer’s Magnolia Network show “Family Dinner”; he’s hosted several sold-out dinners at Dogpatch Urban Gardens; and he has reconfigured the menu and flavor profile of his downtown bistro.

“We used to offer tasting menus every night upon request and would change the menu almost daily. Now, we launch our new tasting menu every second Saturday of the month and run it for a full 30 days before changing it again,” Rodriguez says when asked about the inspiration for the shift. “For guests looking for a more casual fare, we still offer [an a la carte] menu that they can choose from.”

Recently, four friends and I booked a table (by the way, reservations and a slick prepay option are now available via Tock) and were all blown away by the beautifully layered flavors, eye-catching plating and generous dose of Mexican flair. All showed how Rodriguez is integrating his background and lessons from his beloved mother and grandmother into his own thoroughly modern menu.

“As a chef I have to ensure we are not only cooking for our guests but also for ourselves,” Rodriguez says. “We must cook food we enjoy and love to eat—without that component, there is no personal connection to the menu we serve.”

A few notable highlights from our dinner:

●   A perfectly seared scallop with grilled asparagus, shaved salt-cured egg yolk and a brilliant spicy strawberry-peanut sauce.

●   Handmade cappelletti pasta with green cabbage, pickled mustard seeds and cauliflower (pictured above).

●   A serenade to spring by way of English peas with comté custard, fried polenta and grilled pea bouillon.

The thoughtful wine and cocktail options, courtesy of new general manager Joe Buckley, added to the experience. The five savory courses on the perfectly portioned tasting menu were accented by two light and lovely desserts from pastry pro Megan Snyder. Buttermilk ice cream with orange sherbet, burnt meringue and phyllo were like the grown-up Creamsicle I didn’t know I needed. But I’m sure glad that the universe decided that I did.

Proof is open at 1301 Locust St., Suite C, Tuesday through Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. The tasting menu changes monthly, and individual dishes are also always available. Visit proofdsm.com to see the current offerings and to reserve a table, and get a sneak peek at the current dishes at facebook.com/ProofDSM and on Instagram @proofdsm.

The Iowa Craft Brew Festival is Saturday in Des Moines. The event runs from 1 to 4 p.m. Photo: Adam Wilson.

PLAN YOUR WEEKEND

Annual Iowa Craft Brew Festival Returns for 2022

Beer lovers rejoice! Over 100 Iowa breweries will gather at Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park this weekend for the annual festival celebrating craft beer from across the state. The event will include unlimited samples of over 300 beer varieties, so guests can enjoy their go-tos or find new favorites. Live music from the Sheet and food for purchase from local food trucks complete the experience.

The festival will be Saturday (June 4) from 1 to 4 p.m. General admission tickets as well as $5 designated driver tickets are available here.

PLAN YOUR WEEKEND

Chill on the Hill concert series (Friday, 6-9 p.m.): Standing Hampton will perform at Copper Creek Lake Park (4390 E. University Ave.) for the first Chill on the Hill concert this Friday. The event kicks off the summer series, which will take place throughout June and July with live music and beer. Tickets are $10 at the gate and include a beer ticket. Or you can purchase a season pass here for $70 for admission to all eight concerts plus beer tickets.

“Hamilton'' (all weekend, times vary): Don’t throw away your shot to see the legendary musical in its final weekend at the Des Moines Civic Center. Limited tickets are still available on the Des Moines Performing Arts website.

“Calendar Girls” (all weekend, times vary): Opening this weekend at the Des Moines Community Playhouse, the comedic play is based on the true story of 11 women who created a nude calendar to raise money for leukemia research. Shows will run through June 19. Purchase tickets here.

2022 Greek Food Fair Festival (all weekend, times vary): Celebrate Greek traditions with authentic food, music and dancing. The event will be held at St. George Greek Orthodox Church (1110 35th St.) and is free to attend, although food and beverage tickets require advance purchase. A portion of ticket revenue will be donated to DMARC Food Pantry Network.

ARTS AND CULTURE
Film festival: Immerse yourself in Latino culture at the upcoming Des Moines Latino Film Festival. For its second year, the festival will host five days of art, music, film and other performances at various locations throughout the city beginning June 7. The event is free to attend with registration and will go through June 11. To see the schedule for each day and register for an event, visit latinocenterofiowa.org.

FOOD AND DINING
Winefest events: As part of the Dotdash Meredith Saturday Sessions, two events will take place June 11 at the Dotdash Meredith campus. At 10:30 a.m., join Iowa bakers Chelsa Smith (Bread by Chelsa) and Aaron Hall (the Local Crumb) for a demonstration and tasting of sourdough and focaccia. Samples will be paired with locally churned butter and, of course, sparkling wine. Then at 1 p.m., visit with Jaine Mackievicz, winner of the Food Network’s "Julia Child Challenge," as she demonstrates different crepe-making styles. Tickets for both events can be found here.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Mental health: Join dsm for our virtual Lifting the Veil event, Youth in Recovery, June 23 from noon to 1 p.m. Our panel of mental health experts will share information and resources for youths and families as well as stories of hope for recovery. Panelists include co-host Andrew Allen, CEO of YSS; Dr. Sasha Khosravi, chief medical officer of Clive Behavioral Health; Amber Rand, independent licensed mental health counselor; Janice Lane Schroeder, CEO of Children & Families of Iowa; and Dr. Teri Wahlig, CEO of ChildServe. Register for the event here.

Left: Boonie Boone fabricates modern furniture, architectual elements and more in his Des Moines workshop. Right: This new patented chair from Factor Fabrication is designed in eight parts and named DS-8 in honor of the Dutch art movement “De Stijl,” which was founded by Piet Mondrian and Theo van Doesberg.

MORE FROM dsm

Artisan Welder Creates Modern Works of Art

Writer: James Augustus Baggett
Photographer: Bethany Kohoutek

Artisan welder Boonie Boone knows a thing or two about thriving when life throws you a curveball. Boone, 42, is the owner and visionary behind Factor Fabrication, a company that creates simple, significant furniture and architectural pieces built to be handed down for generations.

He named the company he launched with his wife, Bethany Kohoutek, in recognition of a life-changing event he experienced in 2008 at age 29, when he was hospitalized with a pulmonary embolism caused by a mutation called Factor 20210, a rare genetic predisposition to blood clots.

“I was sitting at home in Boone with what was first diagnosed as pneumonia,” he says. “I had a few restless nights where I just couldn’t get comfortable lying down due to chest pains. One afternoon while on the phone with a colleague, I fell short of breath and had to get off the phone. My folks lived just down the road and luckily my mother rushed me up to the emergency room. I flatlined for a bit and woke up in a daze to about a dozen people over me.”

Once he was fully awake, he was flown to Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. “A day in the ICU, a few more in the hospital, and they were able to break up the blood clot in my lung,” he says.

Read how Boone turned this experience into the driving force behind Factor Fabrication here.