dsmWeekly: December 13, 2023

Moxie Kitchen + Events is located at 4119 University Ave. Photo: Michael Morain

FOOD AND DINING

Too many guests for the holiday feast? Rent Moxie.

Writer: Karla Walsh

If your holiday guest list feels like it includes 12 drummers drumming, 11 pipers piping, 10 lords a-leaping — you get the idea — and there’s no room for everyone at the table, a new events venue can help you host without a hassle. No cleaning, rounding up dishware, shopping or cooking is required, and you can even outsource the drinks to a bartender.

Just head to Moxie Kitchen + Events, 4119 University Ave., which hosted its first private event on Nov. 11. It looks a lot different than the Godfather’s Pizza place that occupied the site until late 2021.

The business is co-owned by a handful of local food entrepreneurs — Beth Jackson of Nourished, Jacob Schroeder of Crafted Food Services and Kali Brudos of DSM Pasta Co. — who use the shared kitchen to prep food for their own respective endeavors and then rent out the kitchen’s spare time to other chefs with culinary projects of their own, such as prepping to-go meals or hosting farm-to-table dinners. The general public can also book the space for cooking classes, cocktail hours, private dinners, brunches and more.

“We have a very versatile space,” Jackson said. “You could have an intimate dinner party, a dress-to-the-nines shindig with a live band or even a party to watch the Super Bowl.”

They’re still taking reservations for the holiday season and into the next year. If you’re interested, just email any of the owners (hello@moxiedesmoines.com) or a caterer from the Moxie portfolio to handle the ingredient sourcing, prep, plating and so forth. If you’d like, you can also hire a Moxie staff bartender to serve beer, wine, cocktails or spirit-free mixed drinks.

As Jackson put it, “This is a blank space where all your ideas and dreams of an event can come true.”

It’s also the only shared-use kitchen in Iowa that offers retail and grab-and-go for the owners and any interested chef renters. Early next year, Moxie will have fresh salads, grain bowls, dried pastas, jarred pasta sauces, bone broths, soups, desserts and a weekly wrap. That means you can stroll in and snag some tasty, nourishing fare — no reservation required.

Kyle Ramar Freeman as the Lion, Avery Wilson as the Scarecrow, Nichelle Lewis as Dorothy, Phillip Johnson Richardson as the Tinman in the current national tour of "The Wiz." Photo: Jeremy Daniel

BEST BET

‘The Wiz’ makes magic at Des Moines Civic Center

If you’re off to see the Wizard this week, you’re in luck. The candy-colored, razzle-dazzle revival of the 1974 musical “The Wiz” runs through Sunday at the Des Moines Civic Center. It’s touring the country on the way to Broadway, like Team Dorothy on their way to the Emerald City.

For Tuesday’s opening, several understudies stepped into starring roles, including Dorothy’s, and — golly, Aunt Em! — if those were the backups, we can only imagine how the main stars shine. The cast has more talent than poppies in a field.

The visual effects are eye-popping, too, with colorful costumes and a kaleidoscopic video backdrop. When the Kansas tornado rips apart the first scene’s Grant Wood-y background, it’s hard to differentiate between dry ice and digital clouds. The storm swallows the entire stage in a green swirl. Stay tuned later for the swanky Emerald City and the Wicked Witch’s fiery factory.

If you plan to go, check out the new podcast that Des Moines Performing Arts launched earlier this week. Its first 15-minute episode features a chat with DMPA President and CEO Jeff Chelesvig and “Wiz” director Schele Williams about her personal connections to the iconic show.

The Week Ahead

“Home for the Holidays: A Christmas Cabaret,” (7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday): Tallgrass Theatre Company brings back the A Sisters for three rounds of fun songs and a few festive surprises in West Des Moines.

Iowa Basketball Doubleheader, (3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday): Ready for some hoops? Caitlin Clark leads the Hawkeye women’s basketball team against Cleveland State at Wells Fargo Arena, after the Hawkeye men take on Florida A&M.

Michael W. Smith Christmas, (3 p.m. Sunday): The Grammy-winning singer and songwriter with rare success in both contemporary Christian and mainstream charts offers a pair of Christmas concerts at Hoyt Sherman Place, with special guest Michael Tait of the Newsboys.

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas, (7:30 p.m. Tuesday): Now in its 35th year, Chip Davis’ propulsive multimedia Christmas concert returns to Stephens Auditorium in Ames.

HOME AND GARDEN
More HDA finalists: This week we continue to reveal our 2024 dsm Home Design Award finalists with the Room Remodel-Living Room, Room Remodel-Bath and Kitchen, and Historic Renovation categories. Please join us in congratulating the finalists AIM Kitchen & Bath, ALT Design Studio, Blue Aster, Compelling Homes, Crose & Lemke Construction, Design2Build, Eden & Gray Design Build, Hal Davis, Invest DSM, JMG Holdings, MainBuilt Custom Homes, Meghan Blum Interiors and Remodeling Contractors. View all the finalist projects online, and look out for the winners to be announced during our Home Design Awards event Feb. 27.

"Under the Mistletoe" from the Republic on Grand's holiday cocktail list. Try it next time you visit their Rudolph's Rooftop pop-up bar taking over their balcony space for the season. Photo: Scott Bruxvoort

DRINKS

A non-comprehensive guide to holiday cocktails

Writers: Mathany Ahmed and Hailey Allen

We get it: The holidays are stressful. But it’s hard to be a grinch with a fun bevvy in your hand. To fulfill our humble role in public service, the dsm team popped into some holiday pop-ups to taste test their menus. Here are a few of our favorites:

“Marshmallows & Unicorns,” Miracle on Ingersoll at the Station
This cocktail blends cardamom and black-pepper-infused gin with the earthy sweetness of velvet Falernum. Cherry liqueur and lemon juice cut through sweetness, while egg white and a marshmallow garnish add a soft, festive touch.

“Pear Tree,” Winchester Public House
The house-made sour mix brings a balanced tang to the sweet pear vodka. Domaine de canton adds a subtle gingery zing, and cardamaro rounds out all the flavors with a light bitter artichoke note. No partridge to be found.

“Sweater Weather,” Snowglobe at Exile Brewing Co.
Snuggle up with this cozy blend of Iowa-made Revelton Whiskey and Cream, nutty Amaretto and a subtle hint of Chambord, all wrapped in the warmth of nutmeg and cinnamon flavoring. Topped with a cherry, the drink is the perfect match for the seasonal Strawberry Mistletoe Cake.

“Tom and Jerry,” Good News Darling
This cozy cocktail on the speakeasy’s “Naughty List” menu has a few homemade updates. The traditional holiday drink is a variant of eggnog made with rum, and the Good News version uses nutmeg, a house buttered rum blend and a mix of several amari liqueurs to create its own unique, warm flavor.

“Under the Mistletoe,” Rudolph’s Rooftop at the Republic on Grand
This pomegranate margarita is made with Cazadores Blanco tequila and cranberry bitters. The drink is festive and sweet from the Pama pomegranate liqueur that turns it red as Rudolph’s nose.