dsmWeekly: August 24, 2022

The roasted peppers stuffed with Iowa tofu from Harbinger had dsm contributor Karla Walsh mesmerized. “The smoked tomato dashi packed a surprising and delightful amount of kick,” she says. “Paired with the tangy pickled cabbage and caramelized oyster mushrooms, this vegan main was a total surprise. Those who fear tofu, try this—it will convince you to love the plant-based protein!”

FOOD AND DINING
There's Still Time to Enjoy Restaurant Week!

The dsm team has been busy munching our way through the first half of dsm Restaurant Week. We’ve tried a number of the 33 tantalizing options, and can say with confidence that this year’s menus are too good to pass up.

A few highlights so far include Allora Cafe, where we had an extraordinary lunch. The three-course meal started with a bright, summery gazpacho, followed by the sublime main dish featuring homemade ravioli with spinach, arugula and ricotta and topped with salmon. And dessert? A surprisingly light and refreshing tort with espresso and rum filling, served with a chocolate sauce and berries. Allora, located inside the Krause Gateway Center downtown, is open for lunch Monday through Friday.

Dinner at Aposto was equally impressive with the Salmon Panzanella—seared salmon served over a bread and tomato salad tossed with basil vinaigrette—and the homemade cavatelli with marinara sauce and Italian sausage. At Mulberry Street Tavern, the tomato and stracciatella appetizer, with confit Sungold tomatoes tossed with black garlic balsamic, and the vegan braised cabbage entree were heavenly.

The yellow summer squash koji and roasted stuffed peppers from Harbinger were an adventure in both taste and ingredients. dsm food and dining contributor Karla Walsh says the squash was so flavorful she found herself scraping the bowl for more.

We’re already making our plans and reserving tables for the rest of the week. Editor-in-Chief Christine Riccelli, for instance, is headed to Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar, among others, and Assistant Editor Hailey Allen has been dying to check out Clyde’s Fine Diner and their crispy risotto cake. Other team members report they'll be heading to Bubba, Django, Proof, Splash Seafood Bar & Grill, St. Kilda Collective, Alba and more.

What have you been trying this week? Let us know by tagging @dsmrestaurantweek in your food photos, or using the hashtag #dsmrw2022. Find the list of participating restaurants and submitted menus online here.

Melanie Moore stars as Scout (left) alongside Jacqueline Williams as Calpurnia in the production of "Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird." Photo: Julieta Cervantes

PLAN YOUR WEEKEND

See ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ This Weekend

The play adaptation of Harper Lee’s 1960 novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” will continue this weekend at the Des Moines Civic Center during its tour stop in Des Moines. The Pulitzer Prize-winning novel was adapted into a play by Academy Award-winning playwright and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, and is directed by Tony Award-winner Bartlett Sher. With such a distinguished pedigree, it's no wonder the Broadway play has received praise from New York Magazine, Rolling Stone and NPR.

The show, set in a small Alabama town in the mid-1930s, follows attorney Atticus Finch as he defends Tom Robinson, a Black man wrongly accused of assaulting a white woman. Richard Thomas will portray Finch; the actor is perhaps best known for playing John-Boy in the 1970s television series “The Waltons.”

Don’t miss the chance to see the play for yourself during one of the weekend productions presented by Des Moines Performing Arts. Tickets are still on sale, but with limited availability. Click here for a list of production times and ticket prices.

PLAN YOUR WEEKEND

“Timeless” opening reception (Friday, 5-7 p.m.): The Jordan House will host a pop-up exhibit from Olson-Larsen Galleries featuring objects in the West Des Moines Historical Society collection and contemporary artwork. Click here to learn more about the Jordan House and exhibiting artists. The exhibit will run through Sept. 30.

“Iowa Nice” at Teehee’s (Friday, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.): See a mix of live and video sketches in this SNL-style comedy show. Tickets are available for both showtimes here.

Exile Music Fest (Saturday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.): The occasion? Exile Brewing Company is turning 10. The theme? Intergalactic luau. Enjoy a lineup of live music including Iowa indie rock band Halfloves and Des Moines-based performers the Isiserettes with a brew in hand to celebrate. Food will also be available from Exile, Gusto Pizza and Outside Scoop. While you’re there, catch a brewery tour. Tickets to the event are available here.

Ingersoll LIVE! (Saturday, 4-11 p.m.): The annual block party along Ingersoll Avenue returns with live music, food, art and other entertainment. The packed schedule includes performances across three stages from June Bugs, Punching Pandas and Girls Rock! Des Moines, among others. Check out the full performance schedule, plus find lists of food and art vendors here.

Des Moines Wedding Show (Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.): Calling all soon-to-be brides and grooms! The Scottish Rite Consistory will host over 80 vendors for the Des Moines Wedding Show, all ready to help make the big day a big hit. Find florists, event planners, decor inspiration and even hotel recommendations. The event is free to attend, but registration is required. See available times, or purchase a VIP option here.

2022 Cloris Awards (Sunday, 7-10 p.m.): The annual Cloris Awards will honor eight local theater companies during a ceremony at the Jamie Hurd Amphitheater in West Des Moines. Admission to the outdoor event is free, and guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets and picnic items. To see the list of nominees across the 16 categories for acting, directing and design, and to find more details about the awards, click here.

Dietitian and mushroom grower Kimberly Baishnab shows off a cluster of her oyster mushrooms. Photo: Duane Tinkey

FOOD AND DINING

Learn to Grow Mushrooms With Kimberly Baishnab

Writer: Lisa Holderness Brown

Dietitian Kimberly Baishnab has a surprising side hustle: growing mushrooms in her Johnston garage. She started the Local Shroomery of Des Moines in May 2021 as a one-woman business, selling oyster mushrooms at the Valley Junction Farmers Market and to customers through social media.

“Owning a shroomery comes with regular jokes about magic mushrooms and playful comments such as ‘I’ve gotta get me some of those’ from people passing by the market booth,” Baishnab says with a laugh. That’s why she makes a point of marketing her homegrown mushrooms as gourmet and for culinary purposes: “I want people to know that these mushrooms won’t leave them in an altered state of consciousness, but they are exotic-looking and fun to cook with.”

Her dietetic training also keeps her researching the multiple health benefits coming out about mushrooms, including possible heart benefits and immune support, as well as being a low-carb, low-fat source of micronutrients.

Years ago, while completing her dietetic internship in Peoria, Illinois, she was drawn to a farmers market booth selling shocking pink mushrooms and she started asking questions. She found out oyster mushrooms grow in clumps of 10 to 40 caps each and come in amazing colors and artful shapes.

“They’re fairly easy to grow,” Baishnab says. “As a fungus, oyster mushrooms can feed on essentially any organic matter, but I use bags of pasteurized wheat straw for the growing medium. Mushrooms do need a very sterile environment and take a bit of experimentation to get the process right.”

Baishnab loves talking mushrooms. Ask her about how she prepares oyster mushrooms, and you might need to pull up a chair. She’s passionate about cooking with the fungi and readily shares her recipes and cooking tips. So far, she sells only oyster mushrooms, but she’s hoping to offer lion’s mane mushrooms soon, which are being studied for possible neurological benefits.

Baishnab currently sells her mushrooms through Raccoon Forks Farm CSA and social media. Check out her Facebook and Instagram pages @localshroomery.dsm for updates. Find her list of mushroom basics in this dsm article.