dsmWeekly: November 2, 2022

This year's pie offerings from the Wine & Pie Drive-By fundraiser include a pear and cardamom wide lattice pie, whiskey-apple pecan crumble, cranberry-apple almond crumb and a pear and candied ginger peekaboo pie. Photo: Les Dames d'Escoffier.

FOOD AND DINING
New Food News Worth Consuming

Pies, wine, barbecue, cookies and more: There’s plenty happening on the food and dining front in Des Moines:

1. The Greater Des Moines chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier International (LDEI) is hosting its third annual Wine & Pie Drive-By, a fundraiser that doubles as an easy option for getting Thanksgiving necessities. For $75 now through Nov. 18 (or until they sell out), each wine-and-pie package includes your choice of pie and one bottle of Keep It Chill Beaujolais, a perfect pairing for most Thanksgiving fare. Orders can be picked up Nov. 19 at the contactless drive-by at the Dotdash Meredith lot downtown. Visit their website to select from four pie options and secure your order.

2. A new downtown Jethro’s BBQ location was announced last week. Entrepreneur and restaurant owner Bruce Gerleman purchased the 54-year-old office building at 221 Park St., formerly home to Master Builders of Iowa, and has started on the necessary renovations. The new Jethro’s is expected to be open sometime next summer, possibly as early as June 1. Click here to read the full story in the Business Record.

3. Life just got a little sweeter in Ankeny. The recent opening of Cookies & Dreams at the District at Prairie Trail (345 S.W. Park Square Drive, Suite 100) means daily fresh-baked cookies with innovative flavors like Snickerdoodle Cheesecake and Double Trouble—half chocolate chip, half triple chocolate and stuffed with a full Oreo and creamy peanut butter. The business has showcased its creations at Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, New York Fashion Week and the PGA’s John Deere Classic Tournament.

4. Cooper’s Hawk, a modern, upscale restaurant and winery, will open its first Iowa location in Clive (12801 University Ave.) later this month. Beyond mouthwatering menu options from its scratch kitchen (we’re already looking forward to the sweet corn and tomato risotto and the bourbon-lacquered barbecue pork chops), the new location will include its signature Napa-style tasting room and a retail shop. Opening is planned for right after Thanksgiving.

There are new exhibitors at this year's Des Moines Holiday Boutique, plus plenty of favorites returning. With more than 150 vendors to stroll among, you're sure to find gifts for the people on your list. Photo: Des Moines Holiday Boutique.

PLAN YOUR WEEKEND

Shop Easy and Early at the Holiday Boutique

The Des Moines Holiday Boutique will return to the Iowa Events Center for a weekend of fun and festive shopping. More than 150 vendors from around the country will sell home decor, art, clothing, jewelry, gourmet foods and more.

Doors open at 10 a.m. each day, and Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. will feature “Girls Night Out” entertainment including music and drinks. Saturday is Mother-Daughter Night, where guests are encouraged to wear matching outfits for a look-alike contest.

Head to the Holiday Boutique website for more details and to purchase tickets.

PLAN YOUR WEEKEND

Mainframe Studios First Friday (Friday, 5 p.m.): This month’s First Friday event, “Soft,” will focus on all things fiber and textiles. Enjoy food and beverages by Tangerine Food Co. plus live music as you explore the Uplifting Puppet Company teaching puppetry as an art form, fiber artists Susannah Dotson and Jennifer Leatherby talking faux fur, a group exhibition, and a special installation via freight elevator. Learn more here.

Iowa Wild vs. Grand Rapids Griffins (Friday, 7 p.m.): Hockey season is back, so head to Wells Fargo Arena to watch the Iowa Wild face off against Grand Rapids. It’s Hockey Fights Cancer night, with $2 beer until the end of first period. The Iowa Wild are also hosting a winter coat drive benefiting Children and Families of Iowa. Get tickets here.

Native American artifact exhibit (Saturday, noon): A new exhibit at the Jester Park Nature Center will open to the public on Saturday, featuring artifacts and replicas spanning 12,000 years of Native American history. Environmental education specialists will offer hands-on activities to complement the exhibit, such atlatl throwing and tool building.

The 1st Annual Congo De' Des Moines Fundraiser (Saturday, 5 p.m.): This new fundraising event full of culture and inspiration will benefit ICOACH. The organization supports the Congolese community of Central Iowa with education, advocacy and development programs to expand economic opportunities. The event will include food and entertainment, as well as featured speaker and ICOACH founder Boaz Nkingi. Purchase tickets to attend here, and read more about ICOACH and its founders in this dsm story.

"The Road Scholars" Spyro Gyra Tribute Band (Saturday, 7 p.m.): University of Iowa professors Damani Phillips and Dan Moore join forces with Iowa musicians William Menefield, Steve Charlson and Tim Crumley to bring the sound of contemporary jazz group Spyro Gyra back to life in this tribute band performance at Noce. Find tickets to the performance here.

One thing is certain after last night's unveiling party at the Iowa Culinary Institute at DMACC: The entire team there sure knows how to be showstopping hosts! From hand-rolled sushi and freshly shucked oysters the size of hockey pucks, to bite-sized gourmet tacos and mini vegan cheesecakes, the food—and wine—wowed the crowd of some 400 people.

After snacking away through each flavor-filled dish, everyone gathered for a short program before the November/December cover was revealed featuring Randi Estabrook, photographed by Justin Salem Meyer. The cover image was part of a story created by the team at Salon Spa W. To close out the evening, ICI students passed out goodie bags with Prosecco and macaroons.

In addition to the issue release, the event celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Des Moines Community College Foundation. A huge thank-you to host Rita Perea, founder of Rita Perea Leadership Coaching and Consulting, the DMACC Foundation and the Iowa Culinary Institute for the fantastic evening! See more photos from the event here and a video here.