dsmWeekly: September 28, 2022

Culinary Nomad’s Italian Flag Chicken Cutlet features a panko-breaded chicken breast, pesto, roasted red peppers and mozzarella on a toasted bun. Photo: Duane Tinkey.

FOOD AND DINING
3 Food Trucks to Try During Your Lunch Break

Writer: Seeta Mangra-Stubbs

With autumn’s arrival, you’ll want to be sure to visit these little-known and newer food trucks before the season ends.

Culinary Nomad: Now my favorite food truck, Culinary Nomad is owned and run by Chef Andrew Cardillo with Nina Cardillo, his wife, running the window. I got the chicken spiedini salad, a well-balanced combination of balsamic, chicken, fresh vegetables and shaved parmesan. My husband opted for the Nomad Meatball and gave an approving “yum” after his first bite. Including dessert and drinks, our total was almost $40, but it was worth the price. The quality of ingredients is higher than with most trucks, and the chef’s training and expertise come through in every dish.

Alan’s Tacos: This colorful truck, located at 1211 Sampson St. on the east side, brings a modernity to the scene. Unlike a lot of taco trucks, Alan’s takes credit cards and gives you a beeper to notify you when your food is ready. The prices are reasonable—we spent $20 on a huge birria torta, two generous asada tacos and two Jarritos. Both meals came hot with plenty of toppings, including radishes and cooked onions, but the meat alone had enough flavor that the garnishes seemed superfluous.

Two Ol’ Chefs: If you want something meaty or fried, this truck is a solid choice. They frequent locations such as Uptown Ankeny, Iowa Distilling Co. in Cumming and Brightside Aleworks in Altoona. It’s a straightforward operation with a small but powerful menu including smashburgers, brisket, pulled pork, tenderloins, fries and onion rings. My husband ordered a single smashburger with fries. It was a large portion, and the seasoning was intense. I got a pulled pork sandwich with slaw on top, and Betty, one of the chefs, cheered me on for ordering properly. We spent $23; find their schedule and menu on Facebook.

In addition to these newer trucks, revisit some favorite staples; click here to read more.

Sw!ing Out members will dance choreographed sets from Caleb Teicher and collaborators Evita Arce, Latasha Barnes and Nathan Bugh. Photo: Courtesey of Des Moines Performing Arts.

PLAN YOUR WEEKEND

Swing Dance Saturday

Members of the Sw!ng Out dance company will perform swing dances to live music from Eyal Vilner’s Big Band on Saturday at the Des Moines Civic Center. The swing dances will feature steps from acclaimed choreographer and Dance Magazine cover star Caleb Teicher.

An hour before the event, there will be a pre-show talk with the company members discussing their work and the inspiration behind the performance.

This show is part of Des Moines Performing Arts’ Dance Series. Find tickets here.

PLAN YOUR WEEKEND

Comedian Nick Swardson (Friday, 7:30 p.m.): Actor and comedian Nick Swardson is bringing his sixth stand-up special, the “Make Joke From Face Tour,” to Hoyt Sherman Place on Friday. Get tickets here.

Blood, Sweat & Beers 5K (Saturday, 10 a.m.): This fundraiser event supports Iowa families affected by blood and pediatric cancer. Plus, there’s the bonus of great beer. The 5K kicks off from 15th and Walnut in front of Walnut restaurant downtown. Register to walk or run here.

10th Annual Little Giant Beer Summit (Saturday, 3-7 p.m.): Head to el Bait Shop and raise a glass to Iowa small businesses. A party in the parking lot celebrates small Iowa breweries, cideries and meaderies with samples from around the state. Purchase a punch card to try them all. Check out the event Facebook page for updates and vendor lists.

Local book fair (Sunday, noon to 6 p.m.): Local pop-up bookstore and publisher Racoon River Press is hosting its first annual book fair at the Masonic Lodge in Windsor Heights. Browse through titles and merch from Iowa authors, artists and small businesses, as well as Halloween-themed selections. Find more information here.

ARTS AND CULTURE
Community festival: Gather around the metaphorical table for stories and snacks at the Des Moines Public Library’s first Community Table event Oct. 8. Join the festivities at various locations (the event is hosted by Franklin Community Library) to hear acclaimed storytellers perform songs, legends, myths and folk tales from around the world, with bites from local food vendors. The event begins at 10 a.m. See the schedule of events and lineup of storytellers here.

ARTS AND CULTURE
Circus tour: The world-renowned Bread & Puppet Theater is coming to the Lauridsen Amphitheater on Oct. 5 for their "Apocalypse Defiance Circus" tour. The Vermont-based performing group weaves together music, dance and slapstick for satirical street-theater takes on current events and politics. After the show, Bread & Puppet will serve its famous sourdough rye bread with aioli. Admission is free, and guests are encouraged to bring their own blankets and lawn chairs. The Des Moines Biergarten will also be open during the show serving drinks and snacks. Find more info about the performance and Bread & Puppet Theater here.

COMMUNITY AND PHILANTHROPY
Renew your passport: Oct. 1-7, celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Iowa International Center’s Passport to Prosperity Week, which highlights diversity and the outstanding refugees and immigrants who have made Iowa a better place to live. The week includes free events such as a trivia night, scavenger hunt and webinar and wraps up with the awards gala honoring inspiring community members; it's located at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. Find more information about Passport to Prosperity Week and purchase tickets to the gala here.

Telling jokes about herself “helps me not be so nervous,” says stand-up comedian Antoinette Stevens, who performs in Des Moines and around the Midwest. Photo: Anjana Olson.

PEOPLE

Meet Comedian Antoinette Stevens

Writer: Lisa Rossi

Growing up in Georgia, Antoinette Stevens was taught to be polite. “And it didn’t work,” she says, laughing.

It turns out that’s a good thing, as polite is not a trait people look for in a comedian. Stevens, a sought-after local stand-up comedian, performs around the Midwest, including at Teehee’s Comedy Club; later this fall, she’ll be at Mason City Brewing in Mason City and the Garden Nightclub. (Go to antoinettestevens.com to find details on her upcoming shows.)

Her comedy is a mix of observational humor and anecdotes about her life as a nearly 30-something new homeowner. And she deftly disarms hecklers with her quick comebacks. During the day, she is a senior security engineer with the messaging program Slack, working remotely from Des Moines.

Read the interview excerpt between Stevens and Rossi in this dsm article.