dsmWeekly: January 25, 2023

Jackie Ackerberg replaces chicken with jackfruit in this vegan "chicken" tortilla soup. Photo: Jackie Ackerberg.

Local Author Releases New Vegan Cookbook

Local food blogger and author Jackie Ackerberg (jackfruitfulkitchen.com) has released her new book, "The Clean Vegan Cookbook," available online for $23 and at local bookstores. It features a hearty tortilla soup that stars jackfruit instead of chicken.

“This fabulous fruit is a great plant-based alternative when you’re looking for the texture of shredded chicken,” Ackerberg says. “In this recipe, it takes on all the spicy flavors of this creamy Southwestern soup and adds the perfect shredded-chicken texture.” Find the full recipe on our website.

Ackerberg says you can find the book locally at Campbell’s Nutrition, Eden, Allspice Culinarium, Storyhouse Bookpub, Beaverdale Books, Des Moines Mercantile, Barnes & Noble and Target. It’s also available at the Des Moines Public Library.

No need for plastic: Guests at Indulge 2023 get to keep their own souvenir glasses. Photo: In Any Event.

PLAN YOUR WEEKEND

Taste Wines Amid a Trove of Vintage Goods

At the Indulge 2023 event Friday and Saturday, you can sample international wines paired with gourmet cheese and chocolate, such as those from Wisconsin cheesemaker Sartori and local confectioner Chocolaterie Stam. Craft cocktails made with Templeton Rye and Corralejo Tequila also will be available.

The event, which begins at 6 p.m. both evenings, will take place at West End Architectural Salvage, so if the treats aren’t enough to tempt, the four stories of DIY dreams are. Guests will be free to explore galleries of vintage and remade items as they snack. Live music from Mike Aceto and Jenna Huston will add to the fun.

Tickets are on sale for both evenings.

PLAN YOUR WEEKEND

Dome After Dark (Friday, 6-10 p.m.): Admire the blooms at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden’s conservatory amid colorful lights that set the greenery aglow. Then test your green thumb with a few rounds of botanical trivia. Tickets are $25 for a team of five.

"Harry Potter" in concert (Friday, 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, 1:30 p.m.): The wizarding world will feel all the more magical when the Des Moines Symphony performs the score live as the series' fourth movie, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," plays on the big screen at the Des Moines Civic Center. Snatch tickets before they disappear.

RAGBRAI announcement (Saturday, 6-10 p.m.): Organizers of the world's oldest, largest and longest recreational bike ride will announce its 50th route during a party at Hy-Vee Hall. Tickets are $50, complete with heavy hors d'oeuvres, beer from Big Grove Brewery and musical stylings from the Pork Tornadoes.

Meet author Stephen Markley (Saturday 7 p.m.): The author of the bestseller “Ohio” and the new novel “The Deluge” will speak at the central branch of the Des Moines Public Library. Markley is a graduate of the acclaimed Iowa Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa. Admission is free.

ARTS AND CULTURE
Entertainment update: Hoyt Sherman Place has announced five more upcoming shows. Actor Bruce Campbell will visit on April 26 with “Bruce-O-Rama”–part interactive game show, part movie screening. The lineup continues with KT Tunstall and Martin Sexton (May 16) and the Australian rock group Little River Band (Nov. 17). Tickets for these three shows are on sale now. On Friday, tickets will go on sale for Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular (March 19) and a concert by the rock band Kansas (Aug. 4) during their 50th anniversary tour.

ARTS AND CULTURE
Speaker series: Des Moines Area Community College announced the lineup for its 14th annual Celebrate! Innovation (ciLive!) Speaker Series, set for March 9 at the DMACC West Campus in West Des Moines. This year’s theme, “Be Your Own Superhero,” features a variety of speakers from diverse backgrounds for a total of 14 presentations (including one by bass guitarist James LoMenzo, pictured). All presentations are free to attend in person or online, live via e360tv.

The Green Olive on Fleur Drive specializes in fresh Mediterranean mezes, salads and kebabs. The business opened in early January and is open every day but Mondays.

FOOD AND DINING
First Look at New Mediterranean Spot

Writer: Beth Eslinger

Looking for some new flavors for takeout—including lunch near downtown? The Green Olive recently opened at 4221 Fleur Drive, near the Fareway, and updates the local scene with fresh Mediterranean flavors, including kebabs, stuffed grape leaves, savory phyllo treats, salads and plates of creamy hummus with pita. Order online and your takeout will tempt you the entire ride home or back to work.

On our stop last week, we picked up a vegetarian platter with the works, which was perfect to share for three. The smoky baba ghanouj (a grilled eggplant spread) is our new favorite in town and perfectly complements the parsley-rich tabouli and lemony dolmas (grape leaves). The "works" comes with juicy grilled chicken and lamb, plus herby kofta (meatballs) over a bed of fragrant yellow rice. Prices for wraps are about $10, while plates start around $14.

Bonus: They serve breakfast, too, including crepes and omelets.