dsmWeekly: May 3, 2023

Ramp it up: Ian Robertson, the executive chef at the forthcoming restaurant Oak Park, prepared a filet mignon with asparagus, ramps and morel mushrooms in a sherry cream demi-glace. Photo: Billy Dohrmann.

FOOD AND DINING

6 spring things local chefs love at farmers markets

Writer: Karla Walsh

If past years are any indication, more than 25,000 people will head downtown Saturday for the season’s first Downtown Farmers' Market. And while anticipation is high, the amount of fresh local produce is still pretty low this early in the spring — at the downtown market as well as the many other markets around town.

Still, you can find a lot more than baked goods and breakfast burritos. We asked local culinary pros to help us curate a handy guide to early spring shopping. So make your list, check it twice and dig in.

Asparagus, ramps and morel mushrooms. The restaurant Oak Park won’t open on Ingersoll Avenue until the fall, but executive chef Ian Robertson is already testing recipes to feature on the menu. “This time of year, I’m inspired by foraged ingredients,” he said. “That’s why I love using ramps and morels. They pair well with the asparagus, and parsnips help sweeten the dish, balancing the earth tones.”

Arugula. These locally grown greens pack a more peppery kick than their supermarket siblings, said MacKenzie Schultz, sous chef at Little Brother in Windsor Heights. She seeks out Dogpatch Urban Gardens at their Urbandale FarmStand to stock up on arugula that lends “freshness to any dish, especially anything luscious or fatty.” Case in point: Arugula’s spicy notes act as a foil for the rich steamed egg, aioli and cheese in Little Brother’s Soon-to-Be-Famous Breakfast Sandwich.

Rhubarb. “My first memory of rhubarb was harvesting it from my grandmother’s backyard to make rhubarb custard pie,” said James Richards, executive chef at Proudfoot & Bird in the Hotel Fort Des Moines. “It was one of my first experiences cooking food directly from the earth.” These days, Richards swings by the Prairie Lake Acres stand at the downtown market, then likes to quick-pickle fresh rhubarb with brown sugar and red wine vinegar. When it’s ready, he slices it thin to toss into salads for extra texture and flavor.

Edible flowers. Kristen Daily, baker and owner at Pie Bird Pies in Des Moines, plans to forage edible flowers, like pansies and violets, or source them from Ray Family Farms at one of their many local market appearances. “I'm really excited to try pressing them onto shortbread. You can bet we'll have them on our menu for pickup at Peace Tree,” she said, hinting about the popular weekly events her home-based bakery hosts at the East Village brewery. If you pre-order through Hotplate, your petal-topped cookie will be waiting for you.

Last year's "Black Butterfly" piano was designed by local artist Jill Wells and displayed at Mainframe Studios. Photo: City Sounds.

PLAN YOUR WEEKEND
City Sounds to reveal pianos at First Friday

This month’s First Friday program at Mainframe Studios includes the annual reveal of 10 painted public pianos from City Sounds DSM. From 5 to 8 p.m., visitors can enjoy live piano performances, vote for their favorite pianos and meet the artists who spiffed them up.

City Sounds is a nonprofit that Kathryn Dickel and Larry James founded in 2014 to temporarily install public pianos at several locations throughout Des Moines, all to promote music, art and community expression. Check this year's piano locations after Friday's event.

The First Friday event also celebrates Cinco de Mayo with food from Los Compadres Flaming Tacos and desserts by Pastelería Raquel.

PLAN YOUR WEEKEND

Pet Rock and Pork Tornadoes (7 p.m. Friday and Saturday): Enjoy two concerts with Midwest favorites on the lawn of the Lauridsen Amphitheater at Water Works Park. Pet Rock takes audiences back to the ‘70s on Friday, before the Pork Tornadoes bring the party Saturday. Tickets are available online.

Downtown Farmers' Market (7 a.m.-noon Saturday): Grab your tote bags and iced coffees! The farmers market returns to Court Avenue this weekend, marking the unofficial start of summer. Find fresh produce, to-go snacks, handmade goods and live music across several downtown blocks. For inspiration, check out a few fresh recipes from our new issue.

Cinco de Mayo in Valley Junction (noon-10 p.m. Saturday): Celebrate Mexican heritage and the undersung contributions of Mexican-American workers who helped build the region’s railroads. Between sets of live music and dancing, West Des Moines Mayor Russ Trimble will announce this year’s Cinco de Mayo King and Queen.

COMMUNITY
New honorees: We are pleased to announce the 2023 recipients of dsm’s fifth annual LGBTQ Legacy Leader awards, who will be the guests of honor at a celebration on Sept. 14 in downtown Des Moines. They are: Rich Hendricks, pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities and a leader in eastern Iowa’s LGBTQ community; Rick Miller of Des Moines, a pioneer in Iowa’s LGBTQ rights movement and archivist of the Des Moines Pride Center; Laurie Phelan of Farrar, who founded the nonprofit iJAG to help Iowa students graduate and find meaningful in-state employment; Scott Valbert of Des Moines, an advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion at several of the city’s largest corporations; and Aime Wichtendahl, a Hiawatha city councilor and Iowa’s first transgender elected official. In addition, Rich Salas of Des Moines University will be honored as an ally for his work to improve health care for LGBTQ patients through more inclusive education and advocacy.

It's going to the dogs! dsm editor Michael Morain joined Fearless editor Emily Kestel to unveil the May/June cover. Kestel snapped the shot of her parents’ rat terrier, Axl, scooping the loop downtown. Photo: Duane Tinkey.

NEW dsm ISSUE OUT NOW
Take home a new magazine in a new Benz

Guests packed the showroom floor of Mercedes-Benz of Des Moines last night to snap up copies of dsm’s newest issue. Our gracious hosts offered two lucky raffle winners a free one-month lease on a vehicle. (Now that’s a party favor!) After drinks, appetizers, mingling and some mild swooning over the shiny cars, Fearless editor Emily Kestel joined dsm editor Michael Morain to unveil the May/June cover.

If you couldn’t attend, check out a few highlights in this video, read the new issue online, and mark your calendar for our next unveiling event for the People Issue on June 13.