dsmWeekly: November 16, 2022

Look for Jacob Demars' more popular desserts at Barbarian, including a banana cake with strawberry, sage and mint.

FOOD AND DINING
dsm Exclusive: Kinship’s New Restaurant to Open

Writer: Karla Walsh

Something big is brewing at Kinship Brewing Co. in Waukee. After months of construction, planning and menu development, Kinship executive chef Jacob Demars is set to launch a one-of-a-kind experience. Starting Jan. 15 from 5 to 9 p.m. and open every Sunday after, Barbarian Restaurant will be a 32-seat, modern-new American restaurant that will be on-site at Kinship (255 NW Sunrise Dr., Waukee), Demars tells dsm exclusively.

Before diving into the concept, I had to ask about the name.“ ‘Barbarian’ is inspired by the people who I have learned from throughout my career in cooking,” says Demars, whom you might remember from R/I Restaurant and Marlene’s. “This is a tribute to the passionate ones that push you through 16-hour days and tough nights.”

Diners will have three options: Order a la carte, choose the six-course menu, or go all-in with the 12-course tasting. The a la carte menu will be posted on the Kinship Facebook page and on Instagram @barbarianrestaurant.

Reservations will open mid-December, and “since space is so limited, reservations are required,” Demars says. The main Kinship kitchen, Next of Kin, will serve the taproom Tuesday through Saturday, he adds.

When asked about the Sunday-only strategy, Demars says more space—and more days—are planned. “In early spring, we hope to consider running Barbarian five nights a week,” he says. A new garden area next to the kitchen not only will supply produce but also seat up to 10 guests, Demars adds, providing an option for outdoor private dinners and beer tastings.

In the meantime, Kinship beer and a small wine list will be available as pairings to begin, with a cocktail and spirit-free drink menu following closely behind.

“The a la carte menu will change monthly with small weekly produce changes,” says Demars, who's developing the initial menu with sous chef Megan Murphy. Look for some of his more popular dishes, such as risotto carbonara, Cape Ann baked stuffed clam and lobster bisque. Two new new dishes he says he’s excited about are raspberry Jell-O pie with chocolate marshmallow fudge ice cream, and confit chicken nuggets with rolled sweet potato, fermented hot sauce and sour cream.

A high-definition screening of images from modern NASA space explorations will accompany the performance of Gustave Holst's "The Planets." Photo: Des Moines Symphony.

PLAN YOUR WEEKEND

Des Moines Symphony to Perform ‘The Planets’

Art and science will blend together when the Des Moines Symphony performs Gustave Holst’s “The Planets” this weekend.

The concert will open with “Fanfare on Amazing Grace” by American composer Adolphus Hailstork and “Larghetto for Orchestra” by Scottish composer James MacMillan. They’ll be followed by Elgar’s “Cockaigne Overture,” a cheerful work evoking Edwardian London.

After intermission, you'll experience space in a new way with “The Planets,” a composition written between 1914 and 1916 about our solar system and the mythological deities associated with each planetary body. The program will be accompanied by a high-definition screening of NASA images from modern space exploration. Performances will be Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the Des Moines Civic Center. Get tickets here.

PLAN YOUR WEEKEND

Holiday Promenade Kickoff (Friday, 6 p.m.): The 21st annual Holiday Promenade will return to the East Village for five Fridays this holiday season, beginning this weekend with the tree lighting and the opening of Brenton Skating Plaza. Many retailers and restaurants will be open until 9 p.m., plus there will be holiday-themed activities and entertainment. See the full schedule here.

SnowGlobe Des Moines pop-up (all weekend, 9 a.m.): Pop-up bar SnowGlobe Des Moines is back for 2022, featuring nearly a mile of Christmas lights and a truck full of decorations. The holiday-themed experience is located inside Exile Brewing, offering lunch and dinner, plus weekend brunch and a full bar. Santa may even join you for brunch on select dates. Check their schedule and make reservations here.

ARTS AND CULTURE
New concert announced: We're excited to hear that music legend Dionne Warwick, whose luminous vocal style has earned her generations of fans since she released her first album in 1963, will perform at Hoyt Sherman Place on Jan. 21. The six-time Grammy Award-winning singer has sold over 100 million records during her career, including such hits as “Say a Little Prayer” and “Walk On By,” among many others. Tickets go on sale Friday at hoytsherman.org.

IOWA STOPS HUNGER
Donations needed: Hope Ministries will serve and deliver thousands of meals to people in need on Thanksgiving. You can help by providing much-needed food donations. Hope Ministries will collect the donations on Wednesday, Nov. 23, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bethel Mission (1310 Sixth Ave. in Des Moines). There will be both a walk-in and drive-through option for delivering donations. Some needed items include ready-to-serve dinner rolls, bacon, milk, eggs and cans of green beans or mixed veggies. See a full list of items on their website. Iowa Stops Hunger is an ongoing Business Publications Corp. initiative to raise awareness of food insecurity in Iowa and inspire action to combat it.

Sweet confections from Lara’s Bakery, Clive. Photo: Duane Tinkey.

FOOD AND DINING

International Sweets to Bring to Your Holiday Table
Writer: Seeta Mangra-Stubbs

Greater Des Moines boasts several dozen markets that carry Indian, Latin, Asian, African and Middle Eastern delicacies. In my international market adventures, the challenge wasn’t finding ways to satisfy my sweet tooth; it was how to limit the options. Sure, the boisterous, tradition-loving uncle might be perplexed when he sees a Filipino purple cake at the table, but your cousins and their kids with adventurous palates will thank you for adding the diverse discoveries to your holidays.

Indian kulfi: If you’re looking for ice cream but want something that isn’t as sweet as American options, kulfi is a great alternative. It’s a frozen treat made primarily of milk and sugar along with different flavors like mango and pistachio. Basically, it’s an Indian Popsicle. While prowling for chai at Namaste India in Clive (7700 University Ave.), I found a freezer of Shahi brand kulfi by the checkout. This light dessert is especially good when too much sugar sounds heavy after the big meal.

Mexican Pan De Leche: Lara’s Bakery (1800 N.W. 86th St., Suite 19, Clive) has fresh, beautiful, fragrant sweet carbs to load up your holiday spread. I stood there forever trying to decide on one thing. Ultimately, I left with a piña pan leche (a sweet milk bread) that was soft and tempting. The pineapple cream’s texture in the middle matched perfectly; I almost couldn’t tell where it started and the bread ended. I also left Lara’s with a package of Gansito, which is life-changing. The chocolate-covered, cream-filled cake is a fan favorite.

Click here to discover more local spots selling international sweets to savor.