Dishcrawl

I spent most of this past Sunday afternoon tasting and touring my way through the East Village and let me tell you... it was delicious. A dear friend invited me to check out the latest Dishcrawl - an eight-stop walking tour of local restuarants, bars, a food truck and quite possibly the cutest bookstore cafe I have ever seen.

We started things off with a creamsicle cupcake from Rogue Sweets (in fact, it was so fantastic I devoured it before I could snap a photo).  It was moist, rich and vegan... good and good for you? I think so.

In the mood for something savory, we headed off to Capital Pub and Hot Dog Co. for a chicago dog... and a long wait. Unfortunately, I think we hit them during the "foodcrawl rush." However, once we got our dogs most was forgotten. Mine was missing the dill pickle slice and my friend's lacked the fiery sport pepper but overall the dogs were good. I snuck a peak at the menu and I'm eager to go back and check out the rest of their dogs.

After a super flavorful slice of sausage and pepperoni pizza from Mad Meatball - one of the coolest food trucks around - we headed in search of vegan fare.

And thats where I discovered my one of my favorite dishes of the day... Vegan Mac and cheese with kale and sesame sprinkle from New World Cafe. It was rich, creamy and fabulous. I'm so happy I discovered New World Cafe and I can't wait to go back.

During our tour, we also checked out the eclectic and lovely Off innaZONwerld. A shop highlighting local Iowa wine and tasty dips.

We rounded things off with a trip to the cutest bookstore, Plain Talk Books and Coffee... where we enjoyed delicious paninis and good reads. Can we talk about the NPR section!?

 

I ended the day in true Sunday Funday fashion with a cocktail from AJ's and a throwback Bubble Gum Italian Ice from Little Jimmies Italian Ice. It was sweet, refreshing and strangely addicting... I could go for another one right now.

A big thanks to Des Moines Dishcrawl for a fantastic food tour.

Gusto Pizza

As you may know, I have a love affair with pizza and it was love at first bite during my recent visit to Gusto Pizza Co. on Ingersoll. 

I started things off with a bowl of their homeade Thai Chicken Soup. I know, not pizza. But soo delicious. Rich and spicy it was just as good as some of the soups I've had at Thai restaurants. Who knew!?



While we waited for our pizza, I sipped a delicious Iowa beer. Blonde Fatale from Peace Tree Brewing Co. in Knoxville, Iowa is a Belgian Style Blonde Ale. Lightly bitter and sweet, this unfiltered beer is a great match for Gusto's signature pizzas.

I've had the chance to sample several of Gusto's pizza offerings and have a couple favorites. The Vincent Van Goat combines so of my favorite things - salami, goat cheese and rosemary. Just I thought it couldn't get any better, I bit into a caper. A salty burst of flavor, the capers balanced the creamy cheese and sharp salami perfectly.

Another fabulous choice - The Stallion. What starts as a great meatball and capicola pie is taken to the next level by a tangy green olive relish. For a salt-lover like me, it was pizza heaven.

One thing's for sure, this love is here to stay.





Fat Randi's

Since moving to Des Moines, I've been on the hunt for a great pork tenderloin sandwich. Like the cheesesteak to Philly, the pork tenderloin is the king of Iowa sandwich cuisine. My quest for the tenderloin took me off the beaten path and into a delicious food coma.
 
Located in the heart of downtown Van Meter, Fat Randi's is a local favorite that's well worth the drive.

 
Once we got to Fat Randi's, it seemed only natural to get a couple cold ones and stay awhile. We started our midday meal with an order of cheese curds. A favorite of mine, these salty bar snacks were fried to delicious perfection.

Moments later, I was sinking my teeth into Fat Randi's pork tenderloin.

The sandwich is lightly fried and topped with sliced onions and pickles. Topped with mustard, the combo of the rich, juicy pork, crisp batter, sweet onions and tangy pickles was amazing.

 

Feeling like a leisurely weekend drive? Head to Fat Randi's this weekend for some fried goodness. Swimsuit season be damned.

Proof

I've been wanting to try Proof since I last lived in Des Moines several years ago. Last weekend, I finally got the chance to check it out... and it was well worth the wait.

Proof's Mediterranean-inspired menu changes often and makes the most of seasonal, local ingredients.

We started things off with a couple drinks. Proof's happy hour boasts $5 signature cocktails... something not to be missed. I tried the Harrison Tonic - a unique and refreshing blend of Bourbon, Celery Syrup and Lemon Juice. A little salty, a little sweet and the perfect start to my meal.

And now on to the important stuff... the food.

We decided to share a couple small plates. Starting with Mussels...

 

 

They were amazing. Soaked in saffron and mustard cream, I wanted to lick the bowl. After I collected myself, we moved on to a favorite of mine. Bone Marrow. If you haven't tried it, get to Proof and check it out. It is as good as I've had it anywhere. Sure, its a little caveman but its a lot delicious.

 

Rich and butter-like, Bone Marrow is best spread on crisp bread with a little salt. However, in the words of Emeril, Proof kicks it up a notch with red-onion compote and caper, shallot and parsley salad. Pretty perfect.

 

We finished off the meal with a couple sandwiches.

 

The lamb meatballs and the Porchetta. Both sandwiches were great and each started with a warm, fluffy piece of chewy flatbread but that's where the similarities end. The Lamb Meatballs were rich, spicy and heavily seasoned. Just when I thought they couldn't get any better, I bit into the hidden center of goat cheese. The Porchetta's slow roasted pork stuffed with house-made Italian sausage was right and decadent. Smothered in cheese and a pepper compote, it was a rich way to end the meal and the perfect last bite.

I should also mention the service was top notch... probably the best I've experienced in Des Moines. Do yourself a favor, check out Proof as soon as you can.