5/16/25 Des Moines Food News: 'Grats Grads Edition!
Enjoy adulting, Des Moines and Iowa graduates!
Disclaimer: Contains affiliate links from Bookshop.org and Uncommon Goods!
Love: Des Moines Food and Restaurant News
Openings, Closings, and Such
Leachmon Pit Stop BBQ closed (Reg). Sads.
El Bori Food Truck, Puerto Rican cuisine, is now operating.
Bluestem Coffee Roasting Co., a home-based roaster, is now operating.
El Gran Amigo Mexican Restaurant (FB) opened in Carlisle this week.
Revelry Room Bar and Kitchen opens in Hotel Savery on May 30th (Reg).
Chain news
The Chicken Shack closed its only DSM location.
Starbucks opened a location by the Costco in Ankeny.
Big Grove Brewery is opening multiple locations including Omaha and Kansas City (Axios). Unfortunately, this moves them to the chain section.
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Des Moines Food News and Events
Don’t forget to check Redditor limitedftogive’s weekly events list!
The old, abandoned Riccelli’s caught fire. They’re blaming unhoused folks.
Pani puri kits for $36? Might be worth it if you’ve never tried it.
Sugar Freak Show’s Andrew Fuller competes against Duff Goldman!
Carter Annett is the new owner of Jesse’s Embers (Reg).
You could have a peanut butter party! Not judging if you like it sticky.
Cityview’s annual Summer Arts and Entertainment Guide is up.
May Events
Friday, May 16: Food Truck Fridays start up again in Clive.
Saturday, May 17: The Cave💚 is serving burgers along with wines and jazz.
Sunday, May 18: DSM Ramen Club💚 is at Hotori from 10 to noon (via IG).
Wednesday, May 21: Out to Lunch starts up again.
Friday and Saturday, May 23 and 24: Celebrasian returns!
Thursday, May 29: Ashes and Diamonds Wine Dinner at Oak Park
Friday, May 30: Live, Laugh, Lamb from Crafted Food Services💚
Donuts: Don’t Say I Didn’t Tell You About Linda
Say goodbye to ads by becoming an annual or monthly paid subscribers! Until then, look at this dachshund candy bowl! How fucking cute!
Cute Dogs and Cheap Hot Dogs
Speaking of dachshunds, hot dog tip! If you want to go to an Iowa Cubs game but balk (ha!) at food prices, go on a Dog Days night. Hot dogs are a buck. We had five hot dogs between us. Combined, they were cheaper than bottled water ($6.50).
Linda Donuts
I noticed a few Redditors recommend Linda Donuts recently. Don’t say I didn’t tell you about Linda. Because I did. Almost a year ago. I have a feeling they’re about to be up there with Chu Chu and Donut Hut. Rightfully. Grad gift maybe?
Pizza Is Just an Uncut Savory Donut?
We attended a recent pizza picnic hosted by Plant Life Designs and served up by Crafted Food Services. An unexpected highlight was the strawberry rhubarb bar from Black-owned Your Mom’s Bakery (FB). Damn, DAMN good.
Did you know this exists?
Are you old enough to remember The Mandarin, which was on Beaver across from Long John Silver’s, which is now an empty field? I am. Did you know Mandarin is still around? They’re Mandarin Grill and Sushi Bar in Clive. They also own Mandarin Noodle House in Johnston, one of the first “Where’s This” features and the only place I’ve found dan dan noodles.
Where’s This?
Last week: Redneck nachos from Kue’d Smokehouse! Any guesses this week?
Professional Contrarian’s Classroom
Reading: Read about transformative justice in Emergent Strategies last night. If you believe in changing our current shitshow, it's a must read.
Ordered: Hubster and I are going old school! I miss road atlases.
☕ Spilling the Chai: Recs, Wrecks, and Fun ☕
This week, we’ve got a GORGEOUS cake from a Black-owned bakery and thoughts about the Iowa Metaphysical Fair food vendors.
Wrecks: Epic Eateries and Sweet Magnolia Foods
The Iowa Metaphysical Fair is this weekend. Of course, woo wellness and metaphysics are inextricable. Those who choose to be fair vendors get side eye from me. So, it’s worth mentioning that Epic Eateries and Sweet Magnolia Foods (dead site?) are vendors. Those vendors may not be part of the wellness-to-white-supremacy pipeline, but they could choose their events with more caution.
Recs! Nadia’s!
Nadia’s French Bakery is a given, right? She made a gorgeous and yummy cake for my loved one. Maybe a great idea for a recent grad?
It was so wonderful to see you all at the Pizza Picnic! Mom and I agreed that the dessert (as well as the pizzas) were top tier!