Des Moines, we will remember you, Kum & Go.
Welcome back to Foodie 515!
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Requests
- $55 from $4,500: Who wants to get her there?
Des Moines Openings, Closings, and Such
- Now Open
- Pepp’s Pizzeria is now open in Grimes. They have an interesting business model. It’s brought to you by one of the guys from Charlotte’s Kitchen.
- Casa Agave in Altoona is now open.
- Hyper Energy Bar’s Altoona location just opened. (NGL . . . thought they were already in Altoona.)
- Coming Soon
- Local Bites in downtown Des Moines is getting two new eateries soon: MMMBap Korean and Chubby’s Chicken and Biscuits.
- Another Hyper Energy Bar may be opening in Ankeny. Get those high schoolers their morning caffeine, yo. Also, I’ve yet to go to a single Hyper, but my fam is addicted to it.
- Coa Cantina is opening a concession stand inside
Sec Taylor StadiumPrincipal Park this season.- There’s nothing I love more than local eateries partnering with the Iowa Cubs. It’s the perfect cross-section of two of my favorite things! As I’ve never eaten at Coa, I’m definitely curious.
- Playgrounds Cafe for Littles is opening soon in Waukee.
- Baan Vaan (ice cream?) will be operating out of The Mickle Center. How do I not know about this?
- Flip’n Jacks Pancake House and Eatery is opening their second location. This one will be in Altoona. A little about them below . . .
- Chain news: Homegrown Kitchen on Jordan Creek passed their inspection. They’re saying they’re opening in April, so I imagine it’ll be the first week.
- I saw Mulberry Farm and Food Truck on Ingersoll this week. This is a project from Central Iowa Shelter and Services. They plan to be fully operational by May.
- Seasonal Reopenings
- Granny’s Sweet Freeze re-opens on April 5th.
- The creamery is now open for the season.
- Bits and Bobs
- The annual best burger contest has started.
- Twisted Fizz rebranded as Twist: Fun Fountain Sips.
- If you celebrate Easter, here are some dining options. If you don’t, then this is a list of places to avoid on the 31st.
- Susan Stapleton covered some of the eateries opening this year, and it’s a good-looking list!
- Of those, I’m most excited for Wilson’s Orchard and Farm, Hugo’s Wood Fired Kitchen, Chikin Lickin, and K-Pot Korean BBQ and Hot Pot. I am of the belief that we can never have enough Korean eateries.
- It’s so fun to be reading random articles and see Karla’s name in the byline!
- Smash Park is updating its activity and food offerings.
- Side note: As they are also expanding out of state, I’ll no longer be including them in my coverage. Once you’re outside of Iowa, I no longer consider you local. Not a criticism; merely a boundary.
- A restaurant has never grabbed my attention so quickly.
- Santa Fe Bakery keeps popping up in my life, and I think that’s a sign that I need to get there.
Joyful Things
- Gems, Guides, and Goodies is coming May 1st! Subscribe today!
- I passed Wildflower, and they had this gorgeous floral arrangement/tree thing out front. It reminded me of the stunning floral arrangements above doors all over London. Wildflower. Yes. Yes please. More of that! And forgive me, but I had to get this pic at the stoplight, so it’s terrible.
WTF, Des Moines?
- If you don’t remember Flip’n Jacks . . .
- All three St. Kilda locations have had at least six food safety violations in the last five months.
- I’m dubbing whatever weather we had last Friday as “thunderslush.” Try not to think about AC/DC.
- This woman’s mug shot is my everything.
