Foodie 515: Des Moines Restaurant News, 3/4/24

Des Moines, if your joints don’t ache from this weather, then you’re too young to be on the internet.

Welcome back to Foodie 515!

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Des Moines Openings, Closings, and Such

• Closed
  • Panka Coffee and More has closed. The original Panka Peruvian remains open.
• Now Open
  • Hot Tamale Café just opened. She opened on SE 14th, but she has now moved to Fleur Drive.
  • Taqueria y Antojitos la Chatita is a brand new food truck.
  • Selma’s Cooking Corner is a new Bosnian home bakery.
  • Chain News: Cinnaholic’s Ankeny location has their grand opening on Friday, but it seems they might be soft open.
• Just Noticed
  • I pay such little attention to Valley West Mall that I hadn’t noticed a place called Mad Torta and Burgers, which opened last August. It’s where Noodles and Company was. Has anyone been?
• Moving
  • The Stuffed Olive is moving to 216 Court Ave., which is basically around the corner. It’s a larger space as well.
    • I was going to tag this as chain news because I thought they were part of a larger restaurant group. However, either that changed or I was wrong. Anyone know?
    • Regardless, this should be interesting for Court Ave. Having an established place move into the cornerstone of the district might help improve the situation.
• Coming Soon
  • Lachele’s finally announced their new location!
  • Prime and Providence will open in West Des Moines in April.
  • Zavy Kitchen is a Vietnamese restaurant and bubble tea place that just passed its inspection. That’s about all I can find on it.
  • European Taste is opening in Valley West Mall.
  • Chain News: Jersey Mike’s is coming to Fleur Drive.

• Bits and Bobs
  • Django will be reopening for lunch on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Their French dip and Prosciutto, Brie, and Apple sandwich are on my must-try list.
  • The Tea Tramp will be operating out of The Mickle Center.

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Recs! Recs! Recs!

• Not Edible
  • “Hail Lord Satan at Menard’s”
• Edible
  • Have you wandered to AllSpice Culinarium yet? I don’t cook much, but I do love dipping bread in delicious stuff. I get my bread dipping spices from AllSpice, and I plan to start getting my olive oils from there too! Because I’d sell an arm for rosemary oil. Maybe not my arm, but someone’s.

WTF, Des Moines?

• I don’t know why Iowa’s State Legislature hates us, but now they want to remove licensure for registered dieticians. I guess this is the Wellness-to-White-Supremacy normalization I’ve been dreading. Here’s a petition to voice your opposition, and thank you to Hannah from Rooted Yoga + Fitness for sharing this information.
• You know that really popular bakery in Highland Park? Does anyone else have bad luck with their donuts and pastries? I’ve not been impressed so far.
• I have been busting my ass behind the scenes, so if this feels a little personality-less, it’s because I’m fried.