Monthly Archives: November 2010

12 things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving

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Thanksgiving is one of America’s oldest, and most delicious, traditions dating all the way back to 1621. Yet, the one thing I enjoy about Thanksgiving more than the mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie is the spirit behind the holiday.

Thanksgiving is the one time of the year that people take a step back and recognize all of the things that they are thankful for. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about the things that I’m truly thankful for and here’s my list of 12 things that I’m thankful for this Thanksgiving:

Art, culture and history: Des Moines is a booming spot for art, culture and history – we just need to embrace it. Places like the Des Moines Art Center, Salisbury House & Gardens, Pappajohn Sculpture Park, Civic Center and the Des Moines Social Club work everyday to keep art, culture and history alive.

Good food: A warm meal goes a long ways, especially when it’s homemade and simply put, delicious. Des Moines has a great array of local restaurants (Café di Scala, Christopher’s, Alba, The Latin King, Flying Mango – to name a few), which are managed/run by people who care about your dining experience and know all about good (and local) food.

Local non-profit organizations: There are so many good people giving their time, energy and money to support dozens of worthy causes. Des Moines wouldn’t be the same without local non-profits that touch the lives of people right here in our community.

Networking to meet great people: Since graduating and networking around Des Moines, I’ve met some of the hardest-working, passionate, and creative people. I’m thankful that these people call Des Moines home and that they are working to improve our community daily.

Going to college: My education at Simpson College and my internship experiences with Salisbury House & Gardens and Children’s Cancer Connection have given me the skills to become successful as I start my career. I also have to thank my parents here too because without them I wouldn’t have been able to attend Simpson.

Traveling: While I do love Des Moines, traveling around the world has really shaped who I am as a person. I’ve broadened my horizons, met new people, opened myself up to new cultures and traditions, expanded my palette and I’ve gotten a better understanding of how the world works. Places I’ve visited: Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands.

Facebook/Twitter/E-mail: These forms of communication have made it easy to meet new people while keeping in contact with those from the past. I’m thankful that I have friends that still keep in contact with me and care about me from miles away.

Invitations: While I can’t always attend everything that I’m invited to, it’s nice being invited. It means that someone out there is thinking of me and quite frankly, that’s comforting.

Memories: While many of my college friends have moved away and moved on. I’m thankful that I have memories and photos to look back on and to laugh at. My past experiences have gotten me to where I am today. The things that I’ve learned and the memories that I’ve made are priceless.

Those who read what I write: I’ve had a great time sharing my experiences around Des Moines with my readers and I’m thankful for those who have taken their time to read my posts and to comment. Thanks for supporting one of my passions!

The little things in life: Through mentoring with Mentor Iowa and Everyboy Wins! Iowa, I’ve learned to take a look at the big picture and to enjoy the little things in life. Hugs, PB and banana toast, sleeping in…I’m thankful for all of these little things because all of these little things add up to a great life.

Change: Some things are good they way they have always been and some things are better with change. This year, I’ve learned that even though change can be difficult; sometimes it’s necessary. Change has a way of working its magic and for that, I’m thankful. What are you thankful for this year?

Holiday Promenade and Gift Mart: Shop for the holidays

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There are two unique excuses this weekend to get some of your holiday shopping done a little early this year: Holiday Promenade in the East Village and Junior League of Des Moines’ Gift Mart at the Polk County Convention Center.

Holiday Promenade in the East Village

Support the arts and culture of downtown Des Moines by attending the 2010 Holiday Promenade in East Village this Friday night Nov. 19. From 5 – 9 p.m. the stores in the East Village will come alive with holiday cheer, one-of-a-kind gifts and event a few snacks along the way. If that isn’t convincing enough, at 6:15 p.m. there will be fireworks!

A few of my favorite shops in the East Village include:

  • Ephemera Stationary Studio – fabulous custom stationery and handmade gifts
  • Porch Light – antiques and homemade goods with style including everything from dishes to jewelry
  • Found Things – vintage antiques (great furniture, dishes and decorations) at affordable prices
  • Dornink – classy and costume jewelry plus high fashion dresses
  • Vitae Design Collective – a collection of jewelry, clothing and boots (best eclectic collection of boots in town)
  • RAYGUN – home of comfortable t-shirts that are cleverly hilarious

Junior League of Des Moines: Gift Mart

Gift Mart, which is in its 21st year, is one of the yearly fundraisers for the Junior League of Des Moines, an organization for women that promotes developing the potential of women, improving communities and promotes voluntarism. At Gift Mart you’ll find 55 boutique-like retailers from Iowa and the surrounding states selling items including women and children’s clothing, accessories, jewelry, home furnishings, art, toys and food. Most gifts are between $5 – $200.

“You might want to plan on being at Gift Mart 2-4 hours,” said Angie Lookingbill, the 2010 Gift Mart chair. “It’s one of those places where you can keep going back and always finding new treasures.”

Gift Mart, located inside the Polk County Convention Center, is open for two more days. Shop from 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 19 and 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, Nov 20. Both days there is a $5 entrance fee, which will support community projects focused on fighting childhood obesity.

“The Junior League’s projects this year include building a KaBOOM! playground outside the South Suburban YMCA, providing meals and mentoring families at the Lighthouse Host Home, growing vegetables at the Downtown Community Garden and donating them to the Children & Families of Iowa, and creating an educational and interactive exhibit emphasizing health and wellness at the Science Center of Iowa,” said Lookingbill.

Grab a group of friends and plan to visit both of these great events this weekend. You’ll get your holiday shopping done early and you’ll have a good time while doing so!

Cozy up with Cafe di Scala

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Romantic. Personal. Delectable. Unique. Classy. All of these words immediately pop into my head when I think about my dining experience at Cafe di Scala.

Cafe di Scala, which is a quaint restaurant tucked away in a century old Victorian mansion in the historic Sherman Hill area, provides a dining experience unlike any other restaurant in Des Moines. The staff is knowledgeable and personable. The food is fresh, hand-made and has rich flavors. The environment is low-lit and relaxing. The award winning wine list is something that even Europeans themselves would be jealous of.

Cafe di Scala touts offering “contemporary Italian cuisine calabrese style” to it guests, but many may not know what this exactly entails…which is exactly why Sam Auen, Executive Beard, sous chef, and spokes-model at Cafe di Scala, offered to brake down these culinary terms.

“ ‘Calabrese style’ refers to the culinary style of the southern Italian region of Calabria (the home of Tony’s family), a mountainous area populated mainly by farmers and other working class people,” said Auen. “The cuisine of the region is very simple, typically using very few ingredients per dish, and locally sustained.  We use the style of Calabria and some of the classic Calabrian dishes as a guide, then add more contemporary or modern elements while coming up with new dishes.”

What sets Cafe di Scala apart from other Des Moines restaurants is not only the quality of the food, but the quality of the overall dining experience. So many restaurants are loud, crowded and lack personality. That’s not the case with Cafe di Scala. The ambiance is cozy, comfortable, warm, inviting and intimate.

I think Auen best describes why Tony Lemmo, owner and chef at Cafe di Scala, has been able to create this atmosphere for the restaurant.  It’s a matter of passion mixed with personality.

“You won’t find many other restaurateurs in this city who have a focused vision for their business yet truly care about their family, customers, and staff the way Tony does,” Auen said.

While the atmosphere of the local restaurant drew me in, what kept me there was the food. While at Cafe di Scala I had the Pollo – Italian cheese stuffed chicken breast wrapped with prosciutto and served with vegetables and risotto and my date had the Cavatelli di Lemmo – traditional noodles with marinara, romano, Graziano sausage and fresh basil.

My chicken (pollo) was moist and flavorful. The proscuitto, which was thinly sliced and wrapped around the outside of the chicken breast, added a different flavor to the dish by adding a salty flare. The side dishes included tender asparagus and creamy risotto – both were equally mouthwatering. I quickly feel in love with my dish.

The cavatelli was made with fresh, homemade pasta noodles, which are one of Cafe di Scala’s specialties, and the local sausage added a bit of a kick to the dish. The marinara sauce was pretty basic but the noodles really made up for that. Although, I was surprised that bread and butter weren’t served with our meal, and especially with the pasta.

After a bottle of wine and the main course we indulged in two of Cafe di Scala’s desserts, thanks to the Foursquare special. Newbie Tip: Make sure that you check into Cafe di Scala on Foursquare when you visit. Doing so will get you a complimentary dessert with the purchase of a regular entree with every check in! Plus, the mayor gets complimentary high fives. (Score!)

The overall experience at Cafe di Scala is one-of-a-kind and will make you a happier person. If you haven’t tried this Des Moines gem, you are definitely missing out.

Café di Scala is open Thursday through Saturday from 5 – 10 p.m. and I’d recommend making a reservation in advance at (515) 244-1353. They are also available for private parties and catering. Keep connected with Cafe di Scala by following them on Twitter and by liking them on Facebook.

Food talks when history comes alive with Living History Farms

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(Disclaimer – I was provided two complimentary dinners by Living History Farms in exchange for blogging about my experience. All opinions are my own and are objective.)

To most, especially to a young professional such as myself, $50 a person for a meal is more than they’d be willing to spend. But at Living History Farms when you spend $50 for one of their Historic Dinners, you’re supporting a local non-profit, indulging in the historic atmosphere, enjoying a 3-course meal, and participating in Victorian-era entertainment.

Living History Farms, which has been open since the summer of 1970, offers two different historic dining options. Guests can experience history and enjoy a home cooked family-style meal and entertainment at the 1875 Tangen Home, or at a farm table on the 1900 Farm. Dinners are offered for $50 a person from November through March and last about 2 ½ hours.

This past Sunday I attended the 1875 Tangen Home for a Historic Dinner. Since I had not been to Living History Farms since I was in 4th grade, I had no idea what to expect from the night but I was more than excited for the experience.

As I waited in the Visitors Center for the rest of the guests to arrive (groups typically range from 8-12 people), I quickly began to notice a commonality. I found myself surrounded by some of the most talented bloggers from around Des Moines (Kristen Porter, Pete Jones, Jenna Goodwin, Jill Hackman, and Luke Matthews) and we were going to experience the night together.

After all 12 of the people in our group had arrived, introductions were made and we began our journey. We strolled down the boardwalk towards the Tangen House and 50 yards later we entered into the lantern-lit house and took our seats in the low-lit parlor by the glowing fireplace. Hot cider was served while our guide told the tale of the Tangen family, including how they lived and what a typical dinner party would have been like for them. Interesting fact: back in 1875 the Tangen House would have cost approximately $2,000.

After learning about the history behind the house and family, we headed into the dining room for the beginning of our meal. Back in 1875, a middle class family, such as the Tangen’s, would have guests over to impress and to entertain.

First up was the tomato soup with homemade croutons. The soup had a full vegetable flavor and the homemade croutons added an extra crunch to one of my favorite middle school dishes. Next, we were served a Fruit Ice, lemon flavored, to “cleanse our palette” before our main course. The Fruit Ice tasted a lot like an Italian Ice from Fazoli’s, but the bitter taste did exactly as expected.

The main course was filled with numerous heavy, hearty dishes: roasted pork with apples and onions (could have used a little more moisture or a dipping sauce), potatoes a la Maitre d’Hotel, califlowers with parmesan cheese, green peas a la francaise, carrots in the German way, bread and butter pickles, and dinner rolls with strawberry jam, apple butter and hand-churned butter. Although this was what I ate, there are other menu options available for the Historic Dinners.

If you’re looking for a healthy meal, this wouldn’t be for you, but if you’re looking for a full-flavored old fashioned meal, you’ve come to the right place. The butter seemed to be dripping from the sliced potatoes and the dinner rolls melted in my mouth. The food was delicious and it reminded me of a typical home-style Iowa meal, other than the fact that there were 3 different vegetables and no corn!

Before dessert we headed back into the parlor to play a few games from the era. It was customary to entertain your guests and to encourage small talk between unfamiliar guests. Quite frankly, the games offered a refreshing distraction from our modern day lives, all while giving our stomachs some time to settle. We were then taken on a tour of the home where we learned a lot more about the history of the home and many household objects were explained.

And finally, it was time for dessert and “fancy cake” was on the menu. The cake was a very dense dessert cake with a chocolate and brown sugar topping. We were also given the option to add a warm raspberry fruit sauce and/or whipped sweet cream and, of course, I added both my my dessert. It was the perfect amount of chocolate and fruit to bring the meal and the night to a close.

Not only was the meal delicious, the experience and the memories created were one-of-a-kind and unlike any other dining experience I’ve had in Des Moines.

Still unsure about making the commitment? Here’s a recipe from the night. Try it at home and see firsthand how delicious recipes from around the 1870’s can be!

Carrots the German Way
10 medium Carrots
1 tsp. Nutmeg
1 tsp. minced Onions
2 TBLS. Flour
1/2 cup Butter
1 TBLS. Parsley
1 TBLS. Chicken Bouillon
1 cup Water

Peel and cut carrots in medium slices or bite-sized pieces.  Melt butter in saucepan and add nutmeg, parsley, onion, salt and flour.  Stir well.  Add carrots and stir to coat them with mixture.  Add water and chicken bouillon.  Simmer until carrots are tender.
-Adapted from Beeton’s Book of Household Management, 1861.


Trader Joe’s now open in WDM

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Trader Joe’s, which originally started as a small chain of convenience stores in the 1950’s, has recently expanded by opening a new store location this morning at 6305 Mills Civic Parkway in West Des Moines. This new location is the first Trader Joe’s to open in Iowa and is one of nearly 350 stores nationwide in almost 30 different states.

Trader Joe’s isn’t your average grocery store. There are no sales, no online ordering and no franchises with Trader Joe’s (it’s a privately held company). So, what does Trader Joe’s offer? They have an interesting assortment of healthier (organic and preservative-free) foods as well as some exotic foods and beverages, a majority of which are under the Trader Joe’s label – which saves the customer money. You won’t find a ton of branded items but you will find great prices and quality food. Trader Joe’s also offers great options for those with special dietary needs including: gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, fat-free, kosher and low sodium meal items.

In my opinion, Trader Joe’s is refreshing because they actually practice what they preach. When they save money, their customers save money – and they mean it. Their number one focus is on providing value for their customers. They do so by buying their foods/goods directly from manufacturers, by discontinuing items that aren’t selling, by buying in bulk for the best prices and by not charging suppliers a shelving fee. At Trader Joe’s, “great food + great prices = value.”

Trader Joe’s is now open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. When you visit don’t be alarmed by their unique bell system used to communicate different needs within the store or by the brightly colored Hawaiian shirts the employees sport, it’s all part of their image as “traders on the culinary seas.”

Interesting Fact: On the Trader Joe’s website you can find recipes by course (breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert and small plate) including: Thai chicken pizza, brown sugar bacon and garlic aioli stuffed mushrooms.

Go green with “Urban Ambassadors” to help Des Moines

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Urban Ambassadors, a non-profit organization that clarifies personal sustainability goals in seven aspects of urban living (money, service, food, waste, commute, home and energy), believes that green is more than just a color; it’s a way of living. To Urban Ambassadors it’s important to take responsibility for actively shaping Des Moines’ future by mapping local resources that everyone in the metro can use to save money and our environment.

Andrea Otteman, a member of Urban Ambassadors’ board of directors, first learned about Urban Ambassadors when she volunteered at the Shoot Your Commute event. Otteman had recently moved to Des Moines and she was looking for a way to get involved with a “green” organization

“I love it [Urban Ambassadors],” said Otteman. “I just became involved and am really excited to see the organization grow in 2011. It is a great group of people who have a true passion for serving our community.”

Friends and members of Urban Ambassadors at "Shoot Your Commute."

Otteman recommends getting involved with Urban Ambassadors for the following reasons: to clarify areas in your life where you can save money and be more environmentally friendly, to connect with other like-minded residents, and to join community events that are educational, action-oriented and making a difference in the greater Des Moines area.

Membership is only $36 per year ($18 per student) but they also offer many free resources on their website, volunteer opportunities and events to attend.

If you want to learn more about this green non-profit, attend their Fall Membership Meeting – Thursday, November 4 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the new Windsor Heights Community Center (next to Colby Park.) At this meeting they will give a brief introduction as to who they are, provide a big picture look at the organization and brainstorm for 2011’s projects. Local food and drinks will be provided and if you become a member you get a free t-shirt.

Follow on Twitter: @UA_DesMoines
Become a fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Urban.Ambassadors