Gateway Market...and more!

So normally I stop into Gateway Market Cafe just off of the MLK exit off of 235 to eat a leisurely lunch of a panini and soup or lobster mac & cheese and salad or sometimes the pad thai, yum.  Just about everything in the cafe is awesome.  They also serve breakfast everyday which is fabulous because there aren't a ton of breakfast places on this side of town.

Anyway, this particular day the temperature outside was upwards of 104 degrees and I had some wonderful Cleverly Farms tomatoes and some goat cheese that I got at the Cheese Shop the night before and I was itching to make something yummy, but that was easy and didn't require much cooking on this already toasty day.

By the way, if you haven't taken a class at the Cheese Shop yet, you really must.  This particular evening, Larry from Cleverly Farms was showcasing his tomatoes and it was amazing.  All of the classes include wine and/or beer pairings and a cheese tray all about $30 or so, a steal!!  (See the top left photo for photos from the class).

So from Gateway I picked up some bread, Niman Ranch maple bacon, (yum), lettuce, and of course some Thelma's Treats Ice Cream sandwiches for dessert.  At 104 degrees, how can you not eat ice cream?!

Anyway, I'm sure you can guess, I made BLT panini's.  I fried assembled my bacon, cheese, lettuce and tomatoes and in the same pan heated my sandwiches on both sides. Heaven!

Super easy, super fresh and super amazing!  So there you go.  All of my favorite places for the week include Cleverly Farms for the amazing tomatoes (which I now a fan of even though for 30 years I've claimed to not like tomatoes), The Cheese Shop (My personal Disneyland) and Gateway market for providing me with a plethora of my favorite Farmer's Market ingredients that I can get anytime of day, everyday.  

Big City Burgers and Greens

I've been trying to get into lunch at Big City Burgers and Greens for months now and it just hasn't lined up for me, but I finally made it in the other day and of course I've been missing out.

Big City is located at 400 locust street downtown (right near Nolan Plaza).  They are only open for lunch Monday - Friday so they are mad busy during lunch.  But they really have it down to a science to get everyone in and out and back to work in under an hour.  They have seating inside, outside and even in the lobby of the main building it's inside of.  You can order online before you come down to expedite your process or stand in line that moves pretty fast but can be long.  

We didn't order ahead and stood in line for about 10 minutes and ordered two burgers and Big City Fries (OMG the Big City fries..to.die.for) and were in and out in about 40 minutes.

Josh got the blue cheese burger and I got a cheddar and mushroom burger.  Both were really good.  But the highlight of the meal was thin cut fries with with asiago cheese and white truffle oil. Totally crave-able.

Other menu items include a variety of impressive salads like the DSM with steak, sweet corn, bacon and goat cheese.  I can't wait to go back to try some salad combinations, but I'll still be getting the Big City Fries to go with.  That good.

They also have a kids menu with grilled cheese, chicken bites, etc so you can totally make this a family outting.  Perhaps meet your significant other who works downtown here for lunch.

They use hormone and antibiotic free beef and there is a real emphasis on local ingredients and environmentally friendly packing here.  I also noticed root beer floats, soft serve and milkshakes on the menu.  You can really round out your environmentally friendly meal here and I suggest you do!  

Hope you get a chance to check it out soon if you haven't already!

New World Cafe

There are few restaurants around that can boast that every menu item is mostly organic, vegan and gluten-free.  New World Cafe in the East Village boasts just that.

The small cafe offers a changing menu of  all local, fresh menu items that are innovative and delicious, even for non-vegans!  They are quite busy for lunch and dinner and also offer fresh juices and smoothies.  Prices are quite reasonable and the environment is clean and casual.

I tried the "The New Mac & Cheese" with gluten-free pasta, kale and "cheese" sauce which has no actual cheese at all, but rather a cashew/pumpkin base which was delicious! And for $6 for a small and $8 for a large it is really a bargain.  I'm pretty sure a lot of you could get your kids to eat this mac & cheese and they'd have no idea they were eating something much more healthy.

I also tried the ginger lemonade which was sweetened with agave and so good!  On another visit I also tried the cucumber lemonade, which was good too, but obviously more "green tasting".

The menu for with week I visited is on the left, but the weekly menu can be found on their website here.

Whether you are a vegan, have celiac disease or are gluten-intolerant or just like great healthy food.  Stop in to New World cafe for lunch or dinner to try something new.

Local Yocals

Ok, I don't do this often, but here I go....I'm telling you that you HAVE to try this.  Local Yocals is a new company owned and operated by a super nice guy named Jeremy Jessen who is not new to the food industry.  He is well versed in locally-grown and produced food from his past experience and brings that to us in the form of grass-fed burgers served on freshly-baked buns made from Iowa-grown wheat and locally-sourced fixin's even down to the potatoes for the fries.  

Oh, it doesn't stop there, the loaded fries are adorned with beer cheese sourced from Confluence Brewing's beer and Eden Farm's bacon.  You can't get more local than this.  You can taste the Iowa in this food!

Local Yocal's popularity is growing fast as evidenced by their standing Friday night appearances at 515 Brewing in Clive, The Beaverdale farmer's Market on Tuesday's and the Valley Junction Farmer's Market on Thursdays.  These are just a few places you can grab one of these amazing treats, but the best way to find them is to "like" them on facebook here, to get the latest info about where they'll have their stand set up to make you some of this made-to-order goodness. At $5 for a burger and $3 for a side of fries, it's a bargain.

They also carry Thelma's Treats ice cream sandwiches for dessert.  Also produced by an amazing local company.  Seriously, you gotta try it.

Tacopocalypse

UPDATE 8-18-2013 Tacopocalyse is opening a new permanent location in the East Village at 621 Des Moines Street. You can find them there now!

Hopefully by now, you've had the chance to try a delicacy by Chef Sam, but if not, here is the low-down. 

Let's start with Brunchpocalypse on Saturday and Sundays at their new location in the East Village at 621 Des Moines street.

Chef Sam uses local ingredients to make fantastic creations.  Korean chicken & waffles, breakfast nachos and tacos are just a few of the offerings.  Chef Sam's passion is Vegan fare so you are always sure to find something if that applies to you.  You can interchange brisket, pork, chorizo and whatever other special fillings he chooses that day into most of the dishes as well.

My meal of choice this Sunday was the breakfast nachos (top right photo).  A heaping portion of crispy fried tortilla chips with cheese, eggs, bacon chorizo and slaw.  At first glance I was worried that the slaw would overpower this dish, but it didn't. It was perfectly balanced with the chorizo and mild cheese sauce. Love.

We had our kid with us this day, and being a picky 5 year old, I had Sam put his nutella whipped cream on the side, so the picture doesn't do this waffle justice.  While the vanilla porter waffle was amazing by itself and my kid ate the whole thing in less than 5 minutes, I found myself spooning the nutella whipped cream (that he whipped together by hand that morning) into my mouth, it was that good.  For more exciting photos of their waffles and other offerings, check out their facebook page. 

Now that they are in their permanent location they are open every day for lunch and dinner during the week too.  Some the most amazing, creative tacos like Korean Chicken, Bacon Chorizo, Lemongrass pork, etc.  Sam started out working in a Korean restaurant when he was very young, so there is a lot of inspiration in there.  Everything is so good!  You just have to try it for yourself.

Fun at The Farmer's Market

The Farmer's Markets in town kicked off their seasons this week!  It might have been a chilly start, but better weather is in sight!  If you want the freshest local produce, prepared food and specialty items, the Farmer's Market is where to get them.  

How awesome is it that we have such great Farmer's Markets in the area.  Where else can you find such a wide variety of ethnic delicacies alongside the best of Iowa.  The Downtown Des Moines market is the largest one, followed by the Valley Junction one.  It's wonderful because Downtown includes Breakfast burritos, breakfast pizza, pasties along with BBQ, Indian, Moroccan, Bosnian (and many more!) delights for lunch.  Valley Junction will take care of your dinner and you can buy the baked goods and pastries to take him for breakfast the next day!

Two of my "must haves" at the market are 1. A cutlet form Saloo's India (a potato cake filled with meat or veggies-gluten free) 2. A breakfast burrito or bowl from Farm Boys. YUM! 

Oh, and of course it's not all about the food.  Vendors also have handmade items of all kinds like clothing, jewelry, soap, decorations and much more.


Here is a list and info from their websites for some of the larger local ones.  Check your town to see if they host one too. I know Waukee, Johnston and many others have them too!


Ames: Saturdays, 8 a.m. - 12 noon Starting May 4 

Fresh fruits, veggies, meats & breads. Hand crafted goods. Family entertainment. The Ames Main Street Farmers' Market has it all!  www.amesmainstreetfarmersmarket.com

Ankeny: 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays beginning May 18. Uptown Ankeny. The Uptown Ankeny Farmer's Market vendors provide a wide variety of products to the public. In the past, the market has seen everything from fresh seasonal produce, home-made baked goods, specialty food items, BBQ cooked on-site, perennial plants, hand-made items, and much more.www.uptownankeny.org.

Downtown Des Moines:   7am-noon (8am-noon in Oct.) Support local agriculture and buy direct from Iowa farmers while shopping the Downtown Farmers’ Market – presented by UnityPoint Health – Des Moines. The Downtown Farmers’ Market presents Iowa producers from 51 counties across Iowa, offering fresh fruit, vegetables and so much more. You’ll find fresh herbs, beautiful flowers, farm fresh eggs, local wineries, a delicious assortment of goat cheese, an endless selection of baked goods, and many varieties of Iowa raised meat such as beef, pork, chicken, lamb, buffalo, ostrich, and tilapia. http://desmoinesfarmersmarket.com

Southridge Mall: Mondays 3:30 to 6:30pm, Meet us in the parking lot North of Sears every Monday for fresh produce, yummy treats and MUCH MORE! http://www.shopsouthridgemall.com/events/Details/164417?startDate=4%2F13%2F2013

West Des Moines: 4-8 p.m. Thursdays, Valley Junction. Farmers Market is home to over 100 weekly vendors selling fresh produce, baked goods, plants and flowers, arts and crafts and prepared foods. Join your friends and neighbors. www.valleyjunction.com.

Be Green in Valley Junction

Green Grounds Cafe in Valley Junction is a really cool place.  Not only do they serve up coffee, breakfasts, pastries and lunch sandwiches, they sell a bunch of locally made accessory items as well, from hats and gloves to scarves and jewelry, art and even baby items.

Grab a latte and check out the store.  I'm not going to lie, the menu items are a bit pricey because they use all local and/or organic ingredients.  But the best deal there is the breakfast special.  For $3.99 you get scrambled eggs, bacon and toast.  Makes a nice little breakfast and you can sit and enjoy the quiet atmosphere to chat with friends or use the free wi-fi and browse the quaint shop items.  They also have a stage area in the back of the shop which would be a perfect venue for a small concert, coffee house style =)

The staff is really friendly, but it can take a while to get your order sometimes, so don't go when you're in a rush.  They also partner with 515 Gluten-free bakery and carry gluten-free bread for all of the sandwiches and cupcakes.  The bread was great.  The cupcakes were slightly on the dry side, but I suspect it is because they are refrigerated at the store and not restocked daily.

They also encourage small business owners to leave business card and they have walls full of them!

Check out Green Grounds for something different.  It isn't the cheapest place around, but it is pretty hip and I love supporting local businesses who support other local businesses.

Let's get juicing!

 I love food.  So it's only reasonable that I'm always trying the next new way to keep my weight in check.  I know what to do, I was a weight loss counselor for 5 years.  It's finding something that doesn't feel like a diet, but that is a lifestyle change that is the trick.  I'm still searching.....Anyway, I've tried the paleo diet. I've had my stints with weight watchers and I've even gone the raw food route.  

On my raw food kick, I got really into juicing.  I invested in a juicer, that has now gone to the appliance graveyard in the closet along with my dehydrator, bread machine, soda stream, griddle and fondue pot (to name a few). But the only reason I don't continue with the juicing at home all the time is because it takes so much effort and fresh produce. 

But I still love fresh organic smoothies and juices, not just for weight-loss, but just as part of a healthy diet, which is why I love The Juice Company.  The Juice Company is located on 42nd street at the The Shops at Roosevelt.  The owner/operator Sylvia is amazing.  She is super nice and really helpful.  She'll give you suggestions and help you pick the juice that's right for you.  There are so many benefits to raw organic produce and she knows all about them.

Whether you are looking for juice, smoothies (with dairy or without and a number of them under 200 calories) or frozen yogurt, you are going to find some of the best here.  She even grows her own wheatgrass in the front of the store and you can buy wheatgrass shots or even buy it by the gallon.  She serves the shots with a slice of orange which REALLY helps it go down =) 

One of the coolest things we've done at The Juice Company was the "Mixology Class".  It's a two hour class where Sylvia teaches you to make (and gives you the recipes for)  a bunch of healthy cocktails.  You bring your own vodka (or rum) and get to taste them all.  Check the facebook page for class times.  It's $18 per couple and very worth it.

Stop in and check it out in the morning for a breakfast smoothie or anytime of the day really!  And maybe step out of your comfort zone and try a wheatgrass shot for only $2.  Your body will thank you!

Pesticide free bliss!

Katie actually intoduced me to one of the most fabulous services in the area.  I'm always more likely to make healthy food choices when my fridge is stocked with fresh organic choices.  

Prudent Produce

Prudent Produce is a locally owned and operated supplier of locally grown and organic produce and the best part is that they deliver it right to your door!  It is totally affordable when you compare the price of picking up these items at the store and it saves you the trip!

Angie, the owner is super nice and helpful! And the website is super easy to navigate.  You can start service right on the website and cancel at any time.  They offer weekly or biweekly service and you are able to adjust the menu to your liking!  You can pick items to absolutely hate and they will never include them in your menu, or you can just swap out items you don't want to others.  

For our family of 3 we get a mini-bin every other week and that is totally enough for us.

Give Prudent a try! You'll love them as much as we do!