“In Paris, there are all kinds of shops where you can wander in and grab a baguette, charcuterie and a bottle of wine—and that’s the basis of a great meal,” says Michael LaValle, president and CEO of the Des Moines Embassy Club and co-owner of Port of Des Moines LLC with his wife, Lisa. Come July, LaValle and his Port of Des Moines team are aiming to add a similar, French-feeling market to the East Village with Purveyor (505 E. Grand Ave.). It will join their sister properties the Riverwalk Hub, Trellis at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Doré Bakery and the River Center.
“We plan to be very Iowa-centric, with local meats and in-house accoutrements like pates, rillettes and pickled vegetables, but with a European approach, including some great wines from our friends in the winery business,” adds Jake Miller, general manager of Port of Des Moines. So whether you’re throwing a dinner party and want to outsource everything but the entree or you’re planning a picnic during a Nitefall on the River concert, Purveyor will have grab-and-go goodies for everything from prosciutto to pâte à choux. We’re already booking our schedules with workouts to balance out all of the indulgence to come. –Karla Walsh
