This year’s pie offerings from the Wine & Pie Drive-By fundraiser include a pear and cardamom wide lattice pie, whiskey-apple pecan crumble, cranberry-apple almond crumb and a pear and candied ginger peekaboo pie. Photo: Les Dames d’Escoffier.
Pies, wine, barbecue, cookies and more: There’s plenty happening on the food and dining front in Des Moines:
1. The Greater Des Moines chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI) is hosting its third annual Wine & Pie Drive-By, a fundraiser that doubles as an easy option for getting Thanksgiving necessities. For $75 now through Nov. 18 (or until they sell out), each wine-and-pie package includes your choice of pie and one bottle of Keep It Chill Beaujolais, a perfect pairing for most Thanksgiving fare. Orders can be picked up Nov. 19 at the contactless drive-by at the Dotdash Meredith lot downtown. Visit their website to select from four pie options and secure your order.
2. A new downtown Jethro’s BBQ location was announced last week. Entrepreneur and restaurant owner Bruce Gerleman purchased the 54-year-old office building at 221 Park St., formerly home to Master Builders of Iowa, and has started on the necessary renovations. The new Jethro’s is expected to be open sometime next summer, possibly as early as June 1. Click here to read the full story in the Business Record.
3. Life just got a little sweeter in Ankeny. The recent opening of Cookies & Dreams at the District at Prairie Trail (345 S.W. Park Square Drive, Suite 100) means daily fresh-baked cookies with innovative flavors like Snickerdoodle Cheesecake and Double Trouble—half chocolate chip, half triple chocolate and stuffed with a full Oreo and creamy peanut butter. The business has showcased its creations at Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, New York Fashion Week and the PGA’s John Deere Classic Tournament.
4. Cooper’s Hawk, a modern, upscale restaurant and winery, will open its first Iowa location in Clive (12801 University Ave.) later this month. Beyond mouthwatering menu options from its scratch kitchen (we’re already looking forward to the sweet corn and tomato risotto and the bourbon-lacquered barbecue pork chops), the new location will include its signature Napa-style tasting room and a retail shop. Opening is planned for right after Thanksgiving.
