Art Week inspires new flavors on Ingersoll

Bursting with flavor: Artist Nicole James’ handmade beet pinata, left, inspired a spicy beet margarita at the Bartender’s Handshake.

Writer: Karla Walsh

When you hear the word “art,” you might imagine a painting on canvas or a sculpture in stone. But cooking is an art, too.

Starting today, during Art Week Des Moines and the run-up to this weekend’s Des Moines Arts Festival, four restaurants and bars along The Avenues of Ingersoll & Grand are participating in a delicious exhibition called “A Feast for Your Eyes.” At each spot, chefs and mixologists are teaming up with local artists to create dishes and drinks inspired by art:


Each chef or mixologist is free to interpret the visual artwork however they’d like, and each special will be available during normal business hours while supplies last.

At the Bartender’s Handshake, for example, artist Nicole James has created a few pinatas in the shape of beets, berries and jalapenos. They’ll hang outside on the back patio, and “we’ll break them open towards the end of the night,” owner Dave Murrin-von Ebers said.

Each pinata inspired a different cocktail, including a non-alcoholic beet lemonade and a spicy beet margarita (pictured above) with jalapeno-infused tequila, Campari, beet juice, lemon juice, agave syrup and salt.

You May Also Like

Savor the Rise Brings Flour Power to Indianola

Downtown Indianola’s Savor the Rise’s Little Italy toast stars house-made sourdough, ricotta cheese, pesto, ...

At Living History Farms, a cook-off for the ages

Rachael Storey and Nicole Bergman prepared a meal at the 1850 Pioneer Farm during ...

Picnic At Big Creek With Cafe Fixings

The chicken sandwich and Asian wrap at Main Street Cafe and Bakery are ideal ...