Greatest hits: summer food in Central Iowa

Nanee’s Polenta Cakes with tomato and zucchini ragu at Aposto. (Photo: Aposto)

By Karla Walsh

Besides magnolias blooming and the fireworks erupting after Friday night I-Cubs games, another sure sign tells me “it’s gonna be May”: the Downtown Farmers Market season opener. Every year on the first Saturday of May, I grab my reusable bag, slide on my sunglasses, pop in my AirPods and walk over to Court Avenue, where I know I’ll find the early veggies, fresh pastries and countless cute dogs.

This tradition reminds me how much I anticipate other annual rituals. Summer always seems to fly by, but I refuse to let it pass without making a few pilgrimages for (what else?) good food and drinks. I think of these as summer’s “greatest hits” — as essential as any song of the season, like an “Espresso” that’s “Hot To Go!” and not “Too Sweet.”

Check out the Grade A Gardens stand at the Downtown Farmers’ Market on Saturday mornings, too.

Here’s my personal mixtape of 12 stops to hit before we fall back.

Now That’s What I Call Central Iowa Summer Dining: Volume 1

Grab a breakfast burrito from HoQ at the downtown farmers market.
Devour a kouign-amann pastry from Uncle Wendell’s stand, also at the farmers market.
Savor a soft-serve crunch cone at Snookies Malt Shop.
Share polenta cakes, a charcuterie board and a bottle of wine on Aposto’s petunia-lined porch.
Dig into a bit of baklava with vanilla ice cream at the Greek Food Fair, June 6-8.
On Taco Tuesday, bike down to the Cumming Tap.
Order from a food truck, lay out a blanket and take in a Thursday concert at Jasper Winery.
Order takeout from any local restaurant, take it to a park and declare it Picnic Day.
Enjoy a bright yellow scoop of lemon custard at Classic Frozen Custard.
Eat some Pizza on the Prairie at the Wallace Centers of Iowa in Orient or have a Pizza Picnic at Plant Life Designs in Van Meter.
Make a date for a farm-to-table dinner at Grade A Gardens in Earlham, Rose Farm in Norwalk, Lone Oaks Farm in Winterset or even Harvestville Farm in Donnellson. (I promise it’s worth the drive!)
Grab a drink and watch the Friday night fireworks from the Secret Admirer patio.