The Radish - Grimes

A couple Saturday's ago, Wayne and I, went to the Radish in Grimes. It's on the main street, in what I can only guess is an old house. It was comfy and cozy and the food was G.R.E.A.T.

Wayne ordered the cavetlli or maybe it was the lasagne... I can't remember. He let me have a bite and it was GLORIOUS! Sooooo good.

I ordered the Chicken Fried Steak. I'm not sure why, I had never had it before, but it sounded delicious. The quote from the TV show TrueBlood kept running through my head. "You should try the chicken fried steak. It's like a chicken and a steak got together and made a baby. A delicious, crispy baby"

Gravy, mashed taters and fried chicken/steak. It was rich and I couldn't finish it... and it was SOOOOO good.
I think this place is a must try for anyone wanting to get away from the 'regular' resturants in DSM. It's not that far of a drive, and even if it was, it would be worth it!

Alba - in the East Village

It was a windy but clear night in Des Moines, Iowa when I went to Alba in the East Village to have dinner with some girlfriends. My mood was chipper and my shirt was cute as hell - so I was feeling good.
I met my friends some old, some new - there were 8 of us altogther. Conversations were great, drinks were flowing and the food was SOOOO yummy.....but expensive.

We started with a cheese platter, jalapeno fritters, roasted brussels spouts and a squash and Granny Smith Apple soup to get us going.

For my meal I ordered the scallops. They were soooo good. My friend Nicole and Katrisha ordered the vegetarian hash. I have no idea what that involved, but they seemed to like it. Jen ordered a burger that looked wonderful and two girls ordered a fish that was really good. The food is all 'fancy' with mainly local, fresh ingredients. I would recommend this place if you are looking for something a bit more fancy and a bit 'different' it was so good!!! And the martinis are TO DIE FOR!

And then... dessert. This apple cranberry cobbler with walnut ice cream was the end to a fabulous meal. It was sweet and salty. SOOOOO good.

Chucks - Since 1956

Wednesday night I went to Chucks for dinner with my good friend Wayne. It was on my list of places to go in the next 12 months.

The menu was simple. Pizza, Pasta, sandwiches.

We started with their 'famous' onion rings.

They tasted like.... onion rings.

I got home made cheese ravioli's with 1/2 alfredo and 1/2 red sauce. It was good, but pretty bland.

But I had NOOOOO problem cleaning my plate.

Wayne got the Chicken Marsala. He was not impressed. :-( But he did make an action shot with his side of spaghetti!

We decided if we ever go back we'll try the pizza... as the food we got was not all that wonderful. They must be doing something right though since they've been around since 1956. The decor and seating has probably been around that long as well. It was just... ok.

Checking it off my list. 

Everyone's Out to Get Me

'They' are constantly coming up with new food and products that I MUST have.

Everyone out there tries to sabotage my ‘good health guidelines’ and Weight Watcher Points with yum-tastic food.

Everyone is out to get me…. I just know it.

-Domino’s New Cheesy Bread… with the CHEESE IN THE MIDDLE!!!

-Hershey Kisses Mint Truffles. I should never have known these existed.

-Hershey Kisses Candy Cane. I want to lick them like a lollipop should be licked. (They are not lollipops – but you get the point)

-Casey’s Taco Pizza - a large is on special right now for $11.99 and since it’s on special, I had to get one.

-Homemade Jalapeno Poppers made by my brother in law. There was nothing dietary about the cream cheese and bacon on those slices of heaven.

-Mexican food. Nuf’ said.

-Baked Pasta Romano from Olive Garden

I try so hard to not give in to the pressure that advertising brings... but DANG! Everything looks so tasty, especially when you are getting ready to make your dinner...that consists of soup. Who wouldn't want to add some cheesy bread to that meal!?!?!

The Kirkwood Lounge

WEEKS ago... we had a girls night at The Kirkwood Lounge. We had an upstairs loft area for the 9 of us that showed up. We had girls from all different groups - which made it interesting to go through and say how all of us knew each other. We had people that had been neighbors, met through other friends, college roommates and sisters. It was a great time.

And.The.Food.Was.Delicious.

I had fish and chips.... and wait for it.....


BLUE CHEESE POTATO SALAD!!! I love blue cheese, and this potato salad was soooo good. I would go back, just for a bowl of that.

I highly recommend this restaurant and check their website, sometimes they have live music later in the evening.

I will check this off my list!!

Fongs, Fa, fa, fa, Fongs!

Thursday night Chicago and I went to Fongs in down town Des Moines.

It used to be a Asian restaurant, but was changed to a pizza place a few years back.

Their pizza is.. different.

They have Kung Pao Chicken, Fongolian Beef, Thai Chicken, Loaded Potato, Spicy G, Bacon Popper...

to name a few. I've tried quite a few of these and they are alllllll delicious but my favorite will be mentioned below....

Their happy hour is pretty awesome. Buy a drink, get a free slice. You normally have about 3 kinds of pizza to choose from. We had cheese and banana pepper and pepperoni. I actually did not eat any of it, but tried a bite of the banana pepper and pepperoni. Chicago also put parmesan cheese and honey on it.
It was pretty tasty.

I however, was saving room for their cheese sticks... Which are crispy goodness, with lots of gooey cheese in the middle. They are made with the wraps that egg rolls are made of. Seriously... so good.



And my favorite....... Crab Rangoon Pizza!!

YUMMMMMMMMMMYYYYYY!!!!

I was so excited to have the pizza. Chicago and I have been trying for months to find the time to get together and get down to Fongs. It was worth the wait! I was miserably full when we left, but I just couldn't stop eating the deliciousness that is Fongs Pizza!

When you get your check, you get fortune cookies. These were our fortunes.



I highly recommend going to Fongs (4th Street down town). It's a fun, crazy atmosphere with great food. The place is normally pretty busy, and there is NO hurry when getting drinks or getting your food, but when you are there, there is no rush to leave. It's comfortable, laid back and different from any place I've been.

The Last Hurrah at AK's

In Beaverdale, there is a small corner bar... that after 25 years, is closing.

I have a lot of memories at this bar, with Brendan especially. When we were roommates he'd have a 'guest' stay over and then in the morning when that 'guest' would leave...

he'd wake me up to go get breakfast at AK O'Connors.

Good food, laid back environment and cold beer.

I LOVED their mac and cheese... with bacon on top. I ate most of it before I remembered to take a picture.

Brendan's cousin Nicole and her hubby Kevin, plus Brendans old neighbors, Kristin and Mike, frequented this establishment with him as well.

Kristin and Mikes son, Liam, enjoyed our last night there so much,

he even did the chicken dance from his high chair!

I'm sorry to see AK's go, it's one of the few places in the neighborhood that hasn't changed. It may be slightly my fault since I went over to Saints, right across the street from AK's for the last 9 months...

This t-shirt says it all:

Vegetarian/Vegan Status

Update: I am 10 days in to my 21 day Vegetarian/Vegan life style.

·         I  feel Good.

·         I don’t feel skinner really, but I do feel healthier.

·         Vegans can eat French fries… enough said.

·         I ordered vegetable fajitas last night at El Rodeo. I ate green peppers, onions, a little guacamole and rice on nice warm tortillas and I actually enjoyed it! I don’t even like ONIONS! But they were yummy.

·         Since my diet is a little bit more restricted, I MIGHT have not had enough to eat and too much to drink last Saturday during the Iowa/ISU game and was home, in bed, passed out at 6pm. That has nothing to do with the fact that I am old and need to realize I can’t drink like I’m 21 still.

·         I think being a vegetarian isn’t that hard. Being a vegan is a LOT of work and very difficult. I applaud anyone that lives a full time, all the time, vegan lifestyle.

·         11 more days and then I plan on having a nice glass of skim milk. I do plan on sticking with the vegetarian diet, for the most part and I want to keep my diary and egg intake to a minimum. For no other reason than this life style forces me to make smarter meal choices and to eat a lot of veggies and fruits.

UPDATED: 12 New Restaurants

I want to visit 12 'new to me' restaurants in the next 12 months.

This is what I have on my list.

1.       Mi Patria (9/2/2011)

2.       Zombie Burger  (10/4/2011)

3.       Chucks  (2/29/2012)

4.       Baby Boomers Café

5.       Thai Flavors

6.       The Rusty Duck (Dexter)

7.       Kirkwood Lounge (or whatever the restaurant there is called) (11/2011)

8.       Miyabi 9
9.       Norwoodville Tap
10.    Luccas

11.    Cafe di Scala

12.    The Radish

Watch for my 'reviews' of these restaurants!

UPDATED: 12 New Places to Eat

I want to visit 12 'new to me' restaurants in the next 12 months.

This is what I have on my list.

1.       Mi Patria (9/2/2011)

2.       Zombie Burger

3.       Chucks

4.       Baby Boomers Café

5.       Thai Flavors

6.       The Rusty Duck (Dexter)

7.       Kirkwood Lounge (or whatever the restaurant there is called)

8.       Miyabi 9
9.       Norwoodville Tap
10.    Luccas

11.    Cafe di Scala

12.    The Radish

Watch for my 'reviews' of these restaurants!

The Weekend of Eating

Friday night Jessica and I went to La Bamba Mexican Restaurant after work to eat and drink.

We had a great time laughing and joking.

We haven't done something like that, just her and me, in a very long time.

I think one of the best things is when I can make her laugh so hard she cries. I find satisfaction in that. :)

We ate so much food... We stared with chips, salsa, cheese and bean dip; and our margaritas of course.

About a 1/2 hour after eating all of this, and ordering a second thing of cheese and bean dip... and another pitcher of margs, we actually ordered meals, too.

Dinner is served!!

Jessica got the chicken chimichunga (not spelled right, but you know what I'm saying) and I got the steak and cheese burritos! Mucho goodo. 

The best part of the meal: Jessica, loosening her belt. That's my girl!

I then met a Nicole, Amber and Kate out on a patio to enjoy the nice weather.

On Saturday night I went to my friend Tami's house and us girls (Melissa, Tracy and myself) grilled out. We had appetizers and then our meal. Tami did the grilling and it was EXCELLENT!

 Tracy made a home made dessert. It was something yummy, with cherries and a cream sauce with chocolate drizzle sauce on top. Seriously so good.

Melissa... really liked the dessert. :)

 It was a great weekend, with great friends and great food.