Thu - April 14, 2005

Big Night

The Great River Bridge joining Burlington, IA to Illinois

W. BURLINGTON, IA - Our penultimate night on tour was one to remember. It began with a great meal at a restaurant overlooking the Mississippi River, and ended with three games of bowling in which all participants played well.

Posted at 08:52 AM     Read More  

Wed - April 13, 2005

Double-Barrel Lunch

Butter Burger Cheese Value Basket from Culver's

BURLINGTON, IA - The gluttony continues. Less than 48 hours after my Maid-Rite experience, I finally made a trip to Culver's to try their vaunted Butter Burger. I'm making good on my vow to try all the local things I can before leaving Iowa at the end of the week. I wouldn't be so disgusted/impressed with myself had I not already partaken of a delicious lunch spread at the school beforehand.

Posted at 01:22 PM     Read More  

Tue - April 12, 2005

Too Good to Be a Patty

The Maid-Rite at the Westland Mall in West Burlington, IA

W. BURLINGTON, IA - With time running out on this tour, I'm determined to get through as many local delicacies as I can find. The original Maid-Rite sandwich, an Iowa tradition with a 78-year heritage, had eluded me until last night.

Posted at 11:21 AM     Read More  

Mon - April 11, 2005

Iowa's Grocer

Hy-Vee in Indianola

WEST BURLINGTON, IA - When a person gets ready to leave a place, he begins to take note of the things he'll miss after he is gone. Hy-Vee, the Iowa-based supermarket chain, definitely falls into that category for me. It may look just like the big chain grocery store where you live - Jewel, Stop & Shop, Food Emporium, or Roche Bros., to name a few - but I have come to believe that Hy-Vee is somehow different.

Posted at 08:33 PM     Read More  

Sun - March 20, 2005

Iowa Machine Shed

INDIANOLA, IA - When I returned home for a week of vacation, I was relieved to find out that my weight was basically the same as it was when I left New York in January. I might have come home even lighter if I had not taken a meal at the Iowa Machine Shed in West Des Moines a couple of weeks ago. In spite of my own better judgment, I have no regrets about my dinner at the Shed, a restaurant so ridiculously bountiful that it could only occur in the glorious Midwest.

Posted at 04:30 PM     Read More  

Sun - February 27, 2005

Wed - February 23, 2005

Iowa's Other Capital

Located about 20 miles northeast of Sioux City, the town of Le Mars is the self-dubbed "Ice Cream Capital of the World." The ice cream lived up to its reputation, and we had the additional good fortune of being directed to another local delicacy: The BobDog.

Posted at 07:58 PM     Read More  

Tue - February 22, 2005

Endless Love

After my experience at the Golden Corral, I thought I would never fall prey to the All You Can Eat seduction again. Time, however, seems to heal all wounds - gastric and otherwise - and last night in Sioux City, I found myself face to face with another irresistible opportunity.

Posted at 04:30 PM     Read More  

Fri - February 18, 2005

Blue Cheese Mecca

The day for our much-anticipated trip to Newton, home to the Maytag dairy farm, has finally come. Four of us played the role of dairy pilgrims, paying a quick visit to the source of the world's finest Blue Cheese.

Posted at 12:02 PM     Read More  

Wed - February 16, 2005

Children's Recipe

The good kids of Novak Elementary School were kind enough to write us letters of welcome. Talk of food is always unavoidable. A young gourmet offered up one of her prized recipes...

Posted at 11:49 AM     Read More  

Mon - February 14, 2005

The Virtues of a Great Draft Root Beer

When I found out that I would be working here in Iowa, I contacted all the people I knew who had either lived in or worked in Iowa. I naturally wanted to know what I might expect once I arrived. One friend who grew up here preached the virtues of Gib's A&W Restaurant in Indianola.

Posted at 03:57 PM     Read More  

Thu - February 10, 2005

Tue - February 8, 2005