Includes bibliographical references (pages 205-206) and index.
Contents:
Midwestern roots mixes with ethnic accents -- Authentic Italian influences -- Babe, you've got what it takes -- Fine dining in Des Moines : steakhouses, supper clubs, and Steak de Burgo -- A taste of elegance at the Younkers Tea Room -- Cooking up change : restaurants, race relations, and civil rights -- Diners, drive-ins, food, and fun -- Eat, drink, and be merry : from Ronald Reagan to Ruthie -- Dinner theaters in Des Moines mixed entertainment and good eats -- Downtown Des Moines and the revitalizations of Court Avenue -- Savor a taste of the Iowa Caucus -- Changing times and the future of Des Moines.
Summary:
With Italian steakhouses, the Younkers Tea Room and Stella's Blue Sky Diner, Des Moines's culinary history is tantalizingly diverse. It's filled with colorful characters like bootlegger / "millionaire bus boy" Babe Bisignano, a buxom bar owner named Ruthie and future president of the United States Ronald Reagan. The savory details reveal deeper stories of race relations, women's rights, Iowa Caucus politics, the arts, immigration and assimilation. Don't be surprised if you experience sudden cravings for Steak de Burgo, fried pork tenderloin sandwiches and chocolate ambrosia pie, á la Bishop's Buffet. Author Darcy Dougherty Maulsby serves up a feast of Des Moines classics mixed with Iowa history, complete with iconic recipes.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.