06.25.09
Hot, slow start to BBQ Roundup
Photo by Angela Holmes/The Gazette Eight vendors line BBQ row at this year's BBQ Roundup near Kingston Stadium in southwest Cedar Rapids.
CEDAR RAPIDS – The 22nd Annual Cedar Rapids BBQ Roundup is underway at the parking lot between Veterans Memorial Stadium and Kingston Stadium, 950 Rockford Rd. SW.
The crowd was light during today’s lunch hour. Maybe it’s just too hot. Or maybe everyone is planning on going to the Los Lonely Boys concert tonight at 8 p.m.
Ed Letkowski, owner of Howling Coyote Southwest BBQ from Chicago.
The folks at Howling Coyote Southwest BBQ from Chicago were serving up ribs, pulled pork and brisket sandwiches and other specialties. Owner Ed Letowski recalls similar hot, sticky weather when they were last here in 2007.
Letowski wouldn’t share all of his secrets but said this about his ribs: put a dry rub on them, let them marinate, smoke for four hours and then finish them on the grill with Coyote’s own barbeque sauce.
The molasses-based sauce with vinegar and spices “makes them more tender than a mother’s love,” he said.
Ed Letkowski puts his special BBQ sauce on ribs at Howling Coyote.
He advises backyard grillers to use indirect heat. For better flavor, put the coals on one side and the meat on the other and don’t put meat right over the flame.
The roundup continues through Sunday, June 26. Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $3.
06.24.09
Victor’s Place celebrates 2nd anniversary
Rachel Rocha and Kathy Bateman show the cupcakes being given away Wednesday at Victor's Place, 209 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids.
CEDAR RAPIDS – Victor’s Place, 209 Third St. SE, is celebrating its second anniversary today, June 24, by giving cupcakes to customers.
The restaurant wasn’t able to celebrate its first anniversary last year because of the flood, but has fully recovered and is serving up its famous burritos and gyros.
They are open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
06.02.09
Flood recovery: Simply Divine is back!
Molly Rossiter, Faith & Values reporter here at The Gazette, invited to come with her for an afternoon snack. Boy howdy, am I glad she did.
We ventured to Simply Divine at 129 Third Avenue SE in Cedar Rapids, owned by Melanie Primasing, which reopened yesterday. The chocolate, candy and gift shop was hit in the June 2008 flood.
The flood hasn’t affected the candy, which is fantastic. I had a mini strawberry shortcake and a blueberry chocolate that sent my sugar levels off the chart, making me wish I had brought more mo
ney. (I could have broken the bank in there.)
Along with the hand-made chocolates, there is quite a variety of candy, including nostalgic ones that take me back to being a kid hanging out near the snack bar at the pool. Some of the goodies include candy sticks, Nerds, candy cigarettes, pacifiers, and even Acid Pops for the Harry Potter fans out there.
The bulk candy jars aren’t back yet, but they’re on the way. The store, still a work in progress, is having its credit card machine sent “overnight.” The package better get there quickly, the store was crowded.
Simply Divine is open 10 a.m to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and is available for special events. The phone number is (319) 363-6322, but why call. Go in and try a some goodies.
03.25.09
Iowa City’s farmers market won’t move
Check out Greg Hennigan’s story about the city council in Iowa City discussing the move, or non-move rather, to a different location from the parking garage and Chauncey Swan Park.
In Hennigan’s story, vendor Lois Pavelka touts the market being covered by the parking structure as a bonus. Inclimate weather won’t keep shoppers away.
Having wandered wet through other farmers markets in my life, a covered outdoor market is a plus.
The city council meet with vendors on April 9. Farmers markets in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City doesn’t start up until May.
However, if you’re interested in a winter farmers market, head out to Mount Vernon next weekend on Saturday, April 4. The Mount Vernon Winter Farmers’ Market runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mount Vernon City Hall, 213 First St. W Mount Vernon. Pastured beef, pork and lamb; natural honey; gourmet candies, baked goods; jams and jellies, hand-crafted jewelry, woodcrafts and more. (319) 310-6399.
01.19.09
This week’s “Kitchen Talk”: Polenta
By Cecelia Hanley
The Gazette
This week’s Kitchen Talk video at www.gazetteonline.com/food, Chef David Horsfield of the Kirkwood Community College Culinary Arts programs demonstrates how to make polenta.
For those unfamiliar with polenta, it’s cornmeal that can be served creamy, or solid, even baked like cornbread. In this version of polenta, Chef David includes vegetables in the mix and finishes it up on a charbroiler, but a skillet or a grill works just as well.
Polenta
serves 8
Recipe ingredients:
1 quart chicken stock
1 cup polenta, fine ground, instant
salt and pepper to taste
6 each basil stalks — 2 inch long
1/2 ounce basil leaf, shredded
6 cloves garlic — fine chopped
2 ounces semi-dried tomato — sliced julienne
1 ounce black olives — rough chopped
Boil stock with garlic, stalks of basil and seasoning. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes or until stock is fragrant from garlic and basil.
Remove and discard basil stalks. Add semi-dried tomatoes, olives and basil leaves. Add polenta and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
Line a half hotel pan or a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with greaseproof paper and spread with polenta, smoothing top surface, to about 1 inch deep. Cool in refrigerator until it is set firm (at least three hours) and slice for service. (Try more than squares; cut this into triangles!)
Lightly rub with olive oil and sear on charbroiler. Use tongs to flip the pieces of polenta. For leftovers, and reheat in the oven.
Next week:
Chef David will demonstrate how to make pesto. (Which tasted delicious over this polenta.)
01.18.09
Yes, we can eat… cookies
Whatever your politics, going to see the inauguration is something that gives you a sense of civic pride and a deep sense of patriotism. One can’t help being in our Nations Capital at any time of the year without feeling some sense of patriotism and awe.
There is a saying, you don’t want to see how laws or sausages are made. But sometimes, you’ve gotta love the ceremony.
If you’re looking for a food for the day, try some inauguration cookies at Jules Bakery in Marion. Although Jules herself will be in Washington DC for the swearing in, there will be some patriotic cookies for the day.
I bet bakers all over the country are glad Obama’s initial easily lends itself to cookies.
01.06.09
Your plastic is no good here
Gazette photo by Liz Martin A sign reading "Cash or Check Only!" is displayed at the entrance to Donutland in Northeast Cedar Rapids on Friday, Jan. 2, 2009. The store also displays signs on the exterior front door and at the cash register.
The one that caught my eye today was the page 1 story by George Ford about eateries in the The Cooridor who have eschewed credit cards, and some have never used them.
“Cici’s Pizza in southwest Cedar Rapids, Donutland in northeast Cedar Rapids and Mahoney’s in Alburnett accept cash or checks. Mahoney’s Irish Pub in northeast Cedar Rapids and The Picador in Iowa City are cash-only establishments.”
These restaurants are doing this to save the consumer’s money. Transaction fees charged by the credit card companies to the vendor get passed on to the consumer.
With the recent credit crunch, (ha! more like an implosion) I recommend everyone go cash only. It’ll save you money if you actually have to THINK about on what you’re spending your hard earned scratch. You might lose weight too. You can’t afford and appetizer and a meal, forego the appetizer. Your waist-line will shrink and your wallet will get fatter. Bonus! Or, fellow foodies, think of it this way, you’ll savour the main course because you won’t be extremely full. Dining out isn’t about stuffing your face, it’s about enjoying the food.
11.20.08
Lunch, dinner and popovers
It’s been a while!
First: Two new lunch options in downtown Cedar Rapids!
- The Prairie Soup Company, owned and operated by Ryan and Katy Buresh, serves homemade soups and sandwiches from their location on the second floor of the APEC building.
- Benz Beverage Depot is offering grab-and-go “European Lunches” featuring artisan or imported cheeses and sliced cured meats on a mini baguette for $5.95.
Second: You’ve probably heard by now, but just in case you haven’t, Blend and the Piano Lounge are both open for business. They both look a little different — Blend has added an outdoor seating area, reconfigured its entryway, and redecorated the interior with darker, cooler tones while The Piano Lounge has opened up it’s establishment and added a second bar — but they’ve maintained their cool, upscale atmosphere AND tasty food and drinks.
Third: I wanted to show you what the popovers I wrote about in my last column looked like. I had always shyed away from popovers, because I didn’t want to buy a popover pan, and I was afraid that using a muffin pan would result in a batch of unpoppedovers and a disappointed and unhappy Anne. But then I took a deep breath and gave it a try anyway. I’m pleased to report that the popovers did rise, at least a little bit, and they were delicious and I will be making them again, popover pan or no.
A muffin pan o popovers
Lovely, poofy insides. I'm getting hungry.
A word of warning for those who haven’t tried popovers before: These should be eaten while they’re still warm from the oven. Unlike, say, muffins or biscuits, they’re no good the next day. Click through for the recipe.
10.27.08
Celebrate Benz’s return with tasting events
Have you been back to Benz yet? If not, this is the week to welcome back downtown Cedar Rapids’ wine, beer, spirits and gourmet food store. They’re filling this week with grand opening events, starting with a re-grand opening beer tasting from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday:
“While we were recovering from the flood, we were able to help bring in some great new brews to the state of Iowa. Come sample from the selection of our favorite new arrivals. We will pair these new beer arrivals with some of our new cheeses and delicious snacks from Benz.”
Admission is $10/person, and includes a coupon for 10 percent off any food items or beer tasted during the tasting.
The re-grand opening celebration will continue through Sunday with daily wine tastings and food samples. Here is the schedule:
- Wine Tastings, Thursday and Friday 2 to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 2 to 4 p.m.
- Artisan and International Cheese Tasting, 3 to 4:30 p.m. Friday*
- European Breads & Olive Oil Tasting, 2 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday
- Artisan and International Cheese Tasting, 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday*
*Featuring Different Cheeses and Meats Friday and Sunday
Other news from flood-affected food businesses:
10.16.08
Vive le French food!
Croissant du Jour
Hello Hoopla readers! Since the premiere issue of Eastern Iowa’s young adult publication featured a review of one of my favorite CR spots, Croissant du Jour, I wanted to let you in on a secret: The cafe also serves dinner. But only once a month. To get in, you have to make a reservation… and schedule your dinner plans around their serving times. But it’s so worth it. (Plus, you get to BYO wine.)
Croissant du Jour’s dinners are prix fixe dinners, meaning you get a pre-set multi-course meal for a fixed price. There, usually about $40 to $50. (Plus, $5 corking fee if you bring a beverage.)
If you’ve been for breakfast or lunch — or even if you haven’t — I’d encourage you to splurge on one of the cafe’s dinners. This month’s menu sounds so good I’ve been kicking myself for having already made other plans for Oct. 25.
See the menu and get more details at www.croissantdujour.biz (To find the menu, go to the home page, and scroll down to the bottom of the page.)
