we didn’t realize United had fixed us up with an alternative flight to LA on a competing airline until we got to the airport in Des Moines. These airline mergers are hard to keep straight. But United merged with Continental and American with USAIR. We were supposed to fly United to Denver to LA but our flight was two hours late so we would miss our connection. I stayed calm and called United and soon we were flying us air to LA via Phoenix, out of frigid subzero Iowa to sunny warm LA. And here is my sweet breakfast companion in Burbank!
Category Archives: 2) Frequent Destinations
Dos Rios – I agree with the Datebook Diner’s review today
I had to agree with the Des Moines Register’s review today about Dos Rios, a restaurant serving modern (aka Rick Bayles- style) Mexican fare on Court Avenue in Des Moines. I hadn’t been there in ages, after a few mediocre overpriced meals but was presently surprised after a recent lunch there (suggested by my friend Anne.) The taco special was good value and good food – I had the pork and steak tacos plus a hearty bowl of spicy tortilla soup with visible bits of chicken (and tortilla strips).
Filed under Chicago, Des Moines, DINING
Great meal and warmer than expected at Le Jardin in Des Moines
To be honest, I wasn’t sure the new location of Le Jardin in beaver dale would be a good place for dinner on an unseasonably cold November eve. It remember the space with full window walls and high ceilings as drafty when it was Flarah’s. But we were pleasantly surprised. Not only was the food terrific but the space was warmer temperature and ambiance-wise than expected, with help from a cool wall mural by a local artist known for his graffiti as I recall. To be honest, when the door opened, the cold wind did blow in but otherwise, we warmed up. it also helped that we had a rear table away from the entrance.
The food was delicious. I had lamb goulash, a surprisingly light but flavorful dish that was served in a shallow bowl, tender pieces of lamb, carrots, and the occasional green olive that offered a little salty jolt, in a light broth/sauce atop little doughy pasta (spaetzle) with a fried egg on top. Perfect meal for a cold night. Also had a very fresh salad with mesclun, cranberries, goat cheese, candied nuts, a light vinaigrette, perfectly dressed. We will be back!
Filed under Des Moines, DINING
Thanksgiving order out or possible pit stop on I-80 in Eastern Iowa: Augusta Restaurant
Always looking for places to eat just off Interstate 80 in eastern Iowa (a road oft-traveled) so thanks to Jennifer Miller at the DM Register for suggesting this place Augusta Restaurant in Oxford, Iowa although not sure I can handle the turducken (photo below – that’s a chicken inside a duck inside a turkey…and it’s available for Thanksgiving order….

*Turduckens *
Turducken-( All deboned by Chef Ben A chicken stuffed in duck stuffed in turkey with cornbread and Andouille sausage stuffing between each layer).
Includes two quarts of gravy. 120 $ NO price on the Organic Turkeys just yet.( let us know if you are interested in one)
Additional sides can be purchased (come in large metal square pans feeds 12 ) Some Prices have changed do to food costs
*Sweet Potatoes with roasted praline topping $25
*Green Bean Casserole with homemade cream of mushroom soup and topped with french fried onions $25
*Cranberry Grand Marnier Cranberry Sauce $15
*Chocolate Pecan Bourbon Pie $35
*Bread Pudding $25
All you have to do is reheat!!!!!!!!
Your whole entire Thanksgiving for up to 12 people is only 259.70!
You can purchase separately of course ,
No, having to run around shopping for everything and then cooking
plus your meal is prepared by an award winning Chef !!
Please call soon there will be a cut off . The sooner you call the more options for pick up ‘
We will be delivering to DesMoine to the Yacht Club on Ingersoll.
Filed under DINING, interstates, Iowa
Iowa City – Hawkeye football and Short’s burgers
After watching Iowa trounce Northwestern in football on a cold clear day, we warmed up at Short’s Burger and Shine, which didn’t disappoint – excellent burgers with top-quality meat, prepared just as requested, and hand-cut fries. I tried the Greek-inspired burger with feta, cukes and tzatziki sauce (although after awhile I couldn’t resist adding ketchup.) My only complaint is that we were told we’d have about a half hour wait so we dawdled a bit at Prairie Lights, the great book store around the block, and returned about 20 minutes later to find we’d lost our table. So we had to wait some more- but only about 10 minutes (after bracing for another potential 30 minute wait…). Moral of story: stay put for the wait, which may be shorter than you were told.
Hot off the Presses: second edition NYT 36 Hours USA (with three stories by me)
The second edition of the New York Times’ 36 Hours in USA and Canada guidebook just came out ( I just received my complimentary copy in the mail) and it includes three stories I originally wrote – that have since been updated. I had two stories in the first edition. What was added? Des Moines – I’m pleased to report!
I’ve long used these pieces when I go on three-day weekends around the USA – and as the starting point for longer trips. I’ve also used the 36 Hours pieces written about foreign lands – most recently the one on Rome.
Filed under Des Moines
Ebola and the High Line and me
It turns out that I was walking in NYC along the High Line and took the 1 subway line north to 108 street almost exactly 24 hours before the young doctor who is now in a hospital with Ebola. He’s also from my home state of Michigan, in another Detroit suburb near mine…grosse pointe as it turns out. It is strange how close this horrible epidemic is getting to us all and hard to know what to think. I did get a flu shot today. I hope the young doctor is okay. He sounds like an amazing person.
Filed under New York City
High Line and Nutty end of day thanks to delta airlines
So by midday I had already received a text from delta that my 7:30 pm flight to Des Moines from LaGuardia was delayed til 8:00. By 1:26 or so it was now leaving at 9:30 pm so I leisurely sauntered along the new section of the High Line down to Chelsea Market at 15th street, ready to eat a leisurely late lunch. But no, another text at 4:19 pm had arrived. I figured it was another delay or even a cancellation. But no, the flight was now leaving at 7:35 again. at first I thought I’d read a previous text but I called to check with delta and sure enough, the flight was back on time. And I was late. I rushed out of the market, hustled over to the subway and made it back to 108 th and riverside drive at 5:15, grabbed my bag, skipped my plan to take the m60 bus to the airport and jumped in a cab.
Just my luck I had a newbie driver who took me to the wrong terminal but eventually I made it with time to spare and we will see if this does in fact leave on time. This appears to be a new or revamped terminal, with much improved food,
fress iPads for use everywhere and lots of plugs to recharge all our gizmos. Now if they could just get the flight notification process under control. And the flights to leave on time. At 7:15 came a development that does not surprise me at all. our flight is now delayed until 8:15. We have a plane but no pilots. Post Script: we finally left the gate around 8:30 and the tarmac about 9 p.m.
Filed under airfare, New York City










