Iowa City resident Matthew Houck is ready for battle. Next week, he’ll go head-to-head with home chefs from across the country competing for a coveted white apron on FOX’s MasterChef.
Houck, an amateur chef and optometrist at McDonald Optical in Iowa City, applied for a spot on the food-focused reality show last October. A long drive to Nashville for an initial audition required Houcks to prepare a signature dish for a group of judges. […]
You may not have learned in school, but the U.S. was founded on booze. Celebrate your civic duty by raising a glass to freedom at these Iowa City and Cedar Rapids drinkeries. […]
Just in time for Taco Tuesday, Casa Azul Restaurante & Cantina has opened a new location in downtown Iowa City at 335 S Gilbert St. The first Casa Azul in Coralville, owned by Carlos and Allysa Tijerina, is known for its authentic Mexican food, and its 99-cent tacos on Tuesdays. Making sure Casa Azul’s food […]
Failed 2012 presidential candidate Mitt Romney is currently running for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in Utah, which he currently describes as his home state. (Romney was born and raised in Michigan, served as governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and has spent much of his time at his home in Southern […]
When the beloved Kalona Cheese factory, which closed in 2014, reopened as the Kalona Creamery in 2017, my excitement was focused on the return of cheese curds. The curds are set to be brought back later this year, thank the dairy gods, but the creamery has more to offer. On April 21, Kalona Creamery debuted their line of eight hard ice cream flavors. […]
A dart, a bowling ball and a hatchet — one of these things is not like the others. But that’s about to change, according to Nick Carroll. Carroll is one of the owners of Hatchet Jack’s, a hatchet-tossing bar that will be taking over the space at Gateway One Plaza on Highway 1 that was […]
The Iowa City and Coralville locations of Falbo Bros. Pizzeria will reopen under new ownership. The S Gilbert Street location closed abruptly on April 5, when the staff walked out, after posting a sign on the door that stated: “This establishment’s owner, Barry, along with the entire Falbo’s corporation has failed to pay employees, and refuses to answer calls about this illegal failure.” The Coralville store was also shut down by an employee walkout. […]
When you order at JiangHu, approach the counter, grab an empty bowl and tongs and select from a variety of noodles, meats, seafoods, tofus, fungi, seaweed and vegetables. […]
They’re ba-a-a-a-ck! Former Motley Cow Cafe manager Peter Kessler and chef/owner David Wieseneck have confirmed plans to work together once again. […]
Iowa City’s Agape Café proves true to name. Since 1993, the café, located in Old Brick Church on Market Street, has been serving free, restaurant-style, made-to-order breakfast to the Iowa City community on Wednesday mornings, 7 to 8:30 a.m. […]
Crossing through the purple entrance curtain into the Map Room is a rewarding experience. Once inside, the modern patron is transformed by the little, nondescript, Cedar Rapids building into a world traveler from another age. […]
It’s a precious thing when St. Patrick’s Day, a day defined by frivolity and stout-drinking, lands on a Saturday. Enjoy drink specials, live music and green-colored merriment at these area gatherings. […]