You may have heard about pasta puttanesca, or “whore’s pasta,” as it is so problematically translated, with its legendary history as a bordello staple that served as both aphrodisiac and restorative. The truth is that no one knows precisely why puttanesca is so named, just like no one knows exactly how factual any folktale is. […]
Food & Drink
Posted inCommunity/News
Photo Gallery: Iowa City Farmers Market celebrates 50th anniversary
There were ostrich eggs and balloon animals, in addition to the regular fresh vegetables, fruit and meat in the Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp on Saturday, as the Iowa City Farmers Market celebrated its 50th anniversary. There was also live music, a raffle and other family friendly activities to mark a half-century mark of this Iowa […]
Posted inBread & Butter Dining Guide
Recipe: Simple-to-make strawberry chia jam
Recipe and photo by Lindsey Frisbie, RD, LD This is the easiest jam you will ever make! It’s made with frozen berries here, but fresh fruit would work, too. It’s equally great made with blueberries, raspberries and/or cherries. A finishing touch of lemon zest at the end brightens the flavor. Cook time: 10 minutes 2 […]
Posted inBread & Butter Dining Guide
LV Recommends: The CRANDIC’s coolest ice cream shops
Nothing soothes the soul quite like a scoop, cone or mixture named after a weather event. The Brass Fountain 122 E Main St, Solon 319-624-6122 View Website An ode to the soda fountains and malt shops of a bygone era, The Brass Fountain tastes like a trip to the past. And since it’s run by […]
Posted inEastern Iowa
Photo Gallery: New residents get a Taste of Iowa City at the 14th event
Taste of Iowa City returned to the downtown area Wednesday night. This was the 14th year for the Iowa City Downtown District’s event, which is designed to introduce new students at the University of Iowa to downtown and Northside restaurants. Little Village’s multimedia journalist, Adria Carpenter, captured the samples, party games in the Ped Mall […]
Posted inBread & Butter Dining Guide
Carried away: Great local takeout and where to enjoy it outside
During the lockdown portion of the COVID-19 pandemic, our family took the opportunity to dive much deeper into two of our interests: exploring nature and eating takeout. The marriage of these two activities can go wrong easily—a soggy, sloppy sandwich in a poorly balanced Styrofoam container spilling onto your jeans in the great outdoors can […]
Posted inBread & Butter Dining Guide
LV Recommends: Restaurants that feel like home
Foodies who spent the last two years dining only al fresco — or simply a casa — are itching for a change of scenery. While these local spots offer a range of fare, what they all have in common is a comfy, casual atmosphere that will help ease you back into the dine-in experience. Sanctuary […]
Posted inEastern Iowa
A 2022 CSA guide for the Iowa City and Cedar Rapids area
There are many different types of CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) options within Iowa. We’ve compiled a list of those located within one hour (and often much closer) of Iowa City and Cedar Rapids, or offering pickup in these areas. Many of these CSAs sell a combination of items, so be sure to check out what […]
Posted inBread & Butter Dining Guide
Tender is the loin: The quest to find the CRANDIC’s most perfect pork tenderloin
Photos by Zak Neumann / Little Village The pork tenderloin sandwich ranks among Iowa’s most important culinary contributions, alongside Maid-Rites, puppy chow and Casey’s breakfast pizza. The formula is simple: A piece of pork loin is pounded thin, battered and deep fried, served on a bun which it humorously dwarfs in size and topped most […]
Posted inBread & Butter Dining Guide
LV Recommends: Notable restaurant newbies in Eastern Iowa
Opening a restaurant is no small feat, but opening your doors for the first time in the middle of a global pandemic is next level. These new spots are worthy of a gold star. Alebrije Restaurant 401 S Linn St, Iowa City 319-569-1083 View Website Named for the brightly colored Mexican folk art sculptures you’ll […]
Posted inEastern Iowa
Micky’s Irish Pub & Grill expands to North Liberty
Almost 42 years to the day after Micky’s Irish Pub and Grill opened its doors on S Dubuque Street in Iowa City, a second location will debut roughly nine miles up the road. On July 11, a Facebook post announced that the long-running downtown institution would expand to North Liberty in August, taking over the […]
Posted inCentral Iowa
Forced to downsize, Sweet Tooth Farm focuses on self-care: ‘We can come back stronger’
In the summer of 2021, Monika Owczarski was informed by the City of Des Moines that the land she was leasing for her urban farm, Sweet Tooth Farm, would no longer be rented to her. Owczarski was devastated. On these two plots of land, she had been able to grow a little over an acre […]
