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.
LV Recommends
Posted inDining Recommendations
LV Recommends: Kalona Creamery’s new ice cream
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.
Posted inDining Recommendations
LV Recommends: JiangHu Asian Street Food
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.
Posted inFood & Drink
LV Recommends: The Agape Café, 25 years of free, feel-good fare
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.
Posted inFood & Drink
LV Recommends: The Map Room, a culinary tour of the world
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.
Posted inBread & Butter Dining Guide
LV Recommends: Irish stouts
On St. Patrick’s Day, you’re entitled to a pint of Guinness (it’d be un-Irish not to) but if you’re looking for something a little different, give these U.S.-born Irish stouts a chance.
Posted inBread & Butter Dining Guide
LV Recommends: Bread Garden Market’s food kiosks
Bread Garden Market executive chef Christian Prochaska said the idea for the kiosks came, in fact, from a visit to Whole Foods in Washington, D.C., where customers were lining up “10 people deep” to order personalized meals from kiosk stations.
Posted inBread & Butter Dining Guide, Dining Recommendations, Food & Drink
LV Recommends: The Village Meat Market
If you find yourself wandering Czech Village, pop into the Village Meat Market Café for some simple and delicious fare. But don’t leave without taking some butcher loaf home.
Posted inFood & Drink
LV Recommends: Orchard Green’s Hot & Filthy
Somewhere, in a magical land between a Bloody Mary and a martini, exists Orchard Green’s Hot and Filthy. Simply vodka with hot pepper-infused olive juice, it breathes hope and positivity, claiming with confidence and calm: You don’t have to choose, people! Have that pure, boozy, olive heat without the trusted alcoholic brunch beverage viscosity, and live.
Posted inDining Recommendations, Food & Drink
LV Recommends: Nile Ethiopian Restaurant
“Finally” seems to be the most frequently expressed response to the recent opening of Nile, an Ethiopian restaurant just off the Coralville strip. Finally Iowa City transplants who once hailed from big cities rich with international food scenes can reconnect with a long-lost comfort food. Finally Eastern Iowa natives, young and old, can again enjoy a lesser-known cuisine without a long drive — or trial-and-error in one’s own kitchen.
Posted inDining Recommendations, Food & Drink
LV Recommends: Caucho
Tacos are perfect, no matter what form they take: Whether hard shell or soft, spicy or mild, meaty or vegetarian, a taco’s deliciousness and convenience are peerless. I’d argue that, like sex, even a bad taco is still pretty damned good.
A margarita, on the other hand, is easy to ruin. Too often, the flavor of tequila is barely discernible in the too-sweet tang of frozen sour mix, and the whole thing amounts to nothing more than a mediocre Slurpee. A middling margarita can dull the shine of even the most stellar taco.
This is part of why Caucho is such a gem: Their margaritas are perfection. Whether delivered as a mixed-from-scratch top-shelf cocktail rimmed with smoked paprika salt, or as a frozen, blended house margarita straight from a machine, the drink combines perfectly with their fresh, farm-to-table, eclectic selection of Mexican favorites.
Posted inFood & Drink
LV Recommends: BeerBurger
I love a restaurant that doesn’t need a gimmick: one where the food is good and you can hear the person you’re speaking with — and it’s always nice when you can get a good beer or a milkshake with whiskey in it. BeerBurger in North Liberty is just such a joint. No pretense, just […]
