“Said Gawain, gay of cheer, ‘Whether fate be foul or fair, Why falter I or fear? What should man do but dare?’” —‘Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,’ late 14th century poem “The green girdle stays on during sex.” —Sir Gawain (paraphrased), ‘The Green Knight,’ 2021 film When I was a 10-year-old Girl Scout on […]
LV Recommends
Posted inFood & Drink
LV Recommends: Mammita’s Coffee serves up Latin-infused cafe items (and floral arrangements)
Mammita’s Coffee and Flowers by Jacqueline in Iowa City may have mastered the art of multitasking. It is part flower shop, part coffee study spot and part lunch destination; all of them are good. The many-roomed shop is located on S Linn Street, right next to Mailboxes of Iowa City and near the downtown public […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Built by immigrants in 1893, the Matyk Building is now a font of food and art in Cedar Rapids
The building that sits at 1029 3rd St SE in Cedar Rapids has roots almost as deep as the city itself. It was erected by the Matyk family, immigrants from Czechoslovakia, in 1893, only 44 years after the city was incorporated. The building began its life as a dry goods store, with the family living […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Cooking on hot coals: A recipe for fire-roasted naan, vegetables and labneh
One of the more memorable diversions from last year was socially distanced outdoor gatherings with family members and “pod” friends, hanging around the most primitive of cooking stations: a fire pit. No need to clean the house or lay out a fancy spread — it’s the pandemic after all; we’re just trying to survive. My […]
Posted inFood & Drink
LV Recommends: House Divided Brewery
Buttery, salty and best of all, free. Now that I’ve gotten the popcorn review out of the way, let me dive into the bread and butter, so to speak, of any brewery: the beer. House Divided Brewery, located right across the street from the Ely Public Library, serves up creative lagers, stouts, sours and IPAs […]
Posted inFood & Drink
The Takeaway: I came for the enchiladas from Sobremesa and stayed for the mole sauce
Mexican food was always one of my first favorite cuisines, because my family ordered it all the time. It was a weekend staple and I remember loving to go to our family’s favorite place and gorge myself on the bowls of salsa and trays of chips because it was one of the few times I […]
Posted inFood & Drink
The Takeaway: Marquee Pizzeria’s sweet and spicy pie is my new vice
I have heard it said that pizza is like sex: even when it’s bad, it’s good and when it’s good, it’s amazing. I tend to agree. I’ve had slices from school cafeterias, gas stations, bars, food trucks, mall food courts and upscale pizzerias — and I’d eat every one of them again. Pizza is never […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Two friends defied pandemic fears to open Feedwell Kitchen & Bakery in Cedar Rapids, offering ‘Panera but with a choice’
Chef Melanie Abu-Nameh, 44, and baker Holly Ervin, 45, first met at a tennis margarita league event, as best friends do, and quickly bonded over family and food. While Abu-Nameh has worked in the restaurant industry her whole career (from line cook to culinary instructor to executive chef), Ervin regarded baking as a side passion. […]
Posted inFood & Drink
For the love of Reuben: Grading local corned-beef beauties
When my beloved and I became a serious couple, his son asked us what our favorite foods were. We both said Reubens. The first Reuben I ever ordered was in 2000. I was out for Bloody Marys and brunch at the Uptown Diner in Minneapolis (RIP) and a friend insisted I have one. I was […]
Posted inFood & Drink
The Takeaway: The Dandy Lion is as wholesome and versatile as breakfast itself
Breakfast is perhaps the humblest meal, but also one of the most universally loved. It can be eaten at any time of day and its most common components — eggs, some sort of bread or pastry, maybe a little meat — can be put together in innumerable ways, from a basic scrambled egg and toast […]
Posted inFood & Drink
The Takeaway: Even over delivery, Stella stays crispy
Food comes in many forms and can serve many purposes. It can be a multi-course work of art. It can be a tentative lunch at a coffee shop to forge a connection with a new friend or a home-cooked meal to show our love to our families. It can be purely utilitarian, like chunks of […]
Posted inFood & Drink
LV Recommends: NaRa Thai
When I moved back home to Iowa after living in Minneapolis for a few years, one of the few things I missed was the cuisine. I’m no food snob — I like cheeseburgers and pizza as much as the next person — but I also appreciate things like a great falafel and other foods that […]
