You don’t know unless you try it. It’s cliché, sure, but it’s also the entire premise of Open Sesame, a Lebanese restaurant in Des Moines’ East Village that’s spent nearly two decades convincing Iowans there’s more to eat than pork tenderloin. Imagine going all your life never experiencing crumbly and warmly spiced falafel, fried with […]
Mediterranean cuisine
Pammel Grocery and Deli is a go-to spot for lunch and international ingredients in Ames
Ahmad Manci doesn’t believe in self-promotion or “propaganda,” as he calls it. So for almost 40 years, international students and Ames locals alike have found their way to Manci’s Pammel Grocery and Deli largely by word of mouth, be it a recommendation from a friend or the Iowa State University Reddit forums. Manci opened Pammel […]
Istanbul Grill Cafe & Bakery brings one of the world’s oldest cuisines to Urbandale
Michelle Kaya was reluctant to leave her Michigan home, where she had family, friends and a teaching career. But her husband Ahmet’s job in executive management necessitated a move to central Iowa. Early in the process, he was staying at a hotel near Jordan Creek Town Center. Michelle came to visit, and she wanted sushi. […]




