Des Moines, Iowa will forever hold a special place in my heart. Its a city that I spent a lot of time in. I experienced many changes there, met so many fascinating individuals and also indulged in some of the best food that I have ever tasted. It is a city that is rich with history, culture, and art. Around every corner you are almost guaranteed to find a business or restaurant that is pushing the boundaries of creativity for their specific medium. Since moving back to my home town in the Quad Cities (Davenport), I often reminisce on some of the fun photoshoots I went on while living there.
Brisket Benedict from St. Kilda in Clive, IA
The food scene in Des Moines is vast. If you think of any cuisine, chances are that there is a restaurant in the DSM area that has it. Not only are they providing that cuisine to the community, but they are executing it in the most authentic way that truly allows for you to close your eyes and feel as if you are transported to that specific part of the US, or that specific part of the world. I was lucky enough to photograph a lot of restaurants in the area that allowed me to have this type of experience. St. Kilda, for example, is one of my favorite spots to eat whenever I find myself in Des Moines. Each of their locations is unique in its own right with beautiful architectural details make each individual location special. Whether you are visiting their Clive location, or their expansive Valley Junction location, you can expect to walk into a world that is full of creative inspiration & positivity. The food truly represents the culture of the great land down undah & the flavors are directly correlated to what you would expect to taste while on a vacation in Australia.
Ricotta Hotcake from St. Kilda in Clive, IA
Des Moines is also full of staple restaurants. When thinking of staple restaurants in the Des Moines, IA, you either think of B-Bops or Jethro’s BBQ. B-Bops is a fantastic place to get a quick burger and milkshake on a warm summers night but that isn’t the restaurant I am going to be talking about. Yup, it’s Jethro’s. Chances are you have either heard of it, or you’ve been lucky enough to actually sit down for a lunch or dinner there. Wherever you may find yourself in DSM, chances are you’re only a few miles away from a stellar Jethro’s location. Waukee, Johnston, Clive, Valley Junction, Ankeny, or Ames, Jethro’s has got you covered. I was lucky enough to photograph each and every Jethro’s location and trust me when I say this, I ate so much BBQ during these shoots and I somehow never got tired of it. They have figured out the perfect recipe that allows them to cater to each and everyones personal tastes. There is something for everyone at Jethro’s and each location makes for a memorable experience that will make you lose track of time.
BBQ done right. Jethro’s BBQ platter at Jethro’s Bacon & Bacon location in Clive, IA
Uptown Garage Brewing Co. in Ankeny, IA.
Feeling thirsty? Looking for something fun and different to do in the DSM area? Uptown Garage in Ankeny is such a cool indoor/outdoor spot. They offer all the best palate cleansers you can possibly think of, and then some. If my mind serves me correctly, they also have an indoor golf simulator. I can’t think of any other brewery or bar that offers something like that! I’ve spent all this time talking about how great the restaurant scene is in DSM but I cannot just glaze over how many incredible breweries have made a strong stand in and around Des Moines. Uptown Garage is such a sick spot to hang, connect, and have a good ole’ time without having to worry about being thirsty for something unique.
Kinship Brewing in Waukee, IA.
Lua Brewing in Downtown, Des Moines, IA.
On the topic of breweries, I can’t not mention these two. Kinship & Lua brewing. Earlier when I was talking about DSM staples, these are two that I would consider to be staples in the world of breweries. Whenever I know that I have friends that will be visiting Des Moines, I always recommend checking out these two gems. Lua is a two for one deal when it comes to what they offer. They have an incredible well crafted menu that truly has it’s own style and just makes sense for their aesthetic. Flavors are popping at Lua whether you’re drinking or eating! You’re in for a treat either way.
Kinship is probably the biggest freaking brewery that I have ever been too. (Big Grove coming in a close second). Kinship was a great shoot. Not only are they killing the beer game, but they are also one of the first breweries around the DSM area to become very outdoor friendly. And dog friendly as well! An all encompassing experience is what you can expect to get out of Kinship. They as well, have a stellar menu to order from. Offering delectable sharables, as well as insanely great entrees that are certain to make you take a photo because of how beautifully it is presented. (That’s if you can manage to keep your mouth from watering too much).
Ninja Sushi & Ramen in Waukee, IA.
Before I go here, I need to touch on this restaurant. Ninja is a prime example of what I was talking about in terms of authenticity. This place was a ton of fun to shoot. With dishes that offer so many different colors, and textures, it was a food photographers paradise! As I was shooting I couldn’t help but try to pick the restaurant owner’s brain about each dish she was bringing out. Each roll was tantalizing in it’s own way and had the freshest of ingredients you could imagine. With Iowa basically being the most landlocked state in the US, sometimes you can find yourself being skeptical on eating fish around here (or maybe that’s just me…lol). At Ninja though, that is no concern at all. They get the freshest of fish every week and will skin, debone, and butcher the fish all on their own to ensure that their ideal quality is met. And I can assure you that it is! They do not miss and it was an absolute pleasure for me to be able to create some imagery for them to promote their stellar dishes with.
My food photography journey has been nothing short of an experience. And a pleasure! It is such a treat to be able to meet so many incredible people who are equally as passionate about what they do, as I am about what I do. The collaboration that takes place on these shoots is something that I hold near and dear to my heart. It is why I love being able to do what I do and meet the people that I meet. I’ve always looked at my food photography as something that extends far beyond than just a photo of some food. Or just a photo of a beer or cocktail. It is an amalgamation that combines individual experiences, expression, passion, and divine creativity. I am only the catalyst that helps to propel these things to catch the eye of the general public in the most unique way and help convince them that trying something new can lead them to something more than a great dish. Rather, an all encompassing, everlasting emotional experience.