Friday Food Tour 10.07.11

Another beauty of a fall weekend is coming up - have you made your plans yet?

The 2011 World Food Festival kicks off today. Now in it's 7th year, it's the perfect way to try the flavors of the world for only $1 a taste! This year the festival will feature a Cooking Challenge similar to Iron Chef. There will also be some Iowa craft beer and Iowa wine to pair with your worldly food. We'll be there.

Also this weekend is the 2nd Annual Buy Fresh Buy Local Harvest Party. Held at Drake University from 4pm - 6pm on Sunday, October 9, the event features locally grown and locally prepared food. Tickets are $20/person or $50/family for an eight-course "small plate" meal, plus Iowa wine and beer sampling. More info here.

The latest Out to Lunch post at the Des Moines Register features Skip's - we've always had excellent meals at Skip's and it looks like the lunch menu is a winner too.

If you happen to be up in the Northwest corner of the state, Bob's Drive Inn in Le Mars is the place to find some excellent loosemeats or "Taverns" and a real Blue Bunny shake. Michael Stern at Roadfood.com gives us his take on this Le Mars tradition.

Now, I'm a Miller Lite drinker - not that I won't try lots of other great locally crafted and regional beers - but on a nice hot day, I reach for a cold Miller Lite. And now I can get that same great taste in a 5.7 liter Home Draft? It would be just like having my own bar at home. Err, well maybe. Just read this review.

Enjoy some great food and drink this weekend!