Mexico downsizes its children. The Mexican government moved to ban junk food in schools in late March in an attempt to reduce one of the world’s worst obesity rates and a diabetes epidemic. New health guidelines targeted sweet or salty processed foods common among schoolchildren, such as sugary fruit drinks, potato chips, artificial pork rinds and soy-encased, chili-flavored peanuts. Schools must gradually eliminate foods and beverages with even just one black warning label indicating high levels of salt, sugar, calories or fat. Such labeling on the front of packaging has been compulsory in Mexico since 2020. Forty percent of Mexican children’s total calorie intake consists of sugary drinks and highly processed foods and over one third are obese. (AP)
Urbandale Hy-Vee’s Market Grille experience is finally dead. Will all others follow? Urbandale Hy-Vee posted that, as of April 7, their Market Grille hours will be 6 a.m.-2 p.m., their service will revert to counter orders and their bar will close May 1.
Indonesia's Foreign Minister told NHK Bangkok that nation will open its market to U.S. soybeans and LNG.
Weekend deals
• Pelican Post (265 50th St., West Des Moines) has all you can eat fish and shrimp Fridays through Good Friday, $15.49.
• Table 128 (220 S.W. Ninth St., Des Moines) features a Saturday tasting menu for $58.
• Heavenly Asian (225 Fifth St., Valley Junction) has an all-day Friday sale on orange chicken served with soup, crab Rangoon, egg roll and rice. $14, available for dine-in and phone carry-out.
• Fish Fry Friday specials can be found at Machine Shed (11151 Hickman Road, Urbandale), Red Lobster (3838 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines), Cracker Barrel (11701 University, Clive), all Jethro's, all Hy-Vee Market Grilles, all Palmer's, The Station on Ingersoll, Pelican Post (265 50th St., West Des Moines), and Bevy’s Tavern (1300 50th St., West Des Moines).
• Brenda Trang offers a fabulous Friday buffet every Friday at Vietnam Cafe - Merle Hay Mall Food Court, 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. - $18.95.
• Bawarchi (6630 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines) has Friday - Sunday specials on paneer kebabs, chicken curry and goat curry.
• Mickey's in Yale (217 Main St., Yale) has hot beef sandwich lunches and all you can eat fish dinner specials today.
• Chicago Speakeasy (1520 Euclid Ave., Des Moines) offers BBQ beef and marinated roast beef sandwiches on special for Friday lunch.
• 801 Chophouse (801 Grand Ave., Des Moines) offers Sunday supper specials that deliver deep discounts on filet, prime rib and red king salmon dinners.
• Destination Grill (2491 E. First St., Grimes) has a $40 prime rib dinner special Friday and Saturday.
• Tito’s Lounge (3916 N.W. Urbandale Drive, Urbandale) now has brunch on Fridays as well as Saturdays and Sundays.
• Court Avenue Brewing Company (309 Court Ave., Des Moines) hosts Saturday and Sunday breakfast buffets for $23.99.
• Friday night is paella time at Purveyor (505 E. Grand, Des Moines, officially, but really on E. Fifth), real Valenciana paella.
• Wendy's Fry Days mean free fries Friday with a purchase using their app.
• Maxie's Supper Club's (1311 Grand Ave., West Des Moines) Friday special is chicken and noodles over mashed potatoes - $16.95 all day. They also have prime rib dinners on Friday and Saturday for dinner only, $30-38.
• Irina's Steak and Seafood (650 S. Prairie View Drive, West Des Moines) has a beef Bourguignon Sunday special for $28.
• Jethro's Sunday special is half pound cheeseburgers and fries for $9.99.
• Chicken Heat (1101 Army Post Road, Des Moines) offers $1 wings on Friday.
• Fareway has deals this week on USDA Choice T-bones at $9.99/pound, St. Louis spare ribs at $2.88/pound, Duke's mayo at $4.97/quart and BOGOs on Tide products.
• Aldi has a sale on frenched racks of lamb $9.99/pound, bone in USDA Choice ribeye roasts at $8.99/pound and chicken wings at $2.49/pound. Through Tuesday.
• Sugardale bacon is on sale for $2.99/pound, first of the season California strawberries at $2.50/quart, and frozen catfish nuggets for $2.49/pound at Price Choppers through Monday.
• Fresh Thyme (2900 University Ave., West Des Moines) begins a week-long sale on jumbo (16-20/pound) frozen shrimp at $4.99/pound, lobster tails at $3.99 each and boneless legs of lamb at $7.49/pound today.
• Westown Tap (3530 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines) offers $12 flatbreads on Fridays.
• Steve Grismore / Bob Washut Duo play Louie's Wine Dive (4040 University Ave., Des Moines) on Sunday at 5 p.m.
• The El Toreado Mexican Bar & Grill on EP True Parkway, Des Moines, has live music from The Juan and Only on Friday from 6 p.m. Willie James Shay plays Sonny’s Pizza Bistro Friday at 5:30 p.m.
Church fish fries are held Fridays, in the Des Moines area at:
St. Boniface Catholic Church: Final fish fry of the season, Friday, April 11.
All Saints: Fridays from 5–7 p.m.
Basilica of St. John: Fridays from 4:45–6:30 p.m.
Christ the King: Fridays from 5–7 p.m.
St. Ambrose: Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
St. Anthony: Fridays from 5–7 p.m.
St. Joseph: Fridays from 4:30–7 p.m.
St. Mary of Nazareth: Fridays from 5–6:30 p.m.
St. Theresa: Fridays from 5:30–7 p.m.
Other fish fry locations:
SS John and Paul in Altoona
Our Lady's Immaculate Heart in Ankeny
SS Peter and Paul in Atlantic
St. Patrick in Audubon
St. Elizabeth Seton in Carlisle
Sacred Heart in Chariton
Assumption Church-Granger, 5:30-7 p.m.
— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com | 
