Back to the Biz Sundale Farms, a 3,500-acre grape vineyard in California’s Central Valley, is in the late stages of transitioning completely from wine grapes to table grapes. This is most unusual because wine, like vinegar, is a time-tested crisis control method for preventing waste. One likely reason for the transition is a reaction to California environmental laws which have reduced the amount of water that can be sprayed from irrigation systems at one time. That inspired rethinking trellis systems, and table grapes suddenly looked like the best way to react. Sundale customers include Whole Foods, Costco, Walmart and Sam’s Club. (Fruit Growers News)
The junk food empire strikes back, part II. Snack food makers are doubling down on the notion that people will get over the new, U.S. Health and Human Services-led movement to get rid of additives and chemicals in their food. Maybe they are just desperate since Ozempic and other diabetes drugs have people losing weight and appetites for junk. Whatever the reason, Lay's introduced three new flavors of overly processed potato chip in April - bacon grilled cheese, Valentina & lime flavored and wavy Korean-style fried chicken. Then May saw the debut of Thai red curry chips, made with potatoes, vegetable oil (canola, corn, soybean, and/or sunflower oil), skim milk, salt, spices, sugar, tomato powder, dextrose, corn maltodextrin, onion powder, natural flavors, paprika, potassium salt, corn syrup solids, citric acid, paprika extract (color) and garlic powder.
Deals today • Haiku (1350 31st St., Des Moines) offers free egg drop soup and crab Rangoon with lunch entrees today.
• G Migg's (126 Fifth St., Valley Junction) has $11 smashburgers today with a side. • The Station on Ingersoll (3124 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines) has a Monday special Graziano grinder with a side for $12. • The Continental (407 E. Fifth St., Des Moines) offers a Monday special double smashburger and shoestring fries for $12. • Bad Dog Burgers include three 1/3-pound patties, six pieces of bacon, choice of cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle and onion for $10.95 on Mondays at Kathy’s East 14th Street Tavern (3418 E. 14th St., Des Moines). • Jethro's in Altoona and West Des Moines have a Monday mac and cheese special called hog wild this week.
• Fareways have specials through Saturday on Michelina's frozen entrees at $1, 5-ounce pork ribeyes at $1 each and extra meaty pork ribs at $3.99/pound.
• Angry Goldfish (2301 S.W. Ninth St., Des Moines) has specials on chicken Parmesan and lasagna today, $11.50 with garlic bread and salad.
• Eastside Eddie’s (3517 E. 26th St., Des Moines) Monday special is a burger with domestic beer, soft drink or well drink for $10. Those are good, generously sized burgers, too.
• Centro (1003 Locust St., Des Moines) offers half-price pizza and Peronis on Monday.
• Who's on First (810 E. First St., Ankeny) has steak night on Monday, and it's an 8-ounce filet with salad, mashed potatoes and beans for $22.95
• Pelican Post (265 50th St., West Des Moines) has a special today on hot beef sandwiches, $10.95 until 4 p.m.
• Tito’s Lounge (3916 Urbandale Drive, Urbandale) offers all-you-can-eat wings Mondays.
• Monday brings prime rib specials to both Chicago Speakeasy (1520 Euclid Ave., Des Moines) and Christopher's (2816 Beaver Ave., Des Moines).
• Johnny's Hall of Fame (302 Court Ave., Des Moines) has $12 burger baskets on Mondays and Fridays.
• Urban Cellars (640 S. 50th St., West Des Moines) offers $60 wine dinners for two on Mondays including two entrees with soup or salad, a dessert and a bottle on wine.
• Club 2000 (422 Indianola Road) has a burger basket with fries deal Mondays for $9.
• Red Lobster's Monday special is lobster and shrimp scampi with a side for $20.
• Paula's (524 Elm St., Valley Junction) has a Monday special homemade tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwich for $12.50.
• Destination Grille (2491 E. First St., Grimes) has a Monday steak night special, sirloins and truffle fries for $18.
• Chuck's (3610 Sixth Ave., Des Moines) offers $14 calzone specials with up to three ingredients on Mondays.
• Price Chopper delis offer two-piece, bone-in fried chicken dinners, with two sides and a roll, for $6 on Mondays.
— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com |