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June 9, 2015

Chuck Betts was honored as a

Sage Over 70 in 2014.

Nominations Open For Sages Over 70

At dsm, we honor our city's veteran achievers and leaders with our annual "Sages Over 70" award. And we'd like your help in choosing them! The nominee needs to be age 70 or older and should meet the following criteria:

Has consistently demonstrated leadership.

Has contributed and still contributes to the betterment of the community, even if behind
the scenes.

Has been a role model/mentor to others.

People honored in previous years include Robert Burnett, Monroe Colston, Michael Gartner, Willie Stevenson Glanton, William Knapp, Elizabeth Kruidenier, Gov. Robert Ray and Fred Weitz, 2011; Richard "Red" Brannen, Johnny Danos, Nolden Gentry, David Hurd, Mary Kramer, R.W. and Mary Nelson and Tom Urban, 2012; James A. Autry, Mary Campos, Joy Corning, E.J. Giovannetti, Robert Larsen and Neal Smith, 2013; Charles "Chuck" Betts, J.C. "Buz" Brenton, Donald Brush, Judith Conlin, Patty Cownie and Stan Reynolds, 2014.

Click here to be redirected to the nomination form. The deadline is June 26.

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This lobster crème brûlée was an inventive first course to the Prima Dinner prepared by Dominic Iannarelli.

We Were There:

Winefest Prima Dinner

By Wini Moranville

Who pairs lobster with a big, bold Napa Valley cabernet? I had the great luck to be a guest last Thursday night at the Splash Seafood Bar & Grill/Caymus Vineyards Prima Dinner, where chef Dominic Iannarelli did just that.

Iannarelli's challenge was to showcase seafood--Splash's main raison d'être--with the esteemed Napa Valley cabernets and zinfandels by Caymus Vineyards.

To some, delicate seafood with big, bold reds might sound ill-advised, but Iannarelli pulled it off with aplomb. It helped that he chose seafood and preparations that possessed their own kind of power and finesse.

Served alongside his first course of rich lobster crème brûlée was the vineyard's 2005 Napa Valley cab; after a decade, the tannins had mellowed into near absence, which served the pairing beautifully. The second course brought a Hawaiian bigeye tuna with an octopus and potato salad. The robust, steak-like fish handily matched Caymus' 2013 Napa Valley zinfandel.

Splash also knows its way around steaks: Course three brought a prime New York strip with shellfish mushrooms and short rib marmalade--a shoo-in for Caymus' 2009 Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon.

Part of the thrill of the Prima Dinners, which are held each June in conjunction with Winefest Des Moines, is the chance to peek inside some of Des Moines' most distinctive homes. The Splash/Caymus dinner was held in the art-centric home of Charlie and Karin Edwards. See photos of Karin, owner of Karin H. Edwards Interiors, and her house in this July 2014 article in dsm magazine.

fyi: Mark Your Calendar

Run for a cause on June 13 for ChildServe's Run, Walk & FUN 4 the Kids. The 5k begins at 9 a.m. at ChildServe in Johnston (5406 Merle Hay Road). For those unable to complete a full 5k, a 1-mile walk/run on a flat course is also an option. Early registration costs $15; $25 after June 11. To register and learn more about the event, visit childserve.org/run.
The premiere of "Bonds of War," a play written by John Busbee to honor Adair County's World War II veterans, will be performed June 12-14 in the Norman Lear Theater of the Warren Cultural Center in Greenfield. Show times vary; tickets cost $15 and can be purchased here. For more information, click here. Busbee is a Des Moines film developer and theater critic who hosts "The Culture Buzz" on KFMG 99.1 radio.
Repertory Theater of Iowa (RTI) will perform William Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" June 11-14 for this year's Shakespeare on the Lawn. Each performance begins 7:30 p.m. on the south terrace of Salisbury House and Gardens (4025 Tonawanda Drive). Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased here. Tickets to a preview party June 10 cost $100 and include admission to one of the performances, drinks, heavy appetizers and the opportunity to meet the cast and crew.
Monsoon United Asian Women of Iowa and Nisaa African Women's Project will host a pop-up cafe fundraiser June 13 from noon to 3 p.m. at the Bayanihan Asian Resource Center (4950 Franklin Ave.). For $20, guests can sample food from Somalia. Purchase tickets in advance here or at the door.

P.S. You Won't Want to Miss This

Many events crowd our social calendar at dsm, but we are especially looking forward to Salon 4700's "A Conversation with Creators" on June 12, 6:30-10 p.m., at Fitch Artist Studios (304 15th St.). Catherine Dreiss, Jeffrey Thompson, Rick Lozier, Larassa Kabel and Robert Spellman will open their studios and give informal talks about their work, method and style. Guests also can expect cocktails, heavy hors d'oeuvres, an interactive art project and entertainment in Lozier's studio. Tickets cost $40 for Salon 4700 members and $50 for non-members and can be purchased here. Make sure to reserve your spot by the end of the day today.

Salon 4700 is a member affiliate group of the Des Moines Art Center that is designed primarily for those interested in social and educational opportunities. To become a member, contact Julia Mason Gray via email or call 271-0327.

Belle Du Chene is senior editor of dsm magazine.

Wini Moranville, author of "The Bonne Femme Cookbook: Simple, Splendid Food That French Women Cook Every Day," is a food, wine and travel writer who covers the dining scene for dsm magazine. Follow her at All Things Food DSM - Wini Moranville and catch her food segment on Fridays at 6:40 a.m. on KCWI-23's "Great Day" morning show.

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