The World Food Prize Hall of Laureates will welcome holiday visitors this Saturday.

WORLD FOOD PRIZE HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE

If you still haven't toured the amazing World Food Prize Hall of Laureates -- or if you're looking for a reason to visit again -- don't miss this opportunity Saturday, Dec. 19. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the hall will be filled with live Christmas music by the Grace Church Ensemble, and the building will be open to tour, including photographer Howard G. Buffett's powerful exhibit, "40 Chances: Finding Hope in a Hungry World." There is no charge. Questions? Contact Nicole Barreca, 515-245-3735.

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When one leaves Kansas via a flying house, the itinerary can get a little weird.

A SHOW FOR YOUR LITTLE MUNCHKINS

The Wicked Witch gets her comeuppance nightly, starting this evening as "The Wizard of Oz" returns to the Des Moines Civic Center. The current touring production is adapted from the 1939 film, re-conceived for the stage and bolstered by new songs from Broadway hit-makers Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Complete with Toto and flying monkeys. Through Dec. 20. Prices and times vary. Details online.

Deliciousness, served on a cracker: These canapés have flavors of France and Iowa.

A CANAPÉ FOR THE HOLIDAYS

By Wini Moranville

It's the holidays--time to up your appetizer game and pull out something opulent to serve with those first toasts of the night. But let's keep it simple, shall we?

Take my three-ingredient canapé topper, which brings together products from the two places in the world I love most: France and Iowa. Start with a great cracker (I like Trader Joe's Savory Thins) and top with The Cheese Shop of Des Moines' "All-Iowa Pâté," an homage to our state that features Iowa-sourced pork shoulder, pork livers, pork fat, pork belly and La Quercia bacon. Then, dab a little mustard atop that, and finish with slivers of sliced cornichons, those diminutive French sour gherkins. The French ingredients add a beautifully bright contrast to the rich, lush pâté.

Conveniently, The Cheese Shop happens to sell the Maille brand of cornichons from France; these cuties are crisp and tart, but not as sharply vinegary as lesser brands I've tried. The shop also sells Maille mustard, and I especially love the smooth, sunny-bright Dijon Originale mustard.

The Cheese Shop is located in The Shops at Roosevelt, 833 42nd St.; 528-8181.

Wini Moranville is a freelance writer who covers the food and dining scene for dsm. Follow her at All Things Food - DSM Wini Moranville.

MEDICAL SUCCESS STORIES WANTED

Here's an opportunity to appear in dsm magazine: As part of an upcoming health section, we want to include a few cases of amazing medical results, outcomes that exceeded expectations of the doctors and patients.
It could be a life-saving surgery, a miraculous pregnancy, a heroic
course of care. If you've been part of such an experience, we'd love
to speak with you about it. To start the conversation, shoot an email to dsmeditor@bpcdm.com. Thanks -- and congratulations on the results
of your case!

Shop artfully handcrafted gifts Friday, then enjoy jazz from musicians including Sue Oatts.

SHOP TILL YOU BOP

Jazz Happy Hour at the Des Moines Social Club Friday, Dec. 18, is preceded by the opening of Merry Market, billed as "a shopping experience like no other ... more like a holiday party than a mall." Set up in the club's Culinary Loft, the Merry Market will have artwork and other handcrafted items from 17 select vendors, plus a satellite bar serving cocktails from Malo downstairs. Merchandise includes locally produced clothing and knitwear, screen prints and other artwork, hand-carved serving utensils, pottery and jewelry. The Merry Market is open from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. Jazz Happy Hour -- 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. (it's a generous hour) -- features Sue Oatts, Jason Danielson, Mark Grimm and Bob Bowman performing in The Basement at the Social Club.

No oom-pah bass notes here; the deepest voices get the melody at TubaChristmas.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THAT BASS

TubaChristmas -- a holiday low point on the musical scale -- is an annual highlight for fans of big bass horns. From euphoniums to sousaphones, this is heavy metal music on a deeper level, with instruments and musicians decked out in holiday style. This year's free TubaChristmas concert of traditional holiday tunes is 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, at St. John's Lutheran Church, 600 Sixth Ave. Conceived in Creston, Iowa, in 1974, TubaChristmas concerts are now performed in almost 300 cities across the country. Learn more online.

PUCKER UP, PORK CHOP. Readers of a certain age and sentiment will fondly recall the sweet spaghetti scene in Disney's "Lady and the Tramp." Darned if these guinea pigs don't seem to have that film moment in mind as they munch toward togetherness.