Des Moines food writer Wini Moranville releases new memoir
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Wini Moranville's image as the former "Datebook Diner" for the DSM Register was a paper plate, similar to this one. Photo: Courtesy of Wini Moranville
Local food writer Wini Moranville's new memoir comes out Wedesday.
Why it matters: "Love Is My Favorite Flavor" offers a behind-the-scenes look into Iowa's culinary evolution, awakened from a "meat-and-potatoes" slumber in the 1970s to one that's globally inspired and locally purveyed.
Catch up fast: Moranville's work as a food journalist spans about three decades, including as a national wine critic. She' wrote more than 750 restaurant reviews as the former "Datebook Diner" for the DSM Register.
- She currently writes "Wini's Food Stories," an electronic newsletter published on Substack.
Fun fact: Moranville's "humble" start in DSM's restaurant industry began as a server and lasted about a decade.
- "The good, the bad and the downright weird" of those early experiences served her well as a food writer and human being, she writes in the book.
Zoom in: The former Bistro 43 in Beaverdale in the late 1990s was one of the local pioneers of seasonal, chef-driven eateries, Moranville tells Axios.
What she's watching: Despite its changes, the industry still struggles with staffing following the pandemic, she says.
- There have been recent improvements, but service can still be inconsistent.
What's next: Moranville will speak during a free book launch event on Saturday at Johnston Public Library, starting at 10:30am.
- Seating is limited, registration is open.
