Tinned fish is this year's unusual stocking stuffer

• At Django in downtown Des Moines, the trend has earned a spot on the menu, from smoked mackerel with chili flakes ($12) to smoked salmon ($20).
• You'll also find it at restaurants like Waterfront Market and The Cheese Shop.

What they're saying: George Formaro, the chef behind the menu at Django and several other Orchestrate-owned restaurants, says they decided to try Fishwife's line at Django and serve it alongside accoutrements like crackers, toast, compound butter and olives.

• "I understand if somebody says, 'Ew, sardines,' but hey, you try any of these items that come from Fishwife and they're really game changing," he says.

The big picture: Even though Iowans often joke about being landlocked, Des Moines has a long history of seafood culture, he says.

• In a city directory he found stemming back from 1866, an oyster house was listed as a business.
• "Iowans love seafood, and Iowans do a great job with it, in spite of us not really having any water that we get very much of our seafood out of," he says.