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Get smarter, faster about what’s happening in your backyard with local reporters Jason Clayworth and Linh Ta.

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Microsoft's AI epicenter is an Iowa water hog

Company is told it must "significantly reduce peak water usage" before expanding.

News

How Iowans are helping Ukrainians raise hogs

Raising pigs is a more profitable way of using grain supply.

Dog euthanizations on the rise in Des Moines

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa's dog intakes are also up.

Kum & Go officially sells

Maverik — Adventure's First Stop is now the nation's 11th largest convenience store chain.

Business

The best thing Linh ate: Carmelized onion toast

The toast ($10) takes on the flavors of a French Onion soup.

Food and Drink

Admire the gooey glisten on this caramelized onion toast from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Cheese Shop" data-vars-click-url="https://thecheeseshopdsm.com/" data-vars-content-id="3bf5804f-9587-4bb3-910e-2013264999a7" data-vars-headline="The best thing Linh ate: Carmelized onion toast" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://thecheeseshopdsm.com/" target="_blank">The Cheese Shop</a>.What it is: Gruyère melted on top of four pieces of ciabatta from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="La Mie" data-vars-click-url="https://www.lamiebakery.com/" data-vars-content-id="3bf5804f-9587-4bb3-910e-2013264999a7" data-vars-headline="The best thing Linh ate: Carmelized onion toast" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.lamiebakery.com/" target="_blank">La Mie</a> that&#x27;s rubbed with garlic and topped with caramelized onion jam ($10).

Meet Grant Gillon, Altoona's "MasterChef" finalist

Grant Gillon has always felt passionate about cooking.

Grant Gillon of Altoona has always felt passionate about cooking, but he was unsure until recently if he had the chops to cook in the big leagues.Driving the news: There isn&#x27;t a question anymore, now that Gillon made the finale of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;MasterChef" data-vars-click-url="https://www.hulu.com/series/masterchef-45d67197-5346-4adb-9d90-6ed2d7b7bd85" data-vars-content-id="c4cdc14a-1719-454c-9c12-4c1de318d1d7" data-vars-headline="Meet Grant Gillon, Altoona&#x27;s &quot;MasterChef&quot; finalist" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.hulu.com/series/masterchef-45d67197-5346-4adb-9d90-6ed2d7b7bd85" target="_blank">&quot;MasterChef</a>&quot; — the popular network cooking competition show that Gordon Ramsay hosts.

Bubble tea shops boom in Des Moines

Nearly 10 brick-and-mortar shops have opened in the metro over the last five years.

In the last five years, nine brick-and-mortar bubble tea shops have opened in the Des Moines area.Driving the news: While most Vietnamese shops have long served bubble tea smoothies, boba shops have taken hold of the metro area in recent years, starting with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="8 Degrees" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/8DegreesDM/" data-vars-content-id="8a604a04-f549-4dc8-9d90-7cd82b28eeff" data-vars-headline="Bubble tea shops boom in Des Moines" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/8DegreesDM/" target="_blank">8 Degrees</a> by Drake University in 2018, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Ocha" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2022/10/25/ocha-bubble-tea-opening-second-location-in-ankeny" data-vars-content-id="8a604a04-f549-4dc8-9d90-7cd82b28eeff" data-vars-headline="Bubble tea shops boom in Des Moines" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2022/10/25/ocha-bubble-tea-opening-second-location-in-ankeny" target="_self">Ocha</a> in 2020 and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Zenko Tea" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/ZenkoTea/" data-vars-content-id="8a604a04-f549-4dc8-9d90-7cd82b28eeff" data-vars-headline="Bubble tea shops boom in Des Moines" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/ZenkoTea/" target="_blank">Zenko Tea</a> in 2021.

Des Moines' best onion rings: Ring King at Valley Junction

They're made with the perfect levels of breading, onion and oil.

👋 Linh here. If you&#x27;re looking for some of our metro&#x27;s best onion rings, visit the &quot;Ring King&quot; food truck at the Valley Junction Farmers Market on Thursdays.What it is: Onion rings with a side of ketchup ($7).

BLK and Bold is Iowa's fastest-growing company

The Black-owned coffee company has grown over 7000% in three years.

BLK &amp; Bold, a local <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Black-owned coffee company" data-vars-click-url="https://blkandbold.com/" data-vars-content-id="9a753c9b-c30d-4686-a01f-eb4069866b33" data-vars-headline="BLK and Bold is Iowa&#x27;s fastest-growing company" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://blkandbold.com/" target="_blank">Black-owned coffee company</a>, was Iowa&#x27;s fastest-growing private business between 2019-2022 by growing 7,404%, according to Inc. 5000&#x27;s 2023<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" list" data-vars-click-url="https://www.inc.com/inc5000/2023" data-vars-content-id="9a753c9b-c30d-4686-a01f-eb4069866b33" data-vars-headline="BLK and Bold is Iowa&#x27;s fastest-growing company" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.inc.com/inc5000/2023" target="_blank"> list</a>.Why it matters: People don&#x27;t often associate thriving Black-owned businesses with Iowa — especially since the state&#x27;s population is nearly 90% white, co-founder Rod Johnson tells Axios.

Rod Johnson and two cans of BLK and Bold Cold Brew

World Food Festival's taste menu price doubles to $2

Inflationary pressures hit the popular Des Moines event.

Things to Do

The World Food &amp; Music Festival starts today with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="18 new vendors" data-vars-click-url="https://www.dsmpartnership.com/worldfoodandmusicfestival/attend/food" data-vars-content-id="662ce020-c6ee-4642-a7bb-df6e31c8ade2" data-vars-headline="World Food Festival&#x27;s taste menu price doubles to $2" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.dsmpartnership.com/worldfoodandmusicfestival/attend/food" target="_blank">18 new vendors</a> and a taste menu that has doubled in price.Catch up fast: The downtown event started almost 20 years ago with about two dozen vendors.

PETA gives the Iowa State Fair a deep-fried shaming

The Deep-Fried Bacon Brisket Mac-n-Cheese Grilled Cheese epitomizes the problem, PETA says.

The Iowa State Fair was awarded a &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="certificate of shame" data-vars-click-url="https://www.peta.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/grim-reaper-award-iowa-state-fair-award-2023-r2-300.pdf" data-vars-content-id="eb1e0780-1572-480c-b6d7-91f844a78342" data-vars-headline="PETA gives the Iowa State Fair a deep-fried shaming" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.peta.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/grim-reaper-award-iowa-state-fair-award-2023-r2-300.pdf" target="_blank">certificate of shame</a>&quot; yesterday by PETA.Zoom in: The Staggeringly Worst Example Award is &quot;for climate, cruelty and cholesterol obliviousness.&quot;

Partially-eaten Iowa State Fair pie sells for $500

Overwhelmed with leftovers, one pie contestant sold hers for charity.

👋 Jason here: I bought a used Iowa State Fair pie last week for $15 and it was a bargain.State of play: Marcia Miller, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="my blue-ribbon neighbor" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2022/08/19/marcia-miller-des-moines-blue-ribbon-neighbor" data-vars-content-id="f064fe48-24f5-4116-a937-df493e9d5b01" data-vars-headline="Partially-eaten Iowa State Fair pie sells for $500" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines/2022/08/19/marcia-miller-des-moines-blue-ribbon-neighbor" target="_self">my blue-ribbon neighbor</a>, entered 29 pies or cakes in this year&#x27;s fair competitions.

Iowa State Fair Food 2023: Ube funnel cake

This $12 version is delicious, but not worth the mark up from the $9 funnel cake.

👋 Linh here. As a big ube fan, I was excited to try out the latest funnel cake twist to incorporate the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="purple Asian yam" data-vars-click-url="https://www.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/news/2017/01/have-you-heard-about-ube-here-are-7-things-to-know" data-vars-content-id="0575606e-4bc6-48d9-8a11-071417fe5333" data-vars-headline="Iowa State Fair Food 2023: Ube funnel cake" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/news/2017/01/have-you-heard-about-ube-here-are-7-things-to-know" target="_blank">purple Asian yam</a>.What it is: A funnel cake topped with powdered sugar and an ube drizzle at McGrath&#x27;s Funnel Cakes ($12).

Iowa State Fair 2023: Skip this $29 lobster roll

The sweet corn and bacon lobster roll wasn't worth the high price.

👋 Linh here. Ever since I was little, lobster has been one of my favorite foods— but I&#x27;ll pass next time on the &quot;Fields of Bacon Lobster Roll&quot; at JR&#x27;s SouthPork Ranch.What it is: Lobster is topped with sweet corn aioli and bacon bits on a brioche bun ($29).

Food and Drink 🍽