09 Aug 2011

Young Business Owner Opens Local Confectionary's Newest Franchise

By Natalie Linville-Mass

Davenport, IA / August 9, 2011 -- An ambitious young business owner is helping expand the roots of an ice cream hot spot that got its start in the Quad Cities with the Grand Opening of the local chain's newest franchise on 53rd Street just east of Division in Davenport. New Country Style Ice Cream and Hawaiian Style Coffee owner Cristina Sanchez, 26, is pleased to offer the community another convenient location to visit the popular chain, despite an economy that can often present a roadblock for new businesses.

"I am extremely overwhelmed with excitement to open a well-known name such as Country Style Ice Cream here in   Davenp or t  ," said Sanchez. "Luckily, I will have the supp or t of my family to help me out. Especially my Mother, Karen, who will be my experienced latte artist during the m or ning drive."

Sanchez is no stranger to the industry and spent six former years working on the Country Style team, while also attending high school and college. She remembers joking with current Country Style/Hawaiian Style owner Kent Kindelsperger, her employer at the time, about one day opening up her own storefront.

"He would say, 'One day I'm going to sell you a store.' Now here I am at the age of 26, one decade later, purchasing a Country Style Ice Cream and Hawaiian Style Coffee franchise," said Sanchez. 

The Grand Opening will be Thursday, August 18th from 4pm to 6pm. A ribbon cutting will kick off the festivities at 4:30pm, with do or  prizes and refreshments to follow. Ice cream enthusiasts both young and old are invited to swing by to enjoy free soft-serve kid cones and show their supp or t toward the company's recent growth. Visit or s also can take advantage of half-price specialty shakes, available in a variety of mouth-watering flav or s,  or  just stop out f or  the fun.

 

For More Information:

Contact: Natalie Linville-Mass

Telephone: 309-786-5142

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01 Aug 2011

Deep Fried Butter & Deep Fried Pop Tarts - new fair treats!

By Administrator

Machine Shed Restaurant will be serving these treats at the 2011 Mississippi Valley Fair

The Machine Shed continues to bring the extreme and the delicious to the Mississippi Valley Fair adding "Deep Fried Butter" and "Deep Fried Pop Tart" to the 2011 fair menu. The chefs have worked all winter long and have created a pure butter concoction deep fried with a crisp coating.   This treat is crunchy and oozing with melted butter and only a mere 250 calories for each butter ball.  "We had over 50 taste testers over the past few months try several different variations of the fried butter and overwhelming we got a 'gotta have more' opinion" states Jeff Grunder, Manager at the Machine Shed restaurant.  Grunder continues: "The deep fried strawberry pop tart is my favorite, it tastes like a warm strawberry cake, I think it's the only way to eat a pop tart from now on!".   Deep Fried Butter sells for $5 and you get 4 "butter balls", while the Deep Fried Strawberry Pop Tart sells for $2 each.

You will ONLY find Deep Fried Butter and Deep Fried Pop Tarts at the Machine Shed booth at the Mississippi Valley Fair. The Mississippi Valley Fair runs Tuesday Aug. 2nd - Sunday Aug. 7th, 2011.

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01 Aug 2011

Barrel House 211 Opening

By Rick Martin
The brand new Barrel House 211 has opened for business at 211 E 2nd Street, Davenport, just down the street from the Bucktown Center for the Arts.
18 Jul 2011

Country Style Ice Cream now available at Milan Hy-Vee

By Jake Glimco

Milan, IL / July 18, 2011 -- A local soft-serve confection that has delighted the taste buds of almost three generations will be given out in abundance at Milan Hy-Vee's first Family Fun Days, July 22nd and 23rd.  This family event will feature children's games, a bounce house, educational exhibits from Niabi Zoo and a large assortment of all-you can eat food items including Milan Hy-Vee's newest offering:  Country Style Ice Cream.   Milan Hy-Vee is the first in the supermarket chain to stock quart containers of Country Style in its freezer section.  Six varieties of this Quad-Cities favorite are also being served in Hy-Vee's restaurant as well, including their classic vanilla soft-serve and their rich European-inspired dark chocolate flavor, which was added to the Country Style menu two years ago.   "I grew up with Country Style", said Tony Collins, Assistant Director of the Milan Hy-Vee.  He added, "I feel strongly that this high-quality product will be a welcome addition to our store."

Admission to Hy-Vee's Family Fun Days will be $5 for adults and children under six are admitted free with a paid adult admission.  The event will also feature a dunk tank fundraiser, with proceeds to help build a new elephant enclosure at Niabi.  Milan Hy-Vee is located at 201 West 10th Avenue, Milan.  The Family Fun Fest activities will be held in the grassy field just north of the store.  

Country Style's Taste Like Homemade flavor is now even closer to home for residents in South Rock Island and Mercer Counties.   This new distribution outlet is especially significant to Country Style owner, Kent Kindelsperger, who lives just outside of Milan and grew up near Sherrard.  "We're so glad that Country Style is now a more convenient treat for my friends and neighbors....and me, of course!" Kindelsperger is currently experimenting with Hy-Vee's bakery on new cake/cookie and ice-cream flavor combinations.   He welcomes your ideas.  Send him your ideas by going towww.countrystyleicecream.com or going to Country Style's Facebook page. 

As rich as it tastes, Country Style is also a healthier alternative than many other frozen dairy treats.  Country Style is gluten-free, reduced fat, kosher and contains no high fructose corn syrup.  In 1994, Country Style became one of the earliest soft-serve manufacturers to pasteurize its product, bringing the mixture to ultra-high temperatures before freezing, to kill any potentially harmful bacteria.  Country Style Ice Cream was founded in 1947 by brothers Wayne and "Whitey" Lindgren.  Kent Kindelsperger has owned and operated Country Style since 1988.  Country Style franchises now sell their unique flavors in both Lehigh Acres, Florida near Ft. Myers and Chester, Virginia, south of Richmond and west of Colonial Williamsburg.

18 Jul 2011

2011 Cook This! Teams Named

By Joy Venhorst

AMES, Iowa - The 2011 Cook This! 4-H Culinary Challenge teams have been chosen. Twenty-four teams of Iowa youths are gearing up to compete in the kitchen at the Iowa State Fair.

"We're very excited about the number of teams and interest in the challenge," said Lisa Schmidt, a Cook This coordinator, with Iowa State University Extension 4-H Youth Development. "We had a cap of 10 teams per level, so we're excited that we had our junior level maxed out. We're hoping that the numbers will keep progressing for the other levels for future challenges over the next few years."

Each team consists of three or four youth, and at least one member must be in 4-H. The teams will compete in three age brackets, Schmidt explained. The junior level competition takes place on Aug. 15, the intermediate level takes place on Aug. 16 and the senior level competition will take place on Aug. 17. All events occur in the 4-H Exhibits Building.

Teams will demonstrate their knowledge of kitchen equipment and show off their creativity in food preparation.

The College of Human Sciences will provide $500 Iowa State University scholarships to the members of the winning senior team. Successful Farming Magazine will highlight the winning senior team on its recipe page. The magazine also is providing all winning teams a tour of the Better Homes & Garden test kitchen and photo studios. All first-place winning teams will receive a Cook This chef's hat. Second-place winners will receive gift baskets from Cookies Food Products, Wall Lake, Iowa. Every participant will receive a Cook This apron.

Sponsors for the challenge include the Iowa Beef Industry Council, the Iowa Pork Producers Association and the Iowa Turkey Federation.

2011 Cook This! Teams

Iowa youth who completed any of grades 5 through 12 were eligible to apply for the competition. The following teams will participate in Cook This at the Iowa State Fair.

Junior Teams (5th and 6th graders)

·       Cooking Cousins: Nick Sandeen, Anna Beckman and Hallie Sandeen, Henry County

·       Calhoun County Corn COB: Becca Krueger, Olivia Hanlon and Courtney Melohn, Calhoun County

·       Cherokee Chefs: Clare Conley, Fan Conley and Elizabeth Wulfsen, Cherokee County

·       Cookin' C.A.T.: Collin Svenby, Audra Weber and Tanner Halleran, Keokuk 

·       IEI Chefs: Everett Wegge, Indigo Fish and Isaac Fish, Winneshiek and Allamakee counties

·       Tiger Pack Cooks: Zachary Roll, Malcom Wright and Blaire Card,Hardin County

·       We 3 Chefs!: Alexandria Schwerin, Gabbi Struchen and Shea Hassebrock, Hamilton County

·       Kitchen Fanatics: Scott Star, Nolan King and Amanda Riley, West Pottawattamie and Madison counties

·       Early Achievers: Megan Drey, Kallie Goettsch and Jack Mentzer, Sac County

·       Greenbrier Groovy Gourmet: Landra Reece, Emily Heupel and Abby Badger, Boone and Greene counties

Intermediate Teams (7th and 8th graders)

·       Kitchen Heat: Hanna McCoy, Bailey Olivia and Claire Birchmier, Warren and Marion counties

·       Triple B Country Cooks: Maree Bean, Attylissa Bailey and Sylvia Bain, Linn, Marion and Monroe counties

·       The 3 Amigo Cooks: Hannah Al-Mazroa, Christan Bertelson and Beth Wells, Madison County

·       Panthers: Melinda Goulette, Faith Seggerman and Hope Bollin, Woodbury and Plymouth counties

·       Cute & Culinary: Cali Westergard, Krayton Schnepf, Leah Bunkers and Rachel Wedemeyer, Plymouth, O'Brien and Calhoun counties

·       Early Achievers: Austin Goettsch, Devin Mentzer and Brooke Hoeppner, Sac County

Senior Teams (9th through 12th graders)

·       Sizzlin' Sauters: Shelby Storesund, Grant Vrba and Tanner Allensworth, Montgomery County

·       The Kitchen Cabinet: Janna Timmerman, Nicole Malott and Jamie Rohlf, Cedar County

·       Thumbs Up: Olivia Grimes, John Nidy, Geremiah Grimes and Brianna Lipa, Wayne and Howard counties

·       Bake to Beat: Shelby Vansteenwyk, Rachel Morgan and Jocelyn Beaver, Marion County

·       Cookin' Thyme: Rachel Hauglan, Olivia Cechota and Kenton Reece, Johnson, Linn and Boone counties

·       Blonde Brigade: Megan Haupert, Paris Schnepf and Leab Schroeder, O'Brien counties

·       Team Cuisine: Marcus Foltz, Dalton Rhum and Keegan Bintz, Decatur and Fremont counties

·       Chopping Trio: Carrie Adrian, Jenny Adrian and Luke Oberbroecking, Marion County

Sponsor a Cook This! Team

It costs $200 to support a Cook This team, Schmidt said. Sponsorship helps coordinators provide upkeep for the kitchen equipment and utensils, admission tickets for participants, t-shirts/aprons for participants and volunteers, printing of marketing and promotional materials and other items as needed.

For more information, contact Lisa Schmidt at schmidt5@iastate.edu or AnnaBear Vance at ajvance@iastate.edu.

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18 Jul 2011

Youth Gain a Dash of Culinary Knowledge at the 2011 4-H Youth Conference

By Joy Venhorst

AMES, Iowa - Students who attended the Iowa 4-H Youth Conference June 28-30 learned the basics of food preparation at the Cook This! workshop with hands-on activities and a dash of fun.

"This was a great experience for the youth to learn basic culinary knowledge," said workshop co-director Lisa Schmidt, a junior in culinary science at Iowa State University. "It was great to see them interact with food, which will hopefully push them to do more cooking and baking on their own."

The workshop lasted an hour and a half each day, and students learned the basics of knife safety, how to properly cut fruits and vegetables, how to make bread and how to properly cook meat. The north Ames Fareway donated groceries to the workshop. Three commodity groups shared information with the students on beef, pork and eggs.

Schmidt and workshop co-director AnnaBear Vance held a bread design competition and a food jeopardy game during the workshop. The winners won candy and Iowa 4-H cookbooks. The events offered youths a preview of the Cook This! competition to be held at the 2011 Iowa State Fair.

"I enjoyed watching the kids learn and grow more comfortable with both the kitchen equipment and each other over the course of the workshop," said Vance, a junior in culinary science.

The youth conference included a wide array of workshops for the students, which are geared toward educating them about career choices, exposing them to the opportunities Iowa State University has to offer and expanding their interests.

"This is a chance for people to explore some things they have never done before and to discover new opportunities," said Brenda Allen, a 4-H youth development specialist with Iowa State University Extension.

The 2011 Cook This! 4-H Culinary Competition will take place Aug. 15-17 at the Iowa State Fair. For more information, contact Lisa Schmidt at schmidt5@iastate.edu or AnnaBear Vance at ajvance@iastate.edu.

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05 Jul 2011

Bowls: Urban Eats Announces Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting

By The Buzz Gallery of modern Art

(Davenport - Iowa) Bowls: Urban Eats is celebrating its grand opening with a ribbon cutting and drink specials Friday, July 8 at 4:30 p.m. in downtown Davenport. Attendees can enjoy $1 freshly squeezed lemonades and limeades, $3 signature cocktails, and be among the first to try out Bowls' unique menu. As the newest restaurant to the growing downtown neighborhood, Bowls is providing distinctive fare featuring freshly prepared pasta, rice, salad, and soups made with slow roasted meats and vegetables. Customers will be greeted by a sleek metallic décor and a walk-through line designed for quick, yet individualized service.

Co-owners Sid Rognoni and Chris Odendahl share a collective 40 years of restaurant experience, and their special twist on quick service and freshly prepared foods is already earning them a lot of fans. "It's truly a labor of love," said Rognoni. "We really wanted to bring something new to downtown, and we've already received overwhelmingly positive response since opening our doors."  

Bowls: Urban Eats features a variety of creative combinations to choose from such as the "Mac-n-Jack" and "Far East Beef & Noodle," but patrons are welcome to create anything from the wide variety of fresh ingredients on the menu. "Since we create every dish to order, it's very easy for people looking for gluten-free or vegetarian options to simply create their own perfect combination," said Odendahl. "Whether you're looking for something hearty or light, we can suit your taste."

With its ideal location at the corner of 3rd & Brady Streets, Bowls: Urban Eats is just as convenient for the late- night crowd on the weekend as it is for the busy business crowd during weekday lunches. The restaurant features a small bar, and on Friday and Saturday, it's open until 2 a.m. Patrons can enjoy a commanding view of the Wells Fargo Bank tower and the bustling Brady Street traffic as they sip on specialty drinks from Bowls' fully stocked bar.

Food is served during all hours of operation, and take-out orders are welcome. Bowls: Urban Eats is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. To-go orders can be placed by calling 563-424-2014.

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28 Jun 2011

Madison County Winery Grand Opening-July 2

By Stephanie Andrews


Madison County Winery to hold Grand Opening for Tasting Room & Special Event Space

Date: 
Saturday, July 2, 2011

Time: 
11:00 am - 8:00 pm

Location: 
Madison County Winery 
3021 St. Charles Road
St. Charles, IA 50240

Madison County Winery (MCW) is having a public Grand Opening to showcase its newly constructed tasting room. This new facility is located in the middle of the vineyards which are nestled in the hills of Madison County just 3 miles west of the city of St Charles. The facility contains a tasting room, wine storage area, and large patio. The tasting room includes a full tasting bar, bar table seating, window seating, and couches by a wood burning fireplace. Both the indoor and outdoor spaces are available to rent for groups of up to 150 people.



Madison County Winery is Iowa's first winery to also house a brewery (Twisted Vine Brewery) in the same facility. Twisted Vine is a small-batch craft brewery with a focus on unique, flavorful beers that are produced with quality ingredients and meticulous attention to detail. Guests will have the opportunity to sample and purchase our fine wines, ales and lagers inside the tasting room or outside on the large patio overlooking the scenic hills of Madison County.  

Sunday Brunch
MCW has also teamed up with the Madison County Dessert Factory to begin offering a Sunday Brunch starting Sunday, July 3rd. The brunch menu will feature Panini sandwiches, sides and limited selection of pastries. Samples from the brunch menu will be available at the Grand Opening celebration.

Daily Menu
MCW will feature local, artisanal cheeses and chocolates from Maytag Dairy Farms, Frisian Farms, and Van Veen Chocolates. 

Special Offer
All wine and beer purchases will be 20% off during the Grand Opening celebration.

Live Musical Entertainment 
Chad Eliott (pictured below) will perform from 1 pm - 4 pm with guest vocalist Bonita Crowe. Daniel Powell will perform from 4:30 pm  - 7:30 pm.


For more information regarding this Grand Opening event, contact:
Doug Bakker
cell: 515.710.0561
email: bakkerd@mchsi.com
28 Jun 2011

Dos Amigos Lunch Truck Now Open

By Rick Robertson

Dos Amigos now has their Lunch Truck, or Taco Truck if you will, at the corner of 4th and Warren streets on the edge of downtown Davenport Mondays thru Fridays from 11am until 2pm.  They offer steak tacos, tortas and carnitas at a very reasonable price.  All meals include rice and beans.  Beverages are available.

Dos Amigos fills the need for quality Mexican food at lunchtime for the hundreds of folks who work in downtown Davenport, plus all the others that drive along 4th Street during the lunch hours.

16 Jun 2011

ISU Extension Plans Food Preservation Workshop and Pressure Canner Testing

By Robert Jackson Jr.
Preserving the bounty of your garden harvest each fall can lead to enjoying the fruitsof your labor all winter long. It's important to keep food safety in mind every step of the way. Home food preservation is not difficult but it does require following specific directions exactly. Always use tested recipes and directions from a reliable source. Ignoring recommended procedures can result in home canned products that will makeyou and your family very ill.

Vera Stokes, ISU Extension Nutrition and Health Program Specialist, 563-210-0587, vstokes@iastate.edu is offering a workshop, Home Food Preservation 101, Friday, June 24, 10:30am - Noon at the Davenport Public Library on Eastern Avenue.

The workshop is intended for those wanting to learn how to safely preserve food and will also serve as a good refresher for those who have experience preserving food. The workshop is free and will cover canning, freezing, drying, pickling and making jams and jellies.

Pressure canner gauge testing will be from Noon - 2 p.m. at the same location. Pressure canners with a dial-type pressure gauge should be tested each year for accuracy. To have a dial-gauge tested, bring the canner lid only - the entire canneris not needed. It is not necessary to test weighted or rocker-type pressure regulators because they cannot be adjusted and will usually remain accurate.

Participants will receive current ISUE food preservation publications and additional research based resources will be on display.
To register for the Home Food Preservation workshop only, call the ISU Scott County Extension office at 359-7577 by June 23, 2011.

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