I bring my sense of food adventure with me on the road, searching for the most authentic, iconic, and delicious dishes of a different region…
When I told people I was going to Iowa for a few days, I always got these strange looks and the question was posed: “Why?” Well the answer to me was simple. I had never been to Iowa before. Which really meant there was iconic Iowan food I had never tasted before.
Sure, the state does seem to be all cornfields, but there are more local specialities than you would imagine. And I tasted as many as I could in the two days I spent driving through the state.
Corn
While it was tempting (and constantly in front of me), I resisted stopping on the side of the road to gnaw on one of those corn husks. The farmers (and big corporations whose names were plastered on the highway) would probably have been a little annoyed. Instead, I purchased a bag of Tiny But Mighty Popcorn, which is one of the few local brands (and available nationwide) that focuses on an ancient heirloom popcorn with no GMO’s.
Even though I can purchase the brand at Whole Foods, it felt better buying it a shop in Iowa. And it goes well with movies about Iowa. Like State Fair or Field of Dreams or Bridges of Madison County. Who knew there were so many movies about Iowa?
Maytag Blue Cheese
Another product that many people may not realize is made in Iowa is Maytag Blue Cheese. We stopped at their headquarters in Newton where we basically tasted some cheese and chatted with a very nice woman in their office. A tour is offered but at a different time than when we were there.
It’s been a while since I tried this cheese, but it was mildly-tangy and super creamy. Smooth enough for those that don’t generally like strong cheeses. They offer a few different varieties, like muenster and edam, but my favorite was the traditional blue.
Loose Meat Sandwiches
I am not a fast food guy. I haven’t stepped foot into a McDonald’s in over a decade. But in Iowa, there is a fast food chain called Maid-Rite that has become the leading name for one of the most unfortunately named sandwiches in the country.
People in Iowa love their loosemeat sandwiches. Maid-Rite is not the only place to get them, but as we were heading to the border of Nebraska, we were running out of options and I had yet to put some loosemeat in my mouth. Sorry about that.
We found a Maid-Rite at a rest stop and I purchased the sandwich. So, loosemeat is actually what it sounds like. It’s a loose mound of steamed chopped meat. It’s not seasonaed or charred like a burger and it has none of the spices or sauce of a sloppy joe. It’s really just loose meat with maybe some onions, ketchup, and mustard.
I didn’t eat too much of it because it smelled and tasted like my memory of fast food. I can’t say it was bad (it was moist and meaty), but I didn’t feel great eating it. Perhaps there are establishments elsewhere in Iowa that are a little less homogenized in their approach. Either way, I’m glad I tried it.
Pork Tenderloin
While the gigantic tenderloin sandwich I tried at B&B Market in Des Moines was just as bad for me, there was something about it that felt more authentic and less sterile. It was also irresistibly delicious.
We stopped outside of the downtown area of Des Moines at B&B Market. We just beat the lunch crowd, but got to witness the local construction workers descend upon the sandwich counter. There was a large menu of sandwich options, but I knew I was getting the pork tenderloin.
This doesn’t look much different from a wiener schnitzel on a bun except this is pounded pork loin, breaded, and deep fried. Amazingly, it was greaseless, but it was mouthwateringly tender and well-seasoned. Somehow, I managed to eat close to the entire thing. And I could have gone back the next day to get a second.
And with all my eating, I didn’t even touch on the iconic food from the Iowa State Fair (our visit was sadly too late for the event). I guess that just means I’ll have to go back. And now if somebody asks me why I’m visiting Iowa, I’ll have some very good answers.
Here’s a closer look at that massive pork tenderloin and the local scene at B&B Market on a Tastemade video:
