Hugh Calloway

I can spend twenty minutes deciding what music to play at home, but put me in front of…

By Hugh Calloway · Nov 5

A rice ball stuffed with A5 Wagyu beef, sold from a grab-and-go counter in Iowa. That alone got…

By Hugh Calloway · Nov 4

Thanksgiving dinner on the 16th floor, with a city skyline outside the window instead of a crowded kitchen.…

By Hugh Calloway · Nov 4

I’ve learned that walking into a secondhand shop with a strict shopping list is usually a terrible idea.…

By Hugh Calloway · Nov 3

I love Thanksgiving dinner, but the mountain of dishes afterward usually makes me question some of my holiday…

By Hugh Calloway · Nov 3

You can walk into an old Iowa building expecting creaky floors and history, then turn a corner and…

By Hugh Calloway · Nov 2

Slow-roasted prime rib lands on the tables here on Saturdays only, cut in generous 12 to 16 ounce…

By Hugh Calloway · Nov 2

Shaved ribeye, Korean BBQ, and kimchi that takes a full 24 hours to make, all packed into one…

By Hugh Calloway · Nov 2

Who decided pizza has to stick to the usual toppings? I’ve always been happy with a good pepperoni…

By Hugh Calloway · Nov 1

A 17-foot German Christmas pyramid slowly turns inside an old dairy barn, surrounded by dozens of decorated trees.…

By Hugh Calloway · Nov 1

November in Iowa has a cozy rhythm. Fields turn golden brown, the air gets crisp, and a warm…

By Hugh Calloway · Oct 31

A German farmhouse dating back to the 1660s probably isn’t what you’d expect to find in Iowa, but…

By Hugh Calloway · Oct 31

I’ve learned that finding a reasonably priced restaurant isn’t always difficult. The real challenge is finding one where…

By Hugh Calloway · Oct 30

Raspberry cream cheese rolls, Amish donuts, and a loaf of bread with bacon, egg, and cheese baked right…

By Hugh Calloway · Oct 30

Ask someone in Sioux City, Iowa where to get a good meal, and there’s a decent chance they’ll…

By Hugh Calloway · Oct 29

A grocery store basement isn’t exactly where I’d expect to spend Halloween night, but Iowa apparently has some…

By Hugh Calloway · Oct 29

Ever been so distracted by the fall colors that you almost forgot about lunch? I’ve had that happen…

By Hugh Calloway · Oct 28

Nothing tests my dinner planning quite like opening the freezer on a Wednesday evening and finding almost nothing…

By Hugh Calloway · Oct 28

A fabric store fills five downtown buildings, and handwoven rugs are still part of the business that started…

By Hugh Calloway · Oct 27

A popcorn flavor called Dilly Dilly tastes like pickles. Another one, Scotch-A-Roo, borrows from a classic Midwest bar…

By Hugh Calloway · Oct 27

I’ve never been particularly excited about waking up early, but a good breakfast can change my attitude surprisingly…

By Hugh Calloway · Oct 26

A train called the Ghost Train of No Return rolls through the dark every fall, and it’s been…

By Hugh Calloway · Oct 26

There’s a particular kind of disappointment that comes with opening the freezer at dinnertime and finding little more…

By Hugh Calloway · Oct 25

By November, Iowa’s weather has usually made one thing clear: outdoor adventures are going to require a little…

By Hugh Calloway · Oct 25

A Main Street cafe in southwest Iowa was once picked as the setting for a ghost documentary. The…

By Hugh Calloway · Oct 24

I used to think Halloween was mostly about costumes, candy, and deciding how much pumpkin decorating was too…

By Hugh Calloway · Oct 24

Some of the most interesting restaurants in Des Moines, Iowa have a family story behind the menu. And…

By Hugh Calloway · Oct 23

November in Iowa has a signature move. The sky turns the color of dishwater, the wind picks up,…

By Hugh Calloway · Oct 23

One ticket gets you into four haunted attractions, and one of them is a whole cornfield with creatures…

By Hugh Calloway · Oct 22

A candy bar first made in 1923 is still produced by hand at this shop’s parent company. That…

By Hugh Calloway · Oct 22

I’ve learned that stopping at an Iowa country store in the fall can be surprisingly dangerous for my…

By Hugh Calloway · Oct 21

I had every intention of enjoying a relaxing drive through Iowa’s Loess Hills, but apparently, autumn had other…

By Hugh Calloway · Oct 21

Ask an Iowan who makes the best pizza, and you may need to clear your afternoon. The answer…

By Hugh Calloway · Oct 20

Somewhere along an Iowa back road, there’s probably a steakhouse you’ve never heard of that could make your…

By Hugh Calloway · Oct 20

Apple strudel is only the start, because this little bakery also offers vanilla almond, chocolate almond, and cherry…

By Hugh Calloway · Oct 19

Ask around Iowa about the best pizza, and you may accidentally start an argument. That is partly because…

By Hugh Calloway · Oct 19

The fastest way to derail my Iowa weekend plans is to put a good bakery somewhere along the…

By Hugh Calloway · Oct 18

The drive through northeast Iowa already felt worth taking before dinner even entered the picture. Then the road…

By Hugh Calloway · Oct 18

In one Iowa diner, a slice of pie goes straight into the blender with soft-serve and comes out…

By Hugh Calloway · Oct 17