Jim Duncan

Des Moines

Jim Duncan is an Iowa food writer and consultant, founder of Relish, author of The Good Steward, Art Pimp & Food Dude columns

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Articles

Six degrees from the ‘Stairway to Heaven’

3 weeks ago | dmcityview.com | Jim Duncan

Feature Story 6/4/2025This month, the Italian American Cultural Center of Iowa (IACCI) breaks ground on a redesign of the majestic Butler Mansion.
Graziano Brothers - in the place where it all began

3 weeks ago | dmcityview.com | Jim Duncan

Food Dude 6/4/2025In 1903, brothers Francesco, 21, and Luigi, 17, Graziano left their Calabrian hometown San Morello to emigrate to the U.S. Like many Calabrians before them, and many more later, their way winded to Des Moines. They found jobs working for the Great Western Railroad until 1912.
Los Laureles - it’s still the one

2 months ago | dmcityview.com | Jim Duncan

Food Dude 4/30/2025In 1989, CITYVIEW predecessor Skywalker began publishing the column “Since I Quit Drinking.” It was a take on the Rip Van Winkle legend that used new sobriety as awakening to surprisingly new things for one who had been asleep for decades. One early column focused on a new store at East 15th and Grand called La Tienda Mexicana.
Soccer - The future is here, and now

2 months ago | dmcityview.com | Jim Duncan

Feature Story 4/30/2025It’s called “the beautiful game.” Soccer has been known as joga bonito since 1970 when Brazil’s national selection won the World Cup with “total football” teamwork that has been emulated ever since. No other sport is loved world-wide like the beautiful game. With its 90 minutes of constant movement, no other sport is as creative, nor accessible.
Johnny Krohn at Ruth’s Chris Steak House

2 months ago | dmcityview.com | Jim Duncan

Lunch With... 4/30/2025Johnny Krohn is the smiling face of hospitality in Des Moines.
‘Wherever this is’

2 months ago | dmcityview.com | Jim Duncan

Art News 4/30/2025“I’m about to give you all of my money, And all I’m askin’ in return, honey Is to give me my propers” – Aretha FranklinDes Moines gets little respect from some popular touring artists.
Chicago Speakeasy is an ode to comfort

2 months ago | dmcityview.com | Jim Duncan

Food Dude 4/2/2025The year was 1978, a most Dickensian time. A murder/suicide in Jonestown, Guyana, ended 909 American lives while Israel and Egypt were finding accord at Camp David, Maryland.
Drake is winning

2 months ago | dmcityview.com | Jim Duncan

Feature Story 4/2/2025Growing up in 1950s Des Moines, my family’s backdoor neighbor was an elderly German professor of Humanities at Grinnell College. Because our backyards were our baseball fields, we kids had several run-ins with the prof whenever we tried to retrieve foul balls from his fenced-in yard. “Get out of my yard.
German domination - this time, it’s all good

2 months ago | dmcityview.com | Jim Duncan

Art News 4/2/2025The world edged a little closer to discovering what art is, thanks to the German court system. At least, Germany’s Federal Court of Justice determined what art isn’t — that being Birkenstock sandals. The German company that makes those, which goes back to 1774, filed a lawsuit against three competitors who sold sandals that were similar.
David Baruthio at Waterfront West Des Moines

2 months ago | dmcityview.com | Jim Duncan

Lunch With... 4/2/2025David Baruthio is Des Moines’ most traveled top chef. A native of Strasbourg, France, the “cradle of great chefs,” he began working in Michelin star restaurants at age 15 under Hubert Maetz, and then under Gordon Ramsey at Aubergine, his breakout restaurant in Chelsea, England. Baruthio brought new ideas about dining to town more than two decades ago.