I will say this has been one of the busiest months on record with all of the happenings around Scala and elsewhere. The Gusto Pizza Co. “gustomobile” is locked and loaded for a busy summer of graduations and festivals. Scala turns seven (yes, I did a double take, too) later this summer, while our Beatles Brunch marks its two year anniversary this weekend. If that’s not enough planning and coordinating, I officially launch a new downtown eatery new week called Host(see below).

Beatles Brunch Turns Two
It’s unbelievable that it’s been over two years since Chef Phil Shires and I opened a bottle of Critone after midnight and wrote down a Beatles-themed brunch menu. “Iron Chef” Phil will be pulling out a couple surprises this Sunday. Keep an eye out for “Melinda’s Chicken and Waffles” in addition to his pork tacos. Brunch is served from 10-2 the first Sunday of every month and reservations are recommended. Call 515-244-1353 for Reservations. Our Beatles Brunch menu can be found on ourwebsite.

No Corkage Thursdays.
I think it’s safe to say Spring is here to stay, which means our wrap around porch is available to enjoy for dinner guests. Grab your favorite bottle of wine and visit us on a Thursday in May and we’ll waive your corkage fee. Rain or shine, we’ll have plenty of offerings on our award winning all-Italian list if you want to go that route.

Host!
I’ve been working on a new concept since early winter with three very special people. Chef Phil (Cafe di Scala), Lisa Hutchins (Scala event planner) and Katie Lemmo (my little sister) are officially opening a new lunch space downtown on Monday, May 7th . Host will serve sustainable comfort food sourced from local farmers during the weekdays and “host” private dinners in the evenings for any occasion. Our address is 1220 Locust Street downtown and we’ll be open 11-2:30 Monday-Friday. Check us out at HostDsm.com, on Facebook athttp://facebook.com/DSMHost and at Twitter.com/hostdsm.

Cheers!
Tony

P.S. Flour + Eggs + Salt + Water = Love. We created a quick little video that we think sums up what we do here. Check it out and let us know what you think. We take simple ingredients and do extraordinary things with them. Make sure to follow Cafe di Scala on Facebook at http://facebook.com/cafediscala

It’s almost April! March was a great month for all of us. As spring blossomed early, we made a few seasonal changes here at Cafe di Scala. From new and exotic wines (Falangina & Lacrima) offered by the glass, to Chef Phil Shires adjusting the food menu in anticipation of the bounties sprouting from our little garden, there’s much to celebrate here.

Flour + Eggs + Salt + Water = Love.
We created a quick little video that we think sums up what we do here. Check it out and let us know what you think. We take simple ingredients and do extraordinary things with them.

Join us for the Cafe di Scala Beatles Brunch on Easter Sunday, April 8 from 10-2:30

April Beatles Brunch.
No foolin’ around this month. We’ve moved Beatles Brunch to Sunday, April 8th from 10-2. As always, please contact the cafe for any reservations at 515-244-1353

No Corkage Thursdays.
During the of April if you bring your own wine, we will be waiving our corkage fees for dinner guests on Thursdays.

Spring Menu.
Please take a moment to browse over our Spring menu on our menu page and call us at 515-244-1353 if we can help make your weekend extraordinary and unique.

Warmly,

Tony and Scala Staff

It’s our new Spring menu! We added a few goodies to go along with our standard favorites. Check out our menu and let us know what you think. Hope you can join us soon!

Join us for Beatles Brunch this Sunday, March 4th at Cafe di Scala. Here’s the menu. See ya Sunday!

Spring is so close. You can feel it, right?

As I type this, I’m looking at a mama cardinal scavenge the ground for food here in Sherman Hill. As they build their nests and prepare to breed, a fresh late winter rain treats them with a shower of new life. We’re only a few weeks away from trees blooming, and next week, we’ll start some heirloom peppers and tomatoes from seed for the Cafe di Scala garden. Renewal feels awesome, doesn’t it?

Here are a few things coming up for you to keep on your calendar…

PASTA MAKING CLASS: Join me at Williams-Sonoma at Jordan Creek Town Center on Sunday, February 26 at 4:00 to begin their Guest Chef Technique Class Series with “Fast, Fresh, and Easy Pasta.” I will be teaching how to make basic pasta in addition to ravioli and combining with some great Williams-Sonoma recipes, which include Pasta with Eggplant. The class is free of charge but reservations are required. Call Williams-Sonoma at 515-225-6613 to save your place today. You also will receive 10% on your purchase that day if you attend the class (some restrictions apply). Hope to see you there!

BEATLES BRUNCH: Once again, we’re having our monthly Beatles Brunch on Sunday, March 4th from 10am-2pm. You can always find our Beatles Brunch menu up on our website. Call us at 515-244-1353 so we can save you a spot. Also, keep in mind that we are moving our April Beatles Brunch to April 9th to accommodate for some staff travel.

PRIVATE EVENTS: Everyone reading this knows someone having a baby shower, business lunch or a wedding rehearsal dinner this year. Please do us a huge favor and let your friends and co-workers know about us? We offer the entire Cafe exclusively for a private event Sunday through Wednesday for both Lunch and Dinner Events. Upon consulting with one of our staff, booking an event on a night we are open to the public (Th-Sat) may be an option depending upon the number of guests and budget. Learn morehere.

NEW WINES: At the café, we like to find as many unique Italian wines as we possibly can so that you can have an experience like nowhere else in Iowa. We offer almost 100 wines on our reserve list and pour 14 by the glass. Every couple months or so, we like to add a few fresh bottles to our reserve list. We recently added a few gems to this list and wrote a blog post about them. Read about the new wines here.

DINNER AND A SHOW: Hoyt Sherman Place, our neighbors just to the east of us on Woodland Avenue, have a great lineup this month and into early Spring. I hope you all take advantage of this spectacular venue as often as you can! Take a look at their website: http://hoytsherman.org/, and plan an evening with friends for a date night at Cafe di Scala and a show at Hoyt Sherman Place. We wrote about the lineup they wanted to share with you on our blog. Cheers!

NO CORKAGE FEE TONIGHT: Our Thursday no corkage fee deal is coming to a close tonight. Take advantage of this by bringing a friend in for a few laughs and good company.

Much love to you all!
Tony and Staff

P.S. Please follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the most up-to-date information and special offers.

Hoyt Sherman Place

Spring 2012 Brings An Exciting New Schedule of Events at Hoyt Sherman Place!
We can’t believe January is already over!  We started the year off great with a sold-out show for Craig Ferguson.  We hope to continue this success in our upcoming shows.  Hoyt Sherman Place continues to offer something for everyone! Here is our spring schedule so far.

February 18 – Solas
Celtic Music Association presents Solas, one of the most exciting bands in traditional Irish music.  The Solas sound today is anchored by founders Seamus Egan, who plays flute, tenor banjo, mandolin, whistle, guitar, and bodhran, and by fiddler, Winifred Horan.  They are two of the most respected—and imitated—musicians anywhere in acoustic music.  Mick McAuley from Kilkenny plays accordion and concertina, and Eamon McElholm from Tyrone plays guitar and keyboards.

TOWER OF POWER: March 3rd at Hoyt Sherman Place

March 3 – Tower of Power
Tower of Power’s 40 year odyssey actually began in 1968 when Emilio Castillo met Stephen “Doc” Kupka.  Each year Tower of Power tours the United States, Japan and Europe, playing to sold out crowds all over the world.  New generations of fans come to see the band perform as their timeless music continues to excite fans of all ages.

March 8 – Trace Adkins
Country star Trace Adkins will bring his “Songs & Stories Tour” to Des Moines.  This intimate evening of powerful performance will incorporate stories, both humorous and meaningful, that pay homage to Adkins’s working-man roots and rich musical heritage.   His albums showcase a range of earnest tributes and party anthems with humor and depth – the “Songs & Stories Tour” promises to offer the same.

March 12 – Don Williams
Don Williams – the Gentle Giant.  If anyone ever needed proof that music is an international language, then they need to look no further than Don Williams.  His music is the stuff of experience. Like a fine wine, as Don has matured, the songs have even deeper emotional resonance. This is a man who has lived life, who knows the depth of feeling and emotion ordinary people are capable of, not only in Texas, but in all the other places where his straightforward simplicity has made its mark.

March 13 – Rick Steves
Iowa Public Television presents Rick Steves’s Europe Through the Back Door.  Join the travel expert – acclaimed for his bestselling guidebook series, public television series, and public radio shows – as he shares all the latest in smart European travel.  Freshly back from lots of travels, Rick Steves explains the practical, money-saving ins and outs of independent travel.  His 90-minute seminar is packed with tips on getting the most out of every mile, minute, and dollar on your next trip.

March 23 – Gungor
Michael Gungor is a singer/song writer who leads a musical collective called Gungor that tours around the world performing and leading worship music in both mainstream and religious venues.  In 2011, the song and the album “Beautiful Things” were nominated for the Grammy categories Best Gospel Song and Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album, respectively.

Paula Poundstone: April 6 at Hoyt Sherman Place

April 6 – Paula Poundstone
Appearing on stage with a stool, a microphone, and a can of Diet Pepsi, Paula Pounstone is famous for her razor-sharp wit and spontaneity.   The Boston Globe said, “Poundstone improvises with a crowd like a Jazz musician…swinging in unexpected directions without a plan, without a net.”   Paula is so quick and unassuming that audience members at her live shows often leave complaining that their cheeks hurt from laughter.

April 7 – Here Come The Mummies
Here Come The Mummies are an incredibly tight and saucy 9-piece Pop/Funk band that, just as the name suggests, perform their one of a kind, high energy show with all the members dressed as Egyptian Mummies.  Every Here Come The Mummies’ show unearths a blend of solid musicianship, theatrics, seriously deep grooves and bawdy humor.

April 22 – The Midtown Men
Four stars from the original cast of Broadway’s mega hit Jersey Boys—Tony-Award winner Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel

Midtown Men: April 22nd at the Hoyt Sherman Place

Reichard and Tony-Award nominee J. Robert Spencer—reunite to bring their amazing showmanship and electrifying synergy to the stage.  Singing the hits of The Four Seasons, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Jackson Five, The Mamas and The Papas and much more – The Midtown Men turn their unique sound and chemistry into a stunning performance appreciated at any age.

For information on upcoming events, hosting an event at Hoyt Sherman Place, times, etc., please contact them at 515-244-0507 or www.hoytsherman.org. You can also find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hoytshermanplace and Twitter at @HoytSherman.

See you tonight!

Cafe di Scala Isn't Charging a Corkage Fee on Thursdays in February.

Cafe di Scala is proud to offer three new Barolo's from Italy's Piedmonte region.

At the café, we like to find as many unique Italian wines as we possibly can so that you can have an experience like nowhere else in Iowa. We offer almost 100 wines on our reserve list and pour 14 by the glass. Every couple months or so, we like to add a few fresh bottles to our reserve list.

We know our Italian wines. We’re immensely proud of our by the glass selections, but our wine list won awards of distinction from Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast magazines for a reason.  Take the time to ask your server for a good recommendation from our reserve list, and they’ll find something that can appeal to your palate or pair with your food. There are over 20,000 grape varietals in Italy… We’ve only just begun!!

Below is a look at some of the bottles that we added in February with some tasting notes. We hope to see you soon!

We have one new addition to the white wine reserve list and the rest are reds.

CHARDONNAY Umbria IGT – “Cervaro“ Castello della Sala 2009

Yellow gold color with medium forming legs and aromas of grapefruit and apple. It’s balanced and has flavours of grapefruit, pineapple, melon and lemon with a light/medium body. Bright texture with a long finish – I am not a great fan of whites but for every rule…..excellent, full flavored but subtle and bright. the Grechetto adds much diminution to the Chardonnay. Wonderful blend!

RIBOLLA GIALLA  Colli Orientali DOC -  “Rosazzo” – Le Vigne di Zamo – 2009

Zamò’s Ribolla Gialla (yellow ribolla) gives a definite textural impression, probably due to the skin contact involved in the wine’s vinification. Very complex notes of lemongrass and fennel with bracing acidity. Ribolla’s fame goes back to written documents in 1289, when even then the wine was celebrated for its quality. Now Ribolla Gialla accounts for only about 1% of vineyard area in Friuli and neighboring Slovenia. About 16,000 bottles produced.

AGLIANICO Taurasi DOCG “Terre del Vulcano” – Lava – 2003

From Aglianico grape variety. Really dark yet youthful color for a 6 year old wine. Blackberry, minerals, this wine tastes like a volcano with hints of cedar, smoke, leather, dust. In the mouth perfectly balanced with great depth and complexity. Very long, rich, subtle, textural finish.

GAGLIOPPO Ciro Rosso DOC – “Liber Pater” –Ippolito 1845  – 2009

The power and elegance of Gaglioppo, a native grape of Calabria, have found concrete expression in this wine. Characteristics: ruby red with purple hues, the nose is intense and persistent with hints of berry fruits supported by hints of spice. With very fine tannins, the palate is full bodied, velvety, well-structured. Tips: red body, it goes well with red meats, cheeses and pasta dishes well seasoned cheeses.

THREE NEW BAROLO’S!

Vietti's Barollo Castiglione

Found this interesting piece of Piedmont wine history on CellarTracker.com:

The wines of Piemonte are noted as far back as Pliny’s Natural History. Due to geographic and political isolation, Piemonte was without a natural port for most of its history, which made exportation treacherous and expensive. This left the Piemontese with little incentive to expand production. Sixteenth-century records show a mere 14% of the Bassa Langa under vine — most of that low-lying and farmed polyculturally. In the nineteenth century the Marchesa Falletti, a frenchwoman by birth, brought eonologist Louis Oudart from Champagne to create the first dry wines in Piemonte. Along with work in experimental vineyards at Castello Grinzane conducted by Camilo Cavour — later Conte di Cavour, leader of the Risorgimento and first Prime Minister of Italy — this was the birth of modern wine in the Piemonte. At the heart of the region and her reputation are Alba and the Langhe Hills. This series of weathered outcroppings south of the Tanaro River is of maritime origin and composed mainly of limestone, sand and clay, known as terra bianca. In these soils -located mainly around the towns of Barolo and Barbaresco — the ancient allobrogica, now Nebbiolo, achieves its renowned fineness and power.

BAROLO DOCG – “Castiglione”  – Vietti – 2007

The 2007 Barolo Castiglione deftly balances the open, radiant personality of the vintage with considerable underlying structure. Warm, dense and full-bodied, the 2007 Barolo Castiglione flows effortlessly across the palate with generous fruit and fabulous overall balance. It is another overachieving wine from Vietti and a bottle that is exceedingly fairly priced.

BAROLO DOCG “Cannubbio” – Francesco Rinaldi & Figli  – 2005 and 2007

Nebbiolo Prima shows liquory red fruits, sweet but nor fruity, a bit floral some herbal notes, broad with a nice mineral freshness, acids are integrated but really help freshen the palate, nice wild amarena cherry fruit, rosehips, sandalwood, nicely fresh and aromatic in the mouth, nice ripe tannins, good length, nice fruit on finale.

BAROLO DOCG –“Brunate” -  Andrea Oberto – 2007

Full garnet in color with delicate orange highlights. Wide, clean but complex aroma with scents of dried flowers and red berries. Well-integrated oak with toasty notes of coffee and leather linger in a perfect balance between elegant body and concentration.

FOUR NEW NERO D’AVOLA AND NERO D’AVOLA BLENDS

From the foothills of Mt. Etna in Sicily, Graci's Etna Rosso

NERO D’AVOLA Sicilia IGT  ”Rossojbleo” -  Gulfi – 2010

Grapes: 100% Nero d’Avola. Young red, minor structure, which intends to propose a particularly approachable Nero d’Avola, Sicily’s south-east, while retaining the full expression of varietal and territorial identity. It also lends itself to the combination with appetizers and meats and fish dishes with a slightly aromatic seasoning. Finally, the intriguing pairing “Autumn” with chestnuts roasted on the grill. Recommended serving temperature between 14 and 16 degrees.

NERO D’AVOLA/FRAPPATO BLEND Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG – Gulfi – 2010

Tony’s Favorite!! Cerasuolo di Vittoria is an Italian wine DOCG of Sicily, covering the intensely colored red wines from the eastern end of the island’s south coast. Introduced in September 2005, it was the very first DOCG in Sicily, having also been one of the first DOCs on the island when it was granted that status back in 1973. The quality of Cerasuolo di Vittoria wine showed marked improvement during the 1980s and 1990s, hence the promotion in 2005, and it is now the most consistent showcase of modern Sicilian wine. 60% Nero D’Avola and 40% Frappato.

NERO D’AVOLA Etna Rosso DOC- Graci- 2009

From the heels of Mt. Etna, Graci’s Etna Rosso is a wine that is incredibly aromatic with scents of wild herbs and barley and an abundance of dried cranberries. The palate is as unique and expressive as the aroma. First you will find smoke with a flinty mineral quality followed immediately by layers of pomegranate, overripe cherry, and cranberry blended with subtle arid spices of paprika and white pepper. This is a gorgeous red with a split personality: on the one hand it’s very expressive, but it’s also refined and almost elegant at the same time. It may sound like such a simple thing for a wine to be enjoyable, but it’s much harder to accomplish than you might think.

NERO D’AVOLA AND FRAPPATO BLEND Sicilia IGT – Daino Azienda Agricola

100% organic/biodynamic Nero D’Avola. Herbal on the nose. The palate is flush, full and very rich. Balanced though. Sweet raisin on the nose. Named after cork oak, Nero d’Avola with a clone called Frappato, and a touch of something else that resembles Grenache. This could technically be DOCG but right now, with 800 cases being the total production, its not there…yet.

BRUNELLO: Sangiovese Grosso  (Brunello)  Brunello di Montalcino DOCG   – Conti Costani – 2006

This pure Sangiovese is fermented in stainless steel with 3 weeks’ skin maceration, then aged 18 months in tonneaux of French oak and another 18 months in 30-hl. Slavonian oak barrels, previous to a year’s bottle age (totaling 3 years in wood, 1 in bottle). Brilliant ruby in color, intense, ripe aromas of berry fruit prelude a lush, full-bodied palate.

Starting Wednesday February 1st, through Friday February 10th, visit Boesen.com and download theirFREE FloralApp™ for your smartphone.  With that download, your name is entered in a drawing to win an amazing Valentine’s Day prize package valued at over $450!

This package includes:

• One dozen gorgeous, long-stem red roses from Boesen the Florist;
• Dinner for two at the charming Café di Scala;
• An overnight stay in a suite at the beautiful Suites of 800 Locust!

You can have the roses delivered to your sweetheart anywhere in central Iowa on Valentine’s Day, and then get ready for a wonderful weekend!

A table for two is reserved at Café di Scalafor 7:00 pm on Saturday February 18th,where you’ll be able to share a gourmet meal and the best wine in Des Moines.

Suites of 800 Locust will have a private whirlpool suite ready for your arrival.  This dreamy suite includes a whirlpool tub and wet bar for your enjoyment and relaxation, plus a full made-to-order hot breakfast in the morning.

With a fantastic, romantic Valentine’s Day Getaway package like this one, you’re bound to want better odds of winning!

Once you download the Free FloralApp™ and get your first entry to the drawing, be sure to use your new FloralApp™ to send flowers and gifts to everyone on your Valentine’s Day list – your mother, sister, daughter, mother-in-law, cousin – and get an additional drawing entry for EACH order made with your FloralApp™!

Everyone wins and YOU look like Superman!

*The winner will be notified by phone and email on February 12th, with an announcement on February 13th through Twitter, Facebook, and a blog post on FlowersDesMoines.com.

Reservations have been made for 7:00 pm, February 18th at Café di Scala and The Suites of 800 Locust, but the flowers can be delivered ON Valentine’s Day or picked up by the winner and delivered personally.

Thank you! And GOOD LUCK!!

Now, CLICK HERE to go to the FLORAL APP DOWNLOAD PAGE!