I always wanted to be a food critic...

So here are some of my picks for the best restaurants of their category in the surrounding area. Leave comments, if you disagree tell me what's better! I always enjoy a bit of perspective.

Best Tacos- Tasty Tacos
If you are from the area and you've never been to Tasty Tacos then you are commiting a crime and should be jailed. Go for the original flour taco- filled with a perfect mix of beef and beans and topped with lettuce and gooey cheese. The best part is the tortilla. It's fluffy, chewy, tender...the best taco experience there is. They are so good I've never eaten anything else on the menu. Tasty Tacos is a locally owned Mexican fast food place. you just walk up to the counter and order and they call out your number when it's ready. Locations are in Des Moines (although they are trying to get one going in Ankeny early next year) on Euclid, downtown near the capital, and on the West side on Hickman.
http://www.tastytacos.com/

Most Romantic for an Affordable Date Night- Ge Angelo's
Ge Angelo's is a family owned Italian restaurant in Ames. It's a hidden gem in a little strip mall next to Cub Foods. This is a cozy little place playing popular jazz with a fireplace in the dining room. Prices are decent and the best part is that it's likely one of the owner will stop by your table. Sometimes they even seat you. Make sure they know it's you first time there- they gave us a free appetizer on our first visit. Recommended dishes are handmade ravioli and vegetable lasagna. Get the poppy seed dressing on your salad, its the perfect blend of sweet and tangy. Also, the margaritas are huge and awesome!
http://www.geangelos.com/

Best Chinese- The Mandarin
This place keeps winning the award for being the best Chinese in Story County, and its well deserved. They have great lunch specials- all at around $6. For that you get soup, fried rice, an egg roll, and a generous serving of the entree of your choice. If you go for dinner it's a bit more pricey, but I recommend the 'Dinner for Two' (or however many people). It comes with the same stuff as the lunch combos and you can make any subsitutions you want even though the menu only says one. The owner is frequently staffing the front desk and is always polite and friendly. This may be one of the best Chinese restaurants in Iowa.
http://www.mandarinofames.com/index.html


Best Pizza- Chuck's
Chuck's is a Des Moines institution. It's been around forever- my parents used to go on dates there. If you like thin crust style pizza, this is the place. The crust is so thin and tender it's a wonder it doesn't fall apart. The toppings are perfectly balanced with just the right amount of everything. A warning though, due to the thin crust and the addictive nature of this pizza a large will only feed two people. Don't expect leftovers and while you're there order up some of their awesome onion rings. If you aren't in the mood for pizza (ridiculous) they also have great cavatelli.
http://chucksdesmoines.com/

Best Food from a Grocery Store??- B&B Grocery
B&B has also been around forever. They make a great chorizo if you're into that sort of thing. Anyway, they also make sandwiches to order, as well as deep fried anything to go along with it. They feature the 'Killer Tenderloin'...need I say more? At lunchtime, this place is packed full of all kinds of people. The service is quick and efficient and the food is delicious. It is a grocery store too, so on your way out pick up a Coke from Mexico (with real sugar) in a glass bottle to round out your meal. It's just south of downtown Des Moines, and they have a great website with the full menu: http://www.bbgrocerymeatdeli.com/

Best Place to be Adventurous- Fuji
Fuji has been a wonderful addiction to the Ames culinary scene. They have great sushi- but it comes at a price. Go for lunch for the best deals overall. They are absolute artists when it comes to sushi. I recommend the yellowtail and fish tempura rolls. If you don't do sushi, they are other great options and its worth going just for them. The hibachi meals are fabulous, with a great pile of veggies alongside your choice of meat or fish. You can sit at the grill for a show, but you'll probably come home with egg in your hair or down your shirt. Also, the tempura here is wonderful. They make a great sauce to go with it. I recommend the chicken and veggie tempua lunch box or the steak hibachi for the non-sushi eaters. This place doesn't have a website yet as far as I know.

A Food Addiction???

Do you have a friend that puts ranch dressing on everything? Or maybe it's you that can't make it through the day without that Mountain Dew. There are some people out there that can't stop eating everything bagels. So what is it about certain foods that make us crave them constantly?


Some people believe that there are ingredients in ranch dressing causing the addiction. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this idea. Perhaps it’s the simplicity and familiarity of the dressing that's so appealing. The smooth and creamy mouth feel coupled with just a hint of tang and herbs is enough to make many people find creative ways to sneak ranch dressing into every meal.

As far as those of you who are addicted to {insert caffeinated, carbonated beverage here}, you don't have to entirely blame yourself. Caffeine really has been shown to have addictive qualities. After all, it IS a drug. A legal one, yes but it can still cause withdraws when you try to cut back. I'm sure you know all about the caffeine headache.

Ok, the everything bagel. I must admit I am a fan myself but definitely not an addict. It has to be the combination of spices topping this baked delight that send people running to the bagel shop each morning. Who can resist the coarse salt, poppy seed, onion and garlic? Delicious. My suggestion if you can't get enough: try making up the spice blend at home and incorporating it into other dishes. I suggest trying it out on scrambled eggs, buttered toast, potatoes, pasta, the possibilities are endless.

So is there anything wrong with having a food addiction? Well there is if it comes down to you eating so much of one thing that you're not getting a good variety of nutrients in your diet. Or if that food you hold so dearly is high in something that's not so great for you. Ranch dressing, for example, has an excruciatingly high fat content. And we all know that caffeine can have adverse effects on our health. So remember, everything in moderation and you'll live long enough to pass on your ranch dressing addiction to your great-grandchildren!