Des Moines food writer Wini Moranville releases new memoir

Local food writer Wini Moranville's new memoir comes out Wedesday.

Why it matters: " Love Is My Favorite Flavor " offers a behind-the-scenes look into Iowa's culinary evolution, awakened from a "meat-and-potatoes" slumber in the 1970s to one that's globally inspired and locally purveyed.

Catch up fast: Moranville's work as a food journalist spans about three decades, including as a national wine critic. She' wrote more than 750 restaurant reviews as the former "Datebook Diner" for the DSM Register.

• She currently writes " Wini's Food Stories ," an electronic newsletter published on Substack.

Fun fact: Moranville's "humble" start in DSM's restaurant industry began as a server and lasted about a decade.

• "The good, the bad and the downright weird" of those early experiences served her well as a food writer and human being, she writes in the book.

Zoom in: The former Bistro 43 in Beaverdale in the late 1990s was one of the local pioneers of seasonal, chef-driven eateries, Moranville tells Axios.

What she's watching: Despite its changes, the industry still struggles with staffing following the pandemic, she says.

• There have been recent improvements, but service can still be inconsistent.

What's next: Moranville will speak during a free book launch event on Saturday at Johnston Public Library, starting at 10:30am.

• Seating is limited, registration is open.