For every old tradition on RAGBRAI, a new one crops up.
In recent years, chef and owner Suman Hoque of HoQ in the East Village in Des Moines started selling his organic breakfast wraps made famous on Saturdays during the Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market. In 2017, he teamed up with Iowa Coffee Co., which offers organic coffees, to offer a cup of joe and a breakfast wrap along the RAGBRAI route, often asking a farmer if they could pitch a tent. The idea melded well with his farm-to-table approach to dining at his restaurant.
That first year, the pioneer of the farm-to-table restaurant scene in Des Moines decided to spend time with his wife Cynthia Hoque as she rode RAGBRAI in 2017. He only brought 200 breakfast burritos to sell.
They sold out right away.
He ended up returning to Des Moines to get more naan and eggs to make the wraps. His wife cracked six dozen eggs before hopping on her bicycle to continue the ride.
Now Hoque said he typically sells 800 to 1,200 wraps a day on the ride.
How to get HoQ breakfast wraps on RAGBRAI
HoQ starts baking naan weeks in advance to prepare for the 6,000 wraps Hoque anticipates selling this year. The sausage comes from Iowa. The flour for the naan originates in Panora. The butter comes from Kalona, and the cheese from Milton Creamery.
“The only things that are not from Iowa are the salt and the pepper,” Hoque said.
The night before, the restaurant staff breaks eggs and chops kale.
He offers vegetarian and gluten-free options. Customers pick which day they want a wrap and order in advance online at hoqwraps.com . Then instead of waiting in line to order, they walk up to get their food. Those who order in advance pick up a wristband at HoQ restaurant in downtown Des Moines until July 20 or at the stand along the route to get their food.
Flash the wristband, get a wrap.
Riders still have the option to stand in line to order breakfast wraps as well.
The wraps are on sale for $12 each, and advance orders cut off on Saturday.
More: Meet HoQtail, the new cocktail lounge in the East Village, where drinks come with a bite
Where to find HoQ breakfast wraps along the RAGBRAI route
Hoque likes to set up his tent in pass-through towns so riders can get some miles on the road ahead of eating a meal. He’ll have his tent open from 6 to 11 a.m.
- Sunday, July 21, Silver City
- Monday, July 22, Elliott
- Tuesday, July 23, Cumberland
- Wednesday, July 24, St. Charles
- Thursday, July 25, Attica
- Friday, July 26, Eldon
- Saturday, July 27, Mediapolis
More: The 27 essential restaurants in the Des Moines metro: 2024 edition
HoQ adds butter chicken wraps to the RAGBRAI menu
Hoque said he’s also teaming up with the Iowa Beer Bus to sell butter chicken wraps. On this test run, he’ll have rice, kale, and butter chicken wrapped in naan for lunch.
He plans to offer the dish in Henderson, Griswold, between Melcher and Knoxville at 2202 103rd Ave. in Knoxville, Lovilia and Selma.
Where to find HoQ
HoQ originally opened in the East Village in 2012, and started selling wraps outside the farmers market in 2014. This year, the restaurant has a stand inside the farmers market on Water Street on Saturday mornings from 7 a.m. to noon through the end of September. Hours change to 8 a.m. in October. The location may change during the season, so check the market's vendor list in advance online at dsmpartnership.com/desmoinesfarmersmarket/vendor-list .
Location: 303 E. Fifth St., Des Moines
Contact: 515-244-1213 or hoqtable.com
Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. You can reach out to her on Facebook , Twitter , or Instagram , or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com .
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: How to order breakfast burritos for RAGBRAI in advance from HoQ
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