Marilyn Monroe never visited Iowa, as far as newspaper coverage goes, but the siren of the ’50s and early ’60s is getting the Hollywood treatment in the state to celebrate what would have been her 100th birthday. The actress would have turned 100 on June 1.
Now Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse, which combines classic supper club charm with Italian steakhouse traditions, celebrates the actress with a June special that honors her love of Chanel No. 5, the fragrance she wore.
At Johnny’s, that means a pasta dish named for the perfume that features cheese ravioli topped with lobster, shrimp, artichokes, prosciutto, spinach and sun-dried tomatoes, all topped in a garlic cream sauce. Find it at all three Des Moines metro locations all month.
Details: 6800 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, 515-287-0847, johnnysitaliansteakhouse.com/des-moines; 6075 Mills Civic Pkwy., West Des Moines, 515-333-5665, johnnysitaliansteakhouse.com/west-des-moines; 550 Bass Pro Drive N.W., Altoona, 515-957-9600, johnnysitaliansteakhouse.com/altoona.
The Market at Oak Park returns
The Market at Oak Park returns on Sept. 1. The farmer’s market in the parking lot at Oak Park in Des Moines features vendors used by the restaurant, as well as food trucks and live music. The market takes place from 4 to 7 p.m. The restaurant held its first market of the season on June. 1
Details: Parking lot at Oak Park Restaurant, 3901 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines, 515-620-2185, oakparkdsm.com.
An Oak Park vegan dinner with Jackie Akerberg is coming up
Speaking of Oak Park, the Ingersoll Avenue restaurant brings in Jackie Akerberg, the creator of Jackfruitful Kitchen, a popular food blog, and the author of the “Clean Vegan Cookbook,” on June 27 for a one-night collaboration with Chef Ian Robertson, the James Beard Foundation semifinalist for Best Chef Midwest in 2026. Together, they will present an entirely plant-based, six-course tasting menu. Tickets are $200 and Akerberg will be on hand. Everyone gets a copy of her cookbook.
Soft shell crab season comes to Iowa
For a short window, Splash Seafood has softshell crabs straight from Maryland on the menu. The downtown Des Moines restaurant is serving them with its classic Meunière preparation, pan-fried and topped with a nutty brown butter sauce. is a classic French-Creole preparation. “As you know, the season only lasts a short five or six weeks, so this is a very limited time feature,” said Bruce Gerleman, who owns the restaurant. The flash-fried softshell crabs come with blistered tomato, pickled onion salad and a lemon caper sauce.
Details: 303 Locust St., Des Moines, 515-244-5686, splash-seafood.com.
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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: Marilyn Monroe pasta? See where you can try this special dish in Iowa
Reporting by Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
