Elijah Decious

Mama Pearls in Cedar Rapids brings a new take on soul food to a cloud kitchen — and the restaurant has a dessert menu just for the Southern sweet tooth.

Rapid Creek Cidery is merging with Wilson’s Orchard & Farm and reopening as Wilson’s Ciderhouse & Venue, which will introduce Saturday brunch service to complement its Sunday brunch.

Big Grove Brewery announced Friday a total of $24,000 in grants to a trio of local nonprofits as part of its Big Grove for Good program.

Mamacita Taco Pub is owned by local restaurateurs Haile Duncan and Ozzie Aguirre, who own Mas Margaritas and the recently opened La Casita, right next door to Mamacita.

Cedar Rapids now has its first crepe shop. Tasty Crepe is open in the cloud kitchen near Lindale Mall.

New data from the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance shows that Cedar Rapids is starting to shed its reputation as a “chain restaurant city” as it becomes a state leader in independent restaurant trends.

Harold Alcott joins at least 55 other centenarians in Iowa. He celebrated his 100th birthday on March 5. He’s one of 509 living World War II veterans left in the Eastern Iowa area.

See the seven foods, desserts and drinks that impressed us the most at Iowa City’s in-person return of Top Chef Iowa City.

The Eat Shop in Solon had a line going down the block Saturday as customers eagerly supported the fundraiser for Ukrainians fleeing or staying to fight the Russian invasion.

The new restaurant in northeast Cedar Rapids will offer a different take on Mexican food, with specialties from the owners’ native La Piedad and Guerrero regions of Mexico.

The Breckenridges race against the clock to adopt a fourth Ukrainian son before he turns 16, when he is eligible for military service and ages out of the orphanage.

For four years, Frank the cat has been the best sales clerk at Next Page Books bookstore in Cedar Rapids’ NewBo neighborhood. “He’s become the face of the bookstore,” store owner Bart Carithers says.

This pizzeria serves the world’s first pale lager brewed in the Czech Republic since 1839.

Aaron Hall, baker at The Local Crumb, was named a semifinalist for the James Beard Award for Outstanding Baker. He is one of only two Iowa semifinalists for the prestigious award in any category.

Donutland will be expanding in Iowa City, filling in for Daylight Donuts after it closed on Sunday.