Here's the scoop on what it takes to be a food critic

Welcome new subscribers. This column is called Julie Gammack’s Iowa Potluck because it features various stories, interviews, and commentary with a morsels of Iowa life. Paid subscribers support the Okoboji Writers’ and Songwriters’ Retreat. Words underlined or found in bold purple are links to pertinent websites. I am glad to have you on board with this growing community. Julie Here’s a podcast of our conversation with Wini Moranville and readers of our columns. This popular food critic is a consummate reporter who writes news and information about where and what to eat, mainly in the greater Des Moines area where she lives. If you haven’t already subscribed, here is Wini’s Food Stories. Readers are hungry for this kind of information. Wini brings to her writing an extensive background as a newspaper and magazine food reviewer, author, and college instructor. She spent many years in the hospitality business, too, so she can note the details of exemplary service from experience. Find out what she loves about this new column writing experience and what she’d like to see more from her readers. Listeners will find nuggets of information about restaurants in Iowa City, Dubuque, Cedar Rapids, and Des Moines. Wini Moranville's memoir is coming this summer. Richard and I will host a book signing for her at our home. Paid subscribers will be invited. Pre-order by clicking on the photo below: Why is the cost of food so high? Please join my colleague, Bob Leonard, Deep Midwest: Politics and Culture columnist, and me as we talk to author Austin Frerick about his new book, Barons, Money, Power, and the Corruption of America’s Food Industry. Here is the link for our conversation with author Austin Frerick on Monday, March 18: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81022096611From the press kit:“In this eye-opening debut study, Frerick, an agricultural policy fellow at Yale University, reveals the ill-gained stranglehold that a handful of companies have on America’s food economy…It’s a disquieting critique of private monopolization of public necessities.”—Publishers Weekly, starred reviewWhy is food getting more and more expensive? Join me, and together, we’ll ask this question (and others). Austin Frerick's expertise is in agriculture and antitrust policy. He is a seventh-generation Iowan and first-generation college graduate with degrees from Grinnell College and the University of Wisconsin. IOWA WRITERS’ COLLABORATIVEI am proud to be a founder of this extraordinary experiment, which created a platform for readers and writers who share an interest in Iowa. Our professional writers offer content related to politics, sports, food, features, and stories about our creative community. Here is a roundup of these columns from last week: Okoboji! Check out the Okoboji Writers’ and Songwriters Retreat, September 22-25. ENROLL now to take advantage of early bird pricing. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit okobojiwriters.substack.com/subscribe