Time to stir up the Gumbo again. Gumbo Ya Ya,  Mardi Gras in The District, returns to downtown Rock Island Saturday, June 10, bringing the atmosphere of New Orleans to the Quad-Cities for its 25th consecutive year. A variety of New Orleans style music will be performed over the weekend including zydeco, blues, and more. Louisiana style food will also be available through various vendors and a “French Quarter” marketplace will offer gifts and novelty items. Over 500 pounds of beads will be thrown to the masses by everyone from cajun cooks to musicians to people dressed as vampires. The cost... Read More

Where can you enjoy samples of aromatic wines from around the world while helping college students raise scholarship funds? At St. Ambrose University’s Wine Festival, of course! The St. Ambrose Wine Festival has successfully raised more than one million dollars for student scholarships throughout its fifteen-year history. There is a trio of events to help raise these funds, and the annual Wine Tasting night is upon us! On Saturday May 20 from 3-6 p.m. at the St. Ambrose University campus (518 W Locust St Davenport) you can enjoy an afternoon of wine sampling and excellent food from local restaurants.... Read More

Looking for a fun and healthy way to get your kids involved in the kitchen? It’s no secret that including your children in meal planning and preparation builds healthier eating habits. It can, however, be difficult to know where to start. Hy-Vee food stores are hoping to help take some of the guess work out of how to involve the kids, with their ‘Kids in the Kitchen’ programs. These fun and educational kids’ cooking classes are held monthly at your local Hy-Vee stores for children ages 4-9. This May, Kids in the Kitchen utilizes a one of a kind Blender Bike for their ‘Kids in the Kitchen:... Read More

Chef Kyle Verschorre and Quad Cities Food Hub present a locally-sourced, South American themed cultural dinner on Thursday, April 27, 2017 at 6:00 PM. The dinner is sourced as locally as possible and proceeds benefit the Quad Cities Food Hub. Dinner tickets are $45 each and are available at the Quad Cities Food Hub, 421 W. River Drive Davenport or at www.qcfoodhub.com. Additional discounts are available for couples and groups. For more information, call 563-265-2455, ext. 2. The menu is as follows: Radish Ceviche Cucumber and Pepper Gazpacho Mahi Con Espinacas Carne Borracho Peach “Cobbler”... Read More

With a fun, delicious menu offering smoothies, coffee, snacks and more, Taste Buds in downtown Rock Island, 150 16 ½ St., is offering similar fare, but with its own twist. One of the latest snacks to hit Taste Buds is milk chocolate-covered potato chips. Now, offering various chocolate-dipped items seems to be a growing trend among local coffee shops and cafes, especially in regard to mixing the salty with the sweet, and the most natural of these pairings (and the most common in local venues) has been potato chips dipped in chocolate. I’ve been eating items of this nature for years, having... Read More

One of the things that the Quad Cities are known for is their wide selection of impressive breweries. So many, in fact, that you might find it difficult to try all of them at once, right? Well not anymore! The QCCA Expo Center in Rock Island is bringing you Brewed Live on Saturday March 12. This is the newest Beer Sampling Event in the Quad Cities! There will be 30 plus local, regional and national breweries available for your sampling. They will be providing educational information on brewing, as well. Tickets are limited. The cost for a 1-4pm ticket is $35. However, if you want early access that... Read More

Remember the care-free days of joking and laughing at the kids’ table? Well those days do not have to be over! The Family Museum in Bettendorf is bringing back that euphoric feeling with their one night event, The Kids’ Table: A Grown Up Helping. This opportunity takes place on Saturday, March 4 from 6:30-10pm at the Family Museum (2900 Learning Campus Drive in Bettendorf). Tickets are $50 each or you can sponsor a table of eight for $500. This is for adults only and you must be 21+ to enter. You can purchase tickets either online at http://familymuseum.org/programs/special-events/the-kids-table/... Read More

Are you ready to kick off Mardi Gras week? Then get ready to ‘laissez les bons temps rouler’, or let the good times roll! The Figge Art Museum (located at 225 West 2nd Street Davenport) is hosting a Cajun Cook-Off on Sunday, Feb 26 from 5pm-8pm. The cost is $30 until Feb 24 and only $35 after that date. Either visit their website at: www.figgeartmuseum.org  or call 563.326.7804 to purchase tickets. Come enjoy Cajun or Creole inspired cuisine, a Mardi Gras themed photo both and beads galore! Costumes are encouraged! This event is being presented to you by the Friends of the Figge and 8 local... Read More

From restaurants to living rooms, millions of people will be celebrating the Super Bowl this year with fun, friends and, of course, food. And what foods are going to be the hottest, literally and figuratively, on Super Bowl party platters and tables? We asked a number of our friends at local restaurants and culinary arts schools about what foods are going to score the most points at Super Bowl shindigs. “What’s really hot this year is multiple soups, with people bringing different soups, one person brings a lobster bisque, another brings a chicken noodle, and so on, and the host provides the... Read More

The German American Heritage Center is holding its Fall Frolic Fundraising Gala from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Outing Club Ballroom in Davenport. The center, 712 W Second Street, Davenport, is selling tickets now for $60. For more information call (563) 322-8844, email info@gahc.org or see www.gahc.org. With your ticket, you help support educational outreach to area schools. Cocktails and the Silent Auction will begin at 5, Dinner at 6 with a delicious new menu this year including Sauerbraten and Weiner schnitzeland. A presentation at 7 p.m. will take place featuring special guest J. Douglas Miller,... Read More