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December 10, 2008 Ladora Bank Bistro "It's Sunday morning. You're wondering what to do. You feel like taking a drive. Ever been to Ladora? Ever heard of Ladora? Ladora sits 25 miles east of Grinnell on U.S. Highway 6. Why should you take a ride out there? Because what's possibly the coolest wine bar in the state of Iowa is out there. Ladora Bank Bistro is exactly what the name proclaims. It's a bistro inside a bank that was built in 1920. The bistro incorporates all the original bank fixtures which means you can sit at a tellers window and enjoy a glass of wine and have a nibble. Or a beer. Brad Erickson and his fiance Colleen Klainert spent 4 years cleaning and prepping and planning before opening to a shall we say "sceptical" rural community in May. The bank, which was open for only 11 years before closing during the Depression had been the pride of Ladora back when Highway 6 was the main route across Iowa before I-80 was built. Folks have been coming around and the locals are happy to see the bank in use. You never know who you'll meet there. The Sunday Laura and I drove out there were probably a dozen folks there. Bikers out on a Sunday cruise. A group of ladies out after church. A few farmers having a beer (they have Millstream from Amana and Shock Top from St. Louis!) and a bite. Laura and I had a couple of glasses of wine from their well chosen list of 30 or so wines and a plate of Iowa's own La Quercia Prosciutto with capers, olives and a drizzle of olive oil on top. We tried their Stromboli Rosso also. A roll of Italian sausage, mozzarella, herbs and Bolognese sauce, it complimented the glass of Layer Cake Primitivo I drank and Laura's glass of Salneval Albarino perfectly. Wine, food and a lot of marble. A fun place to hang out on a Sunday afternoon or as a destination for a light evening meal. By the way, if you try something new wine-wise and want to pick up a bottle let us know here at Casa di Vino. There's a good chance we already have it in stock. Ladora Bank Bistro hours: Thurs., Fri., Sat. 4-9 PM, Sunday, Noon-6 PM. Howard Bernstein, Owner, Casa di Vino" Wine & Food Guy, Des Moines Wine & Food Connection
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