Highly recommended: Strawberry shortcake season starts at the Latin King
Every year around this time, customers start calling Latin King to find out when strawberry shortcake season starts.
And this year, the season kicked in three weeks early.
“We have a huge following on it,” executive chef Zach Boals said. “People call at all hours to order it to go.”
Boals estimated the Italian restaurant that originally opened in 1947 on the east side of Des Moines has offered strawberry shortcake for around 40 years, selling 50 to 80 orders a day.
At lunch, customers like to split the $13 strawberry shortcake. When it’s ordered to go, Boals deconstructs the dish so the biscuit doesn’t get soggy.
The limited-edition strawberry shortcake comes with two sweet biscuits piled high with layers of fresh berries and whipped cream made with AE Dairy heavy cream on top. Boals said that Latin King is the last stop for the AE truck, which is headquartered across the street from the restaurant. The kitchen staff beats fresh whipped cream daily.
For now, Boals sources his berries from Missouri, but will switch to Iowa strawberries when they're in season.
But once July 4 rolls around, strawberry shortcake leaves the menu.
More: What to know about the Latin King, the Italian restaurant on the east side in Des Moines
What other desserts does Latin King offer?
While the strawberry shortcake is seasonal, Latin King offers a robust list of desserts.
A triple chocolate fudge cake, tiramisu, cheesecake topped with cherry compote, a three-layer carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, canoli, and spumoni ice cream are among the desserts. Another specialty, tartufo, features raspberry gelato dipped in bittersweet chocolate and drizzled with a raspberry Chambord sauce.
More: Latin King chef Zach Boals shares his favorite places to eat in Des Moines
Where to find Latin King
Location: 2200 Hubbell Ave., Des Moines
Contact: 515-266-4466 or latinkingdsm.com
Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, X, or Instagram, or drop her a line at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Latin King launches strawberry shortcake season early in Des Moines