Turning Iowa’s Best Meals into a Movement

September 15, 2025

By Haley Banwart

Walk into a local meat locker, and you can learn a lot about a community without asking a single question. The way they season their sausage or cure their ham often tells a story that began generations ago.

Food can tell you a lot about the culture, history and heritage of a small town. And it’s this belief that drives JayJay Goodvin’s pursuit of exploring and sharing the best hidden gems from all corners of the state through his blog, “The Iowa Gallivant.” 

All Roads Lead Home 

A true Iowa native, Goodvin was born in Marshalltown and raised in Grundy Center before his family moved to Marion and later to Iowa City. But in 1999, the road called. 

For more than a decade, he embarked on a culinary crusade, working in restaurants and resorts across the country, from Arizona to Montana, the shores of Cape Cod to the Florida Keys, the Black Hills to Austin to Central Illinois. 

In 2010, Goodvin and his wife, Monica, moved back to Iowa City with their three young children. “When we first moved home, I took a marketing job with a Mexican restaurant chain,” Goodvin says. “Then in 2014, I decided to get out of the restaurant business and trade the long hours for more time with my family. That’s when I found a job managing a kitchen for the Iowa City Community School District.”

Affectionally referred to as the “bearded lunch lady” by students, Goodvin took notice of the work paraeducators were doing around him. After observing the impact they had on their students, he was inspired to step into the role himself, and he pursued a career as a paraeducator for the next seven years. 

Outside of the classroom, weekend road trips with his family became a way for Goodvin to stay connected to his restaurant roots. What began as a family scrapbook project documenting their travels across Iowa eventually grew into a full-time gig as chief explorer and content creator of “The Iowa Gallivant.” 

Small Town Revelations

From his platform, which spans multiple social media channels with more than 100,000 followers, it’s clear that when Goodvin talks about food, he’s not just interested in how it tastes, but who makes it, what it means to the people who serve it and the history it carries. “I’m a restaurant guy at heart, having spent more than half of my life in that environment,” he shares. “These are my people. I know how hard it is to run a restaurant, especially given recent economic challenges with the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain disruptions. I’m always rooting for them.” 

Goodvin’s background gives “The Iowa Gallivant” a uniquely food-forward lens on life in Iowa’s small towns. Guided by recommendations from locals and community business organizations, many of his travels focus on spotlighting comfort food in diners, taverns and family restaurants across the state. 

Teaming up with partners like the Iowa Beef Council and the Iowa Pork Producers Association, he has made stops across all 99 counties, chronicling two of Iowa’s most iconic eats: burgers and pork tenderloins. Goodvin also has a strong appreciation for the ethnic food found in lesser-known communities. “Some of the best Chinese food I’ve had is from places most people wouldn’t expect,” he says. 

While Goodvin’s trips are typically mapped out in advance, he’s not afraid to go where the road takes him. “The Iowa Gallivant” logo, a playful paper airplane, represents the unknowns of travel — a reminder that sometimes detours can lead to the best discoveries. For Goodvin, the journey matters as much as the destination. “There’s something spiritual about cruising the blacktops and gravel roads,” he explains. “You see things differently out there.”

The Gallivanting Effect

Now more than a decade in the making, “The Iowa Gallivant” inspires and entertains, but it also drives real value for Iowa communities. Goodvin often hears from local business owners that his visits boost foot traffic and interest. “We’ve received great feedback from the stops we make,” he says. “It’s rewarding to see the difference a simple post can make.” 

Beyond the buzz his content generates, Goodvin hopes his work encourages exploration close to home. His travels have taught him that discovery doesn’t require distance — just curiosity. “I want people to see their own backyards better and more often,” he shares. “You don’t have to travel far to have an unforgettable experience, and there’s nothing more gratifying.” 

He says it’s important for people to get out, vacation locally and support their own community. “Even if you’re just crossing the state line or heading to the airport, make Iowa part of the journey,” he says. “Stop somewhere for gas or a snack. The economic impact of that alone can make a big difference.” 

When asked to name a favorite destination, Goodvin’s answer is always “the next one.” He says, “Sometimes the best places aren’t the ones you take pictures of. They live in your memory, and that’s even better.”

Even familiar spots hold new stories. Goodvin says, “Revisiting the same place in a different season or time of day — you see it with fresh eyes. There’s always something new to discover.”

You can read Goodvin’s blog at theiowagallivant.com.

Photo credits: The Iowa Gallivant