Lionfish. Rabbit. Saw-edged perch. Himalayan morels. Those are among the ingredients the restaurant Masao has showcased in Des Moines since opening in May 2025. "Those mushrooms have barely been out for five minutes, and people are already stopping to look at them," said Chef Phil Shires. Shires was happy to see his ingredients catching people’s eyes. It's a callback to the restaurant's early days: people stopping in because they saw a curious dish through the window. It's been about two months since Shires, 45, and Nick Hanke, 39, were announced as semifinalists by the James Beard Foundation for Best Chef Midwest on Jan. 21. And it's nearing the first anniversary of their partnership. Tap the link in our bio for more on this story. #DesMoines #Iowa #DesMoinesFoodie #DesMoinesEats #JamesBeard