Wallace Centers of Iowa's new chef serves delicious five-course meal

This week I attended the first scheduled five-course tasting dinner series introducing Saralyn Smith, the Wallace Centers of Iowa's new chef .

Why it matters: The farm-to-table meal was elegant, delicious and at a price ($75) that is more affordable than some other fine dining experiences in the metro like Oak Park or Ruth's Chris Steak House .

Zoom in: The meal included a cucumber elderflower spritzer, garden greens salad, ravioli, chicken with couscous, lamb in a red wine sauce and a rhubarb mousse vanilla chiffon cake.

• Guests are welcome to bring their own wine with no corkage fee.

State of play: Instead of its regular Thursday farm-to-table dinners, WCI is now offering other new food programs at different price points.

• One will incorporate a single ingredient like rhubarb into multiple courses while others center around local history .

The intrigue: Smith's May 7 dinner had one seat available as of this morning.

• The third and final welcome event on May 14 is sold out.

Yes, but: The center's other programs are kicking into high gear in coming weeks, including Pizza on the Prairie on May 31.

• Reservations for many of them are already being snatched up.