Country music star Jason Aldean is headed to the Iowa State Fair on Sunday, August 20th! With this auction lot, you have the chance to see him live with 2 tickets to the show. Make a date night out of it and head to the Latin King with this $25 gift card!

Just 5 minutes down the road from the Iowa State Fairgrounds sits the coveted Latin King Restaurant. For over 74 years Latin King Restaurant has stood as a hallmark of quality traditional Italian dining in Des Moines. Considered an "East-side institution," Latin King delivers an authentic piece of Italy in the heart of the Midwest.

The Latin King restaurant was founded in 1947 by Rose and Jim Pigneri, who immigrated from Terravecchia, Italy to Des Moines. Pigneri named the Latin King after New York City's Latin Quarter and operated the Latin King for 35 years, notably taking only 10 days of vacation time during his tenure. Pigneri sold the Latin King to his third cousin Bob Tursi in 1983.

It was in the 1990s and 2000s that Latin King grew into a household name and dining icon in Des Moines. Such scratch dishes as the Chicken Spiedini, Steak Deburgo and Tiramisu, and the Latin King tomato garden with over 100 annual tomato plantings, were developed during this time. Tursi improved the Latin King, and after successfully battling cancer, decided it time to sell to Whitney VinZant in May of 2021. Of the sale, Tursi said, "They are forever looking for better ways to make sure the guest experience is great. They are going to keep the diamond polished."

The Silent Auction closes at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, June 14th.