Hi, everyone, it's Jack Bishop. We've reached the end of our best-of-proof travel edition,

and the final installment is, of course, a classic road trip across America.

This episode from 2021 is a coming-of-age story from reporter Aaron Pang.

Heena's mother set off for his new home in Iowa and make culinary pit stops as they drive

further and further away from the comfort and familiarity of their home in San Francisco.

It's a beautiful and reflective piece about family, food,

and the intangible feeling of home.

As a quick reminder, folks,

all new episodes of Proof

will begin starting April 17th.

Thanks for your patience

and for coming along on this ride with us.

Okay, here's Dumplings Iowa, hosted by Kevin Pang.

Hey, proof listeners, Kevin Pang here.

When I was younger, I lived in a super happening neighborhood of Chicago called the West Loop.

It had the hottest restaurants.

All the startups had offices there.

The vibe was young and hip, and I was living in the middle of the action.

Then I became a dad. And there was a place I so wanted to avoid,

but knew it was inevitable. I cringed at the word, the suburbs. I feared my life would become

chain family restaurants and well-done steaks and, ugh, skinless

chicken breast. I didn't want to dine in a restaurant with the word factory in its name, nor did I

...