Here's my latest column in the Charleston Gazette-Mail:One hallmark of Appalachian cuisine is the innovative use of the food available from the land and rivers — and the celebration of it. But Appalachians weren’t the first group of people to employ this strategy. Rather, we have the Native Americans to thank for many...

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There's a new shop in Huntington that is home to fresh meat and seafood, gourmet food items and perfect gifts for just about anyone.The Butcher Shop, located next to Christopher's Eats, is a small space with this really lovely wooden exterior that has carvings of a cow, pig and chicken. Inside, you'll find all...

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During a trip to Fayetteville - when it was a touch warmer - my friend Bri and I stopped at Wild Art & Wonderful Things. This lovely shop has some amazing local art and products. I ended up scooping up some West Virginia-themed coasters, and one of which is a puzzle. I am also...

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Forgive me for not getting a photo of the outside of the building - because it's one of those places that you've probably driven by in Parkersburg but may have not set food inside. George's Place is located near the mall in Parkersburg and is a family-friendly bar that features some Mediterranean dishes. The...

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 Who doesn't love cheese?!Located in Martinsburg, Shepherd's Whey Creamery produces fine artisan goat milk cheese. I've actually wanted to visit this place, because how cute are goats?! Plus, there aren't a tonnn of places to find the cheese. And I figured getting it right from the source would be best. But, COVID-19 of course...

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There are no lengths I'm not willing to go to in order to try a new (to me) restaurant. Such is the case when I had a craving for Chinese food, but I could only justify it if I could produce new content for my blog. And since I've tried all the Chinese...

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Gino's Pizza and Spaghetti House has a number of locations throughout West Virginia, and while they may not be quite as ubiquitous as Tudor's, they're probably not far off. In fact, they're usually attached to one another. The locations do vary slightly from one to the other. Some have independent owners (I believe),...

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Camp Virgil Tate is a 4H Camp in Charleston that also hosts a variety of events, like meetings, retreats, and even weddings. They have partnered with Turnrow Appalachian Farm Collective to provide some of their delicious baked goods for sale. They have pepperoni rolls, pierogis, quiche, and breadsticks available. So, I put in an order...

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General Steak & Seafood, located on Quarrier Street, is like an expanded version of Joe's Fish Market. The once-fish market now has a meat counter, as well, and the famous Yugoslavian Fish Stew is still a staple.So, walking in, you have a fresh seafood counter to the right. A meat counter - all...

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I think it's important that every town has at least one solid pizza joint. And, it's usually the tiny, little, hidden pizza joint that has the best pizza. So, I'm always on the hunt for good pizza when traveling.Parkersburg is no stranger to pizza, but now that I've hit up the most popular...

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