The Catering Ladies is a local caterer - specializing in all your catering needs in the tristate region for over 11 years.

"We are savvy in the kitchen, but not on the computer," their Facebook reads. I hadn't heard of them before, but I did get to enjoy some of their offerings this evening well, enjoying a presentation from Angelica Gilleran of Strong Rapport as part of the WELD Charleston event.

The grazing table included a cream cheese dip with crackers, cupcakes, grapes, pineapple, party mix, watermelon balls, carrots, cheese, salami, celery and cucumbers - quite an interesting mix. All tasty.

The future of Sergio's is a bit up in the air with the recent sale so I wanted to share my thoughts while I still can.



The Italian restaurant has a sister restaurant already established in Hurricane and is connected to the Guadalajara restaurant family. The one thing that differs here from the sister restaurant is that there's a focus on pizzas, as opposed to steaks.



Sergio's is located in Elk City - with some historical charm and minimal decor. Tall tin ceilings and a combo of booths and tables line the dining room.



Soft, warm breadsticks sprinkled with parm set the tone for the meal. These were gloriously simple.



I had to try their house pepperoni roll, which was a long, flat roll filled with lots of cheese and pepperoni and scored in the center. It was somewhere between a calzone and a classic pepperoni roll—soft, hearty, and satisfying, though it didn’t quite stand out as remarkable.



My main entree was a hearty seafood pasta dish featuring jumbo lobster-stuffed ravioli paired with succulent jumbo sautéed shrimp, all enveloped in their rich, house-made Alfredo sauce. The ravioli are generously filled, providing a substantial bite. The Alfredo sauce delivers a creamy and flavorful coating. Rich, and right up my alley.



Grade: A

The Second Annual Jam Off was held at Capitol Market today, featuring nearly two dozen different jams, jellies and marmalades. Contestants included: Laura McComas, Up the Holler Goods, Knorrsgaard Jams, Homemade by Londa, Homemade by GiGi, JarHead Farms, Therese Blair and Dreama Viars. Hosted by Liz Martin LLC, the event raised $3,000 raised for Make a Wish West Virginia (the “Organization”), a non-profit organization dedicated to making wishes come true for children diagnosed with critical illnesses. Founded by Elizabeth Martin in 2023 and previously hosted by Tudor’s Biscuit World in celebration of its 25-year partnership with the organization, the event’s return marked the company’s first fundraiser and aimed to celebrate Appalachian heritage by supporting and highlighting local jam and jelly makers. In total, the 2025 Jam Off featured 23 different jams, jellies, and preserves from local amateur and commercial artisans throughout the state of West Virginia and bordering area of Ohio, a live musical performance by West Virginia country-rock artist, Brandon Laxton, and a silent auction containing local West Virginia goods including a jam and jelly gift basket consisting of jams and jellies showcased during the event. Public tasting tickets were sold as a part of the Event to allow guests to taste and vote on their favorite flavors with t-shirts and water also available for purchase. During the event, an official judge’s panel featuring Hannah Cline, WCHS TV anchor and former wish child, Steven Kieth, the Food Guy, and yours truly awarded first place to amateur contestant Stacy Holstine AKA Homemade by GiGi (Charleston, WV) for her GiGi’s Christmas Jam entry and commercial contestant Whitney Bolton from Up the Holler Goods (Bob White, WV) for their Peach Habanero entry. Each winner received a certificate and a $500 cash prize. Additionally, the Event featured a People’s Choice category, voted on by the public, and a Wish Kid’s Choice category that allowed a select panel of Make a Wish children to sample each flavor and pick their favorite entry. People’s Choice and Wish Kid’s Choice were both awarded to amateur contestant Therese Blair (Long Bottom, OH) for her Banana entry in which she received two certificates in honor of the victories. I enjoyed 23 different jams from amateurs and commercial vendors. Check them out below!

Oishii Hibachi in Charleston started as a popular food truck in Kanawha City, where it built a loyal following serving up fresh hibachi and sushi from a Piggly Wiggly parking lot. In 2024, it made the leap to a permanent brick-and-mortar location on MacCorkle Avenue in the former Pita Pit space, right next to Horace Mann Middle School. The new space has a simple, dimly lit interior with a dozen or so tables and booths, a small sushi counter, and colorful hanging lanterns that give it a relaxed, slightly tucked-away feel. The menu is a mix of hibachi-style entrees, sushi rolls, appetizers, and bento boxes. Appetizers include items like spring rolls, gyoza, and crab rangoons. Hibachi meals can be ordered with steak, chicken, shrimp, salmon, scallops, crab, or vegetables, and they come with your choice of fried rice or noodles. Bento boxes offer a little bit of everything—rice or noodles, a main dish, salad or soup, and a sushi roll or dumpling. Sushi lovers will find nearly 20 roll options ranging from classics like spicy tuna and shrimp tempura to deep-fried rolls filled with crab, avocado, and cream cheese. The hibachi steak with noodles is filling and generously portioned, though the steak was hit or miss -- sometimes a bit tough and overcooked. Noodles were fine. The crab rangoon, however, was hot, crisp, and well-stuffed, with the triangular folded shape giving it an extra edge. Service is generally quick and friendly, carrying over the approachable vibe from Oishii’s food truck days. It’s a solid spot for an easy lunch or dinner, especially if you’re craving comfort hibachi or a satisfying sushi roll. Not too bad. A solid option in town. Have you been? Grade: B