Have Fun WV with Jay Silverman hosted the Second Annual Pepperoni Roll Contest at GoMart Ballpark. There were 5 competitors this year - all with a unique variation on the classic pepperoni roll. Wild N' Wonderful Rolls

These tasty rolls took home first prize! The round rolls are layered thick with cheese and pepperoni. They're topped with butter and a special blend of seasonings. Cheri's Sugar Shack at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center

Taking home second place, these pepperoni rolls are finished with an herby garlic oil that just takes them to the next level. GoMart Ballpark

The home team did a simple version of the pepperoni foll that was pretty classic. Nellita's Cocina

Known locally for her empanadas, Idanelis makes a delicious WV Roni Roll, which has small chunks of pepperoni enveloped in an empanada dough and deep-fried. P.R. Boss Rolls

Brand new to me, these pepperoni rolls were rolled up with pepperoni and shredded cheese on top.

The Putnam County Fair is going on as we speak. There are so many great activities, but of course I came for the food. There were a few I didn't get to try because they weren't open or they were more standard concession type foods. WICKED EATS A philly cheesesteak here was topped with lettuce and tomato. I could do without those, but I loved the nice chopped steak with cheese.


COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER Absolutely tasty smash burger with melty cheese.


SHORELINE PIZZA It was pretty neat to see a pizza oven on a food truck. The bottom gets a good char, and the crust is a bit chewy.


KEVIN & CATHLEEN'S SNACK SHACK Brownie delight with vanilla ice cream hit the spot.


THE ROLLING STOVES Fried green tomatoes with ranch.


POUR MAN'S BBQ Pulled pork nachos with all the fixins.

This evening, I enjoyed three delectable courses, drinks, baby goat visits and live music by Khegan McLane & The Raccoon Wranglers + Bread & Circus! NIBBLES

Sunflower Seed Pesto Crostini with Tomatoes | Feta | Balsamic Glaze SEAFOOD BOIL

Shrimp | Snow Crab | Mussels | Angelo's Sausage | Sweet Corn | Red Skin Potatoes DESSERT

Mini Farmer Float! Blend of Strawberry Cider Slush & Vanilla Soft-Serve | Topped with a Fresh Cake Donut The wonderful team created these paper table covers that we could color. Bags of supplies included plates, napkins, cutlery, crayons, moist towelettes, crab claw crackers, table pins, plus seasonings, cocktail and butter.

The Mountain State Art & Craft Fair is a wonderful multiday festival near Ripley that showcases artisans, trades, food and more. Here are some of the food-related vendors who participated:

Angie's What's Poppin' Shop, The Boba Bus, DARN Good Candies, Ellison's Mountain Heritage Nursery, Fruits De La Rose / Oldham Sugarworks, Hill & Holler Herbal Company, Howe Sweet It Is, Legacy Foods, Mountain Top Fudge Factory, Mrs. Mel's LLC, Nana's Kitchen, The Noshery, Ronk Family Maple Syrup, Sassy Gals Gourmet Treats, Stone Road Vineyards, Sugar Bottom Farm, The Sweeter Side of the Feud Winery, The Twisted Sister and Uncle Bunk's LLC.


THE JERKY HUT
Definitely want to check out the teriyaki flavor.


REX'S CALZONES LLC
They served Pepperoni & Cheese Calzone, Everything Calzone, Steak Calzone, Soft drinks & Bottled Water. I ordered a pepperoni & cheese calzone and was fairly impressed. The dough was soft, the chunks of pepperoni inside were ample and cheese coated the interior. Greasy, but not overly.


THE DONUTMAN
They offef a dozen mini donuts; I went for just the plane. But I would have loved a vanilla or caramel dipping sauce. They were very soft and lightly sweet.


STUFFED: GOOD FOOD
They have a variety of Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Italian, Ham, Buffalo Chicken, Appalachian (with bacon jam), Chicken Bacon Ranch, Pepperoni Rolls with side of marinara dipping sauce. I went for the buffalo chicken, grilled cheese cheese. there were nice hunks of white meat, chicken, but I wish there was more buffalo sauce and oozy, cheesy cheese.


LANHAM ENTERPRISES
Shaved ice is always nice on 90° day.


SYCAMORE SWEETS
Smoothies, Bagels (bacon, sausage/egg), Chicken/ Tuna Salad Sandwich, Cupcake/Brownies, Pepperoni Rolls. I got a tres leches cake. It was a nice dessert, but it was not nearly as moist as I would like a tres leches.


MAIN SQUEEZE
Fresh squeezed lemonade and lemonade with assorted flavors. The lemonade was more on the tart side, but the giant container kept me hydrated for the day.


JAW'S BBQ!
Jaws pulled pork sandwich, Jaws pulled pork dinner, Jaws pulled pork Nacho deluxe, Jaws Hog Hides, Unks Lemon Shake-ups, Cole Slaw, Potato Salad, Jaws Noodles. I enjoyed a pulled pork sandwich, which was already soft up and tossed with slaw. I liked that it was already perfectly moist and flavorful with that sauce.


STACI'S SALES LLC (Monie's Sweet Things)
Cotton candy, Candy Apples, Caramel Apples, Popcorn, Caramel Corn & Flavored Popcorn, Soft drinks, Slushies. All the classic fair foods I got a bag of cotton candy to take home because it's a you don't get many places. It was interesting to me that the middle flavor was banana; that's not something I recall.


S&S CONCESSIONS
Bloomin Onions, Polish & Italian Sausages, Philly Chicken, Philly Steak, Corn Dogs, Fries, Funnel Cakes, Lemonade, Sweet Tea. This place had by far the longest line, so I wanted to get something quick and simple. I got a corndog, which says fair to me because you don't often get them elsewhere. I like that they seemed freshly made based on texture.


JARHEAD FARMS
Pear Syrup, Pear Jelly, Marionberry Syrup, Red Fruit Syrup, Red Fruits Jam, Blue Damson Plum Syrup, Blackberry Syrup. They had lots of delicious looking jams, jellies and apple butter.