For the third year in a row, I had the delicious honor of judging Taste of Bridge Day, the annual culinary kickoff to one of West Virginia’s most iconic events. Each year, local restaurants, caterers, and food trucks bring their best bites to Adventures on The Gorge, hoping to win over both judges and festivalgoers. 1. RHODODENDRON ICE CREAM
DESSERTS: Hand-Dipped Ice Cream: Chocolate, Vanilla, S'mores, Pumpkin Pie, Mocha, Sea Salt Caramel 2. LOST PADDLE AT ACE ADVENTURES
APPS: Cheesy Garlic Bread Sticks
ENTREES: Wood Fired Pizzas: Street Corn, Pepperoni, Cheese, Caprese, or Margherita 3. THE TABLE
APPS: Baked Potato Salad, Slaw, Mac & Cheese, Baked Beans
ENTRÉES: Ribs; Brisket; Pulled Pork BBQ with Slaw
4. CAST IRON SMOKERS
ENTRÉES: Smoked Mac & Cheese; Pork, Chicken, or Brisket Sliders 5. UPLAND SOULFOOD
APPS: Potato Salad
DESSERTS: Apple Cream Cheese Cookie
ENTRÉES: Meatballs 6. BLACK BEAR BAKERY
SNACKS: Cinnamon Rolls; Pepperoni Rolls
ENTREES: Bourbon Chicken
DESSERTS: Strawberry Shortcake; Carrot Cake; Red Velvet Cake; Banana Pudding; Pumpkin Whoppies; Caramel Apple Cider 7. WV BEEF JERKY
SNACKS: WV Beef Jerky: Original Peppered or Spicy Buffalo Style 8. DEEZ EATS
APPS: Two Jamaican Rolls
DESSERTS: Banana Pudding
ENTRÉES: Jerk Chicken, Collard Greens, Mac & Cheese; Fish Sampler, Dirty Rice, Cole Slaw 9. SMOKEY'S
SNACKS: Whipped Herbed Goat Cheese with Cranberry Walnut Toast Points, Blistered Tomato, Honey
ENTREES: Glade Creek Trout: Smoked Trout, Dirty Rice Risotto, Charred Lemon
DESSERTS: S'mores Pot de Creme: Dark Chocolate Custard, ToastedGraham Crumb, Torched Marshmallow, Smoked Caramel 10. CHETTY'S
SNACKS: Firecracker Shrimp: Lightly Breaded Shrimp Tossed in Firecracker Sauce & Served over Shredded Lettuce
ENTRÉES: Wave Runner Fish Tacos: Blackened Mahi, Pineapple Salsa, Spicy Corn Tartar, & Baby Arugula
DESSERTS: Lemon Mousse: Lemon Curd Mousse, Raspberry Whipped Cream, Candied Lemon, & Shortbread Dust 11. MOUNTAIN TABLE
APPS: Smoked Trout & Ramp Croquette; Paw Paw Jam Crostinis
SNACKS: Apple Granola Crunch Bar (nut free & vegan); Fig Bar
ENTRÉES: Hickory King Grits Topped with Crawfish & Mushroom Etouffée; Sorghum Glazed Pork Belly Succotash
DESSERTS: Red Bandana Coffee Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie; Toasted Pecan Ice Cream with Spicy Candied Bacon 12. THE SUMMIT BECHTEL RESERVE
APPS: Pumpkin Chili with Spiced Oyster Crackers
SNACKS: Smoked Pork Slider with Apple Butter Aioli & Crispy Onions
ENTRÉES: Chicken Bacon Cheddar Pot Pie w/Cheddar Garlic Crumb
DESSERTS: Glazed Donut Bread Pudding with Homemade Whipped Topping 13. HISTORIC GLEN FERRIS INN
APPS: Meatball & Italian Sausage
SNACKS: Cream Horn
ENTREES: Alfredo Cheese Shells & Lasagna
DESSERTS: Double Mini Cupcake; Cream Dog 14. ARROWHEAD BIKE FARM SNACKS: Creamy Coleslaw, Cilantro Lime Slaw, Elote Cup, or Smoked Mac & Cheese
ENTREES: Smoke Out Tacos: Smoked Brisket, Pulled Pork, Pulled Chicken, Pork Belly Burnt Ends, OR Vegan Chorizo, Includes Queso Fresco & House Sauces.
DESSERTS: Cheesecake & Brown Butter Brownies 15. BUMBLER BEE BAKER - THE CAKE BOX
SNACKS: Butterscotch Cheesecake Stuffed Choco Chippies; Cinnamon Roll Cups; Jalapeno Pepperoni Rolls
DESSERTS: New York Lemon Cheesecake with Raspberry Sauce; Ice Cream Floats; Cupcakes & Cake Pops in Assorted Flavors; Nanner Pudding Cake Cups; Strawberry Shortcake; Cheesecake Cups

SWIFTWATER GENERAL STORE NEW RIVER
APPS: Homestyle Potato Soup; Hot Italian Sausage with Cabbage Soup
ENTREES: Grilled Cheese Bites

TONY'S INTERNATIONAL CUISINE
APPS: Beef Empanada; Perrito; Colombian Corndog
ENTRÉES: Arepa Grande

TWISTED SISTERZ BBQ
ENTRÉES: Smoked Brisket in a Savory Texas Bean Chili; Crawfish Mac N' Cheese Smothered in Jambalaya; Cheesy Grits Topped with Cajun Shrimp

I attended the Fayette County Farmer's Market this month at the Fayetteville Courthouse Parking Lot. The Colonel's Grace - baked sweets, focaccia & embroidered towels (parmesan & asiago focaccia) Perrys Peak Honey – Fresh eggs, pork, candles, soaps, lip balms, honey, elderberry syrup & more! The Briarpatch – Baked goods, fresh veggies, lamb, flowers, bamboo crafts, and jellies. Five Springs Farm - meats & flowers. Barbara Bennett – Garden-fresh squash, cucumbers, herbs & more. Applezwork – Veggies, jewelry, stones, and woodcrafts galore!

One of West Virginia's most iconic restaurants has reopened.



Secret Sandwich Society, located in Fayetteville, experienced a devastating fire several years ago that required rebuilding from the ground up. And now, they're back and better than ever.



Known for their creative takes on sandwiches and salads named after presidents and first ladies, Secret Sandwich Society has increased its space inside and outside to accommodate even more folks. It's a pretty popular place, so that is welcome news.



While this is my first visit to the restaurant since it has rebuilt, I had been to the previous restaurant many times. So, I have a good idea of some of my favorites on the menu. Though, truly, you can't go wrong.



I ordered the TRUMAN - turkey, peach jam, blue cheese spread & crispy onions on a toasted potato roll. The turkey was tender and flavorful, perfectly balanced by the unexpected sweetness of the peach jam. That little hit of fruitiness played so well with the blue cheese spread, which added a tangy, creamy bite without overpowering. And let’s talk about those crispy onions - they brought the perfect crunch and just the right amount of savory to round everything out. All of it came together on a potato roll that was soft yet sturdy enough to hold up to the layers of flavor. It’s sweet, salty, creamy, and crunchy all in one bite - definitely not your average turkey sandwich. I’d order it again in a heartbeat.



Plus a side of parmesan truffle fries with a trio of dipping sauces: Roasted Garlic Mayo, Homemade spiced Ketchup and some pimento cheese for good measure. The roasted garlic mayo was rich and velvety with a mellow garlicky kick, the homemade spiced ketchup had just the right amount of heat and sweetness, and the pimento cheese - as always - was creamy, tangy, and totally perfect. If you’re a fry lover, this is the kind of side that makes the meal.



If you haven't been, what are you waiting for?



Grade: A

I recently attended an event that was catered by Hungry Bear Catering in Fayetteville. While the offerings were fairly simple - a sandwich, salad and cookie - I was impressed with the freshness of the components. Simple, but enjoyable. The salad had a base of cabbage, which I was a huge fan of. The cookie could have used more love, as it was a bit dry. Grade: B