Daddy T's Smokin BBQ is a Grafton-based food truck that I waa lucky to catch in Charleston. Since becoming a BBQ judge, I have developed a great appreciation for ribs. This half rack of ribs was so tender. And no gelatinous fatty bits. I really enjoyed the BBQ sauce and the mac & cheese, as well. Grade: A

The Putnam County Fair in Eleanor, West Virginia, is one of the state’s largest county fairs. It combines agriculture, family entertainment, carnival rides, concerts, motorsports, and youth competitions into a nine-day event. For 2026, the fair ran July 10–18 at the Putnam County Fairgrounds on Park Road in Eleanor. Daily admission includes access to the midway rides, entertainment and grandstand events. There were a number of food vendors, including:

Bayou Classics
Zul's
Jo Jo's Taco
Huskeys Cross Lanes
Kevin & Cathleen's Snack Shack
Wicked Cool Shaved Ice & Freshly Squeezed Lemonade
SunTan Swine Bbq
C & L Concessions
Holy O’s Donuts
4H
Spill the Tea Energy and Nutrition COAL MINER'S DINER This food truck was new to me, and they had a ton of options. I went with the fried green tomato, pimento cheese and bacon sandwich. I forgot to take a photo of it, but a friend came in to the rescue. EDIBLE Otherwise known as Edible Arrangements, these folks featured some smoothies. I enjoyed a 50/50, which was half pineapple and half strawberry. POPPING OFF PIES These pizzas are cooked in a pizza oven right on site. And may be some of the best pizza I've had from a truck/tent. Other vendors include kettle corn, roasted corn and lemonade. Plus there are the ones that come with the carnival itself and have that iconic food stand look. Enjoy a stroll through the event via these photos:

SunTan Swine BBQ is a family-owned southern West Virginia barbecue business run by Scott and Amy Barnett. It operates primarily as a mobile BBQ truck and catering company, traveling for events, festivals, weddings, corporate gatherings, and what they call “Meat Ups” — pop-up roadside stops where customers can pick up BBQ dinners. The barbecue style is built around low-and-slow smoking, with Scott Barnett using a signature spice blend and traditional smoking techniques. Their menu focuses on classic BBQ staples like pulled pork, brisket, ribs, pulled chicken, smoked wings, and loaded fries, along with traditional sides.

I enjoyed a pulled pork sandwich with slaw and Sweet Baby Rays sauce. Plus a side of mac & cheese. The sandwich had that classic barbecue balance of smoky, sweet and tangy, while the mac & cheese added a rich, cheesy bite. Grade: B

You can miss me with all the "loaded teas" and "protein drinks." But I'll never turn down a lemonade. The Frosted Farm Girl is a southern WV-based lemonade truck that has also expanded to dirty sodas, hot dogs, pies, pudding and more. I ordered a pineapple upside down lemonade, which was a lovely balance of sweet and tart. Grade: A

Boat Bites is an updated food truck that primarily sticks to the Trojan Landing area but has recently been expanding to area events. The menu features hot dogs, chicken strips, chicken sandwiches and burgers. But what caught my eye was the fish tacos - crispy fried fish, pico de gallo, slaw and boat sauce. Plus a side of macaroni & cheese. I love a good fish taco, specifically the juxtaposition between the hot crispiness and a cold sauce. The former was good, the latter could use a bit more work. But still a solid rendition. Grade: B

Frescos Food Truck just reopened for the season in the Kanawha City Piggly Wiggly parking lot. The Mexican/Tex-Mex food truck features a broad menu, including burritos, bowls, quesadillas, nachos, tacos and loaded waffle fries. First up: A Mangonada. It's a cold Mexican drink made with mango, layered with chamoy, and topped with Tajín. And, it's one of my all-time favorite drinks since first experiencing it in Arizona. For my entree, I had a steak quesadilla, which was a 14" tortilla filled with cheese, veggies, and topped with lettuce, pico and sour cream. It delivered what you’d expect, without anything particularly memorable but nothing bad, either. A small queso and chips complemented my quesadilla. The queso is warm and velvety and creamy. Paired with salty chips, it made for a good bite. Elote is Mexican street corn -- grilled corn on the cob coated in mayo, cotija cheese, chili powder, and lime, creating a mix of smoky, creamy and tangy flavors. This version was coated in Cool Ranch Doritos. YES. For dessert, we had tres leches. Tres leches is a sponge cake soaked in three kinds of milk -- evaporated milk, condensed milk and heavy cream. It was soft and very moist, with a lightly sweet, milky flavor, and topped with whipped cream. Grade: B

Cool Beans is a mobile coffee bar -- and so much more: teas, lemonade, and food like fried pies, funky spuds and biscuit bites. I ordered a cherry lemonade, which was flavorful, and it had these fun circular ice cubes. For a snack, I ordered the sweet corny niblets, which are like fried pieces of corn on the cob. With some southern spices & honey. This was tasty but stickyyy. Have you tried them? Grade: B

Demus Italian Specialty Foods is a food truck fit for a carnival with its giant lettering and multicolored bulbs. Usually, though, it is stationed in a gas station lot off Exit 125 on I79.



It started as a small neighborhood grocery store where they made their own house Italian sausage, building a loyal following for that signature flavor. Over time, the retail store closed, but the demand for the sausage never went away—so the business pivoted into a trailer/food truck operation. Now, instead of shopping for it in-store, people line up to get those same house-made sausages served hot, with peppers and sauce. Known for a coarse grind and strong seasoning, especially fennel and spices, the sausage is the star - but the steak hoagie is delicious, as well.



It's a foil-wrapped delight that's smoky, messy, and unapologetically old-school.

Grade: A