You may have heard of Granny's Kitchen through their growing social presence. There is no storefront (though you can snag some at local markets), so I ordered some via Facebook messenger and drove up to Parkersburg to pick them up.

Granny has a number of varieties available, and they switch out. But on this particular day, I was able to try a Turtle - my favorite! It was chocolate and pecans and had these ribbons of soft caramel yummm.



Then there is Midnight Snack - milk chocolate base swirled with Lay’s potato chips & Chex Mix. Plus pumpkin, birthday cake, raspberry chocolate and this peanut butter and jam one that was mind-blowing.

They were all delicious, and because there are all sorts of different varieties that swap out, I have so many more I need to try! 

Technically this Tudor's Biscuit World is in Mineral Wells, but it might as well be Parkersburg's Tudor's.



We're taking it back to the OG here: the sausage biscuit. This was my go-to before embarking on the whole biscuit menu. I top it with grape jelly, and you get that perfect sweet and salty combo.



Sometimes the sausage patties can be little hockey pucks, so it can be hit or miss. But this one was decent - little small. Little dry.
 
Grade: B

Napoli's is a local pizza, pasta and sub chain in the Mid-Ohio Valley with a few locations in West Virginia. I've been wanting to try them for quite some time, but I only recently got around to doing so.

And in fact, it was Christmas evening when I was driving through the area that I had a hankering for pizza.

After calling in a pizza, I arrived at the Ohio Avenue location, thanked the guys for working that day and waited for my pie to be done. Once it was, I was on my way; pizza as my passenger.

The Sicilian pie is fluffy, but with a crisp crust. It's a beautiful combination. A nice layer of stringy cheese, mushrooms and a nice slightly sweet sauce. It made for a good pizza.

What should I try next?

The Blennerhassett Hotel in Parkersburg is one of my favorite spots in the city. Not only does it have tales of hauntings, but it has boasted a delicious restaurant for years.

Recently, they changed it up a bit and introduced "Brunello." Brunello "features fresh ingredients, an open kitchen, pizza oven, and handmade pastas. This polished-casual dining experience is one you will not find anywhere else in the area."


"Brunello Bar features seating for up to 14 with an extensive wine list, six beers on tap, including brews from West Virginia and surrounding areas, and our drink menu, featuring classic cocktails and unique creations. Seasonally, the patio and courtyard provides an enjoyable atmosphere for dining, drinking, listening to live music, and sitting fireside at one of our new fire pits."


I was there for brunch and went with the "Smoke Salmon Bagel Platter," which had cold-smoked salmon, capers, onion, cream cheese, an everything bagel, and I opted out of the chopped egg.

And, I went for a yogurt granola parfait side.  Both of these were tasty for brunch. I'd love to go back during dinner hours and get a real feel for their Italian entrees, though.

There is a new Mediterranean restaurant in Parkersburg that is serving up gyros, shawarma, and even po' boys.

Gyro King is located on 7th Street and is a bright little space with geometric printed chairs and Mediterranean music playing.

Since gyro is in the name, I went for a gyro, as well as some hummus - two classics!

While waiting for it to finish up, I had a conversation with the owner, who is a renowned chef from Morocco who has worked all over. He's landed in West Virginia and looking to make a life for himself here.

The gyro had delicious strips of lamb with fresh lettuce, and a giant dollop of tzatziki. Easily one of the best gyros in recent memory. Fresh, flavorful and filling. The hummus was also phenomenal - it has a thicker texture (which I liked) and a bit of a kick. Flavorful and delicious.

I think I've driven by the Jumbo Buffet Grill in Parkersburg a million times, but I really never knew what it was until I popped in recently.

And surprise: It's a Chinese buffet. There are a variety of options, with all of the classics available.

Plus, they do have a sushi bar. And, lots of American options, too.



Look at this beautiful assortment - sushi, crab rangoons, honey chicken, seafood, mushrooms and more.

While traveling through the area, I stopped in Parkersburg for dinner.

 

And I went to Stirfry 88, which is the only location in West Virginia but a common food court option.



So I got two options: General Tso and Orange Chicken over lo mein. Mmmmm.

During MOV Restaurant Week, I wanted to do my due diligence and check out a few places.

A number of restaurants listed I had already tried, but there were a few new one to me - among them was The Hideout on 47.

This restaurant, housed in a bright green building, was busy on a Friday night.

Walking in, there was a large wall that listed all the MOV Restaurant Week specials.

I actually ordered off-menu only because the pizza was a huge one, and I only needed a small. So I got the same items, just a smaller pizza.

First course: deep-fried pepperoni rolls with marinara sauce.

Entree: Buffalo chicken pizza.


Dessert: Cherry cheesecake. Have you been here?

My work buddies Alex and Sam - and their respective significant others - and I checked out Taste of Parkersburg this year.

These events are always so much fun for me because you get to sample bites from all kinds of restaurants. It's even more fun in the Parkersburg area - because there are still so many restaurants on my to-try list from there.

Taste of Parkersburg works a little differently than some of the other dine-around events I've attended. You pay at the gate ($20), which gets you a wine or beer glass, a tray, and access to the music and food. Then, you also purchase taste tickets. One ticket is approximately one dollar, and they sell in sheets of $10 or $20.

I ended up with a sheet of $20. Most of the items I wanted were around $4, so I got 5 things total.

First up was Brunello Restaurant and Bar, which is newly in the Blennerhassett Hotel. I tried their short rib and polenta.

Then, I went for a teriyaki chicken burrito with a spicy sweet chili sauce from Philippines Best Food.



Then, I discovered they had a secret menu item (one that wasn't listed in the pamphlet) - siopao. Siopao is a hot bun, which was filled with a sweet pork, and is like a steamed bun I've previously had elsewhere. It was my favorite thing of the evening.

After those, I braved some long lines.

Belair's Bistro and Catering had a few menu items that sounded delish to me, but I went with the jumbo lump crab cake with red pepper remoulade.

This restaurant is located across the river in Belpre, but drew a big crowd - including me.

I would say it's worth it.

The final tickets were used at Hot Dog Willy's - one of the Parkersburg restaurants I have yet to visit. I got a hot dog with chili and macaroni and cheese on top.

After this, I struggled to move.

But I did manage to fit in one glass of Chestnut Ridge's peach chardonnay. Perfect way to end the evening.