A small deli in Spencer open only for lunch Monday through Friday posed a problem for me. But, where there's a will (ahem, an appearance on the 101 Most Unique Places to Dine in WV list), there's a way.
I took a day off for some culinary adventure and made my way to Spencer to visit the Church Street Deli. After being misled by Apple Maps, I found my way there - and even parallel parked!
Inside, it opens up into a dim dining space with a few black tables and chairs, and further back sits the counter space. Off to the right and back, there is even more seating. Up at the counter, I made a quick decision to try the loaded potato soup, which was the special for the day.
For a cold, rainy day, there was no better cure. It was cheesy and rich - my only faint complaint is that it seemed to have this layer of film on top that I didn't totally love. Maybe that was sitting for a few before serving? Not sure, but the flavor was on point. This little deli certainly knows how to dish up a decent soup.
Bonus? The women's restroom was totally decked out in Marilyn Monroe. Cool. Haha.
Grade: B
The next stop along our West Virginia wine tour was Vu ja de Vineyards, which gets its name from being the opposite of déjà vu - so experiencing something you've never encountered before.
"Somehow there is a sense that there is a secret, a mystery about us. Although once they know a little more about the name & the wine they never forget us. Vu ja de Vineyards is nestled in the rolling hills of West Virginia, we are the new high-end small boutique winery and we aim to be the very best at what we do everyday!"
The winery was founded in 2009 by Bryan George, the head winemaker and proprietor. Bryan is from California and wanted a change of pace. He moved out here, not knowing anybody and ended up meeting his wife Ali, who worked at an Italian restaurant he was trying peddle his wines to.
Vu ja de Vineyards is a terraced vineyard which has been planted on the contours of the land based on Permaculture principles, Bio dynamics and Sustainable agriculture. Vu ja De’s approach maintains the health of the ecosystem around us. Think of it as acupuncture for the soil and plants. From healthy vines we create healthy wines.
Vu ja de farms in such a way that it is kind to every vine and creature found on our farm. A meandering creek and several small ponds create micro-climates around the vineyard. Vu ja de has a valley fog that rolls in during the morning hours to cool off the grapes before the sun awakens and heats up the natural growth of the developing grapes.
Because of the constant temperature changes the grapes have a chance to develop all of their complex flavors and aromas to their fullest potential. Because of Vu ja de’s contour planting technique we not only stop erosion but it allows all the potential water to be captured and then evenly distributes it to each vine in the purest form.
Even in droughts by planting on contour and sub soiling in front of each vine row all of nature’s rain water is saved and goes directly to the vines roots. This eliminates the need for irrigation and we rely solely on “Mother Nature” the way it was intended to be. Vu ja de works, plants and thrives as non-disruptively with nature as possible.
Both are incredibly welcoming and made us feel just at home. We met their baby daughter, Flora! The property has sprawling vineyards, two beautiful pups who roam, and a beautiful rustic tasting area. During the day we were visiting, they were to have an open house later and even had their pool opened up. It's just absolutely beautiful, and you could spend a whole day there.
The duo are passionate about the wines they offer, which are few. They have six French-hybrid varieties planted in the vineyard: three reds (Noiret, Frontenac, Landot Noir and Marquette) and two whites (Traminette and Cayuga White). They also include high-end dry reds, dry whites, semi-sweet whites and elderberry wine.
They only make so much of one kind of wine, and then when it's done, it's done. So while we were there, they had "Thunder & Lightening II" which is a 74 percent cabernet sauvignon, 21 percent zinfandel and 5 percent syrah. The "Flora II" is a dry rose, and they had their "Famous Sangria." Their specialty is big, bold reds. And very heavy pours with a spread of salami, cheese and crackers. :)
They are not an easy drinking wine - they are big, bold flavors that you can actually taste. Perfect for a perfect cut of steak. They choose to invest time and passion into every single bottle so that it is the very best, according to the website. It takes patience, long hours and effort to allow their wine to age properly. Some of the wines age in new and old French Oak barrels upwards of 23 months. Those are the same French Oak barrels that churns out California's $150+ range wines. Vu ja de's white wines are fermented in Italian stainless steel tanks.
This place has just a couple really good, really big wines and an incredible experience. I loved chatting with this couple, exploring the land and learning about all they do. Did you know they farm completely sustainable with use of biodynamics, permaculture and organic farming? No herbicides or pesticides. Their website notes they like to farm in a way that is kind of every vine, herb, vegetable and creature on their property. There's no huge machines here - most work is done by gravity flow.
We have numerous gardens like herb plots, vegetable gardens, natural wild flowers, and small orchards that contribute to the tremendous diversity to maintain a healthy eco-system.
We love our animals here on the farm, which include, Mamma River our German Shepherd and her son Lupo, Bear our Paint Quarter Horse and his daughter Suzie, Rumi our grey cat, a couple roosters, chickens and one sole guinea.You can find Vu ja de wines in Charleston, Clarksburg/Bridgeport, Morgantown (Slight Indulgence), Shepherdstown, Berkeley Springs/Martinsburg, Parkersburg, Wheeling, Huntington, Faytteville/Beckley/Lewisburg, Ripley/Spencer, Buckhannon/Weston and Sutton.
One more thing - before leaving, Ali even called the next winery because we weren't sure how to get there, and our cell phone service was kaput. She wrote directions for us to follow to the next winery: Stone Road Vineyards. If that isn't hospitality, I don't know what is.
Vu ja de Vineyards takes tours by appointment only: 304-377-1404. But Bryan is happy to have you out! Give 'em a call, and they'll work with you to find a time. Vu ja de Vineyards is located at 706 Reedyville Road, Spencer, WV.
Ever since I moved back to Morgantown, I don't see some of my best girlfriends as much as I'd like to. So, we had a "Girls Day," which included wine. Lots of wine.
We took a tour through what I've termed West Virginia's wine country. There are four wineries currently in the area of Spencer-Elizabeth-Parkersburg. Our first stop was at Chestnut Ridge Winery.
Chestnut Ridge Winery, named after the road it's located on, has not been around for a super long time - just since 2012 - but they have been active in the winery market in West Virginia, pushing to help create a "wine tour" of sorts in West Virginia.
They offer a number of wines, from dry to very fruit-forward. I liked the Gewurztraminer, which was crisp and very summery. The pomegranate was also quite tasty, and they only had about one or two bottles left. But the standout for me - and many others that I've heard - is the peach chardonnay. It's sweet, smooth and light.
A plate of crackers helped cleanse our palates inbetween tastings. They intent to add a pizza oven to the building so they can offer actual meals to patrons, in addition to simple crackers and cheese for tastings.
The Spencer winery has a beautiful tasting room with plenty of space for events. It is surrounded by beautiful views and an artist's colony. The owners, Phillip and Teresa Holcomb, are entirely welcoming and talented. The space they have cultivated is not only beautiful with beautiful artistry displayed around the property, but it's fun -with plenty of space inside and outside on the wraparound porch to visit with friends.Chestnut Ridge Winery is located at 15 Chestnut Ridge, Spencer, WV 25276. Once you get to Spencer, there are small signs leading you up to their location. Follow those signs all the way back until you reach the tasting room. The winery is open to public tastings Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. No appointments are necessary, but I think it's always a good idea to make sure they'll be at their location and not at an event around the state. Phone: 304-377-5721 or 304-927-4831. Chestnutridgewinery@gmail.com.
More reading: http://www.wvliving.com/West-Virginia-Food/Fall-2014/Chestnut-Ridge-Winery/
No, I'm not turning in Marilyn Hagerty. Promise (though she is kind of a badass, tbh). I never thought I'd ever write about a McDonald's ...
BUT THE ONE IN SPENCER, WEST VIRGINIA, HAS PIZZA.
PIZZA.
It's just one of two locations left in the United States that still serves pizza. This was kind of a BFD a few months back when this discovery went viral on the web. The Daily Mail even made the trip to try it for themselves. Two McDonald's left in the United States that still serve pizza, and one is right in Spencer, West Virginia.
My friends were shocked when I suggested McDonald's. I'm a fierce advocate of NOT chain restaurants, but c'mon.
The McPizza was launched in the late '80s and was gone from menus by the late '90s due to its long cooking time - 11 minutes. However, Greg Mills, who owns a McDonald's store in Pomeroy, Ohio, and Spencer, West Virginia, continues to keep pizzas on the menu.
When I went into the McDonald's, I thought maybe I flubbed and went to the wrong location. I just saw the menu plastered with Big Macs and Quarter Pounders. BUT, off to the side was the pizza menu.
Apparently the pizzas are popular sellers. The woman warned us it would take a little while. That was A-OK with me. We took our drinks and sat down.
Side note: Maggie had never had a Big Mac before (wtf?), so she ordered one. Isn't she adorable?So, the verdict: You know, the pizza is alright. The sauce is indeed sweet, the crust was lightly crispy and a bit greasy. They don't skimp on the cheese, which I totally dig. It wasn't bad. It's about where I'd expect a McDonald's pizza to be.
All work property of Candace Nelson. Powered by Blogger.
