Salt Fest celebrates West Virginia’s salt-making heritage with artisan vendors, live music, and food trucks. Some of the food vendors included: Angelos Italian Sausages, Crunchy Fruit Queen, Hernshaw Farms, Kona Ice, Little Jimmy's Italian Ice, Moonstruck Maple, Mountain Juice, Mountain Studio, Mrs. Mel's, Sugar Bottom Farms & Villa DiTrapano Inc. There were three I had my eye on, starting with Is It Really Sour Though. These sourdough-based treats range from banana bread to blueberry scones. Next up was Holt's Jewell & Company, which is a local catering company. They were offering pepperoni rolls, lattes, and -- my choice -- strawberry Dubai cup.

The "Dubai Chocolate Bar" is a viral milk chocolate bar filled with a creamy pistachio and crunchy knafeh (shredded phyllo pastry) filling. It gained popularity on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, and has become a sought-after treat and spawned spinoffs, like a strawberry cup. Sweet and crunchy and unique. Finally, I made my way to Vanik's Coffee. The small local company roasts their own coffee beans. And, they were offering coffees made-to-order, as well. I tried their Rome Coffee, which included a light brown sugar syrup, lime and sparkling water. Different, but refreshing. Did you have a chance to check it out?

Charley West BBQ Fest returned for its 8th year with: live music, $10 for 10 tasting tickets, cold drinks, and of course ALL the BBQ. I was fortunate to judge and test out my new Kansas City Barbeque Society Certified Judge training. There was both competition and backyard divisions. Competition Division included Gettin’ Piggy with it 304, Dakota Farmer, & Stills n Squeals BBQ. Backyard Division included Brad Schmalzer, Notorious P.I.G., Blue Creek BBQ, DKays, Curry's Backyard BBQ, Barry Wood BBQ & Midnight Smoker. Each competitor provided ribs, pulled pork, sauce and a wild card. I will say that I think the backyard division is fun because they stray little bit further outside the box. And that's also why wildcard is my favorite category because you never know what you're going to get. Some options this year included a smoked cheddar sausage, a berry salsa poundcake, Brisket and shrimp, and even a bacon wrapped Oreo. If you didn't check it out this year, be sure to mark your calendar for next year! BEST RIBS

Backyard:
1️⃣ Curry's Backyard BBQ
2️⃣ Bradley Schmalzer
3️⃣ Midnight Smokers / David Mincer

Competition:
1️⃣ Dakota Farmer
2️⃣ Stills & Squeals
3️⃣ Gettin' Piggy With It


BEST PULLED PORK

Backyard:
1️⃣ Bradley Schmalzer
2️⃣ Curry's Backyard BBQ
3️⃣ Notorious P.I.G.

Competition:
1️⃣ Dakota Farmer
2️⃣ Stills & Squeals
3️⃣ Gettin' Piggy With It


BEST SAUCE

Backyard:
1️⃣ Curry's Backyard BBQ
2️⃣ Bradley Schmalzer
3️⃣ Notorious P.I.G.

Competition:
1️⃣ Stills & Squeals
2️⃣ Dakota Farmer
3️⃣ Gettin' Piggy With It


BEST WILD CARD (Smoked anything & everything!)

Backyard:
1️⃣ Bradley Schmalzer
2️⃣ Curry's Backyard BBQ
3️⃣ Midnight Smokers / David Mincer

Competition:
1️⃣ Gettin' Piggy With It
2️⃣ Stills & Squeals
3️⃣ Dakota Farmer


🗳️ PEOPLE’S CHOICE!

Backyard:
1️⃣ DKAYS / Don Kinder
2️⃣ Bradley Schmalzer
3️⃣ Midnight Smokers / David Mincer

Competition:
1️⃣ Stills & Squeals
2️⃣ Gettin' Piggy With It
3️⃣ Dakota Farmer

Tun Tea House is a boba tea & treats spot in Weirton.



Boba tea—also known as bubble tea or pearl milk tea—is a sweet, flavored tea-based drink that originated in Taiwan in the 1980s. It’s known for its chewy tapioca pearls (called boba) that sit at the bottom of the cup and are sipped through an extra-wide straw that is stabbed through the top plastic seal.



Black tea: Bold, malty, slightly bitter—pairs well with milk and sweeteners. This is what I usually go for.

Green tea: Light, grassy, slightly floral—often used in fruit teas.



I ordered a Brown Sugar Milk Tea which has light black tea, milk, brown sugar syrup and tapioca pearls covered in brown sugar syrup. Rich, sweet, caramelized.



Grade: A

Opening in 1974, this Carey Hilliard was the first location on Savannah’s West Side located in Garden City. Situated under the shadow of the Savannah Port on the Savannah River, this location made it convenient for people working in the industrial area to grab some seafood or BBQ.



I went through the drive-thru and ordered Grilled Tail-On White Shrimp with Cheddar Bake (Twice Baked Potato), pasta salad and a pink lemonade ~these are a few of my favorite things ~



Not sure where else you can get this kind of variety, so A+ there. Execution probably a bit closer to a B. I like my pasta salad more zesty and fluffier hushpuppies. But that pile of cheddar potatoes was pretty on point.



Grade: B

When visiting London, one of the must-do experiences is visiting Stonehenge. So, this is one of the few times when food was not the main motivating factor for this visit.



Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument in England made of massive standing stones arranged in a circular layout, and it is important as one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites, believed to have served as a ceremonial or astronomical site for ancient peoples.



The Stonehenge café offers quick bites while visiting this UNESCO World Heritage site, including salads, sandwiches, soup and more.



I ordered a cheese & onion pasty. A pasty is a baked pastry filled with meat and vegetables, traditionally associated with Cornish miners, and it’s often considered a precursor to the pepperoni roll because both were designed as portable, hearty meals for laborers.



I also had a chocolate-caramel-biscuit layered bar and tried Brown Sauce, which is a condiment, typically dark brown, with a tart or sweet flavor and a peppery note, similar to Worcestershire sauce. While the food was decent, the site is amazing.



Grade: A

The Clove Club is a relaxed fine dining restaurant set in the historic rooms of the Grade II-listed Shoreditch Town Hall, London led by Chef-Patron Isaac McHale. "Our aim is to create dining experiences that both excite and surprise the senses, serving delicious food that lives long in our guests' memories," the website reads.



The Clove Club serves a seasonal tasting menu featuring modern, elegant dishes rooted in technique but stripped back to their essential elements. An emphasis is placed on sourcing the best produce the British Isles has to offer, showcased in dishes inspired by Chef-Patron Isaac McHale’s culinary memories and travels.



The Clove Club currently holds two Michelin Stars. It has won a raft of awards, including the highest new entry to the prestigious World’s 50 Best Restaurant List in 2016; No.1 Restaurant in the UK in the Sunday Times Top 100; winner of the Service Award and fifth place in the UK National Restaurant Awards; BMW Squaremeal London Restaurant of the Year; and London Restaurant Festival AMEX Restaurant of the Year.



My meal began with a green herb broth amuse bouche, which was herbaceous and bright.



Next was a cheddar gougere, which is like a savory cream puff.



Seasoned yogurt to go with…



Fried, battered fish.



Melon gazpacho granita, almond cream & ham jelly.



Chilled salad of charcoal grilled aubergine with brown crab, ginger and cinnamon oil



Bread service with housemaid sourdough and salty cultured butter.



Native Cornish lobster with Jamaican "jerk" yogurt and lychee



Dry aged middlewhite pork courgette, datterini tomato and mint



“Scottish taco” – blood pancake, haggis, carnitas & pico de gallo.



Grilled habanero granita with plum sorbet



Warm potato mousse with caramel ice cream and coffee meringue.



Petit four of chocolate and strawberry.

Grade: A

Shawarma Zone WV has entered the chat. I woke up today and saw this food truck all over my social feeds. It's almost like within the past 24 hours, everyone discovered it and they had a grand opening. I joined the crowd by placing an order on DoorDash for chicken shawarma and falafel, along with extra garlic sauce. Shawarma is a popular Middle Eastern dish made by stacking thin slices of marinated meat (commonly lamb, chicken, beef, or turkey) on a vertical rotisserie. As it cooks, the meat is shaved off in thin slices and typically served in pita or flatbread with toppings like tahini, garlic sauce, hummus, pickles, and vegetables.

This version was one of the tastier ones I've experienced. The bread was nicely toasted; there was a ton of the garlic sauce. And the pickled veggies added some nice relief. Same goes for the falafel – it was pretty moist, which is often hard to find. If you want some bold, satisfying flavors, look no further. Grade: A