The Junior League of Charleston WV hosted its Second Annual Golden Horseshoe Trivia event on Thursday. Held at the WVSU Center, the event raises money for the nonprofit while offering guests a second chance at earning a Golden Horseshoe pin. Natalie Tennant - first female WVU Mountaineer Mascot, first female WV Secretary of State and first Kanawha County Commissioner - emceed the event, and while my team The Golden Girls placed sixth this year, I felt like I won with the food offerings. Brandi Gore is a chef with WVSU and prepared the evening's offerings, which included a huge cheese board display with brie, pepperjack, and cheeseballs covered in herbs and bacon. Peppers, crostini, grapes, blueberries, crackers, cornbread, salami and more. There were a number of other delicious bites -- my favorite being the cheese-stuffed, bacon-wrapped dates. The mini stuffed potato bites were also delish. Also available were pigs-in-a-blanket and these pepperoni "roses." That's a unique, pretty take on a pepperoni roll. There were also a couple dessert options. Peach cobbler, applesauce pie, and pecan tarts. Did you get to try any of these treats?

Tapatío Grill & Cantina is a Mexican restaurant in Elkview that opened in 2024. It is a family-owned spot inspired by the flavors of Jalisco, Mexico, and run by a husband-and-wife team with decades of restaurant experience. Atmosphere-wise, it’s casual and welcoming, with a cantina-style vibe, friendly service and generous portions. Of course, you can enjoy a sit-down meal, buy I chose takeout because I was on the go. I started with corn riblets, which is corn on the cob, cut into rib-like strips, cooked until slightly crispy and curled, and eaten like ribs. These are topped with mayo or crema, lime juice, chili powder or Tajín, cotija cheese, and cilantro. A little messy, a lot tasty. Arroz Trio is a solid, filling dish with steak, chicken, and shrimp over rice, all covered in cheese dip. The meats are cooked well enough and give you a mix of textures, while the cheese adds a creamy, salty layer over everything. It’s not anything fancy, but it’s satisfying and does the job if you’re hungry. Grade: B

Home Slice Pizza in Terra Alta is a small, local pizzeria right along East State Avenue, operating as a casual, no-frills spot focused on straightforward, affordable pizza. Inside, it’s low-key and functional rather than designed — more of a small-town pizza counter feel than a sit-down restaurant. The menu centers on build-your-own and specialty pizzas, along with calzones, hot and cold subs, and basic sides like breadsticks and mozzarella sticks. You’ll also find a few salads, simple desserts, and standard drinks. I ordered a small pizza with mushrooms. The cheese pizza leaned into a pleasantly chewy crust, offering just enough resistance to give each bite some substance without feeling dense. The mushrooms added an earthy depth that balanced the richness of the melted cheese. It was a simple combination that delivered on texture as much as flavor. Have you been? Grade: B

Tucked along Aurora Pike in Preston County, The Carriage House Bakery & Foods is small bakery and café is a relatively new addition to the area, opening in 2024 as a family-run business rooted in local heritage. The bakery sits on a property tied to the owners’ family history (once home to a grist mill, store, and post office), and the space is meant to feel like a gathering place for both locals and travelers passing through the area. The building looks like a modern farmhouse that blends seemlessly into the property. The outdoor space features rocking chairs, and the interior is simple but rustic-chic. They serve house-made pastries like croissants, cinnamon rolls, donuts, and cakes alongside coffee, tea, and simple breakfast and lunch items such as sandwiches, quiche, and salads. The focus is on fresh, in-house baking and approachable grab-and-go food, with gluten-free options available as well. The breakfast sandwich here is straightforward and built for consistency: egg with either bacon, sausage, or European-style bacon on a brioche bun or English muffin, with a gluten-free option available. It's a classic, no-frills bakery sandwich—moderate in size, reasonably priced, and designed for grab-and-go rather than indulgence. It's a solid, traditional breakfast sandwich that fits the setting—fresh, approachable, and more about reliability than reinventing the format. Have you been? Grade: A

Vicky's in Milton is a long-running party supply and candy-making shop that’s become a local staple. Known for its wide selection of baking ingredients, candy molds, balloons, banners, and event décor, it has become a go-to spot for everything from birthday parties to weddings. Have you been?

I stumbled upon Olivia's in Terra Alta recently. It's a tiny meat shop and deli on a small farm. This is not a constantly staffed spot. Rather, I made my way in to look around and after a minute or so, a gentleman who had been outside working came in to see what I needed. I was traveling, so I wasn't keen on driving around with raw meat. But, the cheese was calling my name. I took home a small slice of the smokehouse onion. Now, this isn't a housemade cheese. But, wow, was it tasty. Mildly tangy and creamy. Smoky with an almost umami finish. Grade: B

Portland Coffee is a coffee shop in Terra Alta, serving espresso drinks, drip coffee and tea, as well as baked goods, pepperoni rolls, and biscuits and gravy. The name “Portland” references Terra Alta’s original name in the late 1800s, tying the shop’s identity to the town’s early history. Its coffee is made from small-batch roasted, responsibly sourced beans, and the business donates 10% of its revenue to community and outreach organizations. I love collecting locally roasted coffees, so I picked up a bag of the 1863 to take home:

"1863 is Portland Coffee’s best blend yet! You get all the flavor of a light roast and rich color of a medium roast. This blend is comprised of beans from Nicaragua and Ethiopia and is so good that we had to name it 1863 to honor the great state of West Virginia. President Lincoln signed the bill admitting WV on March 26, 1863, and it was officially recognized as a state on June 20th of the same year. Representation of our state helped to ratify the US Constitutional amendment to legalize the emancipation of slaves." I ordered a Caramel Macchiato Latte, which is a "Luscious Latte made from a blend of creamy caramel sauce and of milk." It certainly has those lightly bitter notes of coffee, and the caramel could have been more prominent for me. This is a coffee-drinker's coffee. I did get a slice of banana bread with nuts, which satisfied my sweet tooth. This place has charm. Small town, locally roasted coffee and quality food -- a perfect community gathering space. Have you been? Grade: A

This Belle restaurant was having an identity crisis. On the outside, the sign said Las Cazuelas Mexican Restaurant. Inside, the menu said Los Habaneros Mexican Restaurant. And, now, both of those are closed and have been replaced with Guadalajara Modern Mexican, which I've not yet been to.



Some basic chips & salsa were served to the table. Simple. Serviceable.



For my entree, I ordered a "California Burrito," which I tend to think of as a giant cylinder full of ingredients. This was a flattened flour tortilla filled with grilled chicken, rice, beans and grilled vegetables. It was topped with queso and sour cream.



The dish landed more in the realm of routine than memorable. The grilled chicken was tender but lightly seasoned, blending into the rice, beans and vegetables without any one component really standing out. It was fine.



Grade: C

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