For those of you who know me, you know that I'm very interested in theology. I love learning about other cultures. My friend, Kaitlynn, got word that the Hindu temple in New Moundsville (New Vrindaban - Palace of Gold) was going to celebrate Holi, which is an ancient Indian traditional festival - a celebration of life.

This was their first Festival of Colors, and they got more than 1,080 people. There were bands, food, tons of color throwing and some merch. We bought our tickets online, which gave us five bags of powder, a T-shirt, and a vegetarian meal.

The vegetarian meal was like chicken tikka masala (but with potatoes instead of chicken), rice and a berry dessert. Yum!

I'm not sure I ever would have known about Honeybaked Ham and Cafe had it not been for the neighboring Michael's store that I like to frequent. And it wasn't until further inspection that I realized this wasn't just a place to get a ham for Easter/Christmas. It is also a cafe.

In fact, they have a decent selection of deli sandwiches. They're various assortments of ham, turkey, bacon, cheese, tomato and lettuce, as well as a sauce: mayo, mustard, BBQ on bread. Nothing too fancy, but some are still intriguing.

The ham and turkey bella: ham, turkey, provolone and parmesan cheese, lettuce, tomato, banana pepper rings, red onions, balsamic vinaigrette, tangy mayo on a fresh Ciabatta roll. I was expecting a basic sandwich - something I could make at home, but I was surprised.

They make the sandwiches right in front of you. I'm assuming they also give samples, because there was a lipstick-ed plastic spoon laying on the counter. Beyond that, it seemed quite clean. They have a few sides, but were out of the one we really wanted (broccoli bacon bliss), so I got a side of pasta salad and drink. My total was around $9.

When I went to get my drink, they hadn't put the tops on the fountain machine, so I sat back down and waited. Once I got all my stuff together, I tried the sandwich - pretty good. Not sure I would've thought to put the balsamic with that mayo and banana peppers and onions, so it was different for me. And it paid off. It was quite tasty. Ingredients tasted well, and they've crafted the sandwiches - perfect amounts of each ingredient in each bite. Mine was tangy, but creamy with the mayo and a pretty good all-around sandwich.

Forget the sides. 99 cents for a spoonful of not-great pasta salad isn't worth it. But they did have some cookies that smelled delish. If you're in the area and want a simple sandwich for lunch, check it out. But I'm not sure I'd go out of my way for it. They have frozen sides, too, in case you were just looking to pick up one of those hams.

Grade: B

When those boards come down from the front of Howdy's Dari-Owl, you know summer has officially begun. That's the local sign of summer, at least. (They close right before Labor Day for the summer)

It's located along the main drag in Follansbee, so it was usually a little too far for my family to travel, but once in a blue moon, I'd get a sweet treat from here. Each summer, a bunch of young girls work here for some pocket money, and it has become a staple in town.

Across the road is a mill, which always smells terrible. That's part of the charm of Follansbee, But if you can handle that, there are some picnic tables near the gambling area (fairly new). If not, you can simply eat in your car or head out.

It only has two windows, and you can look over all the options: ice cream cones, hand-dipped cones, flurries, sundaes, and apparently they even have some food like hoagies, hotdogs and burgers. I've never had the latter, though.

I went for a caramel sundae, large. They only take cash here, so be sure you have some on hand. After a minute or so, my sundae was delivered to me in all its enormous glory. This was indeed a tower, a TOWER, of ice cream. So much so that it was kind of difficult to eat.

That's a good problem to have.

Soft-serve vanilla, topped with whipped cream, some nuts and caramel made up a good sundae. I only wish the caramel was more decadent, thick and rich. It was more like the Smuckers kind you can get at Kroger - but that's splitting hairs. Caramel is delicious in all its forms. I'm always a fan of supporting local businesses, and this is the only one of its kind in the area. If you're looking for a cool treat during a blistering summer day, stop by.

Grade: B

DeeJay's BBQ Ribs and Grille is a local favorite. It's known across the region for having the best ribs in the area. I decided a long time ago that I wasn't a big ribs person (or much red meat, for that matter). I felt like every time I got them, they were stringy, chewy, messy and just not worth the hassle.

DeeJay's changed all that.

It's located in Weirton on Three Springs Drive, but it's definitely famous throughout the Ohio Valley. The safari-themed restaurant boasts large, plastic palm trees out front, so it's hard to miss.


When I walked in, I was seated near the waitress' station. Odd, but it was still a nice atmosphere. It doesn't seem like you're in a typical restaurant for the area. It's kind of tacky with plastic plants, fake animals and jungle-themed fabrics, but pleasantly so.

Their famous BBQ ribs are what everybody gets - tender pork baby back ribs, hickory smoked, charbroiled and covered with their famous BBQ sauce and served with two sides, or the traditional plain potato skins, fresh tossed salad or cole slaw. Expect to spend around $20. You can upgrade the potato skins with cheese, bacon and sour cream for only 60 cents more.

I got a half rack (you can also get a rack or super rack), with the upgraded potato skins and mushroom caps. There are other options on their menu besides ribs here, but don't waste your time.

We got some bread and butter for the table. Take it or leave it.

When my platter came out, I was kind of shocked. Did they mistake my "half" ribs for a "super rack"? No. Huge portions - totally justifies the price. It was that whole slab, plus another four or so stacked on top. I began poking at it with my fork to see if I could do with those wipes that were sat at our table.

So. Tender.

I could pluck the meat off the bones effortlessly with my fork, deliver it to my mouth to receive a sweet, tangy BBQ'ed heaven, then toss the bone in the bowl. They were falling off the bone tender, tangy, spiced and seasoned to perfection. The sauce is sweet, with a kick, but the flavor of the meat also is prominent.

The potatoes are awesome, too. Like, of course I want four miniature baked potatoes with cheese, bacon and sour cream on top. The cheese is like a nacho cheese, and the sour cream is kind of ranch-y. All in all, a perfect complement to the ribs. My mushroom caps were okay - just cooked mushrooms. Nothing too special there. But go for their main meal, and you won't be disappointed.

Naples Spaghetti House is a local favorite for Italian food. I've only been here twice, but I've had good meals both times. It's located in downtown Steubenville (take a right off Market Street bridge, go two blocks, turn left). There's a small parking lot, and they DO take credit cards.

When we walked in, they had to find an area to clear off for us before we could get a seat. The layout of this restaurant is pretty awkward, and the way they placed tables is as if they just wanted to squeeze as many people into an awkward space as possible. I had to ask the couple sitting to the table next to us to move so I could get out of our table. She took our drink orders, and I was happy to see a huge cup brought back (less refills!).


When you sit down, there's a placemat with a map of Italy on it. The furniture is old, worn, and the waitresses are past their prime. But that's part of its charm. The menu has pastas, chicken, veal, and seafood dishes, as well as sandwiches.

I opted for their Italian Platter - rigatoni, ravioli and gnocchi. You can choose which sauce - tomato, meat, marinara or mushroom. I went with marinara. They also came with salads. They're known for their house red wine vinaigrette dressing; they even sell it, along with their sauces to-go. A small bag of bread came out first. Nothing special here. Doesn't seem homemade.

A basic salad came out next: iceberg lettuce, couple radishes, tomatoes, olives. Their house dressing really is good. It's light, refreshing, homemade and tasty. Tangy like oil and vinegar, but full of flavor. Opt for it instead of the ranch or thousand island, which are generic.

Finally, the main course came out. I was expecting three separate portions, but they just kind of threw all three types of noodle down and covered it with a sauce. The gnocchi was dense; It was too thick for me. It wasn't very flavorful. The rigatoni and ravioli were pretty good, though. I got the cheese (you have the option for meat) ravioli, and it was fantastic. It was creamy and the homemade noodle really makes a difference here. The rigatoni was also good. The marinara was hearty and perfect consistency. I topped mine with parmesan cheese and enjoyed my meal.

Is this a five-star dining establishment? No. It's a hometown place where you can get a decent Italian dish. Enjoy the environment and a tasty meal.

Grade: B