Big Red's Shanty, which serves up burgers and hot dogs out of a small, well, "shanty," opened up recently in the Cheat Lake area.

Cheat Lake, which is known for being the wealthier area of Morgantown, doesn't initially seem like the crowd for a hot dog stand, but don't tell the line that was 8 people deep that.

The restaurant is located along Cheat Road (near Purple Cow & Novichenks) down off the hill to the right, where there is a gravel parking area. To the side of the shanty are a few tables and chairs for outdoor seating. 

The menu, which is posted on the face of the building, features hot dogs, hamburgers, pepperoni rolls, breakfast (sandwich or biscuits & gravy), drinks, sides and a couple weekly specials that sound really exciting - chicken broccoli bake and raspberry pork sandwiches (but they're only available at certain times).

So, I ordered the "Appalachian Dog," which I thought was maybe a special kind of dog. It's not. It's just the long hot dogs and you can add whatever toppings. They also have the Lil' Appalachian, which is just a regular sized dog. I also got a side of the pasta salad.

After a bit of a wait, my ginormous hotdog with chili, slaw, mustard and onions was delivered. I was surprised to see the chili on top of the slaw - usually it's the other way around - and this thing was so wide that there was no way it was going to be a handheld experience. The bun - which was freshly baked - also soaked up a good bit of the sauce, making it a bit soggy. That's a tough situation - because, yes, fresh baked is great, but also, it doesn't quite have the substance to hold up a dog this large. But, I took a fork and dug in. It was a decent dog; I jut wish I could have actually had a bite of all ingredients at once. I was thinking ti was just going to be extra long and not necessarily wide. I may opt for just two regular size hot dogs next time!


The pasta salad, which was homemade, was very tasty. You can't see all the delicious pepperoni, cheese, peppers and onions in the bowtie pasta salad, but they were there! It was very tasty, and it was a pretty substantial portion, as well.

If you're looking for a quick bite in the Cheat Lake area, check them out. I think each area of town could benefit from having a hot dog joint!

Grade: B

There are just some days where it's more than you can bear to leave the house. It might be rainy or you may have just had a long week. It's those days when delivery is your best friend.

For me, that tends to happen on Sundays. Fortunately, living in a college town, there are quite a few places that deliver. And, if restaurants don't have their own delivery drivers in-house, there is a service that provides that for them.

Mr. Delivery is an online ordering and food delivery service located in 20 cities across the United States. Morgantown, West Virginia, just happens to be one of them. The company reached out to me recently to try their service so they provided me with a $25 credit to try anything my heart desired. 

We make ordering food simple, fun, and accessible via desktop or mobile devices. Our focus goes beyond food, partnering with local businesses, schools, groups, and restaurants, bringing our customers the best experience possible. With Mr. Delivery, you can save time, avoid stressful traffic and inclement weather, all while ordering from the comfort of your home or business. Now, "What will it be?"

One of the best things about Parkersburg's Point Park Marketplace is that there is a winery shop right inside.

Toscano in Appalachia - DeFeo Family Vineyard & Winery has tastings available for their various wines: Liebfraumilch, Riesling, Gerwurztraminer, Ciao Bella, Vecchio Volpe, Vigna Antico, Cinque - plus their delicious sangria.

Because I can go for either whites or reds - as long as it's not too sweet or too dry - I sampled a little of everything. I actually loved just about every one I tried! There were a few additional that weren't reflected on that sign.

Oh, and that sangria - absolutely delicious! A must-try if you're shopping in the area.


The "Bianco Tedesco" ended up going home with me. It's a German white wine that I felt was perfectly balanced. What's your favorite?

Point Place Marketplace is a lovely market in Parkersburg that has made-to-order food, as well as vendors selling their wares and lots of cute trinkets.

Vendors include: Toscano In Appalachia Winery, Maka Mia Pizza, Timely Brew Cafe #2, Whit's, Frozen Custard, Breads & Beyond Bakery, The Village Cakery, Q-Wagon BBQ (coming soon), and Ittle Bitty Merchantile.

They were selling a bit of everything - from food and tupperware to clothes and souvenirs. They even had pottery and artwork.





The Village Cakery is well known in the area, so I've been wanting to try it. 

The SPARK Imagination and Science Center hosted its second West Virginia Bites & Brews on Saturday, April 22.

The event, which brings together food trucks, breweries and coffee vendors, benefits Spark! Imagination and Science Center, a 501(c)(3) organization which inspires people of all ages to explore science and the arts through hands-on exhibits and programs that spark a lifelong love of learning. In addition to the food & drink, there was also music, raffles and silent auctions.

Tickets were $40 for beer & food (but if you bought early in advance, it was jut $35), and you got a card that gave you samples for four food trucks, three desserts, two coffee stations, eight breweries and one meadery. Then, you took your mug and card around to try all the different places. If you want more than a sample, the food vendors had larger meals available for purchase. And, you could purchase a ticket for a full glass of beer or honey wine for $5. After trying everyone, you took your three chips and voted for best food, dessert and craft beer.

FOOD:


Pyles Of Pasta: Gorgonzola Fettuccine Alfredo with steak and balsamic glaze


Bar-B-Qed Beast: Smoked Brisket Slider with chipotle mustard butter and tobacco onion and Korean style BBQ Pork on top of Sticky Rice with a plum relish


Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe: Signature Pasta - a bed of mixed lettuces with penne pasta and grilled chicken, tossed in a homemade balsamic vinaigrette, topped with tomatoes, feta, and fresh basil


Menas's Mobile Foods: Pepperoni rolls

That pasta dish from Pyles made me fall in love. It was the first thing we tried, and it remained my favorite throughout the event. I love the creamy, slightly tangy, with the balsamic glaze. I tried to go back an purchase a full size of this, but was denied because they were running out. I was, however, promised it will become part of their menu selections. The slider from Bar-B-Qed Beast was also very good, and it was a close second favorite.

DESSERT:



Rosalind Candy Castle: Chocolate-covered pretzels

DaisyMoon Bakery: Tiramisu cream puffs

The Cupcakerie: Assorted cupcakes

The chocolate covered pretzel won my heart because it was super smooth chocolate, salty pretzel and melt-in-your-mouth good. The Daisy Moon puff was good, and I've been wanting to try Daisy Moon for some time, so that was nice. And, I got to try a lemon shandy cupcake from The Cupcakerie, which was a new one so I was happy about that.

COFFEE:
The Sip Station - I tried an iced french vanilla drink from here that was delicious.
Ridge Roasters - I tried a strong Colombian roast that would definitely wake you up!

BEER:
Screech Owl Brewing: Hoo's Your Daddy