Based in Elkins, Mona's Eggrolls is a food truck that offers "a taste of the Phillippines." In addition to eggrolls, Mona's also has pancit, curry, barbecue, adobo and more. I was excited to see this food truck locally as part of the Filipino festival. The line was very long, but after about an hour, I made it to the front and ordered the two eggroll and pancit combo. Lumpia is like the Filipino version of an eggroll, and they tend to be more light and crisp. I really enjoyed these - flavorful, but fresh. Pancit is a veggie and noodle dish that is more mild in flavor but just as satisfying. Grade: A

I had the honor of judging Taste of Bridge Day this year along with Brittany Furbee, Sher Yip, Steven Keith, Suzanne Wiseman, Kelsey Woods, Matt King, Bob Brunner and Joy Marr.

"For over 20 years, the Canyon Rim Rotary Club has organized the annual Taste of Bridge Day festival. This is a family-oriented event that showcases the area’s finest restaurants and caterers, who offer samples of their menu specialties. The event is held on the Friday evening before Official Bridge Day, which allows thousands of visitors to enjoy wonderful food, local artwork, and live music in the beautiful outdoor setting of Adventures on The Gorge. There is no fee for admission, and food sample prices range from $2.00 to $8.00. Funds raised from this event benefit the Canyon Rim Rotary Club in their extensive community service projects and numerous donations to charitable organizations, especially those that support children in our local community," according to the website.

We judged best snack, best appetizer, best entrée and best dessert. There is also peoples choice and youth choice. THE HISTORIC GLEN FERRIS INN

SNACKS: Pepperoni Rolls

ENTRÉES: Meatball • Italian Sausage w/ Peppers • Lasagna • Baked Steak

DESSERTS: Cream Horns (Choose Traditional or Pumpkin) • Mini Cupcakes

OTHER: Chicken Salad Sandwich

BLACK BEAR BAKERY

SNACKS: Traditional or Pepper Jack Pepperoni Rolls

ENTRÉES: x2 Smoked Pulled Pork BBQ Sliders

DESSERTS: Traditional or Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls • Pumpkin Roll Slices • Carrot Cake Cupcakes • Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars • Banana Bread Slices • Banana Pudding • Cheesecake • Sugar-Free Whoopie Pies

OTHER: Hot Caramel Apple Cider

RHODODENDRON ICE CREAM

DESSERTS: Hand-Dipped Ice Cream - 8 Flavors Available (Choose Waffle Cone or Cup) S'more, vanilla, chocolate, cookie dough, chocolate peanut butter

BUMBLER BEE BAKER - THE CAKE BOX

SNACKS: Strawberry Crunch Cookie Sammy • Pepperoni Rolls

DESSERTS: Wedding Bell Cupcakes • Southern-Style Italian Cream Cake • Berry Sweet Cheesecake Cup • Root Beer & Orange Dreamsicle Floats

SMOKEY'S

APP: Whipped Goat Cheese w/ Honey served w/ Cranberry Walnut Toast Points & Blistered Tomato

ENTRÉES: Smoked Trout Étouffée w/ Dirty Rice & Steamed Crawfish

DESSERTS: Blackberry Cobbler w/ Lemon Ice Cream & Candied Herbs

SWIFTWATER GENERAL STORE - NEW RIVER

ENTRÉES: Hot Italian Sausage w/ Cabbage Soup • Swiftwater Chili • Grilled Cheese Bites

CHETTY'S

APP: Smoked Brisket Pretzel Bite Stuffed Poblano Pepper & Topped w/ Beer Cheese Queso

ENTREES: Mahi Mahi Fried Wonton Tacos w/ Kale Blend Slaw w/ Pickled Onion & Cilantro Lime Crema

DESSERTS: Peanut Butter & Chocoate Swirl cheesecake w/Mini Peanut Butter Cups & Whipped Cream

THE TABLE

SNACKS: White Cheddar Mac & Cheese

ENTRÉES: Smoked Pulled Pork Sliders

OTHER: Baked Beans w/ Jalapeno-Cheddar Sausage

THE GAINES ESTATE

APPS: Fried Green Tomato w/ Marinated Crab & Smoky Remoulade

ENTRÉES: Koji-Aged Beef Tenderloin w/ Smashed Gruyère Potato Medallion & Wasabi Cream Sauce

DESSERTS: Sally's Blue Ribbon Kentucky Chocolate Pie w/ Homemade Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

TWISTED SISTERZ BBQ

ENTREES: Dirty Shroom Bowl • Jambalaya Bowl • Soul Gumbo Bowl • Brisket Chili Bowl

UPLAND SOULFOOD

ENTRÉES: Meatloaf • Mac & Cheese • Cornbread

DESSERTS: Crack Cake

Plus this tasty eggroll and sweet potatoes that I'm not sure who cooked! BUT I think it was last-minute competitor DEEZ EATZ: jerk chicken, chicken wings, soul roll with sweet potatoes and pineapple chutney

Congratulations to the 2024 Taste of Bridge Day winners!

Best Snack ~ Bumbler Bee Baker - The Cake Box
Best Appetizer ~ Smokey's
Best Entree ~ The Gaines Estate
Best Dessert ~ Smokey's
Youth's Choice ~ The Table
People's Choice ~ The Table

"At Fish Frenzy, we have something for everyone when it comes to seafood! From shrimp to sea bass, we take pride in using only the freshest ingredients, all expertly prepared by our talented chefs. Whether you’re searching for a nearby shrimp spot or just craving some delicious fish, you’ve come to the right place!" reads the website. The menu is primarily composed of fried appetizers, sandwiches and seafood platter switch include shrimp, oysters, fish and crab cakes. Most come fried or grilled. I ordered fried shrimp, hush puppies, and a crab cake. The shrimp had a light batter, which was not super crisp. I ended up pushing some of the coating off and enjoying the shrimp by itself. The hush puppies were a bit sweet and had a nice golden brown exterior. The crab cake was okay. For a quick, fried seafood bite, this fits the bill. Grade: B

Bruno's Spotted Hare is a new restaurant in Barboursville that serves "internationally flavored Appalachian fare." The space is grand in a sense. Like a classic cigar lounge meets stained glass. Tin ceilings and wooden bar tops. It helps create an experience. The menu is interesting, as it features a number of rabbit dishes, which is fitting considering the restaurant's name, plus duck, venison, trout and catfish. I started with the "Deviled Eggs" - Pastured Eggs, Smoked Pimentón, Trout Roe, Benton's Country Ham. These are strong flavors and textures. I enjoyed the smokiness and the briny flavor. Certainly less sweet and mayo-y than those common at church picnics and family reunions. For my main entree, I went with the "Rabbit Loin Roulade" - Rabbit Loin, Prosciutto, Hernshaw Farms Mushrooms, Parsnip Purée, Field Peas, Mustard Cream Sauce. This dish was so well executed. The rabbit was moist, though it's such a lean meat. There was no hint of gaminess, and the prosciutto added a nice crispiness, while the mustard cream sauce added that rich crave-ability. I really enjoyed the Appalachian influenced menu, as well as the creative ingredients and balanced components. I appreciate the effort and technique to give me something new - but familiar all at the same time. Grade: A