Rolls on the River is one of my favorite FestivALL events. 



One: It is a pepperoni roll festival. But two: I was here when it first got started.



Big Brothers Big Sisters started the festival years ago and got me involved because of my book. I then became involved with the board and was there when we passed off the festival to the Montessori School.



And now I've made my return as a judge, along with Steven Keith, Jeff Shirley and Don Wilson, and I had such a great time. 



There were 9 rolls:

• Mea Cuppa had a round, fluffy roll full of pepperoni.
• Sweet Mamas had a large roll that pepperoni on the top - a bit greasy - but ultimately took home the judge's choice.
• Mardi Gras had a half roll that had some herbs but the cheese consistency was a bit off. 
• Legacy Foods took home people's choice with their very traditional large roll with sliced pepperoni.
• Gritt's Farm had one of my favorites - it was cut in half with plenty of pepperoni and cheese and a crisper crust.
• The Governor's Mansion was my personal favorite with a small, sweet dough, a nice hunk of mozzarella and ample sliced pepperoni.
• DP Dough had mini pepperoni buns that were just on the dry side, but I like the construction
• Mountain Juice had a good rendition of a vegan roll that had a few differences in texture and consistency. They did have a dipping sauce, though, which I always enjoy.
• Finally, another favorite was the Pitch - a giant deep-fried ball with plenty of cheese and pepperoni. This was also a people's favorite runner up. 
  

Have you been? Which pepperoni roll was your favorite?

Steaming Cup Cafe in Ravenswood is a small coffee shop that packs some personality.



The space has a modern vibe and offers coffee, iced drinks, tea, smoothies, and food.



To start with, I ordered a blended cookies & cream drink.



If you want a milkshake with a little caffeine, this is the way to go. It is sweet and refreshing and comforting all at the same time, while also giving you that little bit of kick. 



The food menu consists of sandwiches, paninis, wraps and muffins. 



I went with a ham and cheddar sandwich, which came with lettuce and mayo.



Pretty straight-forward. All in all, a pretty decent meal. Nothing too out of the ordinary, but nothing bad either. I wouldn't mind stopping back here again and trying some other menu items.



Grade: B

Williamstown is home to a super cute coffeehouse that wasn't even on my radar until I passed it recently.



Williamstown can kinda fall in the bigger Parkersburg's shadow.



But The Bakery and Coffeehouse is worth bringing to light.



First off, the space is very sweet. White columns and fencing flank the front of the building. 



Inside, there's a country modern chic vibe with chalkboard signs and cute decor.



They serve coffee drinks, cupcakes, fudge, muffins, pepperoni rolls - plus made-to-order items for breakfast and lunch. 



I was in heaven. There are just so many things to choose from. 



So let's get into it. 



It wouldn't be me if I didn't try a pepperoni roll.



These were small and compact, but they packed a good bit of flavor in a little bite.



I much prefer that to a huge pepperoni roll that is full of dry bread. 



I also tried one of these cake pops - which were really kind of just like cake with icing on the outside. The inside was a bit dry.



Plus I ordered an iced coffee with caramel to chase it all down. I always love the idea of an iced coffee for the first 5 minutes, until my tummy reminds me that it may have been a poor decision. It still tasted good in the moment. 



A few more goodies to take home - a cookie, as well as an everything bagel with garlic and herb cream cheese. 



Everything here was tasty. And, sometimes I prefer my meals with just a little here and a little there. With them having so many options, I was able to pick and choose a bunch of different things.



Grade: A

I'm often asked where the best pepperoni roll is.



That's a tough question, because I think so many of them are good for so many different reasons.



But when I'm in need of a quick one in Charleston, Swiftwater is usually my go-to.



They have both a restaurant and a convenience store in Charleston.



And now, Fayetteville has their own convenience store.



While the general store isn't necessarily a restaurant, they do offer to-go food, made-to-order food and even fresh produce. 



So, they kinda have a little bit of everything. 



The made-to-order items include breakfast sandwiches, platters, hot dogs and grilled cheese. 



Grab & go items include fresh fruit, yogurt, deli sandwiches. What I went with is two hot dogs on English buns with chili, slaw, mustard and onions and a side of potato salad. 



These dogs were huge, messy, but oh so tasty. Generally, I like mine a bit more compact so it's less likely I'll spill on my shirt, but these hit the spot on this particular day. And potato salad is the perfect picnic side for a sunny day in the Fayetteville or Lansing area. If you haven't already, stop by for some snacks for your perfect picnic in the country's newest national park.



Grade: A

One of my best friends lived in Nashville until recently, so I've been fortunate to visit the city a few times.



My last trip was short, but it was still packed full of food adventures - like Dozen Bakery.



We believe that putting the best into something yields the greatest result. We believe in QUALITY, so we choose to support vendors, farmers and artisans who believe in supporting the local community and who consistently deliver us the finest, freshest ingredients available. We value EDUCATION, teaching skills and encouraging curiosity about processes, ingredients and food. And we APPRECIATE our place in the tradition of bakers and craftspeople who work with their hands, recognizing that we work in a larger community of people seeking to support sustainable business practices. We value our work, ourselves and those we work alongside, as we strive for perfection while putting our unique selves into everything we make and do, day after day. Dozen Bakery was never intended to make it this long. Originally, it was started as a holiday cookie pop-up business that would exist for the last three months of 2009. Thanks to strong word-of-mouth popularity, some good press, and building a great team, Dozen continues to this day. We now have a bakery in Wedgewood-Houston, and sell to other local businesses and restaurants.



I ordered the radish tartine here, along with cucumber gazpacho and a little pastry.



To be honest, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. And, I wasn't excited by the flavor of the cucumber-gazpacho. It just didn't do much for me - not enough flavor or balance for me. 



But the radish tartine was one of those meals I look back on fondly. It's essentially a thick piece of crusty bread topped with herby whipped feta, herb salad and some pickled radishes that just blew my mind. It's really simple in concept, but every single element delivered. And, it was absolutely gorgeous. I've not yet tried to recreate this, but I do think about it often when I'm in the mood for something fresh and light, yet filling. It was tough for the pastry to compete with that - but I love ending on a sweet note so it was appreciated, as well. 



Grade: A