If you don't already know, I wrote a book on pepperoni rolls about 7 years ago. As a result, I have a lot of conversations about pepperoni rolls. My favorites, other people's favorites. And a common one that comes up often is the local gas station. That's because a lot of them are homemade. That's the case at E-Z Stop in Pineville. this is a large round roll that is served warm. Usually I do not get hung up on it being warm or cold, but in this case, the cheese gets all melted and makes it perfect. It was a good portion of pepperoni – not too much, not too little. And it was moist inside with a little sauce. Not grease. Not too dry. this is one of the best pepperoni rolls in recent memory.

Grade: A

Borough Market is a historic market in central London with an emphasis on high quality food, sustainable production and social connection.



"Our story began 1,000 years ago, when a market took shape at the foot of London Bridge. Since 1756, we’ve been in our current location, run by a charitable trust on behalf of the community. Today, our mission is to show that food can be made and sold in ways that are better for people, for the planet and for the sheer pleasure of eating," reads its website.



Kappacasein Dairy was my first stop because they're toasted cheese sandwich is legendary. Richly cheesy, impeccably executed, and celebrated by critics and street-food lovers alike—this is London’s grilled cheese elevated to iconic status.



"Kappacasein’s raclette and toasted cheese sandwiches are the stuff of Borough Market legend. Made using a generous helping of owner Bill Oglethorpe’s Bermondsey-made London raclette or Ogleshield cheese piled atop new potatoes, baby gherkins and pickled onions, the result is one of the finest aromas your nostrils could ever hope to savour. The famed toasted cheese toastie, meanwhile, is made with a combination of Montgomery cheddar, Ogleshield, London raclette, comte, onions and leeks sandwiched between slices of sourdough. The shop also sells Bill’s cheeses.



Kappacasein’s toasted cheese sandwich bursts with rich, nutty, and tangy flavors from its blend of aged cheddars and raclette. Finely chopped onions and leeks add a subtle sharpness that cuts through the creamy melt. The crusty sourdough provides a perfectly crisp contrast, creating a deeply satisfying balance of gooey, savory, and crunchy in every bite.



Mrs. King's Pork Pies serves authentic Melton Mowbray pork pies. A Melton Mowbray pork pie is a traditional English meat pie made with coarsely chopped pork, encased in a hand-formed hot water crust pastry, and baked without a mold, which gives it a slightly irregular, domed shape. The pie is typically filled with pork jelly after baking to preserve the meat and add richness. It originates from Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire and holds Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status, meaning only pies made in or around that area using traditional methods can be sold under that name.



When Elizabeth King started making pork pies back in 1853, little did she realise what she was setting in motion. She would probably have been shocked – and more than a little proud – if she knew that her name would be immortalised at one of the world’s most famous markets more than a century and half later. Her Melton Mowbray pies now have dedicated PGI status, meaning they can only be made in a particular way in a specific area of Nottinghamshire. Each pie uses fresh pork and rich jelly, cooked inside golden brown pastry, reads the website.



Mrs. King’s pork pies deliver a robustly savory meatiness with well-seasoned, coarse-cut pork encased in a golden, hot-water crust pastry that strikes the perfect balance between crisp and crumbly. it's a different experience than a pot pie because of this next component: jelly. Rich pork jelly adds a moist, gelatinous layer that enlivens the pie’s flavor profile—even when served cold, as tradition dictates. I ate mine cold, but I do think I would enjoy it better if it were warm. Hearty pork, delicate jelly, and sturdy pastry.



The Natural Smoothie Co. helped lighten up the day with a smoothie. The berry bliss smoothie had strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, apple and orange juice.



"Delicious smoothies made using 100 per cent fresh fruit – no concentrates, dairy products, ice or sorbets. Each cup contains around 300g of pure fruit, the equivalent of seven or eight individual pieces. Owner Liz Guru uses extremely ripe fruit for maximum possible flavour," reads the website.



"Turnips is a fruit and veg wholesaler and retailer run by the Foster family. High quality produce is sourced from a network of independent farms around Britain and, in the instance of some specialist items, Europe and beyond. Whether it be beetroot from Somerset, potatoes from Lincolnshire, rhubarb from Yorkshire, cabbages from Kent or locally foraged wild mushrooms, Turnips is guaranteed to bring the season’s finest offerings to its Borough stall," reads the website.



So I decided to do another drink - a St. Clements juice. This citrus fizz has orange juice and lemon-lime.



Tart, yet refreshing.

Grade: A

WV State KCBS BBQ Championship pairs BBQ cooks, ATV riders and WV tourists. Sanctioned by the Kansas City BBQ Society (KCBS), the 4th Annual Coalfields Cookoff featured professional and backyard BBQ cook teams, a prize purse of over $13,000! I was fortunate enough to serve as a judge for the competition. I judge the backyard division on chicken, ribs, and pork. It is a blind competition, with no photos allowed. But, I was able to check out the rest of the festival, too. FOOD VENDORS
Almost Heaven Smokehouse
B&M Wacky Waffles
Bandit BBQ
BroMarsh BBQ
Ole No 3
Shaved Ice - Ayleen Mendez
Southern Sass Boutique & Gifts, LLC
Suntan Swine BBQ
Sweet Street
The Lemonade Lady
The Pepperoni Roll Lady
Tiki's Shaved Ice
My first stop was at The Pepperoni Roll Lady. She had plenty of mini pepperoni rolls and even mini pot pies. I have one in my bag to eat tomorrow. Next up was The Lemonade Lady. I ordered a small strawberry & mango lemonade. Tasty!

So. St. Louis is a new food truck in the area that features fried chicken and fish.



I ordered The Murphy Lee - Cod & Fried Shrimp. The fried fish and shrimp were just okay—nothing special. The breading was basic and lacked any real seasoning, leaving both the fish and shrimp tasting pretty plain. Everything was cooked through, but without any added flavor or standout texture, it felt like a missed opportunity, especially for $20. Not bad, but definitely forgettable.



Grade: C

Los Amigos is a new Mexican restaurant in Kanawha City, which is the third location from this particular local chain.



This space has been home to a number of restaurants over the years, most recently The Pitch. I think the sports bar decor is still evident in the current setup, but it is still general enough to be fitting.



The menu has all the basics: tacos, burritos, quesadillas, fajitas and the like. I saw a couple things that caught my eye, but they were actually out of them. So I ended up with steak, shrimp and chicken tacos.



I was looking for more flavor, more toppings, more garnish. Just more. Onions and cilantro and sauces helped, but not enough. They were pretty streamlined and simple.



The sides of rice and beans were fine; I ended up scooping some of the rice into the taco to fill it out a bit more. Some seasoning and balance would have turned this around for me.



Grade: C