Poppy's Smokin Grill is an Alum Creek BBQ joint that I was able to catch open recently - though they have since closed. I walked up to the window to place my carryout order. They had smoked meats, burgers, chili dogs, and more. I ordered wings and pulled pork fries. I was disappointed with the lack of bold flavor. I was looking for sweet and spicy and tangy. Rather, it was a bit bland. And maybe it was to let the meat flavor shine - but my personal preference is all the seasoning. Grade: C

My friend Beth & I took a dinner cruise on the Valley Gem, where we enjoyed a meal of Caesar salad, prime rib with horseradish cream, chicken, mashed potatoes, spinach-stuffed roasted tomato, roll and berry cake. The Charleston Sternwheel Regatta began in 1971 as a way to celebrate the city’s connection to the Kanawha River and its history of sternwheel boats, which were once vital to commerce and transportation along West Virginia waterways. The original regatta grew quickly into one of the largest events in the state, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors for several days of boat races, concerts, parades, fireworks, and family activities. Sternwheelers—steamboats propelled by a large paddlewheel at the stern—were iconic on rivers like the Kanawha and Ohio in the 19th and early 20th centuries. These boats served as a vital link for goods and people, and the regatta honored this part of the state’s heritage. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the Regatta peaked in popularity, featuring big-name musical acts, national media attention, and boaters from across the country. It became a hallmark of Charleston’s summer calendar. However, due to budget issues and waning support, the event was discontinued in 2009, which many in the community viewed as a major cultural loss. In 2022, the City of Charleston officially revived the Charleston Sternwheel Regatta, bringing back much of the traditional programming with a fresh focus on community, heritage, and economic revitalization. The modern version includes river races, concerts, art vendors, food trucks, and sternwheeler showcases, reestablishing the event as a centerpiece of summer in the capital city. The Valley Gem allower us to participate in the festival in a new way - while enjoying a meal on the river.

I had so much fun judging Capitol Market's 4th Annual All Fired Up! competition. The food was incredible. Here's a glimpse: Oxtail with rasta pasta, corn salsa, mango smoothie & bananas foster. Grilled pork with a mushroom sauce, roasted veggies, corn on the cob & a honeyed peach with cream. Beef taco with pickled onion, jalapeno, crema & lime with guacamole and rice with corn. Fresh veggie lettuce boat with croutons & dressing. Pizza with pepperoni, green peppers & mushrooms. Deconstructed s'more. Bacon cheeseburger with white cheddar, chipotle mayo and ramp salt. Wilted lettuce with green onions, cucumber & cherry tomatoes. Watermelon. Jerk chicken with rice & beans.

People’s Choice: Damian Blankenship.
Best Use of Ingredients: Girl Scout Troop 4847.
Most Creative: Max Willits.
Best Overall: Lilliana Robinson.

304 Inferno was a wood-fired Neopolitan-style pizza restaurant in Parkersburg that unfortunately shuttered before it got too much attention.



I stopped here and placed a to-go order since I was short on time. I know the to-go order is a bit different from dining in, but I still got to peek at the interior, which was nice and welcoming.



They were out of some menu items and also some containers, so it was a bit of a mish-mash. But I did end up with a simple house salad that was fine.



My entree was ravioli a la vodka with spinach. Usually this is right up my alley, and the flavors are indeed - but it was cool. Cold even. And temperature doesn't usually bother me too much, but it definitely affected the flavor here.



Grade: B

The Broken Axle is a restaurant located at the Appalachian Outpost Resort. It has a rustic and rugged design, but it is new, clean and slick. Here's what we tried: Cheeseburger sliders with mayo, ketchup, onion and blue cheese. Fried green tomato stacks - cornmeal breaded tomato fried to perfection layered with fresh feta cheese and balsamic glaze. Grilled cheese platter - grilled cheese with cheddar and mozzarella and a second grilled cheese with barbecue pulled pork and macaroni and cheese, served with a side of tomato bisque. All of these were perfect for a shareable meal. The burgers were pretty average, but I enjoyed the fried green tomatoes. They were fried nicely and kept their crisp. The grilled cheese option is fun, but it would be nice if the sandwiches were cut up into bite sizes so they could be more dippable. something a little different, though, so I applaud the creativity. Grade: A