The Laurance Jones, III Childhood Language Center Mac 'n Cheese Cook-off is one of my favorite events of the whole year.



It's one of my favorite foods at one of my favorite places, all for a great cause!



1. WV Coal Festival Queens - Made with nutmeg, dried mustard, and had edible glitter to represent coal and chipotle crema on top

2. SweetBriar Assisted Living



3. Alisa Bailey - Traditional with some add-ins



4. Sternwheel Regatta - Southwest mac & cheese



5. Bogey's at Capitol Market - Super creamy mac & cheese that you can get every day at the restaurant



6. Tondrea Davis-Powell - Creamy mac alfredo



7. The Pitch - Braised short rib mac & cheese with Pitch dusted panko



8. Charleston Dirty Birds - Classic mac with a touch of sweetness



9. Sierra Workman - Made with little ditalini



10. Nellita's Cocina - Bacon & jalapeno mac & cheese



11. Regatta Pro Wrestling - White and cheesy



12. Patriot Guardens - Bacon bliss mac & cheese with edible flower



13. Hope for All/New Horizons Church - Classic mac & cheese



14. Short Story Brewing - Beer cheese mac & cheese made with Short Story’s Oktoberfest, Turn and Fall



15. Stephen Fernandez - Street corn mac & cheese



16. Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Central - Nikki McClanahan - Classic mac & cheese



17. Rainbow Pride of WV - Multicolord mac & cheese



18. Cafe Appalachia - Cornbread mac & cheese



19. The Spry Guys - Classic mac & cheese with crunchy breadcrumbs



20.Hope and Carl Crowder Auction - Classic mac with a touch of sweetness



21. Chick-Fil-A Town Center - Regular mac & cheese with addition of bacon



22. Gettin' Piggy With It 304 - Super smoky mac & cheese with pulled pork or cajun smoked chicken



23. Sergio's - Bruschetta mac & cheese Cavatappi Pasta tossed with a vibrant blend of fresh garlic, aromatic oregano, basil, rosemary, and thyme, plus red pepper flakes, Federalist Chardonnay, extra virgin olive oil, and balsamic glaze



24. Sam's Uptown Cafe - Classic mac & cheese

25. Boat Bites by Trojan Landing



26. Devis Sellears - Classic mac with breadcrumbs

JUDGE'S CHOICE

1st - Stephen Fernandez
2nd - Tondrea Davis-Powell
3rd - Sergio’s

PEOPLE’S CHOICE

1st - Stephen Fernandez
2nd - Tondrea Davis-Powell
3rd - Sergio’s

KIDS

1st - Bogey’s
2nd - Hope and Carl Crowder Auction
3rd - Sergio’s

Here's my latest column:

Many are familiar with the well-known snack created in Appalachia that drew inspiration from the coal mining community.

Delicious. Portable. Perfect for a lunch pail.

But, wait. We’re not talking about pepperoni rolls — not today. Nope. Today, we’re discussing the MoonPie.

That’s right. The celestial snack coated in chocolate with a marshmallow center and graham cracker cookies all started with a coal miner.

“It all began in 1917 when a KY coal miner asked our traveling salesman for a snack ‘as big as the moon,’” according to the MoonPie website.

That salesman worked for the Chattanooga Bakery in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which had already been producing over 100 items at the time.

“Earl Mitchell reported back and the bakery obliged with a tasty treat aptly named MoonPie. It was filling, fit in the lunch pail and the coal miners loved it. The rest, as they say, is history,” reads the website.

Selling for just 5 cents each, the MoonPie was affordable and tasty. It flew off the shelves, and by 1929, hundreds were produced every day.

Over the years, the MoonPie became firmly embedded in Appalachian culture — from providing a taste of home to soldiers deployed overseas during WWII to feeding a generation of Baby Boomers growing up needing a quick, affordable snack.

Today, 1 million MoonPies are produced each day and have expanded to include flavors such as banana, strawberry, pumpkin spice, blueberry, mint, salted caramel and vanilla. They also come in double-decker size and mini size.

The snack also shares a cultural tie with RC Cola. The pairing of a MoonPie and RC Cola was popularized during the mid-20th century, becoming a working-class lunch special throughout the South and Appalachia. For many, this combination represented an affordable luxury—two classic items that offered a taste of indulgence.

MoonPie’s accessibility made it popular during economic hard times, particularly in rural areas where homemade sweets were often a luxury. Today, Moon Pies are still a common sight at gas stations, country stores, and festivals across Appalachia.

The snack has remained a staple of Southern comfort food, symbolizing simplicity and nostalgia for generations in the region and beyond.

Here is this season's J.Q. Dickinson Appalachian Mercantile subscription box. J.Q. DICKINSON SALT-WORKS
Blue Ridge Bagel Seasoning
Solar evaporated and hand harvested salt in the mountains of WV blended with traditional everything bagel spices to enhance any dish

SUGAR PLUM CHOCOLATES
Maple Boubon Pecans
Mother-Son team of Fran and Neil make high quality products in PA. These nuts are an addictive snack!

WHITETAIL LANE FARM
Shower Steamers
Made on a goat farm in central PA these natural steamers will make your shower feel like a spa. Place on the floor of the shower' and let the water dissolve it and release aromas as you bathe.

THE HIGH FIBER
Cotton Dish Towel
This beautiful towel is designed and hand printed in Asheville, NC. It is soft and absorbent. Brightens any kitchen.

OLD STATE FARM
Infused Maple Syrup
This family owned maple farm is a 20 year labor of love in north west Pennsylvania. This infused syrup is DELICIOUS!

UNRULY NATURE
Granola
This granola is full of organic ingredients and flavorful components. Use as a topping on ice cream, in a salad, or as a snack. Made in PA

Dari-Land in Marlinton is an ice cream counter with a food menu that includes items like philly cheesesteaks, burgers and hot dogs. They even have breakfast and coffee. Kinda like a one-stop shop for any meal, any time of day. Since I was passing by in the morning, I perused their coffee menu and landed on a caramel latte. The flavor was a bit watered down, but I didn't mind the mild espresso flavor. I would like to check out the ice cream or food on another visit. Grade: B

I have discovered a hidden gem deep in the mountains of West Virginia that has become one of my recent favorites. Mim's Kitchen is located in Marlinton and serves up homemade food cafeteria-style. A few words of wisdom if you go: It's likely you won't have cell phone service, so make sure that you download your driving map to get there while you still have service. It's also important to have cash on hand. While the restaurant usually does take cards, the machine was down while I was there, and luckily, I had a personal check to use. To start, the building is lovely. It is rustic but cozy and it is secluded enough to feel like you're in a private space. Once you walk in, you veer to the right and see the menu that is available that day. On this particular day, there was meatloaf, roast beef, broccoli and cheddar chicken, and honey pork as the mains. At the counter, the options are laid out behind glass and the person working offers you options. It started with salad - and not the leafy green kind. More so the prepared kind. I opted for broccoli salad, which is crunchy and a bit sweet and creamy, too. For my main, I went with the broccoli & cheddar chicken, which looked like one of those delicious homemade recipes you'd find on Pinterest. Super moist and a heaping helping. Then, it was time for sides. I went for green beans and macaroni & cheese. Both solid. At the very end, a cooler full of desserts awaits. It's not included as part of the dinner price, but it is not to be missed. Every single option looked phenomenal, but I opted for the pecan pie cheesecake. Wooo-weee. So, once everything is assembled, one of the employees brings it into the dining room and sets it at a table for you. They also fill your drink cup. I had an entire feast in front of me - but that still wasn't all. They bring buttery rolls out, which were delish. All in all, this was a wonderful meal in a beautiful setting. Have you been? Grade: A