For the third year in a row, I had the delicious honor of judging Taste of Bridge Day, the annual culinary kickoff to one of West Virginia’s most iconic events. Each year, local restaurants, caterers, and food trucks bring their best bites to Adventures on The Gorge, hoping to win over both judges and festivalgoers. 1. RHODODENDRON ICE CREAM
DESSERTS: Hand-Dipped Ice Cream: Chocolate, Vanilla, S'mores, Pumpkin Pie, Mocha, Sea Salt Caramel 2. LOST PADDLE AT ACE ADVENTURES
APPS: Cheesy Garlic Bread Sticks
ENTREES: Wood Fired Pizzas: Street Corn, Pepperoni, Cheese, Caprese, or Margherita 3. THE TABLE
APPS: Baked Potato Salad, Slaw, Mac & Cheese, Baked Beans
ENTRÉES: Ribs; Brisket; Pulled Pork BBQ with Slaw
4. CAST IRON SMOKERS
ENTRÉES: Smoked Mac & Cheese; Pork, Chicken, or Brisket Sliders 5. UPLAND SOULFOOD
APPS: Potato Salad
DESSERTS: Apple Cream Cheese Cookie
ENTRÉES: Meatballs 6. BLACK BEAR BAKERY
SNACKS: Cinnamon Rolls; Pepperoni Rolls
ENTREES: Bourbon Chicken
DESSERTS: Strawberry Shortcake; Carrot Cake; Red Velvet Cake; Banana Pudding; Pumpkin Whoppies; Caramel Apple Cider 7. WV BEEF JERKY
SNACKS: WV Beef Jerky: Original Peppered or Spicy Buffalo Style 8. DEEZ EATS
APPS: Two Jamaican Rolls
DESSERTS: Banana Pudding
ENTRÉES: Jerk Chicken, Collard Greens, Mac & Cheese; Fish Sampler, Dirty Rice, Cole Slaw 9. SMOKEY'S
SNACKS: Whipped Herbed Goat Cheese with Cranberry Walnut Toast Points, Blistered Tomato, Honey
ENTREES: Glade Creek Trout: Smoked Trout, Dirty Rice Risotto, Charred Lemon
DESSERTS: S'mores Pot de Creme: Dark Chocolate Custard, ToastedGraham Crumb, Torched Marshmallow, Smoked Caramel 10. CHETTY'S
SNACKS: Firecracker Shrimp: Lightly Breaded Shrimp Tossed in Firecracker Sauce & Served over Shredded Lettuce
ENTRÉES: Wave Runner Fish Tacos: Blackened Mahi, Pineapple Salsa, Spicy Corn Tartar, & Baby Arugula
DESSERTS: Lemon Mousse: Lemon Curd Mousse, Raspberry Whipped Cream, Candied Lemon, & Shortbread Dust 11. MOUNTAIN TABLE
APPS: Smoked Trout & Ramp Croquette; Paw Paw Jam Crostinis
SNACKS: Apple Granola Crunch Bar (nut free & vegan); Fig Bar
ENTRÉES: Hickory King Grits Topped with Crawfish & Mushroom Etouffée; Sorghum Glazed Pork Belly Succotash
DESSERTS: Red Bandana Coffee Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie; Toasted Pecan Ice Cream with Spicy Candied Bacon 12. THE SUMMIT BECHTEL RESERVE
APPS: Pumpkin Chili with Spiced Oyster Crackers
SNACKS: Smoked Pork Slider with Apple Butter Aioli & Crispy Onions
ENTRÉES: Chicken Bacon Cheddar Pot Pie w/Cheddar Garlic Crumb
DESSERTS: Glazed Donut Bread Pudding with Homemade Whipped Topping 13. HISTORIC GLEN FERRIS INN
APPS: Meatball & Italian Sausage
SNACKS: Cream Horn
ENTREES: Alfredo Cheese Shells & Lasagna
DESSERTS: Double Mini Cupcake; Cream Dog 14. ARROWHEAD BIKE FARM SNACKS: Creamy Coleslaw, Cilantro Lime Slaw, Elote Cup, or Smoked Mac & Cheese
ENTREES: Smoke Out Tacos: Smoked Brisket, Pulled Pork, Pulled Chicken, Pork Belly Burnt Ends, OR Vegan Chorizo, Includes Queso Fresco & House Sauces.
DESSERTS: Cheesecake & Brown Butter Brownies 15. BUMBLER BEE BAKER - THE CAKE BOX
SNACKS: Butterscotch Cheesecake Stuffed Choco Chippies; Cinnamon Roll Cups; Jalapeno Pepperoni Rolls
DESSERTS: New York Lemon Cheesecake with Raspberry Sauce; Ice Cream Floats; Cupcakes & Cake Pops in Assorted Flavors; Nanner Pudding Cake Cups; Strawberry Shortcake; Cheesecake Cups

SWIFTWATER GENERAL STORE NEW RIVER
APPS: Homestyle Potato Soup; Hot Italian Sausage with Cabbage Soup
ENTREES: Grilled Cheese Bites

TONY'S INTERNATIONAL CUISINE
APPS: Beef Empanada; Perrito; Colombian Corndog
ENTRÉES: Arepa Grande

TWISTED SISTERZ BBQ
ENTRÉES: Smoked Brisket in a Savory Texas Bean Chili; Crawfish Mac N' Cheese Smothered in Jambalaya; Cheesy Grits Topped with Cajun Shrimp

Wingstop is a fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in buffalo-style chicken wings. Founded in 1994 in Garland, Texas, by Antonio Swad and Bernadette Fiaschetti, the company began franchising in 1997 and has since expanded to over 2,500 locations worldwide. The menu centers on bone-in and boneless chicken wings, chicken tenders, and sides like fries and veggie sticks, with a variety of sauces including Lemon Pepper and Atomic. There aren't any locations in West Virginia, so when I spotted one in the wild during my travels, I quickly placed an online order and made my way inside. I wanted to try several flavors, so I ordered Sweet BBQ Blaze, Lemon Pepper, Garlic Parmesan & Hawaiian boneless wings. The Sweet BBQ Blaze delivers a smoky, molasses-thick sauce with a lingering kick; Lemon Pepper is bright and zesty, balancing citrus and black pepper on crispy chicken; Garlic Parmesan is rich and savory, with buttery garlic and umami Parmesan coating each wing; and Hawaiian offers a sweet, tangy, tropical twist for a refreshing change. Bleu Cheese, Cheese Sauce and Cajun Fried Corn rounded out my meal. What's your favorite thing here?

Kingdom Seasoned is a local catering business I found on Facebook that I have been wanting to check out. When they posted a hot dog delivery special, I immediately placed my order. I tried one of each: a regular all-beef hot dog (onions, ketchup), a "Kingdom Dog" topped with slow-cooked pulled pork, and the "French Smoked Pork Dog," which has no hot dog but is pulled pork served on a hot dog bun, finished with crispy fried pickles and slaw. I love supporting a local business and those fried pickles? Some of the best I've had. Pulled pork was good, too. I may have ordered too much, and some got a bit soggy - but that's on me. I'd do it again. Grade: A

Every October, Blennerhassett Island State Park offers "Mansion by Candlelight" tours for one weekend. Blennerhassett Island is located on the Ohio River near Parkersburg and is known for its rich history. It’s home to a reconstructed 18th-century mansion once owned by Harman and Margaret Blennerhassett, whose estate became linked to Aaron Burr’s alleged 1806 treason plot. Today, visitors reach the island by sternwheeler to tour the mansion, enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides, and experience living history at this unique riverside park. During this event, the mansion and its grounds are lit by candlelight and feature a number of activities, including horse-drawn wagon rides, singing and dancing, tours and a harvest supper. We boarded the Island Belle sternwheeler at Civitan Park in Belpre, Ohio, and journeyed to Blennerhassett Island. Once there, we stepped into an 18th-century world, with the island and its mansion illuminated by hundreds of candles and lanterns. Our first stop was the Harvest Supper, featuring ham, mashed potatoes & gravy, sautéed green beans, corn, fresh salad, assorted pies, and more. For a served buffet, it wasn't bad. The bulk cooking of green beans and corn left a bit to be desired in regards to the texture. But all in all, it was a hefty portion that filled the belly. And that wasn't all - there was a gingerbread cake after touring the mansion and some snacks over at the fire. Snacks consisted of apples, cheese, sausage, apple butter and bread. And hot apple cider!