Gyro King is a Mediterranean restaurant that is part of The Market in downtown Huntington. Gyros, of course, must be the specialty so I perused that portion of the menu and ultimately landed on an original gyro. The original gyro consists of ground lamb and beef with tzatziki sauce and lettuce. I didn't realize beef is part of the traditional gyro, because I thought it was just lamb on the spit. But, the combo of the two mixed with spices and seasonings and shaved thin from the spinning loaf make up the bulk of the gyro. It was fine; not stuffed with toppings or bursting with flavor. But a simple, straightforward, utilitarian gyro. Grade: C

Here’s my latest column for HD Media:

Mountain Dew has long been the preferred beverage in Appalachia.

It has just taken on a few different forms over the years.

In the first part of the 1900s, “Mountain Dew“ referred to moonshine, the illegal, potent whiskey.

In the latter part of the 1900s, “Mountain Dew” referred to an electric green citrus soda high in caffeine.

Both, though, have deep roots in the Appalachian Mountains.

Bubbly Beginnings

In the late 1920s, a Knoxville, Tennessee, entrepreneur named Max Licht developed a brand new soda. At the time, soft drinks were rising in popularity as an alternative to alcohol and were even often touted as medicinal.

Licht’s soda was clear, like moonshine, but contained no alcohol. He playfully named the drink Mountain Dew in its honor.

“Mountain Dew” had been used for generations to describe homemade whiskey, often produced in secrecy in the remote mountains of Appalachia.

Do The Dew

The concept was revived in the 1940s when Tennessee beverage bottlers Barney and Ally Hartman created their version as a mixer for alcoholic beverages.

In 1947, the brothers began selling it to the general public. Like the earlier version, it was a clear and caffeine-free citrus soda.

That all changed in the 1950s when the Tip Corporation of Marion, Virginia, acquired the rights to the drink and reformulated the beverage with a sharper citrus profile, bright color and tons of caffeine.

Appalachian Affair

Up until this point, Mountain Dew was a regional product, primarily consumed in Tennessee and nearby areas. Advertisements played up its Appalachian roots and ties to moonshine. The company's mascot was "Willy the Hillbilly," and the label included a blurb touting its "flavors specially blended in the traditional hillbilly style."

While these campaigns were criticized by some for reinforcing stereotypes, they also played a significant role in increasing the drink’s popularity in the very region they parodied. Mountain Dew’s irreverent tone and bold flavor resonated with Appalachians, many of whom saw the beverage as a product that reflected, even if imperfectly, a part of their cultural identity.

Pepsi purchased the soda in 1964. While the soda went nationwide throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Mountain Dew simultaneously became increasingly entrenched in Appalachian communities. Its availability, and strong association with regional pride helped cement its place not only as a popular refreshment but also as a kind of cultural badge.

Flavor Of The Future

It is now the fifth most popular soda in the United States, with Appalachia accounting for a significant portion of Mountain Dew purchases.

In fact, Appalachia may love Mountain Dew too much. Some public health experts believe the soda negatively impacts the region's health and coined the term "Mountain Dew mouth" to describe tooth decay from drinking too much of the soda.

Regardless, Mountain Dew’s popularity continues to grow. Mountain Dew is a billion-dollar brand with a wide array of spin-off flavors, national promotions, and high-profile sponsorships.

And in Appalachia, the soda retains a stronger connection. From its tongue-in-cheek connection to moonshine to its place in our cultural lexicon, Mountain Dew’s roots run deep in the hills and hollers of Appalachia.

Knobley Mountain Coffee Roasters create small batch, air roasted coffee in whole bean coffee, fresh ground coffee, single serve pods and cold brew pouches.

Types include Brazil, Ethipia, Guatemala, House Blend, Knobley Blend, and Sumatra Mandheling.

At grocery stores, produce of all kinds is available year-round because it is shipped in from all over the country, which covers a variety of growing seasons. Here in West Virginia, our local growers grow in accordance with the season to produce the best fruits and vegetables. Here's what you can expect in each season:



SPRING: Lettuce, strawberries, cucumbers, kusa, tomatoes, herbs, squash, zucchini, eggplant & blackberries



VENDORS: Bostic Greenhouses, Crihfield Farms, Ed & Ellen's Greenhouse, Evans Greenhouse, Gritt's Farm, Gritt's Midway Greenhouse, Hall's Greenhouse, Highland Greenery, John Crihfield Farms & Greenhouses & Roane Grown.



SUMMER: Cherries, half-runners, peaches, corn, cabbage, garlic, potatoes, bell peppers, kale, beets, onions, banana peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, blueberries, plums, nectarines, hot peppers, blackberries, eggplant, squash, zucchini, tomatoes, lettuce, cantaloupe & watermelon



VENDORS: Bostic Greenhouses, Crihfield Farms, Ed & Ellen's Greenhouse, Gritt's Farm, Gritt's Midway Greenhouse, John Crihfield Farms & Greenhouses, Robbie's Produce & Tug Fork Farms.



FALL: Apples, cabbage, carrots, beets, green beans, potatoes, pumpkins, cantaloupes, corn, spinach, kale, chard, onions, squash & sweet potatoes.



VENDORS: Crihfield Farms, Ed & Ellen's Greenhouse, Evans Greenhouses, Gritt's Farm, Gritt's Midway Greenhouse, Highland Greenery, John Crihfield Farms & Greenhouses, Robbie's Produce & Tug Fork Farms.



What's your favorite thing to get at the market?

I discovered E-Makulate Kitchen on DoorDash and placed an order. I took a risk because there were not a ton of reviews yet, but I'm nothing if not risky when it comes to food. And, according to my DoorDash driver, it was indeed a risky pick-up.

Rather than a physical location, the restaurant was apparently a vehicle ... that dropped the food off to the DoorDash driver. And they forgot my drink. The hot dog was fine, but the burger was cold and not particularly seasoned well. A bit bland.



Grade: C