The Cheesecake Factory has become one of the most recognizable names in American dining, with more than 200 locations nationwide. And now, I can say that I have been to one.



Foodies tend to have a love-hate relationship with The Cheesecake Factory. While it’s not hailed as a fine dining destination, it holds a certain fun-loving charm and delivers on comfort food cravings with massive portions and decadent cheesecakes. Some criticize the chain’s sprawling menu for being overwhelming and lacking focus. The over-the-top experience is more about indulgence and consistency than culinary innovation.



It's known for its grand, ornate dining rooms with marble accents, warm lighting, and an almost theatrical atmosphere. A hodge-podge of over-the-top styles.



The menu is famously massive: spiral-bound and more than 20 pages long, with options that span nearly every cuisine. You’ll find everything from burgers, sandwiches, and pizzas to Asian-inspired stir-fries, tacos, and Southern comfort dishes. Pastas and seafood are popular staples, and the “SkinnyLicious” section offers lighter versions of classic plates. Of course, the highlight comes at the end: more than 30 flavors of cheesecake, along with other layered cakes and specialty desserts.



Let's talk about thar complimentary bread basket. The star is the famous brown bread, a soft, slightly sweet loaf with a hearty wheat flavor and just enough chew to make it addictive - like a honey wheat. It’s served warm, with a light crust that gives way to a tender center, and pairs perfectly with a swipe of butter.



Farfalle with Chicken and Roasted Garlic is made with bow-tie pasta tossed in a creamy roasted garlic Parmesan sauce with chunks of chicken, peas, and sometimes mushrooms. The peas add a pop of sweetness to balance the rich, garlicky cream sauce. Tender chunks of chicken add heartiness, while the peas pop with a fresh sweetness that cuts through the creaminess, making every forkful balanced and satisfying.



No dessert this time because I was so full, I thought I might burst.

The 25th Annual Ribfest in Marmet featured a handful of BBQ vendors. Held at the Ben Morris football stadium, the event also featured live music, food vendors, amusement rides in the Kids Zone, petting zoo & more. It costs $6 (cash) to get in, so I took a loop to see what is all available. There were a few standard, general vendors you see at events like this - the fried foods, the old timey drinks, the old fashioned ice cream. Johnson's BBQ & Cowboys BBQ are two BBQ vendors I've had in past years, so I checked out the other two. Swine BBQ is based out of Medina, Ohio, and features Texas-style smoked meats. I got four rib bones here, which don't come sauced. I made samples of their sweet and golden BBQ sauces to try with the ribs. Overall, these were a bit on the dry side, but I appreciated the lack of fat and still fairly tender. Old Town BBQ is a traveling BBQ team with award-winning ribs. I did a half rack here with baked beans (!) and potato salad. Again, the ribs here were dry. I think I've become spoiled with competition-style BBQ, and these ones are made and put in a warming pan. The potato salad was bangin. The beans reminded me why I don't love baked beans. Or, at least, not these kind. Pop's Snow Palace & Treats Peach lemonade is just one of my favorites. Shrimp Lips The crab mac & cheese wasn't bad, but the mac itself was just too thick and dense.

I stumbled upon the Mound Arts & Crafts Fair in South Charleston today and went to check out what food options they had available. I had tried most of the options before, but the Southridge Pacesetters Lions Club stuck out to me because I had a good feeling that meant some good homemade grub. And, I was right. They were offering homemade BBQ with slaw and hot dogs with chili & slaw. I ordered a hotdog with everything: ketchup, mustard, onions, chili and slaw. I think this is the first time I've had ketchup with the traditional slawdog toppings. And, I think I like it better? It adds just that touch of sweetness that sometimes the chili can lack.

But, this was a delicious hotdog. Perhaps my favorite in recent memory. The slaw was super finally chopped, the chili had a great flavor, and the onions were the perfect size. My only complaint is that it fell apart a bit. The bun could've helped keep it together. But major points for taste overall.

Evan’s Sweets in Princeton, is a hometown favorite known for its frozen custard, chili dogs, and other classic fast-food staples. Located at 509 Rogers Street, the shop has an old-school, retro vibe with a drive-thru. I ordered the "custard & cobbler" - frozen custard base (rich, creamy, ice-cream-like) topped with fruit cobbler. The dish brings together rich creaminess and warm, fruity sweetness. Grade: A

D'Paulo's Pizzeria is a hometown pizza joint know for its square pizza with California tomatoes, provolone cheese and crispy crust.



This location previously was home to a DiCarlo's Pizza, and the mark of Ohio Valley pizza seems to have influenced D'Paulo's offerings.



But you know I'm not mad about this. The crispy crust pizza provides a solid foundation for a layer of perfectly spiced sauce and shredded provolone. if I had my way, the cheese would've been added at the very end. But, still a pretty tasty square of pizza.



Grade: A