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

Originally opened by Jane Vobe in 1772, King's Arms Tavern authentic reproduction public house serves up a transporting experience for the senses in Colonial Williamsburg. Everything is true to the time period at King’s Arms Tavern, from the fashion sported by servers to the pewter candlesticks—all adding to an air of colonial elegance.



The location, though, was actually serving Chowning's menu. Chowning’s Tavern in Williamsburg, Virginia, is a historic-style alehouse that recreates the colonial dining experience with period-appropriate food, drinks, and décor. Originally established in the 18th century by Josiah Chowning, the tavern offers hearty fare like Welsh rarebit, trenchers, and locally brewed ales. With costumed staff and candlelit ambiance, it provides an immersive glimpse into colonial tavern life.



Here's what we ordered: Crock of Cheese - (A Chowning's Tavern Original) - Fine cheese mixed up with red roasted bell peppers and chives. Served with pickles and good bread.



An Onion Pye - (The Kitchen Garden Desplay's - Dr. Lobb's, 1767) - Pare some potatoes..apples...onsons and slice them...make a good crust. Lay in a layer of potatoes, a layer of onions, a layer of apple, and a layer of eggs until you have filled your pie, strewing seasoning between each layer. Close your pie and bake it an hour and a half.



Snow Eggs - (James Hemings, Chef d' Cuisine to Thomas Jefferson, 1787-1794) Beat the whites as you do for savoy cake, till you can turn the vessel bottom upwards without their leaving it... put in two spoonfuls of powdered sugar and a little orange water... dish up your whites with custard. A little wine stirred in is a great improvement.



These were all tasty interpretations of those recipes. The first was like a pimento cheese appetizer. The second was like a pot pie. And the third was like airy meringue. Again, fairly simple flavors. But good.



Grade: A

It was a busy weekend because I was bopping all over the state to hit up events, food trucks and other small business owners to show some support.

Kits Kitchen
a delicious oatmeal cream pie here Keen Quality Meats Muddy Mountain Flower Farm
BIBLE CENTER SCHOOL SUMMER CRAFT MARKET

Chloe’s Main Squeeze
This lemonade tasted just like a bomb pop Christy’s Cupcakes
French vanilla & neopolitan Tawna’s Kitchen
Cocoa krispie treats, chex mix and more Tammy’s Kitchen Sanger Farms Surf & Swirl True Origins Coffee Company
I have some of this being delivered to me this week, and I can't wait! Chubby Joes
A pulled pork sandwich, mac & cheese and baked beans made for a good lunch
WV COFFEE FESTIVAL

Sunshine Sliders
this little Greek slider with feta and pico gave me life Cultivate Coffee
I was most excited to check out this coffee roaster because they are alllll the way over in the Eastern Panhandle. They did not disappoint. Superlove Sweets
S'more bar & fruity pebble cookie Cozy Crumbz
Cinnamom coffee cake loaf
COUNTRY ROADS FARMERS MARKET

This small Saturday market has a number of vendors that I have purchased from and some I have yet to try: Crago Country Farm, Amandus Family Farm, Blessed-Full Farm, Double K Farms, Lost Arrow Farm, Hunt's Farm, Grammy's Garden Goodies, & Northridge Farm
COONSKIN PARK'S 75TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Off The Hook
Fried fish & chips - now this was a good piece of fried cod Lone Star Kitchen
They had smashburgers, pulled pork & hand-cut fries, but I opted for the smoked brisket sandwich. Back Roads Soda Sips
drinks & sodas Kernel Koffee
coffee, popcorn & more