Emy & Kiki's West Virginia Food Challenge

03/17/2025

The weather Friday was lovely, finally a break from what has felt like a three-year-long winter. I used the Appalachian Fake Spring as a reason to head over to Huntington icon, Midway West Drive-In for lunch. Picture this: sunshine streaming through the car windows, me and Dolly serenading the other diners, and a delicious juicy cheeseburger.
Midway is pure nostalgia for me. From their tiny cups of ketchup to fries that are always super hot (seriously, how do they do it?), it’s pure perfection. Sure, they’re renowned for their hot dogs, some of the best in the state, but I can’t resist their cheeseburgers. Oh, and those milkshakes? Absolute poetry. Don’t sleep on them; they’re a full-stop chef's kiss.

03/17/2025

Wood County, WV Parkersburg.

I frequent the Parkersburg area often. Specifically for sports. This past weekend my son was in a wrestling tournament at Parkersburg High School. Which, by the way, if you have never driven by Parkersburg High School, you absolutely should. It is iconic. The most beautiful high school I’ve ever seen. Truly amazing architecture and just a really cool building.

I would venture to say that Parkersburg has some of the best dining in West Virginia. People have been telling me about The Net for years. (The North End Tavern in Parkersburg.) I finally got the opportunity to experience it this past Friday and it did not disappoint. I’m a beer lover so I indulged in their flight of eight homebrews. All of them were wonderful but my favorite had to be Dawk’s Classic Porter. They feature six standard home brews and rotate two seasonal brews.

A French fry lover's dream. Their small order of fries is enough to feed three people. They are known for their burgers, but when I saw a Reuben on the menu, my heart fluttered. I asked the server about it and he said it was his favorite thing there. So I took his advice and ordered the Reuben. And honestly, it was the best Reuben I’ve ever had in my life. Their corned beef was chipped making each bite perfection. No fighting through gristle or tough pieces of corned beef. Just enough sauerkraut. Perfectly toasted rye bread. And the most delicious Russian dressing. I’m going to have dreams about it.

My son had the BLT and my husband had a BBQ burger. Both left no crumbs.

After dinner, we walked over to JR‘s Donut Castle. It’s only a 30 to 40 yard walk from The Net. Now, if you know anything about Huntington, you know that we Huntingtonians are very serious about our donuts. Whether you are a devout Jolly Pirate fan or a loyal Camden Corner goer… You know your way around a good donut. I personally am a fan of both. Jolly Pirate’s cake donuts (specifically the toasted coconut, the peanut and the buttermilk donuts) are cake donut perfection. I will die on that hill.

I’m almost ashamed to say it wasn’t until recently that I was introduced to Camden Corner donuts. Their raised doughnuts are giant, fluffy pillows of heaven and are now a Friday morning staple in the Gaskins household. But that’s a topic for another day…

My point is, JR’s Donut Castle rivals both Jolly Pirate and Camden Corner. Incredibly priced. Like, feels like robbery cheap. ($12 per dozen.) Made fresh daily. Raised and cake doughnuts. My husband loves their blueberry cake. I prefer the buttermilk cake. And Case, like his mother, is a true chocoholic and could eat his weight in the chocolate glazed. They also offer cookies, muffins, pepperoni rolls, and dinner rolls.

The next day we got pizza from The Pizza Place, directly across the street from Parkersburg High School. They offer two versions of their delectable pie, the Neapolitan and the Sicilian. The Neapolitan is a traditional round thin crust. The Sicilian is a square thick crust. Both are phenomenal! I prefer pepperoni while my husband prefers sausage. We opted for the Neapolitan this time. The slices are absolutely huge. Think New York style. Their tiny pepperoni are slightly crunchy and delectable. The sausage was more of a shaved style sausage and every bit is delicious. Case will tell you that their cheese has the perfect pull.

If you walk in, you can order at the counter by the slice. But we were hitting the road so we got a large pizza to share on the way home. We never drive through Parkersburg without stopping here. There’s really nothing comparable to it in the Huntington area. I love pizza of all kinds. But I can’t find anything like their traditional pepperoni around here.

Parkersburg is a cool town. Other points of interest include The Blennerhassett Hotel on Market Street. The food there is always top-notch. The hotel offers a huge brunch spread for Mother's Day and Father's Day, along with other holidays. I always suggest the hotel for a nice getaway. The Blennerhassett is said to be haunted and in October they have a walking ghost tour. If you enjoy Victorian architecture make sure to drive around Parkersburg's historic district, the houses are gorgeous!

This past weekend in Parkersburg put me in a food coma. But it was worth it .

09/15/2024

Not many things can coax me outside on an 85° day, except the promise of gyros from Huntington's Greek Festival. Emy and I have been loyal attendees of this event for nearly 20 years. One year, I lived just a block away, so we went early for lunch, retreated to my place for a nap, and then hit it up again for dinner. Talk about dedication!
Hosted by Saint George Greek Orthodox Church on Huntington’s south side, this festival is a two-day extravaganza held every September. You can expect mouthwatering food and drinks, traditional Greek dancing, church tours, and the warm hospitality that West Virginia is known for.
This year, things were a bit different. Usually, the seating area is under a tent providing some shade, and the menu had a few new additions. We were delighted to try grilled meatballs, loukoumades (Greek doughnuts), and KOK. Of course, we had to sample all the new food – we wouldn’t let you down!
Inside the church social hall, you’ll find full meals. Think lamb and chicken dinners, pastichio (often described as Greek lasagna), moussaka, my favorite spanakopita, stuffed grape leaves, hummus (!!), and Greek salads.
Emy and I opted for chicken gyros. The pita was perfectly charred, and the chicken was well-seasoned and juicy. My brother went for a traditional lamb gyro – he could probably eat his body weight in gyros. My sister-in-law tried the Greek fries, which were hot, crisp, and delicious. My niece Jenna ordered a Greek pizza and KOK, a split doughnut filled with pastry cream and glazed with chocolate. We also indulged in a 10-piece assorted pastry box featuring everyone’s beloved baklava and almond crescents. We shared a couple of orders of tender, flavorful meatballs and loukoumades, mini fried doughnuts drizzled with honey, cinnamon sugar, and walnuts. Those were warm and heavenly!
Huntington offers several food-centric festivals, but this one is my favorite. If you plan to attend, here are a few tips: It’s located in a residential area, so be prepared to walk. Be mindful of driveways and sidewalks when you park. It’s always busy, and you will wait in line, but you’ll likely see friends and have the chance to make new ones. Dancing and church tours are scheduled at various times throughout the event, so be sure to check out both. The dancers, of all ages, are lively and entertaining, and the church is simply gorgeous.
Now in its 42nd year, this festival continues to thrive thanks to the delicious food, gracious hosts, and vibrant atmosphere. A heartfelt thank you to the congregation and volunteers at Saint George – your efforts are deeply appreciated by our little city!

08/29/2024

We were lucky enough to get a show from Jaydon. It was good fun!

Have you met the magician yet? 🪄

Jaydon started with us in April, and he's brought with him some pretty flashy talents.

Join us for dinner and , and if you're lucky, you might just catch some slight of hand. 😉

08/04/2024

We moseyed over to Putnam County this evening for a delightful dinner at Bridge Cafe & Bistro. It’s located at 3530 Teays Valley Road in Hurricane, right across from Hurricane City Park. This gem is a beacon of farm-to-table goodness. Forget the premade, frozen, or processed nonsense – Bridge Café and Bistro is all about well-prepared, beautifully plated whole food.
Upon entering, you’re greeted by friendly, helpful staff, funky art, a spotless dining room, and a kitchen that’s cranking out some of the best food in the area. Craving fries? They’re hand-cut. Fancy a steak? It’s hand-cut too. Bacon lover? It’s cured in-house. No corners are cut here; you can see AND taste the difference!
I absolutely love fried mushrooms, so we started off with an order of those. The mushrooms had a crunchy, golden cornmeal crust and were served with a side of Ranch. The Ranch at Bridge is phenomenal! It’s made in house too, along with all the salad dressings.
Emy and I both went for the Hot N’ Sticky Chicken – crispy panko-breaded chicken with a sweet and spicy glaze (just like us), served with jasmine rice and Brussels sprouts. Garnished with bacon and homemade pickles, it was a flavor explosion! The sauce was divine, the Brussels were nicely charred, the rice was fluffy, and those pickles – oh, those pickles! Perfection! Even Emy, a pickle connoisseur, was impressed. I’d buy a jar of those pickles right now.
Case joined us with a friend, and the boys split a 12-ounce ribeye with fries. They ordered it medium, and it was spot on. Props to kids who appreciate a properly cooked steak! Emy and I snagged a piece, and I already know what I’m ordering next time.
We wrapped up our meal with a slice of strawberry lemon cheesecake. Land sakes, it was GOOD. As a self-proclaimed cheesecake snob, this one hit all the marks – tangy, firm texture, nice crust. A solid 10/10, and yes, it’s made in-house too! I’ve seen posts on Facebook about purchasing whole cheesecakes – give 'em a call for the details. You won’t be disappointed.
Bridge Café and Bistro is casual enough for families with kids, the menu is interesting without being pretentious, and the service is top-notch. We even enjoyed an impromptu magic show from one of the servers – the boys loved it! This place is as comfortable as bluegrass pickin’, but its soul is punk rock; pure, authentic, and passionately prepared delicious food.

08/03/2024

Get ready for our next culinary adventure. We're off to Putnam County for dinner tonight. Stay tuned for delicious updates!

07/26/2024

Mater sammiches for lunch today.
An Appalachian delicacy. 😋

07/23/2024

Our West Virginia food challenge kicked off today in the heart of Cabell County. The Huntington area boasts a vibrant food scene, with iconic spots like Classic Cam's Ham and Midway West Drive-In a longtime favorite of mine Nawab, and our latest culinary crush, Gyro King Huntington. We knew choosing our first stop would be no easy feat. Today’s adventure led us to Pho U and Me, a nice little spot we’ve frequented many times. Emy’s son Case joined us, proving to be not only an adorable lunch date but also the star of the show with his hilarious roast of his dad!

Pho U and Me, located at 1451 Third Avenue near campus, is a tidy, casual spot with ample seating. We kicked things off with dim sum and chicken fried dumplings, both hot, crispy, and utterly delicious, each paired with its own delectable sauce.

The pho here comes in two sizes: small (which is actually quite large) and large (a veritable feast). Emy opted for the spicy chicken pho, Case went for the steak pho, and I chose the spicy steak pho. Each bowl is accompanied by bean sprouts, sliced jalapenos, Thai basil, and lime wedges for customization, along with a variety of condiments on the table, including chili oil, soy sauce, Sriracha, and hoisin sauce.

The spicy broth, a $2 upcharge, is well worth it. It’s flavorful without being overwhelmingly hot. Case enjoyed it and didn’t find it too spicy. The pho arrives garnished with cilantro, which I promptly remove due to my mutant gene. Each bowl is generously filled with chicken or thinly sliced steak, plenty of noodles, and some sliced raw onions. From there, it’s up to you to customize your bowl and slurp away!

Pho is a delicious and approachable way to introduce people to Vietnamese cuisine. After all, who doesn’t love noodles in a rich, savory broth? Just remember, it’s pronounced “fuh,” not “foe”!

07/09/2024

I’m a Midway gal, myself. But I’ve never met a hot dog I didn’t like.

We plan to explore everything from roadside hot dog stands to the finest dining WV has to offer. Let us know your favorite spots!!

07/06/2024

Emily and Christy are hitting milestone birthdays this year, and what better way to celebrate than by embarking on a culinary adventure across West Virginia? We’ve set ourselves the exciting challenge of dining in all 55 counties. Join us as we explore the Mountain State, savoring unique, locally-owned eateries and discovering hidden gems along the way. 🍔🌮🥪🍗🧀🧁🍩

Do you have a favorite place we should try? Let us know!