Food Guy: Charley West BBQ Fest returns; Bad Shepherd beer wins at Foam at the Dome

Live music for this year’s event will feature the 11:11 from 2-3:30 p.m., Parachute Brigade from 4-5:30 p.m. and Matt Mullins & The Bringdowns from 6-7:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, a panel of lucky judges (including yours truly) will blind-taste them all to determine this year’s winners in multiple categories, including ribs, pulled pork, best sauce and “wild card,� where teams can barbecue darn near anything they want.

Event proceeds benefit the Bob Burdette Center After School Program on ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä’s West Side.

“The Charley West BBQ Fest is about more than just great food — it’s about bringing people together for a cause that truly matters,� event organizer David Mincer said. “Every plate, every vote and every visit helps support local kids and families.�

Bad Shepherd’s winning Wolf

Bad Shepherd Beer Company in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä bested more than 120 state, regional and national beers from nearly 50 brewing companies at this past Saturday’s 10th-annual Foam at the Dome, where their Wolf Cuddles Baltic Porter was judged top beer at the event.

Made by Paul Ross Williams at the brewery at Black Sheep Burrito and Brews at 702 Quarrier St., this robust 8.0 ABV porter packs a subtle punch with notes of roasted barley and smoky malt with hints of dark fruit, coffee, burnt caramel and charred marshmallow. I say “subtle� because the flavors are all well-balanced, creating a smooth sip every time.

In what I’m told was a tight competition, The Peddler of Huntington’s I Know the Owner Hazy IPA came in second place, with Fife Street Brewing of ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä’s P51 Porter landing in third.

This annual craft beer festival takes place each spring on Kanawha Boulevard East in front of the West Virginia State Capitol. For more information, visit foamcwv.com.

Auntie Pearl’s temporarily closing for a reset

I’d been hearing so many positive reviews of Auntie Pearl’s Honey Pot that I recently stopped by the newish soul food restaurant at 415 Central Ave. in South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä to see what all the fuss was about.

Unfortunately, my visit was not one of those positive ones.

While the woman who took my order was friendly, the food they brought to my table wasn’t my order and it took a beat to get the correct food. Once it arrived, I was underwhelmed.

The fried fish platter included two large filets, but they were so thin and overly fried that there wasn’t much to them beyond the crust. There were several bones throughout one of the filets (not just a few, but a lot) which led to an unpleasant meal, to say the least.

I also noticed several uncleared tables around the small restaurant (with customers looking for someplace to eat) while two employees sat at one of the tables on their phones, seemingly oblivious to it all.

So, I was encouraged to learn that the restaurant is briefly closing for a reset. They'll be closed from Friday through May 27 "as we take time to make important improvements behind the scenes,� the restaurant posted Monday on Facebook.

“During this time, we will be replacing and updating a few things within the business, fully retraining our new staff to ensure smoother operations, and allowing our head chef to enjoy a well-deserved vacation. We truly appreciate your patience, understanding and continued support while we work to grow and improve for you all.�

I look forward to giving Auntie Pearl’s another shot when it reopens later this month.