Farm-fresh market vegetables fill a lettuce wrap at the 2024 "All Fired Up" kids cooking competition, on July 7, 2024, at the Capitol Market in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä.
Farm-fresh market vegetables fill a lettuce wrap at the 2024 "All Fired Up" kids cooking competition, on July 7, 2024, at the Capitol Market in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä.
An antipasti board from The Olive Tree Cafe is shown on June 27, 2026.
STEVEN KEITH | For the Gazette-Mail
My wife and I love to entertain friends and family in our home, so we find great joy in preparing a nice sit-down meal or an expansive spread of party apps that folks can nibble on open-house style.
But when life gets hectic — as life inevitably does — we occasionally find ourselves leaning on prepared foods or caterers to round out our food offerings to save both time and sanity.
Such was the case Saturday night, when I hosted a surprise birthday party for Amy at the end of a much busier week than expected. With upwards of 30 people expected, I finally realized my plan to make all of the food myself wasn’t going to happen.
So I shopped for snacks to set out and made a Hail Mary call to The Olive Tree Cafe & Catering at 333 Second Ave. in South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä, just two nights before the big party.
“You know those giant antipasti displays you prepare for large events and weddings?†I asked. “Any chance you offer those through catering on a smaller scale? And if so, could I get one in 36 hours?â€
Please note that they generally need more notice for such things, so don’t do what I did. But the birthday gods were smiling down on me, because Olive Tree just so happened to have enough extra meat, cheeses, olives, veggies and fruit from a couple of large weekend caterings to create a beautiful charcuterie board that became the centerpiece of our celebration.
Not only did Olive Tree save my day, but the board received massive “oohs and aahs†from everyone who walked in the door. It was a delicious showstopper that helped anchor an evening of good food, great friends and many, many bottles of wine.
Four W.Va. restaurants win Wine Spectator awards
Speaking of wine, four longtime West Virginia recipients of prestigious Wine Spectator awards have retained those honors this year in the annual program celebrating the top restaurants and bars around the world for both wine and hospitality.
Award of Excellence honorees, who serve at least 75 top-quality wines, were:
And The Final Cut Steakhouse at the Hollywood Casino, 750 Hollywood Drive in Charles Town, maintained its Best of Award of Excellence title — a tier above the rest, indicating a diverse wine list of exceptional quality.
Cheers to these top Mountain State wine spots for continuing to represent.
It’s a food truck frenzy for the July Fourth weekend
People who complain there’s never anything to do in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä drive me bonkers. On any given day, there are multiple events and fun things happening at restaurants, bars, businesses, parks and more throughout the Kanawha Valley.
And this coming weekend? Whoa.
With the ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Sternwheel Regatta along Kanawha Boulevard downtown and the America 250 Capital City Celebration at the West Virginia State Capitol complex — both happening Thursday through Sunday — your opportunities for great food, drinks, music and fun this weekend are as spectacular as the fireworks displays that will cap the festivities.
While the state still hasn’t announced what vendors will be set up in the “Midway Eats & Treats†area in front of the West Virginia Culture Center, Regatta officials have released a list of nearly 30 food and drink trucks and tents that will line the boulevard above Haddad Riverfront Park during those same days and nights. They include:
A Family Affair
Bandit BBQ
Big Marv
Carol’s Soul to Soul
Cecil’s Hot Dogs
Coal Miner’s Diner
Hillbilly Eats
Holy O’s
JoJo’s Tacos
Nelita Cocina
Scooby’s Icy Treats
Shawarma Zone
Sweet as Hale
Triple B Eatery
Zul’s Frozen Lemonade
And since I’ll be celebrating my birthday at the Regatta on Friday night, it looks like I’ll have plenty of good carnival eats to enjoy.
Jerk chicken with rice and beans is shown at the 2024 "All Fired Up kids cooking competition on July 7, 2024, at the Capitol Market in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä.
STEVEN KEITH | For the Gazette-Mail
Earlier Friday, I’ll have my birthday lunch at Capitol Market when I help judge this year’s All Fired Up kids' grilling competition from noon to 3 p.m. This fun contest pits young chefs against one another in a friendly battle to see who can cook up the best backyard BBQ feast.
After receiving a $100 gift card to shop for ingredients at the market, each chef aged 10-17 will have their own grill in the outdoor pavilion to turn their fresh ingredients into elaborate dishes for the judges. And that they do, serving up pretty plates of delicious food that always impress.
The public is invited to attend the free event, which will be hosted by local chef Paul Smith and feature music by EJ the DJ. There will also be a make-your-own popcorn bar from Trail Top Popcorn, treats from The Joy Bakery, offerings from The WV Pickle Guy, a make-and-take craft area where you can decorate your own reusable shopping bags, plus an adopt-a-chick station with kids' bracelets and keychains from Backyard Shenanigans.
Steven Keith is a food writer and restaurant critic known as “The Food Guy.†Reach him at 304-380-6096 or at wvfoodguy@aol.com.
