Charleston Restaurant Week is in full swing and we dove into it last night with dinner at Laury's - with stops at Bricks & Barrels, Paterno's and Celsius booked over the coming days as well.
I still have one night open, so I'd love to hear what your best meal has been so far this week. Each year, it seems like there are a couple of restaurants that generate the most buzz, and I definitely don't want to miss out on the ones everyone is raving about.
So let me have it, Charleston! Where should I dine on my open night? Then I'll pray to the restaurant gods that they still have at least one seat available.
I may be out of luck at this point, though.
During a wonderful kickoff event last Thursday at Yoga Power's ultra-cool studio at the Appalachian Power Park, many of the chefs I spoke to said reservations were booking up quickly - and some were already about full - even days before the week began.
Packed local restaurants in the middle of winter? That's music to my ears.
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While Charleston Restaurant Week shines a light on local chefs, another upcoming event does the same for the farmers and producers who provide West Virginia food to them.
So if these dreary winter days have you dreaming of summer - and the fresh farm produce it brings - be sure to save the date for this year's Winter Blues Farmers' Market and Dine Around on Feb. 12 at the Charleston Civic Center.
More than 40 agribusiness operators will be on hand to sample and showcase the quality produce, meats, sweets and other specialty food items they make right here in the Mountain State.
Admission is free, but a West Virginia-themed "dine around" will give guests the opportunity to purchase locally inspired food from area restaurants.
The event, sponsored by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture and WVU Extension Small Farm Center, will take place from 1-5 p.m. that day in the Civic Center's Grand Hall. For more information, check out the West Virginia Department of Agriculture's Facebook page.
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Remember when I recently shared the news that The Farmer's Daughter Market & Butcher in Capon Springs had been named a national finalist in the prestigious Good Food Awards?
Well, the winners were announced this past week, and Farmer's Daughter was one of them. Their Sweet Capicolla & Pate Campagne was honored as one of the best charcuterie products in the country.
Way to go, folks!
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Finally, this Friday is National Chocolate Cake Day. I trust you have plans to celebrate accordingly.
Steven Keith writes a weekly food column for the Charleston Gazette-Mail and an occasional food blog at blogs.wvgazettemail.com/foodguy. He can be reached at 304-380-6096 or by email at wvfoodguy@aol.com. You can also follow him on Facebook as "WV Food Guy" and on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest as "WVFoodGuy."