I love it anytime a new restaurant comes to town, especially if it's something new and exciting that we don't already have. And on that note, here's some hot-off-the-press food news!
A new Brazilian steakhouse is just a few weeks from opening in the old Ponderosa building at Elk Crossing Mall off the Elkview exit of I-79.
According to reader Scott Shaffer, whose company is building the new restaurant's website, the place will be called Picanha Brazilian Steakhouse and is owned by a man who runs similar establishments out in California.
"The place looks great, inside and out, and the menu looks wonderful," he said. "It's a Churrascaria-style restaurant with all the meats cut at your table from large skewers."
A Brazilian steakhouse in Elkview? Who'd have thunk it?
I've dined at a Churrascaria in Mexico and the experience was fantastic, especially tasting a variety of juicy meats carved right onto your plate. Can't wait to check out the one we'll have here.
nnn
The rest of this week's column is dedicated to reader mail, which continues to flood my inbox and voicemail week after week. But I ain't complaining. I'm grateful so many people enjoy good food as much as I do, so keep those comments coming.
"Dear Food Guy: I just wanted to thank you for your interesting reviews. The wife and I eagerly look forward to the Wednesday paper to read your latest ... you have made the old Gazette more fun to read," wrote Jim and Martha McCormick.
"Four of us had lunch at Su-Tei yesterday and enjoyed it immensely. It was our first visit there, and I tried the yellow curry as you had suggested. It was great, and everyone else tried a different dish and liked them also. South Hills Market is becoming one of our regular stops, too, and we have never had anything but a great meal there," she added.
"We have you to thank for our now weekly treks (weather permitting) to Charleston from the wilds of Braxton County to try out new (to us) places. You are doing great things for readers, as well as the business community of Charleston. Please keep up the good work! We give you a well-deserved plug when we try out a new place you have recommended. It's the least we can do to show our gratitude."
Wow. Tears.
nnn
"I read your columns quite often and have visited a number of restaurants you have mentioned in them," said Betty from Valley Fork. "Bridge Road Bistro was a very good choice, and several people had mentioned Shucker's as a good place for seafood and it has been on several lists of the state's best restaurants."
She then recalled my epic lunch in St. Albans a few weeks back, eating four meals at four different restaurants within three hours - one of them being Shucker's, which was very good. Betty said she and her husband were in Charleston last week for an appointment and decided to try Shucker's.
"We were there for lunch and had the fried oyster and fried fish sandwiches. Both were excellent, the service was exceptional and the prices reasonable. We will return."
She said she and her husband are from Maryland and Delaware and moved to West Virginia when they retired.
"We miss the seafood we used to get back home, but have found a few places that serve good seafood here," she added. "I just wanted to let you know I enjoy your food columns and the recipes you publish. You posted a recipe for ribs in a crockpot that your wife was preparing and you were right when you said they were as good as any you have had. I have prepared them several times and everyone loves them. Enjoy your work."
Thanks Betty, those ribs are fantastic!
nnn
"Steven, I couldn't believe it when I picked up today's edition of the Charleston Gazette-Mail only to see Bern's mentioned," wrote Larry Land. "I live in Orlando and am up here on business and by far my favorite restaurant is Bern's. Bern's is not just a meal, it's a dining experience. Everything from the dinner to the kitchen to the dessert room is wonderful. I try to get there at least once a year and your column reminded me that I am overdue. If you ever go back ask the servers about the training they have to go through. It's incredible."
Thanks Larry, will do!
nnn
"Hello Steven! I have been meaning to let you know how much I enjoyed your review of The Olive Tree Café, as well as follow-up comments this past Wednesday," said Bob Corey. "I think you are very fair and properly objective, with the intent to always be helpful and never harmful to the subject of your reviews. By doing so, you achieve credibility not only with your readers and the public, but also with the restaurants themselves. Very refreshing, and I very much appreciate and enjoy what you do."
Steven Keith writes a weekly food column for the Charleston Gazette-Mail and an occasional food blog at http://blogs.wvgazettemail.com/foodguy/. He can be reached at 304-380-6096 or by e-mail at wvfoodguy@aol.com. You can also follow him on Facebook as "WV Food Guy" and on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest as "WVFoodGuy."