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From the title of this blog entry you can probably guess that this past weekend marked the return of football season. Since I don’t do a ton of posts around “Life on Court St” I thought this weekend was a fitting tribute to why I live where I do.

In my line of work I talk to people all over the U.S. daily, and most of them (unfortunately) know all about the stereotypes of WV but not the joys. If I could bottle Saturday night and give it to them – I would.

You see I grew up in the Mountain State and have always loved football. My brother was a midget league Raider. I was a Colts midget league cheerleader. In high school my class clown type of brother went on to play tuba in the band at half time and I hung up my pom poms and went on to wearing a larger than life letterman jacket sitting in the stands cheering on #65 *swoon*.

To say that football was part of our life would have been an understatement. While my Dad’s only interest in the game was walking me on the field during Homecoming, my mom was a different story. She watched it on Sunday afternoons and Monday evenings (Redskins were her pick) and we lived it on Friday nights. We went to every Hinton High School home and away game for six years– even when it meant coming back home at 1am and mom working the next day. I even remember our car getting keyed at a really tough game and sitting on wooden bleachers at a school hidden away in the rural mountains.

When I went off to college it was just fitting that we’d all become Mountaineer fans as well. Experiencing Jake the Snake, eating at Hostetlers, and being part of the Don Nehlen era became as much a part of us as breathing in and out. Those are all memories I love and will cherish forever.

It’s a funny thing about nostalgia, it tends to creep back in on you from time to time; often when you least expect it. I had that moment on Saturday when I attended a high school football game here with some very proud parents.

The excitement of the game was truly electric. The stands were packed. And as the players made their way onto the field, I could feel myself getting emotional. Why you might be asking? I have no sons that play. I have no tie to Gbr East. What I have is a remembrance of that time in my life when things were pure and simple. When dinner consisted of popcorn from the concession stand and we all huddled under homemade orange and black blankets as the cooler winds moved up from the river to the field. When the Hinton Boys of Fall were not all that different from what I saw running onto the Spartan field.

My tear was also because I was sitting in a little piece of Americana I don’t think everyone gets to experience. Parents were laughing and sharing stories. Giving high fives for great plays even when it didn’t include their own child. And supporting a new coach and team that just deserved to be cheered for if only for their own hard work and dedication.

In life I don’t know how often we get to see that true comradery anymore. And I have to think that the people who make up this part of WV gave me that wonderful Friday night under the lights that not everyone has a chance to enjoy. By reading this post you might think that we had a Rudy moment or threw a hail mary to win the game and that’s why it was so special. But tht’s not what this night was about and for the record, we didn’t. We played with heart, we held our heads high, and we showed everyone what true men our parents and coaches were molding.

Contrary to what ESPN Game Day may say — football really isn’t about winning or losing. Just like West Virginia isn’t all about hillbillies and coal tipples. It’s about the spirit that it gives off. The feeling of pride you get when the players take the field. When the lights flicker on with a hum. When you’re harkened back to a time when life was simpler and everyone played by the same rules. A time when laughing with your neighbor was more important than getting ahead of them. And when for one brief night under the lights, everyone in town is on the same team.

Friday night was a gift to me that I can never repay. A gift from the town and the state I love so much. A gift from 65 young men who showed the unity, respect, and commitment great small towns are known for. Even this great one right here in rural West Virginia. 

Keith applying side decal at Colonial Ford to a new 2012 Ford Explorer for use at the Greenbrier Classic 2012

Preparation for a July to remember : As a proud sponsor of the 2012 Greenbrier Classic, Ford is providing over 100 vehicles for golfers, their families and more. We are excited and honored to be the dealership to prepare all of the incoming new Fords! Keith, our Detail Manager, has been applying all of the decals, while his crew cleans and gases up the cars and SUVs for their experience at The Greenbrier. It’s amazing how quickly they have been getting the vehicles ready with over 500 decals needing placed, trimmed and set. The count is 25 new Ford Taurus sedans, including the SHO, 25 Ford Edge crossovers and 50 Ford Explorer XLTs and Limiteds. All of the vehicles are in dazzling white, black, silver or gray. In addition to these vehicles, Colonial Ford will also be supplying a number of trucks for the event. Ford’s lineup is amazing and our team’s hard work and expertise doesn’t go without notice.

Read more from Colonial Community Newsletter at http://www.colonialfordwv.com/ColonialCommunityNewsletter.

Family music time with the cousins!

via For the Love of Music by Lisa Lewis Smith | Esse Diem.

“When I went to college in South Carolina, I sometimes babysat for a young family.  The Daddy went to Episcopal High School, a boarding school in Virginia, and coincidentally was roommates with my cousin Will Carter.  He told me about his trip to Lewisburg once, his first to West Virginia, with Will to meet his family.  He remembers driving into a beautiful piece of property, open and lovely in the spring green, and as they pulled in closer to the Prichard house, two young men, not much older than he and Will, were standing naked in the field playing their stringed instruments.”

Smith cousins know how to eat!

via For the Love of Food by Lisa Lewis Smith | Esse Diem

“Most people have not experienced a Thanksgiving like the one we have at Smithover!  One year we had close to fifty people (my dad and all his siblings, their spouses, and my 15 first cousins, plus some “outsiders”).  And we are all…male, female, big and small… BIG eaters!   We all talk loud and none of us listen.  Boyfriends or girlfriends often joined us, but there was always a whisper… Do you think he’ll make it back next year?  I don’t think she has the temperament for THIS crowd.  Did you see his face when he walked in?  Take a look at her plate…who diets around here?”

via For the Love of Family by Lisa Lewis Smith | Esse Diem

“Chaos is not uncommon in a big family.  During a televised football game at one of the many Thanksgiving holidays we spent at Smithover, my older brother surprised us all during the half time show.  He pulled out his shotgun (safely, but without warning) and struck a buck from our back deck, out of nowhere.  The younger kids jumped for joy.  Once the gun was locked away, they ran to inspect the kill.  It was not a customary family event. One of my cousins left with her young child and did not return on that trip.  But she did eventually return.  Your family can really turn you off…but it always amazes me how you come back home for the holidays.  That is the beauty of family.  They say you can’t pick your family….but I sure would pick mine if I had the chance.”

via For the Love of Natural Beauty by Lisa Lewis Smith | Esse Diem

“The open fields are peppered with giant oak, maple and elm trees.  When I was a child, the trees looked like giants waving down at me with their many branches.  Sometimes I would even pretend to shake one of their hands.  It reminds me of the endearing and imaginative children’s book, When Giants Come to Play, which portrays imaginary giant friends that play hide-and-seek, toss marbles, and drink tea with a young child.”

via For the Love of Lewisburg by Lisa Lewis Smith | Esse Diem

“In the 1920’s, my great grandmother Elizabeth Dana Smith, or “Grandma Dana,” inherited what had been the Lipps Family Farm, about two hundred acres southeast of what is now downtown Lewisburg.  It eventually became the summer stomping ground for her sixteen grandchildren known as the “sweet sixteen” cousins, one of whom is my dad.  They named the property Smithover.”

]]> http://essediemblog.com/2011/11/25/for-the-love-of-family-by-lisa-lewis-smith/ Fri, 25 Nov 2011 12:18:16 +0000 Elizabeth Gaucher http://essediemblog.com/2011/11/25/for-the-love-of-family-by-lisa-lewis-smith/ http://essediemblog.com/2011/11/24/for-the-love-of-natural-beauty-by-lisa-lewis-smith/ Thu, 24 Nov 2011 12:47:33 +0000 Elizabeth Gaucher http://essediemblog.com/2011/11/24/for-the-love-of-natural-beauty-by-lisa-lewis-smith/ http://essediemblog.com/2011/11/23/for-the-love-of-lewisburg-by-lisa-lewis-smith/ Wed, 23 Nov 2011 17:02:23 +0000 Elizabeth Gaucher http://essediemblog.com/2011/11/23/for-the-love-of-lewisburg-by-lisa-lewis-smith/ http://suddenlinkfyi.com/2011/09/06/lewisburg-voted-coolest-small-town-in-america/ Tue, 06 Sep 2011 19:25:08 +0000 Steve http://suddenlinkfyi.com/2011/09/06/lewisburg-voted-coolest-small-town-in-america/ Suddenlink-served Lewisburg, W. Va., (population 3,893) was voted the “Coolest Small Town in America” by readers and editors of Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel magazine.

“A small town is usually lucky if there’s a decent one-screen movie theater, maybe a community dance troupe. But a Carnegie Hall? This speck on the map in the Greenbrier River Valley lays claim to one of only four in the world,” write the editors. “The 1902 building now serves as Lewisburg’s creative control tower, attracting an unlikely band of artistic characters, back-to-the-land types, and retirees.”

In addition to its reputation for the arts, Lewisburg is noted for its award-winning restaurants, antique shops, trendy clothing boutiques, quaint bed and breakfasts and historic inns.

Here are some ideas for checking those five WV based items off your list:

• Bella – The Corner Gourmet.  Bella is Lewisburg’s newest store and brings international and West Virginia products together in some phenomenal gift baskets.  Cheeses, wines, kitchen products, you name it.  In a word – yum.
• Greenbrier Valley Theatre and Carnegie Hall WV.  One town  – two great performing arts centers.  Wow we are lucky.  Both organizations allow gifting of tickets to future shows or open gift certificates.    Both are nonprofits and can’t survive on ticket sales alone – so consider gifting a few extra dollars to the cause.

•  Smooth Ambler Spirits.  The first Gbr Valley distillery since prohibition opened this spring and to raving reviews.  Grab a bottle of their Greenbrier Gin or Whitewater Vodka at your local liquor store or contact the guys to let you know when their online sales retailer is available.  (Their merchandise at the distillery is cool too.)

• WV State Parks.  This is probably the gift I’ve given that has gotten the most attention.  A gift card to any of the WV State Parks is a great gift to give.  Then they decide what park and when. Neat.

•  The Crazy Baker.  Imagine a production bakery tucked away in the mountains pumping out unbelievable brownies, panforte, and my favorite, Sticky Toffee Pudding.  Their online site makes for easy ordering — from a great pastry chef turning out desserts for top restaurants and consumers — all from the mountains of WV.

When in doubt – ask.  In addition to being a wild marketer – I’m an avid shopper.  I’m happy to suggest some of my other WV favorites.

Susan says…

Part two of my culinary report from Lewisburg involves the Stardust Cafe. 

As I noted in my Julian’s review last week, three names popped up when I was asking around town for a good place to eat.  Since I had chosen Julian’s for our evening meal and Ron was still out on the road somewhere trying to close the gap created when he rode with me “off the back” for the first 21 miles of his 85 mile route, I thought a glass of wine and a snack at Stardust seemed like a stellar idea.

The place was full.  And it wasn’t even normal lunch hours.  Luckily, a seat was available at the bar, so I took it.  The cool thing about that seat is the view:  I could watch all the plates come together behind the counter. 

While sipping a glass of pinot grigio, I reviewed the menu.  Stardust reminds me of Bluegrass Kitchen with it’s simple yet upscale menu and organic ingredients.  After all that bike riding, I deserved a snack, right?  Especially if it’s a sort of a healthy snack, like….oh, I don’t know…fish?  Even if that fish just so happened to be served inside a flour tortilla with a cilantro aoili? 

I thought you’d agree.  So I took the liberty of placing my order. 

The glass case at the cashier’s station displayed several decadent desserts including carrot cake, cheesecake and a coconut cream cake resembling a high-rise building.  I picked up a brochure on the counter next to me and proceeded to read all about the creator of these sweet endings, the Crazy Baker.   

At last, my fish tacos arrived.  I received two with tortilla chips for $7.95.  Each soft flour tortilla boasted fish, lettuce, pico, and cilantro aoili.  Each was wrapped in a sheet of aluminum foil to keep them toasty warm.  A lot of juice dripped out from, (I guessed), the fish but overall the taste was good and fresh.  Value and service was also good.  

Not good was the appearance of another pesky pickle on my plate.  Not only did the aluminum foil wrapper help keep my food warm, but it also provided a much needed protective shield from pickle juice.  I know, I know.  I am in the minority here and most people love pickles.  I’m just sayin’…the argument could be made that forcing pickle juice on me is like forcing secondhand cigarette smoke on people.  Sure people have the right to smoke eat pickles, but not if it means I have to inhale ingest the smoke juice.

I finally heard from Lance Ron and he was headed my way so I saved one of my tacos for him to try.  He liked it, no matter what nonsense he writes below.   And I managed to resist all the attractive pastries, cakes, and cookies.

As a bonus, Stardust Cafe was one of the local shops offering 20% off for folks participating in the Wheels of Hope ride.  Awesome!

Stardust is open for lunch and dinner service.   THREE FORKS – another great choice in historic Lewisburg.

Ron says…

 July 18th, 2009.

I can’t really officially review this establishment as I did not officially eat here.  So I’m going to call this a “Shadow Forking” .. and hence everything written here will be typed in this color.

By that I mean, this Forking can accompany Susan’s review in an official capacity, but should not apply as any official Fork You forking.

YET. 

Because at a later date with more experience I may come back and “Unshadow” it and make it official, or amend it in someway so that it can be.

Let’s get to it…

Susan had been here a while, my 80+ mile bike ride ended much later than hers and she was sitting here having lunch and sipping on wine when I arrived around 3PM ish give or take.

Upon my arrival there is a little note taped to the door in Tricky Fish fashion that says that they are closed until 5PM.  I could still see Susan sitting in there, so I go on in.  Facing scowls from the wait staff {can’t this guy read??}, I proceed to sit with Susan.

Why was I scowled at???  Because I entered this closed joint where people apparently were inside eating and frolicking???  My problem with this foolishness is that, the sign was literally a sheet off a notepad and scotch tape.  If this is a regular thing for the Stardust Cafe, well get a more professional sign stating what your hours are like Soho’s does.  Do this at the minimum.

Of course they were closed because they had to “re-tool” the kitchen to prepare for Dinner.   Maybe they do, maybe they don’t,  I don’t know.   I was able to get a beer.  The beer was from Rogue Brewries.  I forget what it was, but they didn’t have Dead Guy Ale ~ probably my favorite from Rogue.

I did ask our server what she could peddle that I could eat (thankfully Susan had saved one of her Fish Tacos for me to eat ~ damn there’s a joke written all over that phrase LOL).  Appearing to not want to address my hunger issues in too much detail or concern, our server informed me that she could only sell deserts but may have some chips if I wanted some.  Wanting neither, I tasted the taco.

A little too much like Fish and Cole Slaw for my taste.  Although it wasn’t bad at all. 

The beer selection was good, with prices on the high side but I’ve seen higher and I was not red-faced ashamed to be paying for it.

The Lunch menu (obviously dinner is going to be a different menu after the re-tooling), was also on the high side for my likes with most meals in the $10 and above range.  But again what little I tasted was pretty good.

I’m going to give the Stardust Cafe Three Forks.

Susan says…

While shopping along Washington Street in Lewisburg WV last weekend, I asked around about the perfect place for a nice meal for two later that evening.  Since I had ridden 21 miles in the Wheels of Hope Bicycle Ride that morning (and Ron was still in the midst of his 85-mile ride at the time), I didn’t feel the need to be overly concerned about calories.  I just burned a bunch off, right?  Specifically, I inquired about Julian’s, the Tavern 1785 and Stardust Cafe.  I was advised by the locals to make a reservation no matter which dining destination I chose.   I received positive feedback about each restaurant with one shopkeeper stating “you can’t get a bad meal at any of our four restaurants”.  (I figured Food & Friends was the unnamed fourth.)

The three restaurants I was considering had menus posted on a sign or window.  I love that!  So as I walked around taking photographs and stimulating the economy (I’m patriotic that way), I reviewed each menu and decided on Julian’s. 

Julian’s is a little house turned restaurant on a side street off the main drag in downtown Lewisburg.  Their menu was more varied than the others and featured dishes I thought Ron and I both would really enjoy - lots of seafood choices, some beef, some curry, some Italian.  Entree prices averaged $22.  I liked the casual look of the exterior landscaping – kind of wildflower-ish in a bohemian sort of way.

I called the restaurant, asking for the latest reservation time which turned out to be 8:15.  Oh well.  I kind of expected that after the nght before.  We found out, after being turned away at multiple establishments, that people must not eat out past 9 pm in this quaint tlittle town.  Not even on a weekend!  My plan was to devour a meal at Food & Friends on Friday night and try someplace new on Saturday.  I guess F&F will have to wait until my next visit to town.

We arrived at Julian’s right on time and were shown to a table immediately.  The interior appeared to be divided into three small rooms but all patrons were seated in one.  That bugs me.  Especially when I am on a date.  The decor was nice and simple with orange painted walls and rows of wine bottles lining the tops of the half-walls all around.  The walls are covered in photographs of various people and places.

Peach-colored linen napkins were artfully folded and placed on a charger atop a round black faux marble table.  Ron sat on one side on a padded bench with a throw pillow while I sat across from him in a chair comfortable enough for lingering.  Our table was positioned very near the next four-top table which was postioned very near the next two- top.  All the diners opposite me shared the same padded bench.  It reminded me of the seating at Lola’s in South Hills. 

Had the place been packed, I would have understood the close quarters.  But as it was, the only diners were all crammed into this one room.  Is it really too difficult for the waitstaff to trek into the next room to allow the patrons a more private dining experience?  Especially when you’re dropping a C-note on dinner?  You knew your conversation could be heard by everyone else because we could hear theirs. 

Here’s what I learned from the conversation at the next table (Table Two), a table so close I could have touched it without getting out of my seat:

• The two women at Table Two were in a relationship
• One was from Austin, TX
• She has also lived in Anchorage, Alaska
• These two women were invited by the woman at the table next to them, Table Three, to view their entrees to help make a decision about what to order
• After the entrees arrived at Table Two, they were compared to the samples at Table Three
• The Texan was very upset that she received rice instead of polenta and that prompted the owner/chef to come out for a chat with her
• Either the husband at Table Three was irritated that his wife was involved in a conversation with these women at Table Two or relieved that he, himself, was no longer responsible for dinner banter
• Apparantly decaf coffee is what one orders in Texas when espresso is not available.  Go figure.

I deftly talked Ron into a bottle of pinot noir – I was not familiar with Windy Hill but it was reasonably priced and I haven’t met too many wines I didn’t like.  I learned that Windy Hill was no longer available but there was another pinot noir similarly priced that was even better.  I exchanged a few sentences with our server about the bottles of wine sitting on the nearby ledge, recognizing the Perlat we had at SHM&C recently.  I could tell Ron was really suffering, dying to roll his eyes.

Screw top cap and all, the Angeline Pinot Noir for $28 was wonderful!  This dangerously smooth wine had great drinkability and a silky smooth finish.  We both loved it.  I will be looking for that one in a grocery store near home.

We were served a small dish of a beige-colored substance with carrot and celery sticks.  Neither of us could place the flavors and we weren’t sure what type of dip/spread it was.  So I asked.  It was a pesto-garlic hummus.  I liked it.  Ron… not so much.  The complimentary bread and butter was good but not over-the-top with infused flavors or special ingredients in the bread. 

For my entree I chose scallops in garlic, honey and white wine, priced at $22.  The oval dish also came with red bell peppers, mushrooms and rice which may have been a substitution for polenta, given the previously mentioned convo at the table next to us.  Also, I received red onions cooked in sugar, red wine and balsamic served in a Chinese soup spoon and a side of cooked spinach.

I could taste all three named components of the broth my scallops were in – the sweetness of the honey, the garlic and the slight bite of the wine.  Basmati rice covered the bottom of the dish, soaking up the juices.  The scallops, nicely cooked, were rather small in size  There were eight to ten scallops in my dish.   I don’t mention that as a criticism, merely describing in deatil.  I may have enjoyed the dish more if it had been served with pasta instead of rice.  I don’t know how polenta could have been the intended accompaniment - with all that broth it would have surely become too runny.  That’s just speculation as the menu did not specify what came with the scallops.

Also per my usual, I grabbed a bite of Ron’s salmon.  You could definitely taste the horseradish and therefore, I did not care for it.  His impressions follow.

Stephen, the Chef/owner, came around to greet all the diners and ask if the meal was alright.  I saw him make these rounds twice.  He was friendly with us on both visits.  On his second trip ’round, Ron asked about the onions we suspected were prepared with Balsamic vinegar and were rewarded with the recipe.  Ron, pressing his luck, also mentioned how much enjoyed the horseradish salmon.  Score! another mini-cooking lesson.  Ron’s already thinking of how he can turn that recipe into a caveman-approved dish.  Flax seed meal in place of panko…

Restaurants really knew what they are doing when they invented the dessert tray.  It’s so much more difficult to resist when the sweet somethings are staring at you with those puppy dog eyes, hoping you’ll take them home with you.  I asked if the desserts were made in-house (one of my standard questions) and learned that all but the pecan pie and something else were indeed made on the premises.  I selected a trifle of chocolate torte soaked in port, blueberries and mascarpone cheese served in a wine glass for $5.  The combination of chocolate, port and mascarpone sounded too good to pass up.  Indeed it was delicious.  The chocolate torte was bittersweet and dark just the way I like it.  The mascarpone had a slight tanginess.  The blueberries were fresh and gently popped when I bit down on them.  A very nice ending to a nice meal.

If you are wondering why there are no photos of the food, I took some with my iPhone which turned out too blurry to use.  It was a very low-light situation.  After reading a post on Serious Eats about the etiquette of taking photographs in restaurants, there was no way I was dragging out a camera with a flash.  You’ll have to use your imaginations this time.  Or, better yet, go there for yourself.

I would definitely recommend Julian’s.  I wish I could give it three and a half forks but Daniel won’t let me.  FOUR FORKS.

Ron says…

July 18, 2009 (Susan always likes to leave the date out)

 We recently had a weekend in Lewisburg, W.Va. and got to take in some of the local dining establishments.  I have a few complaints to lodge, which I’ll repeat on the appropriate reviews.

What I came away with from our trip is that this City does indeed sleep and it likes to be in bed at 9PM.  We arrived in town around 9:00 on Friday Eve, and were able to make it downtown to the Historic area about 9:30.  Well this is too late to eat, at least for the three locations we stopped at.  I forget the exact names of the locations, but I do remember one was still advertising their food special on the sidewalk sign with chalk while promoting a cover charge for what I assume was maybe a band or something.  (Editor’s note: we stopped at Food & Friends – closed at 9:00; we also stopped at Del Sol whose kitchen was closed but they were accepting a cover charge for the band Ron mentioned.  I don’t remember stopping at another place.  Tavern 1785 was right across the street and I think we just assumed it was also closed.) 

So Friday, my dining experience was one of those ill referred to “Chains”, but because of the all too familiar experiences of said chains, we were off to the Neighborhood Bar and Grill because all the other neighborhood bar and grills seem to have shut down, or at least their grills were turned off.

Julian’s – was the one place I got to eat that was local.  I have to say I enjoyed it tremendously.  Part of this enjoyment is I’m sure due to the fact that I told Susan I did not want to see the bill.

The place is small inside, shockingly so because it appears huge from the outside.   Is this a problem, not really.  But arriving for our late dinner reservation (if one can call 8:15 late??) , there were several empty tables, so as usual I don’t feel I need to be seated in someone else’s lap.  No I wasn’t literally seated in someone else’s lap, but I was seated close enough to overhear portions of their conversation that I’m sure they had wished I hadn’t.   Again, this is only a problem because there were other private seats available.

The decor is Orange or yellow or goldenrod or some other similiar color, with hundreds of pictures.  It reminded me more of Moroccan decor instead of Italian.  Having never been to Morocco or Italy, I really don’t know what that decor should be so don’t take my advice at face value.  Just assume that the decor is not offensive and all the pictures have frames.

The Menu was nice and professionally done.  Laminated if I remember correctly.  This implies to me that they don’t really shuffle their menu around a lot.  That’s cool, as they know what they do and do it well in my opinion.  Why fix it if it isn’t broke?   The wine and beer list was lacking beer, but on further inspection it did not say “wine and beer list”, it simply said “wine list”.   With the thousands of bottles of wine arranged on every horizontal surface, and the millions of corks stored in jugs and other containers I simply assumed that they do not offer beer and switched my drink pallet into wine mode.

Wine – our server was very well educated in wine, or she baffled me with bullshit.  Unfortunately her knowledge came off as snobby and made me feel out of place to some degree.  I’m sure this was not intentional on her part, but that’s what it was.  She seemed to know her wine, and we ordered one off the list, and she was quick to point out one that wasn’t on the list that she felt we would rather have.

Now how does someone know that we would rather have a wine that isn’t on the list more so than the one already on the list???  Now if I was in New York at the late Windows on The World, I would probably think this person that doesn’t know me is matching my meal to the wine she is suggesting based on parameters at which I do not understand thus making me feel special.  I’m not in New York as that city is just waking up, I’m in Lewisburg which is trying to go to bed.  Thus I’m thinking they are simply out of the wine we ordered and simply disguising that fact by describing a substitute wine.  Whichever the case I will give credit where credit is due – the wine was excellent.  Either she new her wine or she has learned what is on the menu and what isn’t in stock and what would be a good substitute, and she deserves credit for a job well done.  Now if we could just work on making me feel superior instead of inferior.

My food entree was horseradish crusted salmon at $22.   I loved it.  Liked it so much I’m going to try to replicate it.  Informing our chatty chef/owner of this, he gladly sat down and told me how to make it.   As he did with another item that Susan had on her plate.

My Salmon was cooked perfectly, the breading which I considered to be lightly breaded was crunchy. (he even explained how to make sure it stays crunchy during the cooking process).  The horseradish was a great flavor that complimented the salmon.  My rice was cooked perfectly but it was rice.  My greens, tasted great and I don’t like greens.  

Did I mention the Salmon was great, and the wine was great?

Now a few notes:

We had commenters say the chef is too chatty.    I can definitely see how one may think that.  However it didn’t come off as rude and obnoxious to me.  However we were seated so close to the next couple that me and Susan had long since gave up our desires on privacy and tossed them out the window to where I thought about asking our neighboring diners to pass me some some salt and pepper.  The chef I think was just being friendly and that simply must be his way of doing so.  I liked it.

Susan had something in a dish on her plate that at first I thought was going to be sliced Olives. Dark Brown and organic… Susan wasn’t about to taste these, but I was game.  Picking up a piece, I immediately made the comment that it kind of looks like a leech, while placing one on my arm in a mock grimmace.  However that was the best tasting leech I’ve ever eaten, very sweet and fruity.  Susan says she bets it’s a pickled onion, then I say no not pickled but marinated in Basalmic Vinegar.  After talking with the chef, we were close, but they are cooked in red wine with basalmic vinegar.  This to me was a definite highlight, because I would have never thought of this composition and was surprised it tasted so good.

Four Forks.  I could be mean and give it Three Forks because they close at 9, but I’m feeling nice this morning.

Four Forks

Dan says…

Lewisburg, West Virginia is a great small town.  Home of the West Virginia State Fair and the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. They have just about everything you need, soup to nuts, heck they even have a Wal-Mart.  Downtown Lewisburg is home to a small artisan bakery where you can find many irresistible eats. They are so tempting, make sure you bring your dough or you will be sent across the street to the ATM.  This is a cash only establishment.

Display Case

You are greeted by a large display case with many freshly baked items.  The first thing you will be tempted by is a large pan of Triamasu for $2.50 a portion. This is a good deal in my book.  It looked so good.  The case has cakes, cookies, brownies, sweet bars, and they have bread, too.  I surveyed the case and decided to try a few different items.  The sacrifices I make for this blog.

The first victim was a triple chocolate mudslide cookie for $1.50. It was very crumbly (is that a word) and had a deep, rich chocolate flavor. The next treat to meet its maker (that doesn’t make much sense) was a  cherry chew for $1.50. This cookie bar is the best cookie I have had (except what my wife makes) in a very long time.  It is dried cherries and toasted almonds on a shortbread cookie base topped with sugar glaze.  When I got home I tore into a french bread demi loaf that set me back only a buck.  It was just how I like it with a tight almost dense interior.

Triple Chocolate Mudslide Cookie - $1.50

Now I have been told that you can live off GVBC cherry granola. If you need variety you can rotate in the raisin granola every other day.  You can wash this all down with a refreshing Boylan Bottleworks Ginger Ale made with pure cane sugar. Now if granola and ginger ale aren’t your thing saunter down on Wednesday night from 4:30 to 8P for pizza night.  Watch them make your pizza from the dining room or enjoy the clean valley air on the patio.

Lewisburg might be a little pretentious for some and I have heard this place called the “rude bakery”. This was not my experience. I only wish they would welcome the 21st century with a debit card machine.  Feel free to spend your dough at this THREE Fork establishment.

Cherry Bar

Baking Area

Demi Loaf

Ginger Ale

Inside of a Demi Loaf

Dan says…

When Jill Cortes featured Food and Friends on the now canceled Food Network show “The Best of…” she wasn’t far off the mark. This long established restaurant in historic Lewisburg has been making friends with its outstanding menu and food for many years. This proud brick building sits on the corner of West Washington and Church.  If it is a busy evening you might find parking around the corner past ”The Market”. After your short walk you will be greeted at the front door with a huge selection of Asher Chocolates that scream “save room for me!”

Case o' Ashers Chocolate

The menu is complex, but complete. You will find something that suits you. Consider one or two of their interesting appetizers like Alligator Bites or the Harbor Crab Dip. Those are two things that you will be hard pressed to find somewhere else in WV.  F&F have been ahead of the low carb curve for a few years with the “Lighter Fare” section of the menu.  It pairs high quality proteins like salmon and marinated chicken with beds of fresh greens and vegetables.  I have sampled the Sweet Bourbon Salmon before and enjoyed it. The Seared Tuna, a grilled tuna fillet served over fresh field greens, with egg, red onions, roasted almonds and fat free tomato basil dressing, always catches my eye until I turn the page.  The Signature Grille and Pastas make me want to send the server away (mortal sin*) so I can have more time to decide.  There are so may delicious sounding entrees on the menu you could eat there once a week all summer and never eat the same thing.  I finally decided on the Chicken Oscar.

House Salad with Pilot House Dressing

My meal started with a cool crisp garden salad made up of chopped romaine, red peppers, red onion, cucumbers, and a combination of yellow pear and red grape tomatoes. F&F’s signature dressings are housemade including the Bacon Honey Mustard and the Pilot House. I selected the Pilot House, a horseradish infused Russian dressing.

Flower Pot Bread

The Chicken Oscar is a sauteed chicken breast topped with lump crab meat, asparagus, and a béarnaise sauce served over linguine.  The pasta tasted like it was tossed in EVOO and butter then seasoned with flat leaf parsley. The plate was rounded out with a vegetable medley composed of carrots, yellow squash, zucchini, pearl onions, green beans, and red peppers. The plate was garnished with citrus wedges and flowering kale and sweet baby basil. The flavor of this dish was heavenly and I enjoyed every bite.  F&F should be applauded for pairing several simple ingredients with a classic sauce.  The slightly acidic buttery béarnaise sauce rounded out all the flavors. The meal is served with fresh bread that is baked in a flower pot.  This is a unique and practical presentation.

Chicken Oscar - $18.95

Kim, my server was..well…friendly. She was attentive when needed and let me be to type this review. We had a nice chat about our families.

They have a nice moderately priced wine list featuring bottles of Toasted Head Merlot, Smoking Loon Syrah and the Italian Pinot Grigio, Bella Sera. They also score major points with me for featuring the Oregon Rouge River Brewery Ales, like Dead Guy.

Dark Chocolate Tiramisu Truffle - $1.99

The selection of desserts were tempting. Peanut Butter Pie, Mile High Brownie and New York Cheese Cake made me drool, but at the $4.95 – $5.95 price point I suspect they are too big for “not so” little ole me. I did round my meal off with a dark chocolate tiramisu truffle for $1.99 and a cup of black coffee. The double shot of java gave me the juice to get back to Charleston in one piece. Kim brought me a refill for my coffee in a to-go cup, which put a smile on my face.

Want to get out of town on a day trip or need to visit a relative locked up for insider trading in Alderson? Head to Lewisburg, WV and have a Five Fork meal at Food and Friends.

*Sending a server away to study the menu for a few more minutes is a restuarant no-no.  You may not realize it, but you unwittingly throw off the servers rhythm and will have to wait for them to get drinks and take another table’s order before they get back to you.  So avoid doing this if you are impatient.