A restaurant in my home town!
We stopped in for lunch on our way to Blennerhassett Island. I had my favorite, the fried bologna sandwich - a thick slice of bologna on a toasted bun with relish, onion, and hot sauce. Always great!!
Another good thing about The NET is they cater to the lunch crowd. The service is quick and efficient. Easy to get in and out and back to work on time, always has been.
They make their own beer. I don't drink. Someone else will have to comment about that.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Lightburn's, Stonewall Jackson Resort, Roanoke, WV
What a disappointment!
I had recently toured Stonewall Resort with my Hospitality Class and was under the impression Lightburn's was a premier restaurant of top quality and I was really looking forward to eating there. We had been traveling all day and were hoping we were dressed appropriately to get in, that's how high my expectations were. We were relieved to see young people entering wearing cargo shorts and ball caps. We opted to sit on the porch. The view is lovely.
My disillusionment started right away. This is a four-star resort! The first thing I noticed was a hole in my napkin. There was a chip in the "salt" shaker. I say "salt" shaker because both shakers had pepper in them. We ordered bruschetta. The bread was cold. I ordered a rib-eye with rice and a "premium side" of goat cheese grits because it sounded good. The rib-eye was almost indistinguishable from a frozen dinner salisbury steak. The rice may have been Uncle Ben's "boil in the bag". It was completely unseasoned. The waitress forgot the goat cheese grits, but when she brought them out, they had been microwaved to the point they were too hot to eat and didn't cool down until I was done with the rest of my food. They were hard and dry and gummy - if that's possible. Over all one of the worst meals I have ever eaten.
The waitress was sloppy. I don't mind a person being overweight, I'm overweight myself, but wear clothes that fit and are appropriate. Hip huggers are for thin people - it's that simple.
The high point: A thunderstorm came over the mountain and put on a great lightning show, followed by a rainbow.
I had recently toured Stonewall Resort with my Hospitality Class and was under the impression Lightburn's was a premier restaurant of top quality and I was really looking forward to eating there. We had been traveling all day and were hoping we were dressed appropriately to get in, that's how high my expectations were. We were relieved to see young people entering wearing cargo shorts and ball caps. We opted to sit on the porch. The view is lovely.
My disillusionment started right away. This is a four-star resort! The first thing I noticed was a hole in my napkin. There was a chip in the "salt" shaker. I say "salt" shaker because both shakers had pepper in them. We ordered bruschetta. The bread was cold. I ordered a rib-eye with rice and a "premium side" of goat cheese grits because it sounded good. The rib-eye was almost indistinguishable from a frozen dinner salisbury steak. The rice may have been Uncle Ben's "boil in the bag". It was completely unseasoned. The waitress forgot the goat cheese grits, but when she brought them out, they had been microwaved to the point they were too hot to eat and didn't cool down until I was done with the rest of my food. They were hard and dry and gummy - if that's possible. Over all one of the worst meals I have ever eaten.
The waitress was sloppy. I don't mind a person being overweight, I'm overweight myself, but wear clothes that fit and are appropriate. Hip huggers are for thin people - it's that simple.
The high point: A thunderstorm came over the mountain and put on a great lightning show, followed by a rainbow.
Sandy's, Kingwood, WV
Buckwheat cakes in the off season.
Every restaurant, firehouse, church, community center in Preston Co, WV sells buckwheat pancakes at an all you can eat price. They always come with Preston Co sausage. Sometimes they are served with a side of applesauce, what for, I don't know. Now, I have been known to help the Marion Co 4-H cook buckwheat cakes for the Firemens Breakfast at the Buckwheat Festival (last Saturday of September). It is grueling work. A lot of people come in on Saturday morning to have cakes before the parade.
We went to Sandy's in the middle of the afternoon. The buckwheat cakes were fine. I only ate one stack, my friend ate two. The flies were a distraction. I managed to nail one on my friend's cake kinda like a kung fu master catching a fly with chopsticks, only not quite. I was a little unnerving.
The buckwheat cakes served at the Buckwheat Festival are the best, most sour, buckwheat cakes I've ever had. They are the true, pure, unadulterated cakes that all buckwheat cakes should aspire to. That's all I can say.
Every restaurant, firehouse, church, community center in Preston Co, WV sells buckwheat pancakes at an all you can eat price. They always come with Preston Co sausage. Sometimes they are served with a side of applesauce, what for, I don't know. Now, I have been known to help the Marion Co 4-H cook buckwheat cakes for the Firemens Breakfast at the Buckwheat Festival (last Saturday of September). It is grueling work. A lot of people come in on Saturday morning to have cakes before the parade.
We went to Sandy's in the middle of the afternoon. The buckwheat cakes were fine. I only ate one stack, my friend ate two. The flies were a distraction. I managed to nail one on my friend's cake kinda like a kung fu master catching a fly with chopsticks, only not quite. I was a little unnerving.
The buckwheat cakes served at the Buckwheat Festival are the best, most sour, buckwheat cakes I've ever had. They are the true, pure, unadulterated cakes that all buckwheat cakes should aspire to. That's all I can say.
Lavender Cafe, Beechurst Ave, Morgantown, WV
I went here after I came to after having a wisdom tooth extracted. I remember the sushi was good, the kim chi was good. I had noodles. I don't remember much else and maybe the reason I everything was good was because I was high. :-)
Will have to go back.
Will have to go back.
Fujiyama Japanese Steakhouse
Again! My sweetie had made reservations for us and another couple for the day I came back from vacation. Oh my goodness! I had driven up from North Carolina just that morning and had not much chance to rest before we made it to dinner. I was in good company and that lifted my spirits a bunch. The food from the Hibachi grill at Fujiyama is very good and the more you enjoy the show, the more enjoyable the show is because the chef will put on a good show for people who are having a good time. I was encouraged to order the surf and turf, so I did. Most people go ahead the standard fried rice but I like the noodles and usually get them. The miso soup was good, as usual. The ginger salad dressing there is incredible, but the iceberg lettuce salad is disappointing and usually too wet, but I eat it anyway. I just don’t eat it all.
The show was fun. Our chef is a very talented egg-spinner, made an impressive onion volcano, has a good sense of humor and we had a very good time. The lobster was sweet and succulent as it should be, the steak was tender. Having an enjoyable time with people you love makes eating dinner that much better and it was a lovely evening.
Tips: Always give the chef a good tip and if he throws something for you to catch in your mouth, at least give it a try. I always miss, but I always try. It is part of the fun.
The show was fun. Our chef is a very talented egg-spinner, made an impressive onion volcano, has a good sense of humor and we had a very good time. The lobster was sweet and succulent as it should be, the steak was tender. Having an enjoyable time with people you love makes eating dinner that much better and it was a lovely evening.
Tips: Always give the chef a good tip and if he throws something for you to catch in your mouth, at least give it a try. I always miss, but I always try. It is part of the fun.
North Banks Restaurant and Raw Bar, Corolla,NC
Crazy thing about that Tim Buck II shopping center, we never had a problem finding a parking space! We were in the Outer Banks the week before the season goes into full swing but it was pretty crazy. One point I had to make was if I wanted to sit in traffic, I could have stayed in Morgantown. My daughter and son-in-law were out celebrating their first anniversary so I took my foster daughter and her daughter (my 13 year old grand-daughter) out for dinner. The place was pretty jammed up, literally. I guess they need to accommodate a lot of people during tourist season and the tables are pretty close together. Keep your pocketbook close, your elbows in and walk carefully if you don’t want to knock anyone’s drink off their table or hit their kid in the head while making your way to your table. Since they were full, they offered us the three open seats at the bar and we accepted. This turned out to be a good choice although I was skeptical at first. The bartender is a very good looking and amiable guy. We had a good vantage point to watch food come out of the kitchen, the steamer was right in front of us so we got to watch the seafood chef prepare plates of steamed seafood. It was fun! I started with ½ dozen Blue Point Oysters on the half shell and I ordered the yellowfin tuna (rare, of course), my granddaughter chose baby back ribs after we refused to allow her to order off the children’s menu and her mother ordered Jambalaya. The oysters were served with lemon, cocktail sauce, a chipotle sauce, and some type of vinaigrette. The oysters were shucked before my very eyes. Who needs a chipotle sauce or a vinaigrette when you have beautiful fresh oysters! They tasted just like the sea, just as I like them. My tuna was succulent and delicious. They were serving all entrees with mashed, skin-on, redskin potatoes and succotash. Both had nice, homemade flavor and the potatoes were very creamy. I did not try the ribs. I had the leftover Jambalaya for breakfast the next day. She had eaten all the shrimp and chicken out of it and I was left with the Andouille sausage. I thought the flavors were a little muddy. It was not my favorite Jambalaya ever.
Fujiyama Japanese Steakhouse, Morgantown, WV
Fujiyama offers an option of show cookery in the Hibachi section, a sushi bar, and a dining room. This night was my last night in town before I left for vacation. I had spent the day shopping, getting a pedi, packing, and preparing, so I was ready to relax. My sweetheart was not going to be able to go to the beach with us, so we were having a little farewell dinner together. We arrived about 8:30pm. My date ordered Tako Su (steamed octopus, served in cold vinegar sauce) and I love seared tuna so I ordered Tuna Tataki (thinly sliced tuna served with Ponzu sauce). Both appetizers were excellent! The octopus had something of a smoky taste; it was served on a bed of iceberg lettuce. The vinegar dressing actually reminded me of my mother’s bacon/vinegar dressing she used to make wilted lettuce. Octopus – yes! Iceberg lettuce – not so much. The Tuna Tataki had that great seared tuna flavor I was craving, so I was tickled with it.
For our entrée, he had Seafood Combo Teriyaki, I ordered Tempura Shrimp. I’m not sure I noticed much about his food because our sweet little giggling Japanese waitress brought me a gigantic plate piled with tempura shrimp and vegetables, graced with a flower created from a deep-fried thinly sliced potato (?) perched high on some brilliant shredded carrots and accented by a line of orange slices. It was so beautiful and fragrant – I was stunned! I was one lucky girl! We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, had a very nice intimate date, the food was glorious, I was happy.
For our entrée, he had Seafood Combo Teriyaki, I ordered Tempura Shrimp. I’m not sure I noticed much about his food because our sweet little giggling Japanese waitress brought me a gigantic plate piled with tempura shrimp and vegetables, graced with a flower created from a deep-fried thinly sliced potato (?) perched high on some brilliant shredded carrots and accented by a line of orange slices. It was so beautiful and fragrant – I was stunned! I was one lucky girl! We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, had a very nice intimate date, the food was glorious, I was happy.
Low points: Although the service was not too slow for us, we did get one appetizer at a time and we overheard another patron complaining about how long they had been there. (He must have had a tighter schedule than we had.) And, personally, I would take the big screen TV’s out, they were distracting. Maybe what I am considering a dining room, they consider a lounge. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt.
Introduction
I like eating; I like talking about food. Rachel Ray is a “cooker”, I’m an “eater”. I think that is my biggest reason for creating a food blog. I will probably dicuss food in and around Morgantown, WV, but if I take a trip, long or short, I will talk about whatever food, wherever I have eaten.
You might want to know why you should give any credence to my opinion about food. Maybe you shouldn’t. I grew up in Parkersburg, my parents and my sisters were and are excellent cooks. After being a picky eater for several years, (for example, I would eat vegetable soup with a fork to avoid putting anything foul in my mouth by accident) I eventually learned most food is absolutely delicious and I love to try new things and go new places to find out what’s on the menu.
In my blog I plan to review restaurants, be they homey, fancy, pretentious, fast food, chains, family style, buffets, you name it. Also, if myself, my daughter and son-in-law, or anyone else I know prepares something out of the ordinary, throws a tailgate party, has a cook-out, I might brag about that also.
Another thing you might want to keep in mind when you read these entries is that I am a regular, everyday kind of a girl. I have no credentials other than liking to eat. I’m probably exactly the kind of person who might come to Morgantown (if I didn’t already live here) for a ball game, or to take their student to a special dinner, go out on a date, have a special family get-together and is wondering “where should we eat”?
I start the Culinary Arts Program at Fairmont State University in the fall, so maybe I’ll recount some adventures from my classes.
I hope my endeavor proves to be informative and entertaining.
Oh, and I don’t drink, so regarding booze, you are on your own!
You might want to know why you should give any credence to my opinion about food. Maybe you shouldn’t. I grew up in Parkersburg, my parents and my sisters were and are excellent cooks. After being a picky eater for several years, (for example, I would eat vegetable soup with a fork to avoid putting anything foul in my mouth by accident) I eventually learned most food is absolutely delicious and I love to try new things and go new places to find out what’s on the menu.
In my blog I plan to review restaurants, be they homey, fancy, pretentious, fast food, chains, family style, buffets, you name it. Also, if myself, my daughter and son-in-law, or anyone else I know prepares something out of the ordinary, throws a tailgate party, has a cook-out, I might brag about that also.
Another thing you might want to keep in mind when you read these entries is that I am a regular, everyday kind of a girl. I have no credentials other than liking to eat. I’m probably exactly the kind of person who might come to Morgantown (if I didn’t already live here) for a ball game, or to take their student to a special dinner, go out on a date, have a special family get-together and is wondering “where should we eat”?
I start the Culinary Arts Program at Fairmont State University in the fall, so maybe I’ll recount some adventures from my classes.
I hope my endeavor proves to be informative and entertaining.
Oh, and I don’t drink, so regarding booze, you are on your own!
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