Fine Appalachian cuisine

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Friends of Food dinner sponsored by FARM2U Collaborative will be held at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 29 at Berry Hills Country Club. FARM2U is non-profit organization dedicated to the culinary, cultural heritage and agri-tourism industries in West Virginia and the Appalachian region

The dinner celebrates the culinary heritage of West Virginia by featuring local foods in a wine-paired, five-course dinner. Five executive chefs from across the state team up to prepare the meal.

Chef Dale Hawkins of Fish Hawk Acres in Rock Cave will prepare an antipasto salad smorgasbord featuring gourmet cheeses from Green Glades Creamery. Chef Tim Urbanic of Café Cimino in Sutton will prepare a Mediterranean shrimp appetizer. Chef Oscar Aguilar of DiOGi's in Fayetteville will prepare the soup course. Chef Nick McCormick of Berry Hills Country Club will prepare filet of beef or veal. The Culinary Institute at Mountwest College in Huntington will provide assorted desserts.

A reception will feature Pines & Post wines, supplied by wine sponsor North Central Distributors, Inc.

Tickets are $75 per person, $135 per couple and $500 for a VIP table of eight. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are available online at www.wvfarm2u.org, from Loren Smith at Berry Hills Country Club or from Jack Cipoletti at 304-346-3351 or j...@point-forward.com.

Elkview eatery

Developer Bill Turner recently opened Roni's, a casual pizza and bar food restaurant with full bar service at Crede's Corner in the shopping plaza off the Elkview/Frame Road exit of I-79. The menu features pizza, appetizers, steak and salads. It's one of the few restaurants in the area with bar service.

Roni's, 109 Crede's Landing, is open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday and closed on Sunday. Call 304-965-2592.

New bakery

Sarah Plumley, previously of Pies by Sarah, has opened Sarah's Bakery at 1011 Bridge Road in collaboration with Eric Levine of the Food Network "Chops." Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Call 304-343-2253.

More than pizza

Pizza Barbarossa in Dudley Farms Plaza recently added items such as lasagna, alfredo shrimp and hoagies to its existing menu of pasta and wood-fired subs and pizza.

Owner Manoli Stavrulakis, who also owns Cafe Creperi in Trace Fork and previously owned Mykonos Greek restaurant on Capitol Street, said he also added wine and beer to the menu, reduced lunch prices and offers delivery services. A special Sunday lunch menu include items such as moussaka, a layered dish of eggplant, potatoes and ground meat filling smothered in a creamy bechamel sauce.

Pizza Barbarossa is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Call 304-746-4000 or visit pizzabarbarossa.com.

Ribfest results

Congratulations to big eaters Kennie Bass of WCHS, who won the wing-eating contest, and Dave Mincer of Blues BBQ, who won the pulled pork sandwich-eating contest at the Charleston Ribfest, held Sept. 6-9. The Gazette's own Bill Lynch finished second in the wing-eating contest.

Armadillos from Atlanta cooked the ribs that took top honors in the ribs category and Carolina Rib King from Moore, S.C., won best sauce.

Buckwheat cakes

The Preston County Buckwheat Festival in Kingwood runs Thursday through Sunday and features the event's signature buckwheat cakes served with butter and syrup or applesauce and Preston County pork sausage patties.

Buckwheat cakes will be served at the Kingwood Volunteer Fire Department Community Building. Prices are $8 for adults and $5 for children under age 12. Other attractions include an arts and crafts show, carnival and live music. Visit www.buckwheatfest.com.

Burgoo Cook-off

The Burgoo Cook-off, sponsored by Webster Springs Main Street, will be held Oct. 6 at Baker's Island Recreation Area in Webster Springs. The Cook-off contestants prepare their Burgoo at home and bring it to the event by 11 a.m. for judging for cash prizes of $500, $200 and $100. Burgoo is a spicy stew typically made with game and other meats.

Other events include an apple pie contest, live bluegrass music, hayrides, cakewalks, pumpkin painting for kids, arts and crafts, a scarecrow contest and more. Call 304-847-7291 or email websterm...@citlink.net. 

Reach Julie Robinson at jul...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1230 with information to be included in Food Notes.