Tasty bites at Huntington's Sweets for Sight
- Steven Keith
- 8 hours ago
- 3 min read
Larobi's now Elk City Pizza, Secret Sandwich opens in Morgantown
What’s better than a dessert competition? Being asked to judge one that features dozens of both sweet and savory treats, a silent auction full of great prizes, plus live music from “The Voice” star Holly Forbes.
That all went down at Sweets for Sight at Marshall Health Network Arena in Huntington this past Friday night, during an annual fundraiser for the Cabell Wayne Association of the Blind.
Now in its eighth year (although the event had previously gone virtual and then to a hybrid format due to COVID) this annual event features local bakers, food trucks and cottage food businesses competing for a variety of awards, all while supporting a good cause.
I was grateful to be invited as part of a panel of judges who tasted all entries to name our best sweet and savory bites of the night. After a blind tasting, my celebrity colleagues and I honored these two winners:
Best Tasting Dessert: Strawberry Crunch Cheesecake from Double Drizzle in Ashland.
Best Tasting Savory: Glazed Korean BBQ with red cabbage and a spicy cream drizzle from Holy Smokes BBQ in Ceredo.
Other winners included ...
Heartwood Coffee in Milton for Best Beverage (the cutest little Banana Bread Latte served in individual see-through pop-top cans)
Double Drizzle again for Staff’s Choice (assorted treats)
Aloha Frost in Milton for Emcee’s Choice (Hawaiian-style shaved ice)
Amanda’s Sweet Snacks for People’s Choice (macarons and assorted treats) winning by only one vote.
That’s a sweet victory, for sure!
West Side pizza joint drops Larobi's name
A Larobi’s pizza location that opened earlier this year at 117 W. Washington St. (where The Grill operated for decades on Charleston’s West Side) is no longer affiliated with the original Larobi’s name in St. Albans.
The restaurant has rebranded as Elk City Pizza, complete with interior upgrades to give the place a cozier neighborhood vibe.
“While the look and name are fresh, you can still count on the same great location, the same phone number and the same familiar faces serving up delicious pizza, wings and more,” Elk City Pizza announced on its new Facebook page.
Sadly, the menu accompanying that post made no mention of Larobi’s signature “Big O” pizza, a banger creation from the original location topped with giant pepperoni, salami, ham, sausage, mushrooms, green olives, green pepper, onion and hot banana peppers. I don’t mind the name change one bit, but I sure will miss that awesome pie closer to home.
The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday. For more information, call 304-347-8697 or visit the restaurant’s Facebook page.
Secret Sandwich opens in Morgantown
A beloved Fayetteville restaurant now has a new location in Morgantown, once again stirring up chatter about when the hot spot may (for the love of all that’s holy) venture into West Virginia’s capital city.
Secret Sandwich Society opened in nice new digs at Suncrest Town Centre in Morgantown last week, starting a new chapter for the 16-year-old venture that got its humble start in Southern West Virginia, serving up seriously righteous sandwiches named after Secret Service code names of former presidents, first ladies and vice presidents.
You can sink your teeth into delicious creations like the Roosevelt (griddled sirloin beef, bacon, horseradish mayo, white cheddar, lettuce, tomato and red onions on toasted baguette); the Lady Bird (roasted chicken breast, bacon, chipotle mayo, housemade pickles, lettuce, tomato and red onions on toasted potato roll); the Adams (slow-roasted pork shoulder, honey butter, pimento cheese and housemade pickles); or the Timberwolf (bacon, jalapeño, smoky BBQ sauce, American cheese and crispy onions).
As for a future location in Charleston, owner David Bailey has told me that’s definitely a possibility and will keep me in the loop if and when those plans progress.
Please, oh, please make it so.
Secret Sandwich Society in Morgantown, at 368 Suncrest Town Centre, is currently open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. (Monday hours are expected to be added later.) For more information, call 304-322-4200, visit www.SecretSandwichSociety.com or check out the restaurant’s Facebook page.
Steven Keith is a food writer and restaurant critic known as “The Food Guy” who writes a weekly column for the Charleston Gazette-Mail and has appeared in several state, regional and national publications. Follow him online at www.wvfoodguy.com or on Facebook, X, Instagram and Pinterest as “WV Food Guy.” He can be reached at wvfoodguy@aol.com.
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