Steven Keith

With Charleston Restaurant Week in full swing, the Jan. 22, 2025 announcement was welcomed that the James Beard Foundation has blessed Charleston, West Virginia once again with two more “Best Chef” semifinalists — one regional and one national. Chase Collier from Ristorante Abruzzi in Charleston was named a semifinalist for “Best Chef: Southeast,” which puts him in an elite category of the top 20 chefs in West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. And Charleston native William Dissen, now chef/owner of The Market Place Restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina, earned a nod as a semifinalist for “Outstanding Chef” in the nation. That means he's among the top 20 nominees in the nation. You may remember The Market Place itself was also named a James Beard semifinalist last year in the national “Outstanding Restaurant” category.

Food Guy: Scenes from Charleston Restaurant Week at Dem 2 Brothers, Abruzzi, more

Food Guy food review Steven Keith shares some traditional and not-so-traditional flavors he experienced during the Noodle Kugel Bake-Off at B’nai Jacob Synagogue on Charleston’s East End on Sunday, March 9, 2025. Also, the annual Green Chili Shoot-Out returns Saturday, March 15, 2025, featuring chili sampling, beer sipping, entertainment, wrestling and more at Capitol Market at 800 Smith St. in Charleston.

Food Guy Steven Keith says foodies who love a gourmet farm-to-table dinner enjoyed in a beautiful country setting are probably already familiar with Bop & Nana’s Sunday Supper Series hosted by former Café Cimino owners Melody & Tim Urbanic at their farm in Chloe, Calhoun County, West Virginia. Also, the new Albuquerque Southwest Bar & Grill opening March 15, 2025 at 207 Washington St. W on the West Side of Charleston, West Virginia, and Hagy’s Irish Pie Pub officially opening Monday (St. Patrick’s Day) on the corner of Quarrier and Dickinson streets in downtown Charleston.

Food Guy food reviewer Steven Keith tells us about The Wine Down, a new wine bar in the West Side neighborhood of Charleston, West Virginia. And he shares Janet Victorson’s winning Spicy Thai Peanut Kugel noodle kugel recipe from B’Nai Jacob Synagogue’s first-ever Noodle Koogle Bake-Off, held in March 2025.

Food Guy food reviewer Steven Keith says Cattlemen's Roadhouse in Cross Lanes has a lot of work to do with regard to food preparation and customer service.

Food Guy food review Steven Keith explains that DT Prime in downtown Charleston, West Virginia has closed, at least temporarily. And Bamboo Garden in Sissonville, West Virginia is also closed. Albuquerque Southwest Bar & Grill in Charleston is changing its menu from Tex-Mex to Guadalajara-themed. And Laporte Cafe in Charleston has updated their hours.

Food Guy food review Steven Keith shares what visitors can expect from the newly opened The Fort Bar & Grill on Cantley Drive in Charleston, West Virginia. He also shares that Downtown Charleston restaurants Bar 101 and Ichiban have both closed, but the closures could be temporary.

Food Guy food review Steven Keith shares how Sergio Lugo-Mata has sold all of his West Virginia restaurants -- five of which he has owned for some time and a newly acquired and quickly resold restaurant in Belle. Some of the restaurants are expected to remain similar to the current concepts, while others are expected to keep current staff but change concepts. Jam Off returns to downtown Charleston’s Capitol Market, 800 Smith St., Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. This free event runs from 10 a.m.-2 p.m..

Food Guy food review Steven Keith shares details about the upcoming Sweet Charity dessert festival on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. Caffe Romeo's owner expects to open the new location on Walnut Road in the near future. And Keith shares some of the flavors he experienced at the 2025 Jam Off at Capitol Market.