Kanawha Valley eatery among stops on new state culinary trail

Kanawha Valley Chef Paul Smith's 1010 Bridge Restaurant and Catering in Charleston is one of 27 stops on the state's new culinary trail.Photo byWV Department of Tourism

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The West Virginia Department of Tourism has unveiled a new statewide culinary trail, with a stop right here in the Kanawha Valley.

“From upscale to casual bites, we want to make your efforts to eat your way around Almost Heaven worth every mile,” state Tourism Secretary Chelsea Ruby said in a release announcing the new culinary trail.

The new trail features 27 restaurants from all over West Virginia. The destinations have been hand-selected by the state's eight Chef Ambassadors, officials said.

One of the current ambassadors is the 2023 James Beard Awards finalist Chef Paul Smith, owner of several Kanawha Valley restaurants. Smith's 1010 Bridge Restaurant and Catering, located at 1010 Bridge Road in Charleston, is one of the eateries featured on the culinary trail.

Designed to highlight some of the state's best and most unique dining destinations, the trail is meant to attract tourists from both inside and outside West Virginia.

“We invite travelers from near and far to put the West Virginia Culinary Trail on their must-do list this winter and beyond,” Ruby said.

To promote the new project and to encourage its use, Department of Tourism officials have developed a West Virginia Culinary Trail mobile passport. Visitors can sign up for the passport on the agency's website. Passports are delivered electronically to a user's email address or via a text message on their phone.

When registered users visit a participating restaurant, they're encouraged to check in on their passports. After achieving various check-in thresholds, participants become eligible for prizes including a carabiner bottle opener and a locally made charcuterie tray.

“While you’re tasting the best dishes the Mountain State has to offer, you might as well enjoy a side of adventure too," Rudy said.

The culinary trail is currently active. Officials said that as new chef ambassadors are chosen each year, the trail will be updated to include even more eateries.

Ruby encourages locals and visitors alike to plan their state travels around the featured restaurants.

"Plan a foodie road trip and stay a while," she said.

For more information on the West Virginia Culinary Trail or to see which eateries are featured, visit wvtourism.com.