Good Morning, River Valley Bagels
Parkersburg’s newly opened River Valley Bagels has given residents
real cause for rejoicing. Bagel lovers are passionate about the object
of their affection, but River Valley makes eminently proper bagels
with big city taste, and the satisfyingly assertive texture that keeps
bagel lovers yearning for more. Their diverse selection ranges from
sweet or seeded to perfectly plain.
In addition to traditional favorites, like sun- dried tomato and
onion, River Valley offers a French Toast bagel and a number of yummy
pastries for an early morning jump start. The sunrise bagel with eggs
and melted cheddar on an onion bagel is good to go or on the spot.
They also whip up their own cream cheese in nine flavors.
Mornings are much more tolerable with River Valley Bagels richly
aromatic, flavorful Silver Cloud coffee from Colorado. Specialty coffees,
espresso drinks and gourmet hot chocolate are also available, but
the welcome surprise of a real, good cup of coffee, may bring cappuccino
drinkers back into the fold. Cutting back on caffeine? Fresh squeezed
orange juice eases the pain.
And then, there is the bread. If ever there was a reason to give
thanks for daily bread, this is it. River Valley Bagels makes their
own sourdough, French baguettes, focaccia, New York rye, and, wonder
of wonders, ciabatta. Transplanted New Yorkers, Texans and Los Angelinos
can assuage nostalgic cravings for the crusty, chewy, yeast bread
that started as Italian but has become all American.
Lunch is a taster’s choice, with smoothies, fresh soup, bagel
sandwiches (including a bagel hot dog) and other indulgences that
make high noon a high treat.
Despite their cosmopolitan quality and selection, River Valley Bagel
prices are modest and unassuming. Bagels are just $6.49 a dozen, but
River Valley counts fourteen as a dozen, so it’s a real deal.
Double wrapped, they freeze quite well for several weeks. A loaf of
ciabatta is just $2.00 - and saves a trip to New York. Toasted or
plain, ciabatta is eaten so promptly, no one knows if it freezes well.
PL
Contact River Valley Bagels, 200A Lakeview Center, Parkersburg
at 304-426-8815.
SOHO
Knows Food
The new restaurant SOHO’s adds a little chic to the Capitol
Market eating choices. The upscale Italian café offers a colorful
presentation of classic favorites, perfectly seasoned, freshly prepared
and served in portions that would sustain a day’s work in the
fields.
Open for lunch and dinner, the menu changes according to the time
of day, but SOHO’s serves their uniquely different pizza selections
for both seatings. In addition to the signature white pizza with Asiago
and Fontina cheeses, SOHO’s takes pizza to new heights with
innovative combinations of spices and herbs, yummy marinated shrimp,
wild mushrooms, caramelized onions, truffle oil and vine ripened tomatoes.
Salads are fresh, large and intriguing. The Frutti Di Mare is a taste
tempting compilation of squid, lump crabmeat and lobster with a lemon
and olive oil dressing. The delicious Mediterranean Salad is served
with tuna, fennel slices and feta cheese.
The rich colors and shapes of fiesta dishware are a bright background
for the generous servings of savory vegetable lasagna and the SOHO
mushroom ravioli. Lunch entrees are about $6-$9 dollars. The creative
dinner entrée’s, like grilled swordfish with eggplant
caponata or calamari stuffed with lobster and shrimp, or the lovely
lemon chicken, range from $8-$19.
SOHO’s offers a full bar including Italian beer and a nicely
diverse wine list. Graciously, they also offer eight white wines and
ten reds by the glass.
SOHO’s is open Monday-Thursday from 11am to 10pm, Fridays and
Saturdays from 11am-11pm and on Sunday from noon to 5pm. PL
For more information, contact SOHO’s in the Charleston
Capitol Market,
304-720-7646.
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