Taste of Parkersburg returns downtown
Aaron Clubb, the owner of Pappy’s Lip Smackin’ BBQ, was serving brisket with the local eatery and caterer’s signature sauce.
Photo by Douglass Huxley Visiting again from Wirt County was Toscano in Appalachia, aka the DeFeo Family Vineyard & Winery.
Kimberly Bradley, Samantha Allen and Cynthia Morris set up the Little Stir booth before the Taste of Parkersburg event Saturday at Bicentennial Park.
Photos by Douglass Huxley Generation Gap entertains the crowd at the Taste of Parkersburg event Saturday in Bicentennial Park.
Aaron Clubb, the owner of Pappy’s Lip Smackin’ BBQ, was serving brisket with the local eatery and caterer’s signature sauce.
Photo by Douglass Huxley Visiting again from Wirt County was Toscano in Appalachia, aka the DeFeo Family Vineyard & Winery.
Kimberly Bradley, Samantha Allen and Cynthia Morris set up the Little Stir booth before the Taste of Parkersburg event Saturday at Bicentennial Park.
Photos by Douglass Huxley Generation Gap entertains the crowd at the Taste of Parkersburg event Saturday in Bicentennial Park.
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PARKERSBURG -- Crowds of people gathered downtown again for the Taste of Parkersburg, after a two-year, pandemic-induced absence.
Three groups of vendors were set up at Bicentennial Park for attendees to enjoy, featuring different food and beverage companies.
Visiting again from Wirt County was Toscano in Appalachia, aka the DeFeo Family Vineyard & Winery. They are regulars of the event, but visitors are still excited to see them every year.
"I have been making wine for over 60 years, but commercially only 20," said Carmine DeFeo.
He said he began making wine with his grandfather, who, like himself was Italian.
"We hand crush our own grapes, and in our dry reds, I am proud to say the only thing used are red grapes," he said.
DeFeo explained the grape skins produce their own yeast, which he uses to make the wine.
His wife Pamela DeFeo said they couldn't pull it off without family. Also in attendance were their adult children, who have taken to learning and operating the family business.
While there was a lot of wine to choose from, other options could be found mixed in as well.
Hawk Knob Hard Cider and Mead, from Lewisburg, was offering their product for sample.
"Our cider is rooted in Appalachian tradition," said employee Dylan Yokum. "Our unique approach to this old mountain favorite infuses our 12-month bourbon barrel-aged cider with organic elderberries."
Their traditionally crafted ciders are unfiltered and born from a blend of locally grown West Virginia apples, she said.
Local businesses such as the Parkersburg Brewing Co. and Wine Down on Market were also represented.
As far as food options, Pappy's Lip Smackin' BBQ, a local eatery that caters and works festivals, was serving brisket with their signature sauce.
Owner Aaron Clubb is originally from Missouri, and explained that when he first moved to Parkersburg he couldn't find any barbecue sauce he liked, so he started making his own
He said he has a business partner who runs another Pappy's in Missouri.
After eating, or maybe while enjoying drinks, people could get some dessert from multiple vendors. One option was Little Stir, from Vienna.
"We have been around for 20 years and are family owned and mostly family operated," said owner Cynthia Morris.
Many of the cakes and other desserts they make are family recipes that have been passed down.
"However we make desserts for all occasions, so we have new recipes and things as well," she said.
Their business is working on getting a food truck up and running this summer, Morris said.
"We are looking into doing events, before driving a route, however we will visit south side (where they first opened the store) and visit them for sure," she said.
Madeline Scarborough can be reached at mscarborough@newsandsentinel.com