West Virginia

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 on 2022.01.20
7 Places
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Anthony Bourdain explores the center of “another America,” rural West Virginia, a place city dwellers often dismiss as an existential enemy. Tony finds instead a state that is welcoming and kind. Much more complex than just “the heart of guns, God, and Trump country,” West Virginia is both heartbreaking and beautiful, a state that has been woefully misunderstood.
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Welch, WV, USA

Meet McDowell

Tourist information center · Welch

Tony had dinner with the McKinney family, “a typical expression of hard-scrabble Appalachian practicality,” combined with “Neapolitan roots”: spaghetti pizza, chicken stew with peas and onions, pumpkin pie cake.

Welch, WV, USA

Mount View High School

High school · Welch

Bourdain ate: a hearty lunch of ribs, baked potato, and roast chicken. Lunch dates: Football Coach Mike Anderson, Coach Larry Thompson, and players, Fred “Fatback” Minco, Micah “Woody” McLaughlin, Cole “Chavo” Anderson.

War, WV, USA

The Coffee Shop

Permanently Closed

Bourdain ate: biscuits with gravy and fried eggs. Breakfast dates: Nick Mullins, journalist, environmentalist, and former coal miner and Elaine McMillion Sheldon, Peabody-award-winning documentarian.

Cucumber, WV, USA

Brooks Run Mining Co

Temporarily Closed

A sitdown with the men behind coal Bourdain ate: bear meat, chicken, potato chips. Lunch dates: coal miners of Pay Car Mine No. 58 in Kimball.

Barbour County, WV, USA

King Knob Motorsports Park

Permanently Closed

Bourdain ate: frog legs, snapping-turtle patties, catfish (barbecued and fried), smoked bass. Lunch dates: Adam Ringer, Eric Williams, Mike Benedum, Amber Williams.

Harrison County, WV, USA

Lost Creek Farm

Farm · Harrison County

Bourdain ate: vinegar pie (known as “desperation pie”), pawpaw ice cream with candied wildflowers, buttermilk-poached trout with fresh-picked rhubarb, sweet-corn chowder, buttermilk-fried rabbit with fresh maple syrup, venison with a chicory-root rub and chanterelle mushrooms. Lunch dates: Mike Costello and Amy Dawson, chefs and owners of Lost Creek Farm.

Logan County, WV, USA

Keith's Bar & Grille

Bar & grill · Logan County

Bourdain had: beer. Drink date: “Constitutional conservative” and candidate for District 24 of the West Virginia House of Delegates, Allen Lardieri.

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