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.
West Virginia
7 Places
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.
Meet McDowell
Tourist information center
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.
Mount View High School
High school
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.
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.
Brooks Run Mining Co
Permanently 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.
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.
Lost Creek Farm
Farm
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.
Keith's Bar & Grille
Bar & grill
Bourdain had: beer. Drink date: “Constitutional conservative” and candidate for District 24 of the West Virginia House of Delegates, Allen Lardieri.
