It seems like only a few weeks ago that I found myself home alone with an empty couch, salty snacks and a delicious frozen pizza. Well, it was déjà vu all over again last weekend as my wife – The Lovely Miss S – was once more absent for College Football Saturday, only this time attending a yoga retreat in the beautiful Canaan Valley instead of participating in Ohio mega-mall retail therapy.

Instead of boring you guys with additional ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ of California Pizza Kitchen pies (however delicious they might be), I’m turning over blogging detail to Miss S herself as she had the opportunity to dig-in to a place that, for me, exists only in conversations of hidden, off-the-beaten-path eateries. Take it away, Miss S!

Tasty Vittles at The Purple Fiddle
By The Lovely Miss S

Having recently returned from a sublime weekend retreat with Charleston’s KO Yoga, I humbly asked the author of this blog if I might contribute a quick recommendation about a cool, quirky eatery where I happily dined over the weekend with some awesome yoga chicks. The restaurant is called The Purple Fiddle, and it’s located in Thomas, West Virginia, about 20 minutes or so from Canaan Valley Resort.

Although I’ve spent the vast majority of my life in Wild and Wonderful West Virginia, I am continually amazed with the stunning natural splendor found here. Seeing Canaan Valley for the first time was no exception. The view from the lodge was spectacular, but the food at the lodge… not so much. It was pricey and plain, and certainly not worth a three-hour drive from Charleston.

Thankfully, and after three meals at the lodge, my new-found pals from Elkins took me and a couple other cool gals to The Purple Fiddle for some exceptionally delicious, and pretty creative, local fare. I had the ‘Metrobilly’ – a veggie-stuffed sandwich on hearty, chewy whole-grain bread with Swiss cheese, almonds and honey mustard. The veggies were fresh and the addition of almonds added a nice crunch and a dash of protein. I must admit this creation (concocted, the menu states, by “an expert sandwich researcher”) was superior to the hummus-and-veggies-on-pita jobs I make at home. It was darn tasty.

Although my dinner companions all chose vegetarian entrées, there are several options in the chicken and pork categories, as well. I caught glimpses of the plates being served around our table, and each looked delicious and hearty. (I think it would be hard to go home hungry from this place!)

To drink, I had what The Purple Fiddle refers to as a ‘Pucker Up,’ known around other parts of the country as an Arnold Palmer (a sweet/tart concoction of iced tea and lemonade). As the author of this fine blog knows, I loves me some Arnold Palmers, and am always delighted when a server or bartender knows what I’m talking about upon ordering one. The Purple Fiddle’s version is tangy, bright and just right with a dash of the stuff in the yellow packet, or their homemade sugar syrup. They also have a great selection of beers, specialty coffee drinks and hot chocolate (perfect for warming up after a day on the slopes).

In order to balance out my yoga pants-friendly entrée, I finished off my meal with a slice of Chocolate Sin – a rich, dense and oh-so-chocolatey cake that proved to be best shared with at least three friends.

So, come ski (or conference) season, head on over to The Purple Fiddle for some fine local fare in a homey joint that serves food like you’d make at home – only better.

IF YOU GO: The Purple Fiddle, 21 East Avenue, Thomas, W.Va., 26292, 304/463-4040

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 6th, 2007 at 5:05 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.