You don’t have to wait till October 2017 to devour 2016’s best appetizer, entree and dessert. Taste of Bridge Day chefs don’t appear at annual events like ghosts; they actually cook the delicious meals you remember all year long! We’ll show you where those award-winning entries live in the New River Gorge.

Who took the feast?

Who made the best roast beast? At Taste of Bridge Day, gourmet cooking is serious business. It’s a gastronomic party that precedes the world’s biggest BASE jumping festival. Regional restaurant chefs prepare gourmet fare at Smokey’s on the Gorge, and you can vote for your favorite entry after sampling everything.

It’s not just about wining and dining, though. Restaurants take great pride in their chefs and meals, so bragging rights are at stake, too.

Did you try these 2016 winning recipes?

• Best Appetizer: Smokey’s on the Gorge’s Smoked Shrimp with Bloody Butcher Grits
• Best Entree: Buffler’s Broccoli and Cavatelli with Sausage
• Best Dessert: Gumbo’s Genoise Organic Chocolate Cream

Smokey’s on the Gorge Home of Taste of Bridge Day itself! The long timber porch treats you to mesmerizing views of the canyon, while the gourmet buffet satisfies everything else.

Smokey’s is open all day and has a full bar, too, so staring at the Gorge from breakfast to dinner is an option. It’s a seasonal restaurant and closes in winter, but look for Smokey’s to reopen in May!

Buffler’s BBQ Grill Family-friendly ambience doesn’t keep this restaurant from slacking in the cooking department. Smoked brisket and pulled pork from Buffler’s are a local treat. The Gorgantic— a 28-inch monster pizza— is a hit, too.

Gumbo’s Cajun Restaurant It turns out our corner of West Virginia makes some pretty good low country cuisine! Order enormous portions of gumbo, catfish po boy and blackened shrimp. Gumbo’s also serves hearty burgers and sandwiches.

Crave even more fabulous flavors? Visit these runners up:

Chetty’s Pub This laidback sports bar merges comfort food favorites (wings and “Class IV Cheese Fries”) with sophisticated fare. The Miami burger or chicken breast comes off the grill with melted Swiss cheese, smoked ham, dill pickles, Dijon mustard and garlic mayonnaise. Chetty’s Ultimate BLT also comes with eye-openers like fried green tomatoes and sriracha sauce.

Cafe 110 Homemade meals, affordable prices and cheerful service keep this Oak Hill mainstay ticking along. Cafe 110’s garlicky hummus and warm, thick pita bread are favorites, but the daily specials are always satisfying. Pulled pork, meatballs and grilled southwestern chicken are typical stars, but the buffet covers many genres, too. Try one of their creamy pies, too— if you have room.

Arrowhead Bike Farm It’s easy to assume that only bikers feel welcome at this Fayetteville watering hole. But the biergarten appeals to foodies, too. Arrowhead serves excellent soft pretzels, fancy bratwurst sandwiches and craft beer.

Where are you going to dine next?