Wheeling is full of unique and specialty foods that you can’t find anywhere else. Whether they have a cult following or are hidden gems, these Wheeling-made items are sure to please even the most discernible palates.
Fish Sandwich
This delicious, humble fish sandwich has been feeding hungry workers since 1914. Located in Wheeling Centre Market, Coleman’s Fish Market has a special line just for those ordering the fish sandwich, which consists of two pieces of soft white bread holding several hot, fried fish filets. Simple, tasty and reliable, this sandwich is a Wheeling favorite.
READ MORE: Seafood Traditions – Coleman’s Fish Market and the Feast of the Seven Fishes
Windswept Farm Wildflower Honey
Multiple Retail Outlets
For more than 20 years, John and Gail Welty have lived on Windswept Farms located past Oglebay on Route 88. The farm has been in the Welty family since the early 1900s. John has been keeping bees for 11 years and cares for more than 30 bee hives. Windswept Farm’s honey is ethically harvested and raised naturally without synthetic chemicals or high-fructose corn syrup. You can find the Welty’s honey on their website, as well as several retail outlets in Wheeling, including the Good Mansion Wines, Under the Elder Tree Apothecary, Miklas Meat Market, the Public Market and more!
Figaretti’s Spaghetti Sauce
Figaretti Manufacturing & Distribution Inc.
The iconic Figaretti’s marinara sauce that started a restaurant can be found in area grocery stores, specialty shops and other fine retailers. It all started in the early 1940s when the Figraretti family began packaging and selling their homemade sauce made with a unique blend of spices and all-natural ingredients to local grocery stores. It was so popular that the brothers opened Figaretti’s Restaurant in Wheeling in 1949. The restaurant, now a local landmark, continues using the famous sauce and you can too at home.
Salty Bread
Baked fresh daily, this salty bread is quickly becoming one of the most beloved in the state. “Our Almost Famous Signature Loaf, crusty on the outside with a soft interior. Perfect for soup, garlic toast, sandwiches, charcuterie boards, dips, etc, etc.,” according to the website. One of the best ways to enjoy it? Try the Salty Bread Breakfast Sandwich, which features scrambled eggs, caramelized onions, cheddar and bacon tucked into that signature bread.
[template_part type="video" title="Making the Best Bread in WV: Sarah's On Main" description=" Open since 2018, owner Sarah Lydick and her team create a delicious spread of bread, pastries, and meals made with fresh, high-quality ingredients. Here is a behind-the-scenes look at how Sarah’s famous bread is made fresh each morning by her and her husband, Rod. Y" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdJOnEK9-Mw"]Local Eggs
Sure, you may be able to find local eggs in your neck of the woods. But for farm-fresh, Wheeling eggs? Check out The Public Market to enjoy them as part of a breakfast sandwich or purchase a dozen to take home. Either way, you can taste the freshness, and it makes all the difference.
There are even more specialty items found in Wheeling, like DiCarlo’s Original Pizza; anything from Vagabond Kitchen, which was featured on Guy’s Grocery Games; and beer from Brew Keepers.
Wheeling is full of incredible delicacies everywhere you turn. From locally produced items to curated products, there is no shortage of quality specialty foods. What other specialty items can you find in Wheeling that belong on the list?
• Candace Nelson, a native of Wellsburg, West Virginia, is a marketing professional working in the nonprofit sector. Prior to her current role, she served as the Digital Marketing Coordinator for the West Virginia Tourism Office, the Social Media Editor for West Virginia University and as a journalist for the Charleston Daily Mail. She has earned her B.S. in journalism, B.A. in English and M.S. in journalism from West Virginia University. She has published a book, “The West Virginia Pepperoni Roll,” and spends her free time teaching at the University of Charleston, writing a food column for the Charleston Gazette-Mail, serving on local community boards and blogging at CandaceLately.com. Connect with Candace at Candace127@gmail.com.