Why local farms have become the foundation of West Virginia’s best restaurantsWelsch said another change in West Virginia cuisine has occurred largely outside public view. Rather than treating local sourcing as a marketing concept, many West Virginia restaurants now build their menus around longstanding relationships with neighboring farms. Chef Matt Welsch’s recommendations for exploring West Virginia’s food cultureAsked where travelers should begin exploring West Virginia’s food culture, Welsch’s recommendations range from nationally recognized fine dining to long-established local institutions. Welsch believes changing food perceptions may be the most important ingredient in West Virginia’s culinary future. “The story of West Virginia’s food has never really changed,” Welsch said.