BY BETTY WRENN DAY on April 22, 2026
BETTY WRENN DAY / GAZETTE-JOURNAL
John West has cooked for many people for many years.
This writer is most asked “how DO you get the people to write about?” The following email is just one example.
“John West of Hallieford has been ‘the chief cook and bottle washer’ at the Piankatank Ruritan Club for probably 20 years. He cooks breakfast for the Rotary Club twice a month, the monthly dinner meeting at the Pianktank Ruritan Club of which he is a member (delicious), the annual Ruritan Christmas parties (delicious) and he is the official “fish-fryer” at all of the Ruritans’ twice yearly fish fries (delicious). And not to forget he not only cooked the food he plans the menu, purchases the ingredients and cleans up after himself and the facility usually starting as early as 3 a.m. John has worn out so many blue Ruritan aprons it is hard to imagine. He is also found in the kitchen of Spring Hill Baptist Church at Dutton and cooks for family and friends. He always has a smile and a cool demeanor. John West is the best of the best culinary circles in Mathews.”
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Dining and Cooking