Honey Baked Ham has always been an afterthought for me. I don't think I have ever intentionally sought out this restaurant; I have only had it as part of a catering order or because it was the only option. But that all changed recently. Maybe Gen Z is more hip to hidden gems, because several younger coworkers have proclaimed their enjoyment of said restaurant. So, I made an intentional decision to check out the Charleston location. While it is a chain, there aren't many locations in West Virginia. They are best known for their full-size hams, which are ideal for holiday dinners. But they ..read more

Stephanie’s is a classic Boston restaurant with an outpost at the local airport. "Stephanie’s has been serving award-winning “sophisticated comfort food” in a relaxed, inviting atmosphere since 1994," according to the website. While I couldn't visit the original location this trip, I got a taste of the experience at the airport. I ordered the skirt steak with chimichurri and truffle parmesan fries. While I wish the steak had a harder sear on the outside, I did enjoy the flavor. The fries needed some oil to adhere that parmesan so you dont inhale it while trying to eat. Again, though, solid m ..read more

Paschal's is an iconic Atlanta restaurant known for its fried chicken. The restaurant has an outpost at the Atlanta airport, which has been named one of the best airport dining spots in the country by Food & Wine Magazine. I opted for a chicken tender meal with sweet potatoes and macaroni & cheese, which were all options on the hot bar. This was a pretty good lunch - especially considering it is airport food. On the whole, the flavor was good, but the texture suffered a bit. The crunchy exterior of the chicken seemed to have been steamed a bit, making it softer. All in all, not ba ..read more

On this day, I learned that Marie Callender's was more than just a grocery store frozen food line. It was actually first a chain of restaurants out west. "In the 1940s, Marie started selling the pies she made in her home kitchen to local restaurants in Orange, California. Her son, Don, delivered her signature creations on his bicycle. In 1948, Marie sold the family car, giving her the means to turn her at-home bakery into a bona fide business. She baked more than 100 pies with wholesome ingredients every day. In 1964, Marie’s family opened their first pie and coffee shop. Her loyal custom ..read more

"Situated smack-dab in the middle of 'downtown' Pioche’s Main Street, the family-run Historic Silver Café has been filling the bellies of locals and visitors alike with hearty breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for more than a century. And after a day exploring eastern Nevada parks and wandering through the Wild Western past of 'Nevada’s Liveliest Ghost Town,' that’s exactly what you’re going to deserve," reads the Travel Nevada website. Classic diner fare fills the menu here: french toast, omelets, country fried steaks, breakfast burritos, burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, ribeye steaks, pi ..read more

Ephen Tacos was a last-minute dinner decision while traveling through the area. It was getting late; it was dark, and I remember struggling to find a parking space to fit our RV. We parked in a nearby lot and walked over. From here on, the main thing I remember is the overwhelming stench of cat pee. It may have been from the lot and stuck to our shoes when we went inside the restaurant. But we carried it with us throughout the experience. The dining area in the restaurant itself was fairly small and the menu a bit nebulous - "smoked fusion artistic gourmet, smoked meat tacos, housemade sa ..read more

Cambodia is a southeast Asian country that borders Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. If you're like me, you may not be familiar with Cambodian cuisine, so I took to Wikipedia for a briefing: "The cuisine of Cambodia contains tropical fruits, soups and noodles. Key ingredients are kaffir lime, lemon grass, garlic, fish sauce, soy sauce, tamarind, ginger, oyster sauce, coconut milk and black pepper. Some delicacies are num banhchok, fish amok and aping. The country also boasts various distinct local street foods," the website reads. While passing through Eureka, California, on a national parks ..read more

Dan the Baker is a small toast bar in Columbus. "Dan Riesenberger produces world-renowned sourdough breads using time-honored practices and honest ingredients with great integrity, right here in Columbus! His products are available in some of the best grocers and restaurants in the city," reads his Facebook. His website continues: Dan the Baker's artisan breads are deftly created from 100% organic grains, using the ancient method of sourdough fermentation. For most of our breads, we use only our wild leaven to raise the dough. This time-honored technique imparts a beautiful complexity an ..read more

I recently headed out to Gritt's Farm to check out their tulip festival. It was so lovely to see fields of tulips and pick out a bouquet to take home. But, there are also tons of food options here, too. I'll start off by saying I visited most of the food options on this visit, but I did not get to try the food truck, Sugar Shack, Snack Stand or Box Truck BBQ. Adding those to my list for next time. First up in the food barn is Teagan's Treats, a sweets shop. They were featuring "The Farmer Float," which is a mug layered with creamy vanilla soft-serve ice cream and strawberry cider ..read more

Here's my latest column for the newspaper: Spring paints a landscape of blooming tulips, chirping birds and light rain showers across West Virginia. It also ushers in a season of new life and rebirth, celebrated as part of the Christian holiday of Easter. And Easter means “Church Lady Eggs” in much of Appalachia. Sure, there are plenty of types of eggs due to their symbolism during this time of year: Cadbury Creme Eggs, Reese’s Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Eggs, and Whoppers Robin Eggs Malted Milk Balls. But Church Lady Eggs hit different. They are sweetened peanut butter mounds formed i ..read more