Rock Hill Creamery is a Shepherdstown ice cream shop that keeps it simple: "We make our ice cream right here in the shop using only milk, sugar, and heavy cream as our base." In 2021, the local paper wrote: "Founded by Gary Miller in Martinsburg in 1996, Rock Hill Creamery was officially closed six years ago. One of Miller’s longtime employees, however, lived in Shepherdstown and realized she wanted to bring the creamery back to life in her town." I kept it pretty simple with salted caramel, but it was the most silky, luxurious salted caramel I've had in recent memory. maybe because of ..read more

Alfredo's has had several Italian/Greek restaurants around the state: Summersville, Buckhannon, Lewisburg, and Marlinton - which we are visiting today. For as small as downtown Marlinton is, this restaurant is smack dab in the middle. It sits a level above ground, so we walked up the stairs to visit the dining room. It is pretty basic in terms of decor and ambience. The menu features, pizza, wings, subs, burgers, pasta, gyros and more. Truly fits the definition of "a little bit of everything." The salad was basic with iceberg lettuce, the garlic knots with cheese were a bit differen ..read more

Clendenin Brewing Co. is a microbrewery & AirBnB in the small town of Clendenin. It's a neat space with a garage style door and a mishmash of decor and brewing equipment. Some of the beers on tap included: Clendenin Cream Ale Cream Ale Slow Paddle Pilsner Mothgirl Amber Knights Cannel Coal Imperial Stout Gingerbread Stout Secret Hopper Udder Mayham Mountain Mango IPA Double IPA Three Step Mister KeyLime Gose Shya's Shandy Margarita Beer The food menu consists of a couple sandwiches, smoked meat platters, nachos and mac & cheese bowls. I went to check it out with my frien ..read more

Some of the tastiest Mexican food I have had in the state is in Spencer. La Finca, a roadside restaurant with a small lot, could be mistaken for a house. And the food inside is as good as home-cooking. With a menu full of options like chilaquiles, burritos, fajitas, enchiladas, chimichangas, and the like, I narrowed down my options by finding a meal covered in queso. The burrito filled with shredded pork was moist and flavorful and juicy. The cheese sauce drenched the tortilla, creating a perfectly cheesy, meaty bite. Simple, but made with care. Grade: A ..read more

Another airport - this time in Chicago! Chicago is one of my favorite food cities, so I get excited to try any new restaurant here. Even if it's in an airport. Gene's Bistro is a sit-down spot that felt welcoming after getting off the plane. "Wide ranging menu, featuring yummy appetizers, handheld sandwiches, fresh salads and a handcrafted cocktails and wine list. Elegant bistro style location with airy seating area, full bar, and flight information to keep up to date on eye on before heading to the gate," reads the website. The menu is not huge, but it does have a little variety for eac ..read more

"Appalachia Cookie Company makes cookies the way your grandma’s grandma made them: from scratch, with real ingredients. Our products range from the traditional (Chocolate Chip, Snickerdoodle, etc…) to the unique (Blueberry White Chocolate Oatmeal, Apple Pie) with a few off the wall flavors like our Bacon & Bourbon cookie with dark chocolate and maple syrup," reads the website. "It all began in 2012, while living in a small college apartment above a bar in the beautiful mountains of Boone, NC. As a student at Appalachian State University, the company’s founder, David Holloman, saw a ne ..read more

The Varsity is a long-running drive-in in Atlanta serving up burgers, hot dogs, fries, shakes & other American classics. "'What’ll ya have… What’ll ya have?' There’s no friendlier greeting than the one you’ll receive when you step up to the counter at The Varsity. And that’s just the beginning of what makes The Varsity so special. There’s not a faster, fresher, or more fun-filled dining experience like it anywhere! Gordy family-owned and operated since 1928, The Varsity is a downtown Atlanta institution, and The World’s Largest Drive-in Restaurant," reads the website. For me, the e ..read more

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