Have you been to the corner of Ruffner and Washington in downtown Charleston?
To be honest, it's not an area I spend much time in, nor does it have the best reputation.
But new folks have revitalized the area that I formerly knew as the East End Bazaar into the new "B.K.S. The Pa'Teo," which stands for Best Kept Secret.
There are a couple vendors there, including the first one I tried: Carol's Soul to Soul. After seeing Carol Hines post in a local Facebook group, I friended her so I could keep up with where she's cooking. That's what led me here.
Carol's Soul to Soul serves up soul food that changes regularly - but you'll often see fish, fries, wings, burgers, hot dogs, chicken tenders, BBQ, mac & cheese, greens and more. I went with two favs: a cheeseburger and baked mac & cheese.
This was like good, straightforward backyard cookout food. A solid, reliable burger. A solid, reliable pile of mac made for a tasty, filling lunch.
Grade: A
The Juice Box has opened a location in Kanawha City, in addition to its Hurricane location.
They offer cold press juices, cleanses, "shots," smoothies and acai bowls.
When I visited he Hurricane location, I tried the Tropical Smoothie, and I enjoyed it.
So, this time, I had to go with something just a littttttle different. The kind gentleman working encouraged me to try the "Blue Breeze" acai bowl.
It's actually pretty similar to the tropical smoothie with banana, pineapple, kiwi, raspberry, coconut, peanut butter, honey, blue spiralina and hemp seed.
It was the last two that sorta threw me. Blue spirulina? Apparently it's a superfood algae that can be bitter - which is why it's mixed in with all those sweet fruits. Hemp seed? These don't seem to have much flavor but add some nutritional value.
And in the finished product? I couldn't taste anything ~different~. In fact, the bowl was really good. I loved the contrasting flavors with the fruits and oats. There was a perfect proportion of ingredients so it didn't feel like one big soupy mass or just a thick bunch of oats. It was a beautiful medium, and it's definitely something I'd try again. It was sweet, refreshing and satisfying.
Grade: A
Food Among the Flowers is a decor and catering company that recently moved to a new location and hosted a spring open house.
They have florals, candles, home goods, garden statues, gifts and even their own line of canned goods.
I've not ever been in this place before, but I was excited to see what it was all about.
First, there were a ton of florals and garden decor greeting me as soon as I walked in. It was like spring exploded.
I did like that they had some candles, cards, other gifts and some specific West Virginia items.
But I think the thing that was most interesting was that they had their own line of canned goods that included everything from pickled green tomatoes to garlic stuffed olives and chowchow.
They definitely came at a cost though. They were not cheap so I had to pick and choose what I actually wanted to bring home with me.
I decided on the pickled okra because it's not something I can't find everywhere and I've kind of been addicted to it lately.
I learned that they have a co-packer out west who helps produce these items for them. While I was there, they also had a large spread of fruits vegetables cheese and crackers for the open house. Have you ever been? What's the must-have item?
While I don't get to the mall in Charleston often, I did make a special trip there recently to try out the new "Mexican Grill."
The counter-service restaurant is located in the food court and has photos of the popular dishes you can order. That's probably helpful for those who aren't familiar with the options - or even for those who don't read well or have another communication issue. More places should do this.
I ordered the Arroz Con Pollo - it's likely one of the items most commonly ordered, so it's a good benchmark.
First, though, were some fresh chips and salsa. I could tell the chips had just been pulled from the oil - you could see and hear from the kitchen. The salsa was average.
The chicken was plentiful, but the only cheese was mixed in with the rice, and I could've gone for a lot more. Not bad, but not the best version I've had. Next time, I'll ask for more queso on the side.
Grade: B
When The Pitch opened at Shawnee Sports Complex, it made headlines.
People were excited about another restaurant concept from Chef Paul Smith.
They had a fun, upscale bar food motif.
And, they have a unique beer filling system that carries Stumptown Ales - arguably one of West Virginia's most beloved breweries.
And now, The Pitch has a franchised location that just opened in Kanawha City. Sara and I went to check it out, and despite arrive one minute before they opened, we were four down on the waiting list. It has been super busy. But once we were seated, things moved pretty quickly. I went for the "cornfused" appetizer, which has sweet potato tots and corn fritters (like a southwest corn) and chicken "wings," which are just strips. If you're in the mood for bar food that is a notch above the rest, you won't be disappointed. Nothing too crazy, but standard items with just a twist, solid flavors and a fun atmosphere makes for a good time.
Grade: A
The Bullock Distillery is West Virginia's newest craft distillery, and it's located right in the Elk City neighborhood of Charleston.
They JUST opened, and I was lucky enough to join a sneak peek before the grand opening with Generation Charleston.
We were able to sample vodka, gin and whiskey. I'm really excited to have a cool local place for young people to visit. They have a small, but beautifully curated, shop of local products, too.
We took a tour and were able to get an inside look at the production and some ideas for their future direction.
I left with a bottle of whiskey, a small pamphlet book on Appalachian herbs, a local candle, BBQ sauce, and more.
A really cool place with some strong spirits and great products.
Have you checked it out yet?
Bowls & Spoons Cereal Bar just opened on the West Side and is dishing out just about any cereal you can think of. That's right, this restaurant is the first in town - and probably the whole state - to serve as a cereal bar.
Now, you may be thinking - "a restaurant for cereal? really?" Yes, really. Why not? I think the novelty of this place is fun, and it's something different from yet another fast food chain or the same old, same old. The thing that is enticing to me is that you can mix-and-match cereals - which is something I'm not going to do at home, unless I want to buy a bunch of different types.
This space in Elk City has a long wall full of all the different types of cereals they have. There are specialty ones. Seasonal ones. Ones I didn't even know they made. They have healthy ones and super sugary ones. And everything in between.
There are a few tables inside and a bar to sit at. My friend Alex and I grabbed one while staring at the wall, trying to decide which concoction to make. There are some menu options that combine some tasty flavors to try, like the "Na Na NaNa Blu Blu," which has Corn Pops, Honeycombs, bananas and blueberries. That one caught Alex's attention.
For me, I went with "Candace's Cookie Creation." I just made that up. But I mixed Dunkaroos cereal (Dunkaroos!!!), Sugar Cookie Toast Crunch, and Cookie Crisp. Then, added cherries.
You also get to choose your milk! I went with a simple 2%, but they have dairy alternatives and even chocolate milk. You can definitely have some fun here. And, of course, it's super tasty. Who doesn't just want cereal for dinner sometimes? It's crunchy and sweet and just comforting.
If you're not sure which meal to try it for - go for all of them. Of course it could be a breakfast, but it could be a snack. It could be a meal after a night out. In my case, it was a fun lunch to try something different. So tell me what creation you've tried and what it's like. Or, check out Candace's Cookie Creation and tell them I sent you.
Grade: A
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