There's a bit of a Jamaican trend happening in West Virginia right now. It started with Karubees in Dunbar, then I quickly learned of two restaurants that opened in Morgantown (more on those later), and then Island Rhythm Jamaican Cuisine & Catering here in Charleston.
Located in Kanawha City, Island Rhythm Jamaican Cuisine & Catering has taken over a former bakery space and is serving carryout during the quarantine. So, I absolutely needed to take advantage of that. I ordered the jerk chicken, mixed vegetables, mac & cheese and a beef patty.
The flavor of the jerk chicken was good, though I found many wayward bones and pieces of cartilage that had me stopping every other bite. I get that this is a standard preparation, just a warning :) The mixed vegetables were tasty - but I do love me some cooked cabbage. Again, be on the lookout for spices and herbs that have leaves and stems you may not want to bite into. The mac & cheese used like a tricolor rotini, which I thought was interesting. Small piece, but it had that comforting flavor I love. The beef patty was totally my favorite part of the meal. Crispy and a little spicy and savory.
Grade: B
Chinese food has been relatively hard to come by during the quarantine (why do I feel like I'm writing in a diary). But, Elkview Chinese Restaurant reopened recently, and it was swarmed with locals who needed their fix.
I called in an order and was told it would be about 15 minutes. So I waited for a bit and got there at about 30 minutes after the time it should've been ready (I just had a feeling it would take longer). And still had to wait another 20 or so minutes inside (this part was less fun - not a lot of social distancing or masks). The inside had a handful of tables and chairs, so I gather most of their business is takeout, anyway.
BUT, soon enough, I was home, digging in. The crab cheese rangoons have an interesting texture inside - almost like crumbly. It was sweeter. Not bad. The steamed dumplings were tasty, but needed to be a bit warmer. The honey chicken was good (not on their menu, but it is on a sign in the lobby). It doesn't have the top tier white meat chicken breast, but it was close. And the regular eggroll was decent. Overall, not bad.
Grade: B
You may be familiar with Ms. Groovy's Kitchen catering from area festivals and fundraisers. They're often participating in community events, so I've been able to sample little dishes here and there. But, never a full meal - until now.
Ms. Groovy's Kitchen - like some other caterers - began offering daily specials for folks. They take the ability to make a big batch meal but sell it by the individual portion. And, they did it on a donation-based scale, with a suggestion of $10. I absolutely love this idea.
The day that caught my eye is the one where they were offering roasted turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls and dessert. We could all use some comfort food, right? The turkey was unreal. Green beans were some of the best I've had. Not a big fan of chocolate cake, but all around, a delicious meal.
Grade: A
Cheerful Heart Catering typically specializes in larger events. But in the time of quarantine, that is all but nonexistent. So, this savvy business has created a daily special for individuals to purchase. I think this is a great idea - they can still cook in bulk, and the public gets to enjoy a homecooked meal that we may not have had access to otherwise.
Located on the West Side, Cheerful Heart Catering listed a weekly menu, which included options like BBQ, stuffed chicken and lasagna - that last of which caught my eye. "Contessa Laura's Lasagna with salad and garlic bread."
It was easy peasy - I called in and told them I'd like one. The meal is already prepared, so I drove right over and had them hand it to me curbside. Once I got home, I dug into the salad first, which was a handful of lettuce some cucumbers and tomatoes with a side of ranch dressing.
The large square of lasagna was the comfort food I was looking for. Layers of pasta, ground beef and some cheese - though I always think more cheese is better. It was piping hot and perfectly accompanied by a slice of garlic bread.
And, to my surprise, there was dessert AND a bottle of water - all for $8. The dessert was a gooey brownie with marshmallow and it was delicious.
Grade: A
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