Merry Land Express in Beckley is a Chinese restaurant that serves up standard Chinese-American fare.



The menu does have some interesting items that you might not see everywhere like fried bananas sesame balls and even curry chicken.



They do have a buffet available but I opted for some takeout options.



The first thing that we started out with was the fried cheese wontons which are always go to for me because they are delicious and each place does them just a little bit differently. I think that I'm the only person who doesn't love the actual fried portion of the wonton so I really appreciate the foldover style as opposed to pinched style because I feel like you get more filling. These were good but I do miss the crab that is often found in other wontons. The egg rolls were standard and had a lot of cabbage filling.



I also ordered the sesame shrimp, which is shrimp, breaded and fried, covered in a spicy, sweet sauce with sesame seeds on top. I have been avoiding chicken that tends to be stringy or chewy because it's just not sitting well with me lately. But shrimp kind of avoids those issues. I do wish that there was a little bit less breading. because that can overtake the flavor. But otherwise, I still enjoyed this dish. I liked the sauce. And I really like the little bit of texture that the sesame seeds add.

Grade: B

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Dried Mushrooms from Hernshaw Farms: George Patterson started Hernshaw Farms in 2018 using reclaimed mine land. His business has been very successful. These dried varieties are delicious and are great to have in the pantry to add flavor to your meals. Rehydrate in stock and add to soups, stews, and sauces. Three varieties: Lions Mane, Oysters, or a mushroom Medley, which include Lions Mane, Oyster and Shiitake.

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... Plus a soap I need to open!

Teriyaki Madness is a chain restaurant that has just recently launched two locations in West Virginia. There is one in Fairmont and another opening in Beckley.



But the Barboursville location just opened, and I was excited to check it out - because as you know, Asian flavors are some of my favorites.



I first became really interested in chicken teriyaki when I was visiting the Pacific Northwest. Chicken teriyaki is charbroiled chicken thighs in a sweet soy sauce and usually paired with some veggies and rice.



It is super common in the cities and can be found in all sorts of shops. And, here, you can't really find anything quite like that. But a good chicken teriyaki is a perfect late night snack or couldn't even be a healthy meal.



Teriyaki Madness is a chain restaurant that features chicken teriyaki, of course, but also eggrolls, wontons, fried rice and other goodies. First I ordered some fried rice, but the texture was a bit too mushy for me. I think it steaming inside the container didn't do it any favors. So, I switched gears and opted for the chicken eggroll, which was pretty tasty. It paired with a nice little sweet sauce and the texture was not lacking



We also ordered some of the cheese wontons, which were fairly small and pretty crispy so there wasn't a ton of filling inside, but I still enjoy the flavor and might order the larger size next time.



Finally, the main entrée was a bowl of sautéed veggies, white rice, and both teriyaki steak and chicken. I really enjoyed the steak and the chicken, and it was super filling. And I really enjoyed the white rice to go with this; I think that it helps the flavor of the proteins stand out while adding just a nice little textural component. I generally really like the veggies that accompany a dish like this, but in this case they were not super flavorful and did not seem super fresh. So I think a little bit more seasoning could really help out in this case. Overall not a bad meal and one that could definitely satisfy a craving in a pinch.

Grade: B

The Ranch is one of my new favorites in West Virginia.



Located technically just outside of Summersville  in Canvas, The Ranch restaurant is located on the Good Evening Ranch, which also includes rustic cabins, campsites, a restaurant, bar, horse stables, riding arena, playground, hiking, biking, ATV trails and more.



It's a beautiful drive through the countryside, wrapping around hills and past pastures. But then you arrive at a building with a smoker going outside, and you know you're in the right place. 



The dining room looks out over part of the farm, so it's a nice view to enjoy while eating. The menu features BBQ entrees from the smoker, as well as steaks, pork chops, chicken, seafood, salads and some fried apps. 



To start, I received some biscuits with a variety of condiments. I love options. There was a butter, a cinnamon brown sugar butter, and a preserve. It was fun to try each. 



For my entree, I went with a fillet and a blue mushroom crust.



Oh, my goodness. 



The steak was cooked perfectly. The bleu cheese and mushrooms are some of my *bingo* words that I always order when I see them on the menu. I love the combination of earthy and funky and creamy. Then, there's a hasselback potato with flaky sea salt. And a mac & cheese with a short, thick rigatoni noodle topped with parmesan. Honestly, one of the best meals I've had in some time. Everything from the ambiance, to the view, to the food, was great. Next time, I just need to save room for dessert.



Grade: A

"The original Village Tavern opened its doors in 1984 in Winston Salem NC. The idea was simple, serve the best possible food, at affordable prices, using only the finest freshest ingredients, and to enrich the lives of each other, our guests, and our community. In other words to make a positive difference. Today, just as in 1984, we remain committed to our founding principles. Be a Great place to work, deliver Great Food, Great Service, and Great Value to our guests everyday. That's what we do, and we love what we do."

 
I stopped here on my way back home from Myrtle Beach, and I only did curbside, so I may not have gotten the full experience. But, honestly, it ranks pretty high up there for me even without the ambiance, service and general atmosphere.   



Clearly, I was still on a crab kick because I ordered the HOT CRAB DIP - Backfin crab meat, toasted garlic bread, and it did not disappoint. Huge chunks of crab, creaminess, and a nice warm component to the salad I ordered.



The beet salad is one I try to recreate at home, but I've not quite mastered it yet. This one came with: bibb lettuce, roasted red and golden beets, Tavern vinaigrette, goat cheese, balsamic reduction, crispy shallots, and it was just what the doctor ordered on this day. Light, fresh, earthy - and a nice foil to the fatty crab dish. This is what balance is, right? 

Grade: A