Here is my seasonal box from J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works.

J.Q. DICKINSON SALT-WORKS
Applewood Smoked Salt
Solar evaporated and hand harvested in the mountains of WV this salt is perfect when you want to add a hint of smokiness.

ASHEVILLE TEA COMPANY
Cold Brew Tea
Made with a blend of local botanicals this easy to make tea is thirst quenching all summer.

WE MADE
Hummingbird Cake Mix
Hummingbird Cake is a delicious Southern Staple. WeMade is a social impact company providing workforce development for people with disabilities.

WILL ROWSEY
Wild Flower Print
West Virginia artist Will Rowsey hand painted these images. His delicate work portrays the wild flowers of the Appalachians.

SUNSET BERRY FARM
Freeze-dried strawberries
This family owned farm in Monroe County, WV grows the sweetest strawberries in the state. Freeze-dried for a great snack.

REDWOOD & CO
Hand Sanitizer
Covid may be in the rearview mirror but we all have the habit. This Staunton, VA company make the process very pleasant.

Berger Cookies are an iconic Baltimore dessert that I couldn't pass up while visiting the area. The history of Bergers Cookies began in 1835, when German immigrant Henry Berger arrived in the United States. A baker by trade, Henry came to The Land of Opportunity to follow his dreams, and soon opened a bakery in East Baltimore, reads the website.



Famous for their fresh-made Berger cookies, Market Bakery has been a Market staple since 1972 – owned by Greek immigrants Minus and Fannie Houvardas, and now their son Minas Mastrominas. Market Bakery serves comforting baked favorites like their beloved birthday cakes, cookies, donuts, bread pudding and elephant ears.



The cookies are made from an original, homemade recipe from the 1800’s with some minor adjustments to adapt to the processing of raw ingredients. The hand-dipped cookies have a soft, cake-like body covered in fudge icing.



I imagine these cookies are nostalgic for many and a tradition for some. For an outsider, they taste fairly simple. A basic cookie with fudgey topping. They were also a bit dry, which is a sticking point for me.



Grade: B

Gioacchino Vaccaro established Vaccaro’s Italian Pastry Shop in 1956. He was born and raised in Palermo, Italy. Mr. Jimmy, as he was so aptly known, brought with him the recipes and the knowledge of how to make the finest Siciliano pastries Baltimore had ever seen. Soon after opening, it was evident that the cannoli and rum cake had created a sensation among Baltimoreans, reads the website.



Today Nick Vaccaro continues the family tradition begun by his father with the same Old World recipes brought over from Italy. Vaccaro’s has grown to include the new Pasticceria (pastry shop) which offers both carry out and a sit-down café to enjoy, a state-of-the-art production facility and warehouse, and three other locations throughout the Greater Baltimore area.



Because cannolis seem to be the big draw, I zeroed in on them. The shells and cream both are special in their own right.



Cannoli Shells – An authentic Sicilian favorite, deep-fried cylinder type pastry. Open ends for easy filling.

Cannoli Cream – Rich whole milk Ricotta Cheese mixed with sugar, flavorings and cocoa drops.



I went with the classic flavor, which perfectly blended the very lighty sweetened cheese filling with a crackly shell. So smooth and crunchy at the same time.



Grade: A

Artifact is a coffee shop in Baltimore that serves Small Planes coffee, baked goods, sandwiches and more.



They work with local farms and adapt their menu to the seasons. That alone made me interested in their handcrafted drinks.



Some of their current creative coffee line-up includes: Moroccan Spiced Iced Coffee, Cardamom Mocha and Japanese Iced Coffee - which is flash chilled.



I went with a latte - add caramel. This is a pretty reliably standard drink for me. I could taste the bitter notes of the espresso, but the caramel took the edge off.



I also tried the sour cream coffee cake, which was just a bit too dry and too bland for my personal taste.



Have you been?



Grade: B

"Well known for serving up classic flavors along with constantly evolving roster of delightful, small-batch flavors beloved in Baltimore, Taharka Brothers’ award winning ice cream lineup includes favorites like Honey Graham, Mintflix & Chillz, Key Lime Pie, and Caramel Crunch," reads the website.



I ordered a "honey graham" scoop in a cup. It was SO good. Graham cracker is so underrated as an ice cream accessory. A little crunch, slight sweetness. It's a wonderful supporting character - and here, it's the star.



Grade: A

"Specializing in all things seafood, Sal and Son’s Seafood have been a staple at Broadway Market for over a decade. They offer a variety of Fish, Shrimp and Shellfish to take home or eat onsite," reads the Brodway Market website.



We did some fried shrimp, crab dip and half-and-half crab soup, which is cream of crab mixed with Maryland crab soup.



If pressed, I think I would admit crab is my favorite seafood. Possibly my favorite protein? So, I was happy to gobble as much crab in various forms as I could get. Starting with the dip, it was thick, creamy and had some nice bold flavor - especially Old Bay. The shrimp was only OK - the fried batter easily got steamed in the container and made for a soggy texture. But, let's talk about soup.



Cream of crab is a rich, creamy soup. Maryland crab soup is brothy and packed with veggies. You can get a mix of both - and the best of both worlds - with half and half. Rich creaminess meets veggies? Win-win.



Grade: A

"Hatched in Baltimore, BRD serves creative fried chicken sandwiches and wings made with the finest ingredients possible. We strive to provide old school hospitality and chicken you won't forget," the website reads.

The menu features chicken sandwiches, tender meal boxes and wings. I went for the box, which has two jumbo tenders, fries, garlic bread, pickles and two sauces: BRD SAUCE, HONEY MUSTARD, CAROLINA GOLD BBQ, CHILI MAYO, BUFFALO, BUTTERMILK RANCH, TANGY WHITE BBQ, HOT HONEY OLD BAY.

This meal was tasty... but also pretty similar to so many other fried chicken restaurants out there right now. Chicken. Fries. Sauce. I don't hate it; I just wish there was maybe a new spin.

Grade: B

"Thai Street’s recipes have been tweaked to perfection over multiple generations of Chef/Owner Kesorn Imsin’s family. Using traditional techniques and ingredients we create dishes that allow you to experience authentic Thai street food and regional specialties. Inspiration for our food has been sourced from the streets of Phetchabun (Kesorn’s hometown) to some of the finest restaurants in Bangkok. We’ll take you on a journey to Pratu Phi with our signature Pad Thai then to Charoen Krung Road with our melt-in-your-mouth Kao Ka Moo! We like to keep you guessing “what’s next?” and are always exploring new recipes, ingredients, and techniques in our rotating specials," reads the website.



Located in Broadway Market, the restaurant offers many classic Thai dishes like pad thai, pad see ew, khao soi and more.



I ordered the Chive Cake - pan fried, crispy garlic, rice flour, chive, homemade sweet soy sauce. I wanted the exterior to be a bit more crispy, but I enjoyed this squidgy bite. I also had the pumpkin custard sticky rice, which was so comforting. I love rice desserts.



Grade: B

"Black Acres Roastery is a small batch coffee roaster located in the Station North district of Baltimore. Every roast, we strive to bring out the best qualities in unique coffees from around the world. We ethically source beans and curate roasting profiles that provide each cup of coffee a story," reads its website.



The "salt bae" has salted caramel sauce, espresso and milk. Deeply rich and delicious.



Grade: B

Sophia's Place is a traditional Polish Deli that has been serving Baltimore and the surrounding areas since 1985 at Broadway Market.



They offer delicious Polish specialties, including pierogi, stuffed cabbage, sausages, and pastries served daily.



The many options here will both fill your belly and comfort your soul at the same time. I had a difficult time deciding between the pierogies, cabbage rolls, and many sweet treats.



I ultimately decided on the potato and cheese pierogies, which were perfectly browned and covered in caramelized onions.



I often say that every culture has its own version of a dumpling. There's something special about them because they are so simple but entirely complex to pull off well. I've had pierogies for most of my life due to my proximity to Pittsburgh growing up. And these ones here were some really good ones.



The light crisp on the outside gave way to a soft pillowy filling. The caramelized onions on top added some sweetness. And, altogether, it was a really delicious and comforting bite.



Grade: A

The Boardhouse is a new restaurant located inside Tickers & Timbers, which is a family entertainment venue offering axe throwing, rage rooms, escape rooms and paint splatter. The restaurant is more so a snack counter, but there were several items that caught my eye: Lumberjack Grazer: Charcuterie w/ pickles, olives, pepperoncini, pepperjack & mozzarella, pepperoni, salami, crackers, cashews, dijon & bacon jam. And then there was the Pretzel Stick Flight served with queso and honey mustard. I ordered the Smoked Turkey Handheld - turkey burnt ends, cheddar cheese, house-made cranberry bbq sauce. I liked the sweet and salty combo here, but the bread was too toasted and the edges just crumbled. I also went for the Sweet Crumbles Flight - Strawberry, apple, smores crumbles flight - 1 pie crumbles, sweet filling topped with whipped cream & drizzle topping. A little too much dry graham cracker at the bottom (add melted butter), but otherwise this is a fun and playful dessert.

Grade: B

Have Fun WV with Jay Silverman hosted the Second Annual Pepperoni Roll Contest at GoMart Ballpark. There were 5 competitors this year - all with a unique variation on the classic pepperoni roll. Wild N' Wonderful Rolls

These tasty rolls took home first prize! The round rolls are layered thick with cheese and pepperoni. They're topped with butter and a special blend of seasonings. Cheri's Sugar Shack at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center

Taking home second place, these pepperoni rolls are finished with an herby garlic oil that just takes them to the next level. GoMart Ballpark

The home team did a simple version of the pepperoni foll that was pretty classic. Nellita's Cocina

Known locally for her empanadas, Idanelis makes a delicious WV Roni Roll, which has small chunks of pepperoni enveloped in an empanada dough and deep-fried. P.R. Boss Rolls

Brand new to me, these pepperoni rolls were rolled up with pepperoni and shredded cheese on top.