I think Sushi Garden is a hidden gem in the area. 



The popular Capitol Market vendor also has a stand-alone location in Cross Lanes, where they serve their delicious sushi, as well as ramen, teriyaki and more. 



The restaurant itself is small, intimate. There is only room for a few tables. A large sushi menu adorns two dry-erase boards and includes inventive rolls with tasty combinations.



I went all out and ordered shoyu seafood ramen first. A huge contributing factor in this choice was the fish cake - that beautiful little pink swirled guy. I don't know why, but I just love them. It also had shrimp, bamboo shoots, green onion, seaweed and chashu - or Japanese braised pork belly. I didn't love the broth - a bit fishy (duh) - but I loved every single ingredient.



On the sushi side, I went for a roll with crab, cream cheese, tempura batter, masago, and scallions - just a few of my favorite things. Lots of different fresh flavors and textures - no simple, straightforward roll this visit.



What's your favorite order here?

Grade: A

While I love all food and new food, Italian food has a special place in my heart - or tummy. It's comfort food - and is especially comforting in cold temperatures. 



Unfortunately - or maybe fortunately - I've tried all the Italian restaurants nearby. But I was in the mood for a new place, so I ventured just across the border into Gallipolis, Ohio, to dine at Tuscany's.



Tuscany's is a sister restaurant to Fratelli's in Barboursville. The branding is similar, and the menu items are similar, too. My goal was to find the richest, most indulgent dish, and I landed on the lobster and shrimp ravioli: ravioli stuffed with shrimp and lobster tail, blended with ricotta, romano, parmesan cheese, Italian herbs and spices, and topped with a blend of their creamy lobster bisque and their signature alfredo sauce.



First, though, I had some simple breadsticks. They are pretty thing and just lightly dusted with parmesan. Not a ton of flavor, but something to whet your appetite. 



Then, a simple salad was served. Some crunchy lettuce, slivers of red onion, tomatoes, a few croutons and a side of French dressing for me.



Finally, that entree. It may not photograph beautifully, but it tastes great. The lobster meat gives a slight sweetness to a heavy, rich creamy sauce. It is all comfort in one bite. Some more herbs could have added some brightness, but the flavor was still great.

Grade: A

Leah Gore is one of the coolest people I know. Somewhere between the boundaries of art and food, Leah straddles that line with absolutely stunning and incredibly delicious edible art.



A few years ago, a mutual friend introduced us just before Leah was preparing to embark on a journey to the other side of the world. She had landed an internship at Noma 2.0, a two-star Michelin restaurant in Copenhagen, Denmark. It has been ranked as one of - if not the - best restaurant in the world.



Since then, I've kept up with her journey. She's a hustler. An inspiration. An Appalachian witch - a good one. And the most recent chapter in her story is the opening of "Jack," a cottage bakery in Milton. Named after her grandfather who had a bakery that burnt down, Jack is an homage. There are a number of sweets and breads that can be ordered and picked up over the weekend. I did just that - ordered one sweet and one bread and picked the first available time I could! 



After a quick trip to Milton, chatting with Leah and an impatient drive home, I dropped off my goodies on the countertop. This is the first time I've actually had the pleasure of enjoying Leah's food, so I couldn't wait. Above, you can see the gorgeous local fruit tart. I literally gasped aloud when I opened the box. It is absolutely stunning. And, it's uniquely custom: This one has pate sucree, almond frangipane, mutsu apple, caramelized apple butter and spruce fir glaze. It's one of the most beautiful things I've ever eaten. And it is absolutely delicious. The pate sucree is a slightly crisp, slightly crumbly crust that is sweet and serves as a perfect base for this bounty of paper-thin apple slices with just an ever-so-faint hint of herbal flavor. And the apple butter - goodness. A perfectly thick and sweet and refreshing glue to pull it all together.



And then there's the bread. The rosemary and onion focaccia is one of the best breads I've ever had. I had every intention of picking up a spread and enjoying this over the next couple days. Instead, picture me, taking a small taste. Then a handful. Then two handfuls. And just devouring most of this, standing over my kitchen counter. 



The focaccia had this beautiful sprinkling of crisp onions and rosemary. A beautifully open crumb with soft air pockets, drizzles of olive oil and flaky salt. Delicious flavor - a faint hint of sweetness from the onions and beautifully balanced. All throughout. My only regret is that I didn't order another. But, I plan to put another order in soon.



Grade: A

Thomas has a handful of really great eateries, so I was excited to add yet another to my list: Picnic in Thomas - a takeout taco shop with a big lawn. 



This spot is the last on the main stretch of town and shares a building with a lovely book store called Ghost Palace Books. 



After placing an order outside at the walk-up window, my friend Sam and I actually went inside to warm up and check out the books. Once our order was ready, they let us know in the book store and handed us our orders there.



I went with a carnitas taco, which was topped with avocado salsa, pickled slaw and queso fresco. Not only was it beautiful, but it was so tasty. It was creamy, funky, acidic and very flavorful. Refreshing but comforting - a difficult balance to strike. Next, I want to try the breakfast tacos! PS: Bring cash.



Grade: A

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

It's not every day you see a lobster roll in West Virginia - much less a lobster food truck in Parkersburg.



The Wicked Lobstah, based in Ohio, ventured to Parkersburg recently to dish out their coveted lobster rolls, and I made the trip solely to get my mitts on one.



And, I don't think I was the only one. You can actually order in advance via their website, and when I went to place my order - they were already filled up for hours. I picked the first slot I saw and placed my order for the "High Society Roll," which is warm buttered lobster with black & white truffle mayo on a toasted bun. For $24.



They parked just outside of Parkersburg Brewing Company, so there was plenty of street parking. And, as soon as I gave them my name, my order was out to me within a minute or two. I took it back to my car - a cool, but sunny fall day - and dug in. I LOVE a good lobster roll. And, this was a pretty good lobster roll. It's not *too* far from the classic with a lot of extraneous ingredients - but who doesn't love truffle topping on everything? Not only do I love that this is something I can get locally, but it really is decent quality, too. 

Grade: A

North Central West Virginia is no stranger to good Italian food.



Italians immigrated to the area to work in the coal mines, and we are better for it. 



Morgantown has a new Italian restaurant to add under the "delicious" category.



Nonno Carlo, located in the Suncrest Towne Center, is an Italian deli with imported goods, fresh deli goods and a menu of made-to-order items like sandwiches and pizzas.



From their website: Lifetime Morgantown family plants roots at Suncrest Town Center. Local resident Nick DeMedici announces the opening of “Nonno Carlo“ in the Suncrest Town Center, March 2021. DeMedici, whose family immigrated to North Central West Virginia from Collelongo, Italy in the early 1900’s, has always had a passion for honoring his heritage through family and food.



Specializing in Italian American deli fare, this “fast casual-up” spot will feature delicious Italian staple foods rooted in the Italian American traditions of North Central West Virginia and Italy alike. With wide selection of cold and hot sandwiches, Wood-fired Neapolitan Pizzas, select pasta dishes and soups, Nonno Carlo will offer items you will not find anywhere else. In addition to the menu, Nonno Carlo will offer fresh wood-fired bread, house-made mozzarella cheese, and a selection of high-quality imported foods.



“My family story is like so many others in this area and I want to hear all of them”, said DeMedici. “The story of the Italian immigrant is a fascinating one full of dedication, uncertainty, and overcoming obstacles. I consider myself fortunate to be a very small part of it”. Named after DeMedici’s Grandfather Carlo “Carl” DeMedici, Nonno Carlo will feature a large wall space where people can hang old photos and tell their family story along with a map of Italy for people to place their names in the area their ancestors came from.



Nonno Carlo is the concept of Nick DeMedici and Bron Kayal, founder and CEO of HARMA Hospitality “In addition to being a great friend and great member in our community Bron and HARMA bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise from the food industry to our operation” says DeMedici."



When I walked in, I looked over the products for sale on the wall and picked up this coined-shaped pasta. They were fun. Then, I placed an order for Calabrian pepper dip (calabrian peppers, roasted red pepper, ricotta and bread), as well as the funghi pizza (tomato, marinated portabellas, olive oil, fresh parmesan, basil). And, I got some caprese salad from the deli. 



The pepper dip was spicy, but I kept plying it with the ricotta to make it more palatable. It was good, and I could totally see this working on top of pasta. 



The pizza was delish. I loved that there were long pieces of the mushrooms, which you don't see often. I mean, just look at this beauty.



And finally, the caprese salad!



The fresh mozzarella was not was loose and creamy as I thought it might be; and I suspect it's because it had already soaked up some of the oils and herbs to make it more solid.



Overall, lots of tasty options here that I can't wait to try more of.



Grade: A