Sip Downtown Brasserie has existed in a few different incarnations, and the most recent location change I hope is the final version because this place has nailed it. 



The wine and whiskey bar has expanded from a small space to a large, gorgeous restaurant with an inventive menu and an impeccable whiskey and wine list. 



To start off my evening, I ordered a sweet white wine flight. 



The Sweet Tooth consists of Bornos - Frizzante Verdejo (Rueda, Spain), Fritz Zimmer - Riesling (Mosel, Germany), Vietti - Moscato D'Asti (Piedmont, Italy). 



They are light and sweet and floral and very fruity. If you want your wine to be nearly as sweet as your apple juice, this is the one for you. I like sweet, so this was perfect. But depending on my mood - and meal - I go for a more dry white or red. 



First up was a cheese board. Dawn and I both got one with all the different cheeses so we could try it all (or maybe because I really wanted to try it all and Dawn is a good sport). Along with a selection of crackers, nuts, cornichons, toast and dried fruit, we sampled these cheeses:



- Mahon Reserva (Spain) Firm & slightly sharp with a paprika and oil flavored rind, made from cow's milk
- Manchego (La Mancha, Spain) A popular Spanish cheese, made from sheep's milk with a firm texture
- Beemster Extra Aged Gouda (Northern Holland) Cow's milk cheese, aged 18 months
- Whiskey Cheddar (Ireland) Kerrygold aged cheddar with Irish whiskey, made from cow's milk
- Dorothea (Holland) A unique and creamy goat gouda with basil oil and potato skins Mountain
- Gorgonzola (Italy) Delightful cow's milk blue cheese with a gentle sharpness



I could seriously live on plates like this. If I stopped here, I would've been in heaven still. But, it did get better. I ordered the housemade crab cakes (two 4 oz) with blanched asparagus and creamy sriracha remoulade sauce. 



It's a smaller portion, but it's worth it to me. Better quality ingredients and higher-end dishes with attention to flavor and detail are far more attractive to me than a giant portion of something that's just OK. This was great.



And to finish off the meal, I ordered a caramel popcorn cotton candy. How often do you get to have cotton candy?! And at a restaurant? Never. What a lovely, novel treat. 

If you're looking for a good whiskey and wine list, an upscale environment and delish food, you've come to the right place.

Grade: A

Charleston's favorite donut shop is back open - in a brand new brick-and-mortar location.



Vandalia Donut Co., which had a food truck two years ago in the area, can now be found on Tennessee Avenue in the trendy Elk City neighborhood dishing out delicious donuts under a slightly different name - The Vandalia Co. 



Right now, they're still in a soft opening phase where there is no dine-in and they're open Thursday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Expanded hours and a new menu is coming this summer. 



When I visited, there were three donut flavors: The Number 42 - Scratch-made buttermilk donut rolled in cinnamon sugar. Why the name? It took 42 tries to get it right. 



Hummingbird Cake Donut - The Number 42 with pineapple, whipped cream cheese, toasted pecan, and coconut drizzled with salted caramel banana cream sauce.



Nutella Crunch - The Number 42 topped with whipped Nutella cream, drizzled with Nutella ganache and sprinkled with toasted hazelnuts. 

I think you can tell from the photos alone that these were dee-lish-ous. But the 42 is just a classic and it's the basis for all their specialty ones. The hummingbird just screamed spring to me. And the Nutella? *chef's kiss* - so good. I already can't wait for the next specialty flavors - and to just hang out here.



Grade: A

Pressed Coffee House is a new-ish coffee shop in St. Marys that offers everything from create-your-own cold brew and smoothies to chai and lattes.



On this particular day, they had a little pop up with Rollin' In The Dough, so I was excited to try two local businesses all in one place. 



The shop is small, but cute. The counter has beautiful subway tile and a wooden top. Green plants dot the space. The menu isn't huge, but it's fairly customizable. I went with a s'mores latte, because of course I did. Chocolate, Toasted Marshmallows, and a hint of Cinnamon - classic flavors. I also ordered a banana nut muffin so I could try one of their own baked goods. All in all, it was a lovely little breakfast. And helps fulfill a need in this area.



The pop-up shop for cookies was also nice. I ordered a cookie there, and it was decorated beautifully and typical of the harder sugar cookies that are presented beautifully.



Finally, I took my goodies will me on a slow drive to Middle Island to take in the sights and see what animals I could spot!



Have you been to any of these places?



Grade: A 

I really love the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, and when I'm able to make a trip out that way, I try to make the most of it. And, that often means cramming in as many restaurant visits as possible. One that I knew I wanted to make room for was Kelley Farm Kitchen.



This Harpers Ferry restaurant has been receiving a good bit of attention for its all-vegan menu - like Yelp Community's top 100 places to eat in 2021. They came in at #1. That's a pretty big honor! And, I can see why it received the honor. I called the restaurant just as soon as it opened, and it already had about an hour wait for lunch. That's OK. I put in an order at the window, left, and came back when it was ready to be picked up. 



The menu has items like ramen bowls, soups, chili, salads, subs, hoagies, brats, tacos, sandwiches, burgers, breakfast - and it's all vegan. I'm not a carnivore, by a long shot. But I do love me some cheese and butter and cream, etc. 



I ordered the "Creamy coconut ramen bowl" with zero spice, and it has a house-made broth paired with coconut milk, sliced baby portabellos and served with fresh organic greens, purple cabbage, carrot and green onion. This was different, but I can appreciate it. It's not the rich flavor I come to enjoy when dining out, but it's more light, fresh and still filling. I respect that it's filling a need - and the customer service was beyond top-notch, and the outdoor dining provide the perfect backdrop. Check it out for something different.



Grade: A

If you're like me, you may be familiar with Rocas in Charleston, but did you know Nitro has a location too (and Virginia, too!)?



I am a fan of the Rocas location in Charleston, so I was interested in trying the Nitro location with my friend Sara. One thing I have really come to enjoy is the creamy white sauce they bring out along with the salsa and chips. It's sweet, creamy, a little tangy, and wholly unexpected. 



Here's my strategy for most things in life: search out the cheese dip. So, when I came across "Arroz con Camarones" with grilled shrimp, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes and rice ALL topped with cheese dip, I ordered it before I finished reading the remainder of the menu. 



Listen, you can't really go wrong in my book if the dish is covered in queso - yes, even seafood. Creamy, salty, savory delicious. Little crunch with the bell peppers and soft rice. Makes for a tasty meal.

Grade: A

For some reason, I really enjoy the short drive from Charleston to Point Pleasant. It's a scenic trip with some rolling hills, farmland and small communities.



Along that drive, there's a small red building known as Farm Fresh Favorites in front of a larger farm space. 



They offer an assortment of beef, pork and lamb, as well as jellies, jams, eggs, deli meats and cheeses. Plus, they also have sandwiches you can get made right from the deli case. That includes a pulled pork bbq, chicken salad, club sandwich (ham, turkey, cheese, lettuce, tomato), turkey lovers (oven roasted or cajun, with cheese, lettuce or tomato), roast beef sandwich (provolone, lettuce and tomato) and hot dogs. 



So I went with a club sandwich with turkey, ham, tomato, mayo and cheddar. It's a good ol' fashioned sandwich that isn't trying to be anything more than it is. A simple deli sandwich that is both satisfying, simple and delicious - and stacked high with ingredients.



Grade: A

One of the most exciting restaurants I've had the pleasure of enjoying recently is located in Bridgeport: Authentically Mia's Korean & American Cuisine.


"Authentically Mia’s offers Korean/American fusion cuisine just around the corner! Enjoy tender, juicy, Korean-style beef, pork, and chicken specialties served in flavorful sauces with wonderfully hearty accents such as rice and mung bean noodles with a colorful explosion of vegetables. Choose tasty Korean Kimbap (pronounced “keem-bahp”; kim = seaweed & bap = seasoned rice) – a rolled, sushi-like staple of South Korean dining. Indulge in Bulgogi (pronounced “bool-GOH-gee” ; “fire meat”) – thin, marinated strips of barbecued prime cuts of beef and pork. Try our sweet, spicy, and savory wraps, bowls, salads, and much more – all served with Mia’s special touch!"



The restaurant is only open during lunch hours during the weekdays, so it took me some time to make it here. The menu: Because this restaurant offers something unique, something you can't find in many other places, it was a joy to peruse the menu. Kimbap? Bulgogi? Bi Bim Bop? I wanted everything. And ... I may have ordered a little of everything to go. Let's start with the bulgogi lunch - which comes with rice, kimchi and a spring roll. I have a soft spot for bulgogi because the first time I ever heard of it was in the kitchen of a friend of a friend's vacation home. Her family recipe blew my mind. I've been hooked ever since. It's sweet and salty and comforting. Rice makes it a filling dish, the kimchi adds some tang, and the spring roll some crunch. It's a symphony of texture and flavor.



And while that was more than filling, my eyes were bigger than my stomach and I had to try their special that day, which included California rolls, kimbap, and yubuchobap and a side of Mia's soy sauce, which is just a bit sweet. California rolls with avocado and crab were delish. The kimbap has that bulgogi, pickled radish and cucumber - it's almost a sweeter and yet more savory version of a sushi roll. And the yubuchobap are like envelopes of rice with a chewy tofu exterior. Even down to the sweet slices of kiwi, this meal is perfectly balanced. 

My only regret? That I haven't been back yet. 

Grade: A

One of my favorite new restaurants in the whole state is Hart Kitchen, located in Clarksburg.



This new spot is from Chef Anne Hart, formerly of Provence Market in Bridgeport, which was damaged in a fire a few years ago. I have great admiration and respect for Chef Hart, who has helped pioneer the farm-to-table movement in the area and is endlessly creative and driven. 



Hart Kitchen has two components: the eatery and the cookery. So in addition to the restaurant that we'll talk about here, there is a large cooking space used for classes - whether that's for kids or date night. This would be so fun to check out with a small group of friends (who are all vaccinated).



The restaurant has a modern and sophisticate vibe. The logo is minimalistic, the walls are a dark navy, and select patterns decorate the fabrics. The art is salvaged from the previous Provence Market location and is created by a family member. 



The menu changes often - incorporating influences from the previous restaurant, what's local and seasonal. When I visited, I wanted to try a little bit of everything. I started with an appetizer of the "Welsh Rarebit Cheese Toast," which has bubbly cheese and porter sauce topped on the toasts (a nod to the Brits). It's so simple in concept, but it was cheesy, thick and crunchy, too. And, the bits of chopped spring onion on top not only gave it some color but also cut through the richness of the dish.



And, if one appetizer wasn't enough, I was convinced I needed to try the deviled eggs - one of the best sellers on the menu. Chef Hart said this is really a personal recipe that she may use at events, but it is a perfect fit for the restaurant menu, too. These little-bite sized pops of flavor are creamy, brightly sour and super craveable. 



Onto the main entree: the pasta of the day! Made with a local sausage and grilled veggies on top of pappardelle, this entree was a beautiful mix of textures, colors and flavors. It was rustic with bold, hearty flavors. A perfect contrast to the refined appetizer I just enjoyed.



Finally, dessert. The desserts here change often, and on this day, there was a take on a French toast with a delicious cream sauce, ice cream and beautifully toasted bread. 



I can't wait to go back and see the new additions to the menu and find my next favorite dish.

Grade: A