The Beckley area has lots of great gems that pop up now and then. I recently made a trip out here to check out a few bakeries, the first of which was Kenzie's Kakes. 



The location is a bit difficult to find - it's attached to a preschool/church, and there is a single pink sign and door denoting the entrance. There weren't any windows or anything, so we weren't sure what we may walk into once we opened the door.



What we found was a crowd of hungry patrons waiting to get their hands on the latest sweet treat. 



The space is small - just displays for the goodies and a checkout counter - but it's packed with desserts.

 
From cupcakes to cake balls, the bakery has a variety of treats. 



There are a ton of different varieties of cupcakes - like ones topped with peeps that I had to try since this was around Easter.



I also ordered a caramel vanilla, because I could eat caramel off of anything.



And then the one that I ended up really enjoying was a summery lemon blueberry that tasted like sunshine. 



I also ordered a few cake balls, because I just love these. Not the dry ones you sometimes find - but the ones that are super moist inside with icing and delivers the perfect bite of happiness. 



Just take a look at these photos - there is a nice variety here. Probably a dozen different flavors of cupcakes and more. 



But I haven't even gotten to my absolute favorite treat I picked up. 



Do you see it? Can you spot it?



It's that Snickers brownie. 



Woooo lord. Imagine this: A chewy, chocolatey brownie topped with layers of chocolate and caramel and then crunchy nut clusters on top. It was glorious. I just nibbled on it for days because it's enough sugar to satisfy any sweet tooth.



Grade: A

There's a brand-new restaurant on the West Side that would be Leslie Knope's dream come true: The S'waffle Shack. You're thinking, "A whole restaurant dedicated to just waffles?" Yes, but also - craft sodas.

 
Located directly beside Dem 2 Brothers And a Grill, The S'waffle Shack is painted in the same light turqouise color as its neighbor. The interior has a large counter directly ahead, a menu on tv screens and a small space where they may add a table or two in the future. 



The menu is large - with the craft sodas actually taking up the majority of the space. I don't know if "craft soda" is a term, but it's what I've been dubbing it. The restaurant takes a base: Sprite, Cola, Tea, Mr. Pibb, Fanta Orange, Root Beer, Ginger Ale, Lemonaide, Mello Yello and more. But then there's a bajillion combinations of those with toppings like pineapple, peach, strawberries, ice cream, cotton candy, lavender, coconut, english toffee, raspberry puree, almond, passionfruit, mango puree, blue curacao, green apple - and so. much. more. I did not study up beforehand, so I randomly picked the "Myrtle Beach" based mostly on its name: Mello Yello with strawberry, pineapple and I added cherry. Honestly, I had no idea what to expect, but it was delicious. It's like a virgin cocktail. It's like a pop but with natural flavors added. It was good - but of course very sweet. 



There are also a good bit of combinations when it comes to the waffles. First of all, you can get one, two, or three. I wasn't sure how big they were, so I went with two. Heed my warning: They are big. I ordered a "Berry Cheesecake S'waffle," which has cheesecake filling, whipped cream and choice of berry - I went with raspberry. 



These are large, homemade waffles that are nice and crisp. Of course, once you enclose them in a takeout box or drench them in tons of delicious whipped cream (which is also homemade!), the clock is ticking down to sog town. So, be mindful. AKA, eat them immediately for best satisfaction (duh). Mine was indulgent and delicious. Lots and lots of sweetness with just a hint of the tart berry. And my waffle held up just fine for a while that added a nice textural base. I would love to see them add some savory waffles - maybe a scallion and potato or topped with pulled pork. But otherwise, I love the creativity, the massive amount of combinations and just the fun novelty of this unique place.

Grade: A

The Brownstone Mill looks almost as if it's been plucked from an earlier time and plopped right down outside of Summersville.



This general store is painted a beautiful antique blue and has picnic tables spread around the area near a small pond. 



Inside, there's a small room with an upstairs. It's filled with products - some modern, some older. 



Downstairs, they also have a small deli where you can order sandwiches. 



I made my own sandwich with kettle fried chicken, cheddar cheese, tomato, onion, banana peppers and mayo. 



It's a pretty basic sandwich, but the simplicity of it is what I enjoy. It's like a sandwich on white bread I would eat growing up - but maybe kicked up just a notch.



I perused all the goodies downstairs and upstairs, as well. 



There were jams, candies, mixes and crackers.



I also picked up a small package of mini buckeyes, which are chocolate and peanut butter morsels if you're not familiar. 



I was also excited to see a Yoo-hoo bar? I had no clue they made candy bars, but I remember getting these drinks as a child and loved them. 



Also, they even had pepperoni rolls! Not bad.



Overall, a sweet little shop with a small deli. There are some fun things here like old-timey candies and drinks, but also plenty of more modern things like Jelly Belly jellybeans. It's a fun assortment of different products that is fun to get lost in for a few.



Grade: A 

There are many different kinds of bakeries - some that focus on homemade breads, some that offer donuts until they sell out, and then there are some over-the-top experiences that bringing out the sweet tooth in everyone. 



Sugar Bar in Morgantown is the latter. Located in the Suncrest Towne Centre, the shop focusing on sweets and coffee has dozens of different sweet options that change up by the day and offer something for everyone.



First of all, the space is absolutely lovely. It's trendy with a living wall and neon sign.



They have lots of green plants, gold accents and chandeliers. 



Let's start with the coffee: They have a full espresso bar, plus specialty drinks and teas. 



And then for food - they have things like savory scones, croissants and more.



And then the desserts - oh my goodness. There's everything from macarons and cake to cannolis and cupcakes.



I wanted to try a little bit of everything, so let's get to it.



First, I had a quick bite of a birthday cake macaron. I have had quite a few macarons in my day from some very talented bakers. I wouldn't say this is the best, but it wasn't bad. And, I'm happy to see Morgantown have some options for them.



Then, there was a mini key lime pie. I just love anything in mini form. I'm not a big key lime pie person - the sour sweets have their place, but it's not what I would typically gravitate toward. this had a beautiful, flavorful crust and a dollop of meringue that was a perfect balance to the sour filling.



Cupcakes are prevalent throughout ... the country ... but the strawberry cream cheese cupcake just looked like it would hit different so I ordered one of those, as well.



I saved my absolute favorites for last. This tres leches cake is ... beyond. It's so moist and creamy and sweet and just like the equivalent of being all snuggled up in a cozy blanket - but for your tastebuds.



And this scone - rosemary, thyme, parmesan. I could eat this for breakfast every day. It is savory but slightly sweet and just perfectly balanced.



I did not get a quiche, though that's another favorite. I love a savory pastry. But if you get one, let me know how it goes.



Grade: A

The McFarland House in Martinsburg has been a long time coming. I had to get the starts aligned just right - in the Eastern Panhandle, at the right time, and with a reservation. 



"The 1878 Historic McFarland House has been fully restored and modernized – the house and gardens beautifully reflect a bygone era known for its vintage charm and endless elegance."



As you can see from the photos, my visit was during the holiday season - which I highly recommend because the space is absolutely gorgeous - warm, elegant and thoughtful. 



I feel a little bad sometimes dining by myself because I know I'm not bringing in as much money as a couple or larger party would, and I hope I'm not a waste for a server. In this case, my server was perfect - made me feel welcome, visited when needed, but gave me space to enjoy the experience. 



They start off with one of my favorite things I've had anywhere: A grilled cheesy, garlickly bread served with an herby cottage cheese dip that I could. not. get. enough of. Literally. I got a few refills of it because I fell absolutely head over heels for it. It was so flavorful - nice cold, creamy texture spread on a crisp, crunchy bread. It had a beautiful balance of garlic and cheese with cream. I even chose to fill up on this, taking some of my entree home to eat later. And then, I tried to recreate this at home. But enough about this first taste.



I then went with the Nawlin's Shrimp N Grits for my entree, which included the holy trinity, andouille sausage, prudhomme's sassafras and green onion. Shrimp and grits is one of my "bingo" items - it's hard for me to resist it on a menu. Along with things with mushrooms, etc. 



This rendition of the dish was heavy on the rub on the shrimp, which were done. I tend to like this dish a bit more creamy with the girts, but this had more of a thick grit, with a saucy mixture on top. The colorful peppers helped add some texture and color to the dish. And I loved the andouille size in here. Overall, pretty tasty. But, I would go back just for the bread and dip.



Grade: A