A new locally owned and operated butcher has opened in Morgantown recently.



Village Butcher and Market, located  on University Avenue in Star City in a new building, offers a variety of fresh cuts of beef, chicken and pork. 



They also have sausages, salamis and more. 



In addition, they also offer a sandwich menu, as well a other market goodies like kettle corn, biscotti, cheese, olives and prepared salads.



If I were living in town - or even had a cooler - I would be tempted to purchase a delicious steak. Local folks are going to have to tell me how those are.



But since I was just passing through, I opted for a sandwich.



The "Prosciutto" had my name written all over it: prosciutto, aged manchego, baby arugula, fresh Mission figs, house-made fig preserve, and a hint of Dijon served on a french demi baguette.



This sandwich is, hand's down, one of my favorites in all the state. 



The bread was fresh with that crusty top, the greens were fresh, the prosciutto was flavorful and shaved thin, the figs added a delicious sweetness, the manchego brought just a little funk, and the hint of dijon helped balance it all. 



It really is a fairly simple sandwich with a few high-end ingredients, but that's all it takes.



I also ordered a side of pasta salad, which was OK. I like mine to be really zesty, and this one was pretty mild in flavor - but not bad.



There were also a few products I wasn't familiar with that I'd like to try next time.



I've not had Almost Heaven Kettle Corn, but it looked good! 



I also need to try the house biscotti - with a nice coffee, of course. 



And I had no clue the folks from Tutto Gelato are making pasta! I really can't wait to pick up some of that. have you been? What's been your favorite purchase?

Grade: A

J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works has opened up a store and restaurant concept in Morgantown: Appalachian Mercantile General Store and Cafe. 



J.Q. Dickinson, located in Malden, is known for its incredible heirloom salt - and possibly my favorite West Virginia product, period.



But, they have expanded beyond that to be a curator of other Appalachian goods, which are sold in their shop and part of a monthly subscription box. 



And now in Morgantown - technically Granville - they'e expanded that concept into a full-fledged store and cafe. 



I had been waiting to a coordinate a trip to Morgantown when it opened, but I couldn't wait any longer. THEN, I got lucky and saw that they just so happened to be opening on the same day I made it to Morgantown. 



The building is located in a newer developed section that also houses the New South Media building. 



There's a cool old truck sitting out front, and once you enter, it's Appalachian goods heaven. From BBQ sauce and drink mixes to home decor and pasta, there' a little bit of everything.



I was excited to be familiar with many of the products, because they had been featured in a subscription box at one point or another. 



That didn't stop me from picking up a few things: a cherry soda, some miso caramels, a spice rub and more. 



But then as I made my way through all the great products, I saw the cafe area. There was a case full of pastries, a menu board with drinks, and then a paper menu of snacks. 



First, I got a blueberry muffin, which I believe they source from LeRoy's Bakery in Bridgeport (I need to get there, too!). It was tasty!



I also had to try a coffee -- the affogato is my latest obsession. A dark roast with a scoop of vanilla ice cream is just the perfect bitter and sweet indulgence. 



And then let's talk about the full menu.



It's a beautiful assortment of charcuterie, local breads, cheeses and more. 



I ordered the Blue Ridge Baked Cheese Skillet - because I wanted something more than what I could assemble - but I still can't pass up a charcuterie of some sort. It's Firefly Farms bloomy breeze cheese served warm with walnuts, figs, Appalachian wildflower honey, crostini and crackers. 



This was delicious. But I could literally eat this kind of meal every day for the rest of my life. It's so, so good. The combination of that cheese with the sweet figs and crunchy walnuts was *chef's kiss* so good. 



Finally, I bought a small container of pimento cheese to bring home. It's really like an Appalachian culinary haven. I'm already planning my next trip, as I know it's only going to expand and get even better.



Grade: A

West Virginia has a love affair with hot dogs; they can be found in just about every nook and cranny of the state.



Hot Johnson's is a new takeout window in Ripley that serves up hot dogs - as well as pulled pork, cheeseburgers, fried bologna and wraps. 



They're located literally as just a window on the side of what appears to be an industrial building. They're cash only - but the sign says PayPal, Venmo and Cash App work, too. 



I ordered two hot dogs - one with chili, slaw, mustard and onions. Another with ketchup and onions. I liked the chili - mild, but not too oily. And the slaw was finely chopped, which I always appreciate. A little heavy on the mustard for my taste, but still two decent hot dogs. 

Grade: A

Cacapon Mountain Brewing is one of the newest breweries in the state - and I might say, it's also one of the most beautiful.



Located in Berkeley Springs, this space has sky-high ceilings, tabletops, metal accents and lovely greenery all throughout. It is clean, modern, yet cozy. 



When I went, it was not too busy - but that's also because we're in the middle of a pandemic. I put in an order for pork carnitas, which were garnished with white onion, cilantro, a lime wedge and came with a side of green or red salsa. These were more in a traditional vein and were tasty. I prefer mine with a heavy spritz of the lime.



Their tap list includes a helles, dry Irish stout, session IPA, hazy pale ale, Czech pilsner, Belgian pale ale and English pub ale. I went home with a growler of the Poor Tom - English Pub Ale - Brewed with Golden Promise malt and Goldings, Fuggle and Celeia hops for a light yet deeply malty ale with earthy and fruity notes from the hops and yeast. This was good - light and more malty than hoppy (which is my preference). 



Have you been? What has been your favorite?

Grade: A

When I think of White Sulphur Springs, I tend to think of The Greenbrier.



But, lately, there have been some new businesses opening that are helping to set White Sulphur Springs apart from that standard association.



There's a block of buildings on Main Street that is now home to a couple restaurants, an event space, and a brewery with an outdoor beer garden.



My first stop at this complex was at The Local Cafe. This coffee shop has ice cream, as well as some grab-and-go sandwiches and salads. 



I ordered the Appalachian Affogato, which is a scoop of your choice of ice cream and a shot of hot espresso over top. Typically, you'd eat this with a spoon, but since we were heading out of town, I got mine in a to-go cup and enjoyed this sort-of coffee milkshake. I like my coffee on the sweet side, so I was all about this combination.



I also tried an apple coffee cake pastry, which was okay. I arrived at the end of the day, so it was a bit more dry than I'd love. But, it would be perfect for dipping into coffee. If my coffee wasn't already floating in ice cream.



Have you been here yet?



Grade: A