"Appalachia Cookie Company makes cookies the way your grandma’s grandma made them: from scratch, with real ingredients. Our products range from the traditional (Chocolate Chip, Snickerdoodle, etc…) to the unique (Blueberry White Chocolate Oatmeal, Apple Pie) with a few off the wall flavors like our Bacon & Bourbon cookie with dark chocolate and maple syrup," reads the website.
"It all began in 2012, while living in a small college apartment above a bar in the beautiful mountains of Boone, NC. As a student at Appalachian State University, the company’s founder, David Holloman, saw a need for an alternative to the traditional late night pizza and sandwiches. While he knew he wasn’t the first to offer late night dessert delivery, and he certainly wasn’t the first person to bake a cookie, it was his goal to make the absolute best cookies people had ever eaten. With that goal in mind he bought a mixer and began making a batch of what would come to be… some of the worst cookies anyone had ever tasted. That’s right, Appalachia Cookie Company made a lot of really bad cookies before we started making the incredible treats we have today. After a year of late nights, early mornings, burnt cookies, oven fires, final exams, capstones and lots of trial and error, the cookies were ready. A small, out-of-the-way, storefront in a subdivided warehouse was the company’s first storefront. The elegant sign that first adorned the future home of the best cookies on earth was made of cardboard and had “COOKIES” scribbled in sharpie with an arrow pointing to the front door. It was the kind of place you could walk in and stand next to the oven while your cookies baked. Within the first year we had such a large demand that we had customers from all over the country asking for our confectionary delights. We began our shipping program just over a year after the company opened and within three months we had shipped Appalachia Cookie Company cookies as far as California, Hawaii and even Ireland."
These cookies have been featured in 'Top 10 Cookies in America' by Cooking with Paula Deen Magazine and FYI's 'The Know It All's Guide To... Cookies." I ordered a dozen assorted cookies, which included:
Blueberry White Chocolate Oatmeal
Rated one of the "Top Ten Cookies in America" by Paula Deen! The flavor of tart and chewy dried blueberries with creamy white chocolate chips folded into a thick oatmeal batter. They’ve collected their fair share of fans, y'all.
Cookies & Cream
We add whole Oreos to our classic brown sugar batter and add a few creamy white chocolate chips. The Oreos are slowly added whole to the batter with the mixer running to break the Oreos into big delicious chunks.
Frosted Animal Cracker
A soft brown sugar based dough baked until golden brown. We combine this traditional dough with heaps of rich creamy white chocolate chips folded into a delectable batter rolled in sprinkles and topped with a frosted animal cracker.
The last was my favorite - maybe because of all the tiny crunchy bits. But, these are giant, creative & delicious.
Booktenders is a funky bookshop in Barboursville that also boasts a coffee and drink counter. Cappuccinos, lattes, etc., are all available - though vanilla is the only flavor option.
I did a iced latte with vanilla, which was simple. I do love having a coffee option in the middle of a bookstore because it gives all the cozy ~vibes~. While more options would be nice, this was just fine.
Grade: B
"Indulge in the flavors of Modern Appalachian Kitchen with our handcrafted confections. A modern twist on Appalachian nostalgia."
If there is a more enticing phrase, I haven't heard it.
As soon as I stumbled upon Modern Appalachian Kitchen, I went to their website to see how I can get my hands on some of their goodies.
This Morgantown-based home business specializes in marshmallows -- and specifically their couch marshmallow has gained some popularity. Think about it. Burning marshmallows, burning a marshmallow couch. It makes sense for Morgantown. I did purchase one of these, and the novelty is something to behold. Maybe slightly less practical for s'mores, but entertaining nonetheless.
The vanilla couch marshmallow was good, but the Neapolitan and s'mores were even better. They are a bitch softer and stickier, almost, which really reminds me of more of a meringue.
I enjoyed a few other treats, too. The chocolate with candy toppings, known as mountain tops, were lovely, and the chocolate, caramel and nut Freddy is a classic combination that is done just right here.
Quiet Delli Foods is a food store that has many Amish items, local meats, eggs, pottery, canning equipment, bulk flour & oats, and a deli.
From the outside, the building can be a bit offputting. There are a few windows, the parking lot is not standard, and it more so resembles a warehouse. But, once you walk inside, there are halls spanning the space, packed with all kinds of treasures to discover.
And, the deli is its own little treat. There is a case full of meats and cheeses, which you can get sliced to order or made into a sandwich. Best of all, they had sampler containers full of many of the different options from the cooler. Kinda like a portable charcuterie. And, it was so good.
Some of the other treats I purchased include divinity, which is a finicky southern dessert. I have never made it, so I was excited to try it.
There were also packaged dips, like this roasted red pepper cream cheese dip that I simply could not get enough of. Slighlty sweet and creamy, and perfect on a crunchy chip.
They even have local pepperoni rolls and bread.
Any sort of canned goods you may want!
Some hard-to-find items and unique items were the highlight of my trip.
Have you been?
Grade: A
Just a quick little post on this shop that I came across out in Arnoldsburg. They have a variety of pantry products, like jams, mixes, and much more from Walnut Creek. Plus somd limited produce and meat.
Here's a photo dump of lots of West Virginia products I've been checking out lately:
Two Fat Cousins - Homemade BBQ sauces in flavors like Apple Pie Moonshine, Kickin Mustard BBQ, Carolina Vinegar, Habanero Peach and Sweet Spiced Rum.
Bluegrass BBQ - Comes in original, blueberry and spicy
Tipsy Roo - Booze-infused BBQ sauces
Good Time Mixes - Based in Nitro, some dip mixes and even coffee
K2 Motor Sports - hot sauce<
Morris Chocolates - Based in Seth, they make all kinds of goodies
Just Wingin' It Sauce - Homemade hot sauce
Teays Valley Biscuit Mix - Baking mixes for biscuits, cornbread, fudge, and tavern bread
Bistro Soup Mix - Soup base from Charleston restaurant that can be the base for many meals
Cave Mountain Soap Co - We have an amazing product line that is made with only the highest quality ingredients that will leave skin nourished and pampered. Goat milk is a powerhouse when it comes to taking care of your skin. Goat milk is rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin, E, Vitamin B6 and B12, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Calcium, Selenium and other Anti-oxidant rich properties. Fresh hand milked Goat Milk from here on the farm is the very first part of what makes our soap the best.
Hill & Holler Herbal Company - "Learning herbalism is a way for me to get back to my roots and connect to my ancestors, and I can't wait to share my culture's magic and history with you through my products! Every ingredient is 100% organic and sustainably sourced, with almost half of my ingredient list foraged or homegrown and all of my shop's packaging is reusable or 100% tree-free and home compostable (including the labels!) Thank you so much for supporting my dream and my heritage!"
Rica's - Dip mixes
Yoder's Country Kettle - Apple butter, jams, chow chow, honey, pickled beets
Lem's Meat Varnish - Small batch sauce and rubs
Native Eats - hot sauces
Duck's - "Don also known as "Duck" and his wife, Donna, originally experienced the unique taste of Marinated Green Tomatoes in Myrtle Beach. Many years ago they purchased them at a flea market and took them back to the motel and ate the whole jar! They were in love! Every year thereafter they went back looking for more, but were unable to find them again. So, out of desperation, they began the long process of creating their own from scratch. Canning and discarding recipe after recipe until finally coming up with their own Marinated Green Tomato recipe. Family and friends were guinea pigs! Ironically, recently while on a trip to Myrtle Beach they found those original tomatoes again. Imagine their delight. They bought them, took them back to the condo and opened them. They weren't even sealed!! Once they tasted them they couldn't believe how awful and bland they tasted compared to the Duck recipe. Guess their memories were distorted! Prejudiced? They don't think so. Don "Duck" and Donna Miller reside in Jackson County, West Virginia, where the Duck products are prepared. They love what they do and enjoy life immensely. Don has recently retired and has been in many "honey-do" projects, including designing and constructing a new recreation building, including a pool table, bar and dance floor for "Shagging" which they love, and a new "tomato" kitchen. Being people-oriented, they love festivals and all the people they have met and come to know. They are especially delighted that their son, Bruce, has become involved in the business, and helps with all phases - even the slicing and dicing! Kitchen time is also fun time dragging many of their friends and family members in."
McCutcheon's Rub - For chicken, pork, beef and seafood
La Famiglia - "Our signature line of products including house White Balsamic Vinaigrette, Calabrian Hot Sauce, Imported EVOO, and Holiday Gift Ideas"
WV Veteran Produced - Jelly, honey, syrup
Larkin Tea Co - Loose leaf tea
Oliverio's - "Oliverio sauces are unique when compared to others on the market. They are a meal creation tool with endless possibilities, which create an abundant array of cooking delights. Our line is designed to be used as a cooking ingredient; to enhance your pasta, added to meats for a new dimension, or as a topping for sandwiches, pizza and dips. We use ingredients you would if you had the time. Oliverio's does it for you. They allow your cooking experiences to be fun, fast and flavorful. When you open a jar of your favorite Oliverio product, we feel confident that our products are going to add quality, flavor and convenience to anything you serve. By using the natural characteristics of the many special varieties of fresh peppers and vegetables, Oliverio's has created a signature line to which others cannot compare."
Figarettis - Jars of sauce from the Wheeling restaurant
Woodbine Jams Jellies - A small batch company producing WV all natural jams and jellies such as red and black raspberry, wine jellies like elderberry and other fruit jellies
Sasseen - Famous house dressing
New River Brands - Copperhead Bloody Mary Mix, as well as Blue Smoke Salsa, which has new flavors in combination with Chef Paul Smith - blueberry jalapeno, cherry chipotle, pineapple habanero
Up The Creek - Mustards and hot dog sauce
Andor Peppers - Small bath, fermented hot sauces and smoked spice mixes
Sassy Gals - Dip mixes
Arbaugh Farms - Grass-fed beef, sorghum molasses, cornmeal
Cavalier - Meat wholesaler
Mountain State Beef - Ground local beef
Uncle Frankies - Marinara sauce
Chefs Signature - Hot sauces and other condiments
Hinerman Hill - granola, sourdough starter, poultry, salves and more
SR Spices - spice blend manufacturer
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