With a name like H.B. Snallygaster, this Bolivar store seems like it might be right out of a Harry Potter novel. However, it's just full of yummy food, delish snacks and lots of great local products.



Bolivar Bread is one of those local companies that has lots of great goodies at this store. I bought some granola as a gift and also found Joan & Joe Coffee, which is based in Harpers Ferry and roasts their own coffee beans. I can't wait to go back and check out their own coffee shop.



And I also got this perfect assembly of herb blends to make dips from The Cottage of Herbs. Yum!



But right here at H.B. Snallygaster, they have a small deli with sandwich, flatbread and soup offerings. 



I went with a simple ham and cheese sandwich, which was so packed full of ham that it was difficult to close it! They don't skimp, that's for sure. This version didn't have melty cheddar, but was instead a cool sub with mayo and white cheese.



Such a fun little store with a beautifully old soul - and some tasty food.

Grade: A

My J.Q. Dickinson Appalachian Mercantile subscription box was waiting for me when I got home! 



Six Appalachian-sourced goodies awaited me. 



THREE-GRAIN PANCAKE-MIX - Try this special blend of buckwheat, wheat flour, and cornmeal stone ground and mixed in small batches. By using locally grown, non-GMO grains, you get a real taste of Virginia for breakfast. It’s all you need to be ready for the day.

MAPLE SYRUP - Produced in the mountains of The New River Gorge of West Virginia, this award winning maple syrup has gone from a family hobby to something for everyone to enjoy. From pancakes to cocktails, this maple syrup will elevate anything you put it on.

SANDWICH WRAP - Natural food wraps can make a powerful difference in reducing plastic waste. Wrap your sandwich or snack for lunch on the go. Build your sandwich, then wrap and tie. Use the warmth of your hands to seal for natural food storage. Bee's Wrap will hold its shape when it cools, creating a seal.

BUTT NAKED LOTION BAR - Used to help improve dry skin. A solid bar of lotion. Lotion Bars have all the ingredients of lotion except the water. Rich in shea butter, sweet almond oil, vitamin e and just enough beeswax to make it solid. Excellent for cracked heels, elbows or just dry skin.

SALT GRINDER - These are for the person who loves to grind. Our largest crystal of salt and Tellicherry peppercorns are easily available for the perfect seasoning. Pepper cannot be grown in the USA, so these peppercorns are imported from India. Tellicherry peppercorns stay on the vine longer resulting in a slightly sweeter, more rounded pepper flavor. The glass grinders are refillable, making them a sustainable choice.

CHILI PEPPER SPRINKLE - Olde Virden's Red Hot Sprinkle and Spicy Verde is a must have for your spice cabinet. From the farm to the bottle, Olde Virden's is dedicated to producing the cleanest pepper blend on the market. Completely free of additives or preservatives, this is an unforgettable seasoning crafted with just one natural ingredient: chili peppers. From your eggs in the morning to pizza at night, you will discover a million different uses.

Here is this month's J.Q. Dickinson Appalachian Mercantile subscription box! Let's see what goodies we got:



Epic Pickles - Sweetness Pickles: This pickle chip is sweet, not syrupy - with a touch of onion. And known to disappear before they get home. Nice! From York, Pennsylvania. Net wt 16 oz

Brownwood Farms - Bacon Ketchup with Bourbon: Made in Athens, Ohio this ketchup is made with real applewood-smoked bacon and a splash of bourbon. The bacon gives this ketchup a smoky flavor that makes a strong pairing with everything from fries to meatloaf. 14 fl oz

Base Camp Printing - Wild Strawberry Notebook: From Base Camp Printing Company in Charleston, WV. This wild strawberry notebook is perfect for journaling, sketching, or taking just daily notes. 40 pages 8"x 5"

Keep Well - Rosemary Soap: With many friends: cattle farmers, butcher shops, that have too much beef tallow! We like to close open loops, so we take their tallow and turn it into soap. Lightly scented with rosemary. Strong cleaning power from the tallow, moisturizing balance from the sunflower oil. The tallow used in all of our soap is from fully pastured, grass-fed, and local cows. The sunflower oil is from Susquehanna Mills. From York, Pennsylvania. 8 fl oz

Mud & Maker - Tiny Tumbler: Made in Pottsville, Pennsylvania with a cute bee. Great for a shot glass, qtips, toothpicks, tweezers, air plants and more.. there really isn't anything you can't use these little guys for. Also makes a great "mommy-pot" for all of the wildflowers and dandelions kids gather.

Lindera Farms - Tomato Salt: Tasting Notes: Smokey, savory, complex, it's BBQ in salt form! Notes of tomato, peppers, applewood and hickory all come through with this incredibly potent finishing salt. Usage: Anything where you'd like a touch of smoke and complexity is going to be a great fit for this salt; working exceptionally well with red meat, pork, and is a great add on for grilling and BBQ

My friend Kayla posted a photo of a meal from Chef Ke on Instagram, and I was intrigued. First of all, she had grits, and I loved any sort of southern and soul food. Second of all, I had never heard of Chef Ke. 

After a little bit of Instagram research, I learned that Chef Ke is a chef based in the Cross Lanes area who creates meals from her home.  



"Chef Ke is a home based chef from Alexandria,Virginia. The youngest of six children, Chef Ke spent a lot of time in the kitchen with her mother as a young girl. As Chef Ke began to watch her mother prepare meals before and after work everyday she grew a love for food and cooking. Chef Ke found her true passion for cooking in 2017 when she attended college in West Virginia. Cooking for herself and many friends on campus Chef Ke was given a lot of encouragement to create an Instagram account to showcase her various beautiful dishes and prepared meals. Finally, in 2019 Chef Ke founded keekrEATionzzz, an experience Chef Ke created to stay connected with her community, share and provide delicious quality food to the areas she serves."



She has been posting specialty menus every few days, and when she shared the chicken mini with mac & cheese option, I was sold. I messaged her on Instagram, paid via cashapp and picked up the next day. It was piping hot, and THIS is the mac & cheese you need in your life. Cheesy, baked with MORE cheese on top. And those chicken minis - little fried crispy bites of goodness on a sweet roll. Even better than other versions - and all the while supporting a local business.

Have you checked out Chef Ke yet? 

The latest delivery of my J.Q. Dickinson Appalachian Mercantile box arrived today! It contains six Appalachian goodies - from food and knick knacks to baking mixes and salt from J.Q. Dickinson themselves. 



In this goodie box, I received these:

WILDFLOWER HONEY ALMOND CARAMELS
Gearhart's Chocolate These soft handmade caramels from Charlottesville, VA are produced with fresh cream, butter, toasted Marcona almonds and local Virginia wildflower honey. Around 8 individually wrapped pieces in a 3.25 oz resealable bag.

RED RASPBERRY JAM
Simple Products
Simple Products Pear Butter is a delicious compliment to any breakfast. Made from organically grown Ohio pears, organic natural evaporated cane sugar, orange juice, ground cinnamon, and ground clove. Simply perfect. Red Raspberry Jam pure, fresh and organic Red raspberries, natural evaporated cane sugar and fruit pectin. With crushed red peppers this is a treat for all.

WHOLE WHEAT BEER BREAD BAKING MIX
Copper Pot & Wooden Spoon
From Waynesville, NC this is a crumbly, malty quick bread with a crunchy, buttery crust. This Beer Bread Mix made with Carolina Ground Organic Flour creates delicious, fast and delicious bread to serve with any meal. Simply add your favorite 12 oz brew, pour a stick of melted butter over the top and bake for 30 minutes!

1 OZ JAR OF SALT
J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works
J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works evaporates their salt from a trapped ancient sea in Malden, WV. These finishing salts will enhance any food you prepare. Sprinkle them on just before you eat to get a pop of flavor and the unique texture. Applewood Smoked to add a touch of smokiness to roasted meats and vegetables.

YORK IMPERIAL APPLE VINEGAR
Keep Well
York Imperial is consistently one of the best selling apples in the USA for cider, apple sauce, and preserves for its full flavor and enduring sweetness (it’s much less famous as a raw fruit because of its wonky lopsided shape). York Imperial Vinegar for one year in oak barrels, but it takes on the character of a much older juice very quickly-sweet and with a mildly honeyed aroma. Produced in York, Pennsylvania.

FERN TEA TOWEL
J.Q. Dickinson Appalachian Mercantile
These botanical tea towels add that perfect soft touch to your kitchen, while still working hard! The perfect size to fold and display in a table setting or hanging over your oven. They are medium weight and lint-free so it works as a delicate napkin or as an absorbent clean-up cloth. We design our own art and have these printed with a soft, watercolor ink at our small local screen printer in Leoma, Tennessee. Cloth measures 18 inches long and 22 inches wide, with slight variations in size

The Cardinal Market in the Grand Central Mall in Vienna hosts a variety of local artisans, crafters, and business owners who sell their wares in this space. 



There are a bunch of West Virginia-themed gifts, as well as some tasty goodies, too!



Now, you know I can't get enough of West Virginia goodies. Take a look at these cute notecards! 



I also purchased some woodsy-scented candles. Mmm.



And I feel like bar soaps are becoming so popular. I know they've become like an artisan good, but I didn't realize that many folks actually used bar soap! 



I digress. Let's talk about some of the tasty treats you can get here, like Tiff's Magical Cookie Creations.  My cookie from here was so cute and tasty! 



Then, there is also Granny's Kitchen fudge, which I've written about before. It's so good.



And, there are some other odds and ends from Ohio, like Mrs. Miller's and Jason & Mary's. What have you purchased from here?

These home-based charcuterie businesses are popping up around the state - and I am so happy about it. We've tried one in Morgantown and one in Charleston, and now, there's Gourmet Grazing in Beckley.



There are a variety of different kinds of charcuterie boards you can order, depending on how many folks you plan to feed. For a small portion, I ordered a 6x6 and when asked if there were any specifications, I just asked for no dark chocolate (bleh) - which is so nice! Since she prompted me, I felt like I wasn't being a pain. 



Typically, they deliver, but since I was just driving through town, I picked it up. I also believe they may be in the process of getting their own location - which is so exciting! 



The box was full of cheese, fruit, salami, chocolate and more. 



And I absolutely loved the cute little wooden utensils, like this absolutely adorable honey dipper. I just can't with how cute it is. I think that's part of this whole like experience - the picking and choosing and abundance of goodies and it's all presented in this lovely little package. Are you a fan?

I stumbled upon Oma Goodness on Facebook, and I love to support a local business - especially when they're offering sweets! 



"Oma Goodness is a home based candy business that offers homemade goodies from your childhood. Fantasy fudge, no-baked cookies, potato candy, hard rock candy, coconut bon-bons and more! It is all custom made, all by hand." 



I ordered some milk chocolate buckeyes (yum!) and some cool whip candy, because it sounded fun! She even threw in an extra St. Patrick's Day-themed candy sucker because it was near the holiday! The buckeyes were delish. I always love a good buckeye. The cool whip candy was kinda reminiscent for me of a Three Musketeers. Have you tried this tasty home business yet?

It's my favorite time of the month - J.Q. Dickinson Appalachian Mercantile delivery day!! Let's see what we have. 



Spicewalla - Buxton Hall Chicken Seasoning: From award winning chef and pitmaster Elliott Moss this rub will elevate chicken, or any other white meat, to another level. Perfect blend of sugar salt and spices. Made in Asheville North Carolina.

WV Harvest - Sweet Pickled Ramps: The embodiment of Appalachian delicacy, Pickled Ramps are the perfect accompaniment to any dish or as a stand alone treat. Natures springtime gift from Morgantown, WV is an amazing blend of wild onion and garlic flavor.

Vino di Milo - Fresh Herb Marinara Sauce: Smooth and savory! This seductive marinara has loads of fennel, thyme, basil, and parsley for an incredible flavor. Finished with a splash of Malbec

Scratch Pasta - Spinach Fusilli: These delicious pastas are made in Lynchburg, VA by Stephanie Fees of Scratch Pasta Co. The Virginia Wheat Campanelle is made with a mix of semolina flour and Virginia-grown wheat flour, this whole wheat pasta is a lighter alternative to traditional whole wheat pastas. Balanced and delicately flavored, this pasta is perfect in just about anything, but our go-to move is mixing it with some delicious pesto. Stands up to heartier sauces. The Semolina Pappardelle is perfect for a simple tomato sauce or a heavier bolognese. It has a great texture. Gluten free fusilli is made with a blend of tapioca and brown rice flour for a perfect texture. The Spinach Fusilli is an amazing bright colored pasta that will brighten any meal.

Lindera Farms - Lemongrass Ponzu Sauce: Lindera Farms' owner, Daniel Liberson, sources local ingredients around Virginia for his vinegar and soy sauce. The Honey Vinegar is made from honey near his farm and is a rich, slightly sweet vinegar with low acidity. It is a great addition to any salad. The Ramp Vinegar is made with ramps foraged by Daniel himself. It's bright onion/garlic flavor is great on vegetables of any kind. The Soy Sauce is made from dark, rich, locally grown black soy beans. It is finished with apple wood to give it a touch of smokiness. Drizzle over meats, stews, and sauteed vegetables to elevated the flavors of your cooking. The Scotch Bonnet and Aji Pepper hot sauce is a must in every pantry. It has a kick of heat but excellent flavor that will not overwhelm the palate. The ponzu sauce is made with citrus and lemongrass. It is a great seasoning for Asian food. Most items come in 100 ml bottles, others in both 100 ml and 200 ml bottles.

Thomaswork - Leaf Motif Bookmark: Lazer cut bookmarks that feature a crisp tree design into either sycamore or walnut. Produced by Matt Thomas, of ThomasWorks in Shock, WV these bookmarks are the perfect way to keep your place in a good book.

I love traveling and trying foods from all over the place. Unfortunately, that hasn't happened as much as I would like over the past year. Covid 'n such.



Instead of traveling to these places I want to try, I had the idea to bring them to me. Have you heard of Goldbelly? I don't know about you, but I'm getting targeted ads for it like nobody's business. It's a website that offers specialty foods from all over the country that you can get mailed to you - for a premium.



But it's a cool option if you've always wanted to try real Chicago-style pizza or a New York-style bagel, etc. I wanted to find something that was new to me and that was also interactive for date night - but takes no real skill. Because I have no real cooking skills to speak of. 



So, we ultimately decided on ordering a cannoli kit from Carlo's Bakery. "Buddy and the Carlo's Bakery team star in TLC's hit series, "Cake Boss," and in more publications and spin-off series than we could list. Buddy’s cake design was voted by The Today Show's viewers as the best cake in America," as per the website. 



So we were shipped a dozen cannoli shells with two piping bags full of icing and went to town. I tried a sort of swirl technique, where as RL did this mooshing thing that I think worked better. 



And, they were very tasty. There was no actual cooking or baking involved, so I couldn't mess it up fortunately. And it was fun to make them on our own. Bu I sure do miss that sort of "authentic" feeling of being there. But for now, this will do. 

Heeeere's the mail, it never fails. It makes me wanna wag my tail. When it comes, I wanna wail "maaaaiiiillll!" Anyone remember Blue's Clues?

This month's J.Q. Dickinson Appalachian Mercantile Box is here! I am already chowing down on the dilly beans from Crisp & Co.  And I'm loving this print from Laura Poulette. This bathroom spray has already made its way into the guest bathroom. I've not yet tried this hot sauce from Tennessee, but I hope to soon. I've never tried pull candy before, so I can't wait to taste this one. If you have suggestions for the rhubarb chutney, let me know! 

I know that charcuterie is trendy right now, but truth be told, I've always love eating like this. I used to buy a bunch of different small blocks of fancy cheese, some salami, crackers and mustard and call it a day. Now that that concept is amplified to the nth degree with specialty cheeses, delicious condiment, all sorts of fruit, etc., I am so here for it.



Le Charcutier is located in Morgantown and offers a weekly charcuterie box that is available to purchase on Wednesday and pick up on Friday. I was really lucky they were willing to work with me on a pick-up date to accommodate when I would be coming through town.



This last week's box included truffle cheddar, brie, borgonzola, blueberry vanilla goat cheese, and aged cheddar, plus olives, cornichons, assorted cured meats, nuts, dried fruit, and other accoutrements. The cheeses in this box were the best I've had in a charcuterie box. And, I LOVED the cherries! I never can find cherries locally. All together, delicious.

Grade: A