Mag & Pops is a Morgantown-based food truck that attended Veggie Man Day in Fairmont. They had some Veggie Man-themed menu items.
I went for the Pickleroni Roll (Veggie Man's favorite WV snack), which is a pepperoni rolls, stuffed with pickles and served with a side of spicy ranch. this was a fun take on a pepperoni roll. The pickles were interesting, but I did enjoy the spicy ranch side.
Grade: B
Veggie Man is an obscure cryptid reportedly spotted near Fairmont, West Virginia, in 1968. The lone witness described a tall, lanky, humanoid creature — around 7 feet tall — with green, plant-like skin, red eyes, and long, thin arms ending in syringe-like fingers.
According to the legend, the creature approached the witness in a friendly, almost hypnotic manner, and communicated telepathically. Without warning, the Veggie Man allegedly jabbed the witness with its sharp fingers, draining blood — then fled swiftly into the woods, emitting a high-pitched sound.
Veggie Man Day 2025 took place on Saturday, July 12, from 11 AM to 5 PM at the Frank & Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center on the Fairmont State University campus. This was the second annual celebration of the region’s homegrown cryptid legend, presented by Mothboys Podcast & ConjureDust Designs, with support from Marion County CVB, Cryptid Strength, and others.
There were variety of cryptid‑themed artists — many focused on Veggie Man-specific designs — sold original posters, handcrafted figurines, stickers, and themed collectibles.
One of my must-stops is always Liz Pavlovic, designer & illustrator based in Morgantown, who has cryptid‑themed art & merch, including her popular “Live, Laugh, Lurk” Mothman design.
Not only is she the Mothman OG, she has cryptid-related glasswork that is part of the exhibit on display at the Folklife Center. Cool day all-around!
I got a dozen cryptid-themed cookies from The Cookie Culprit, who is based in Wheeling. These were vanilla and chocolate flavored and just the cutest ever.
Apple Annie's is a homestyle restaurant and bakery that has slowly started expanding south. The business originally started in Pennsylvania before opening in Morgantown and now Fairmont.
"Known for hearty portions, friendly service and famous cookies, Apple Annie’s restaurant has been a regional fixture for decades, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner (and anytime in between) with a local flair," according to the website.
I stopped by the Fairmont location briefly for an apple dumpling and bacon & cheese biscuit. I find the baked goods are the real shining star here, but the meals are made up of generous servings and real comfort food. So, I did both.
An apple dumpling is a baked or broiled pastry-wrapped apple. There is butter and sugar and cinnamon, which creates all those apple pie flavors in a nice little package. I like the firmer pastry dough to give it a little texture.
The breakfast biscuit was basic, but each individual component was still tasty and satisfying.
Grade: B
I actually first heard of The Groove mobile coffee truck (at the Bridgeport Farmers Market) before knowing about their physical location. But when I found myself in Fairmont, I was sure to stop by The Groove to get a cup of joe.
The coffee shop is fairly small but sweet, as is the menu: americano, latte, mocha and chai were the main options. Plus, they offer tea and other flavorings for the drinks.
I opted for an iced caramel latte, which I fully enjoyed. It was sweet but with plenty of roasty flavors, and refreshing. I am not huge on bitter flavors, so this struck the right note with me.
Next time, I hope to have some snacks.
Grade: A
I found a new West Virginia spot that makes charcuterie boards that I had not been to yet, somehow.
The Grazing Goat Charcuterie, offers boxes, full of cheese, fruit, crackers, and other goodies in Fairmont.
in this case, there was salami, strawberries, kiwi, nuts, some white cheeses, grapes, blueberries, blackberries, and some crackers.
it was all tasty, but I do wish there had been some sort of spreads, or something maybe a little bit unique. But there were definitely lots of tasty bites. And the fresh herbs were a nice touch.
Have you been?
Fairmont is home to a number of Italian restaurants, but it's less common to see a Mediterranean restaurant right in the downtown area.
The Grape Leaf is a new-to-me restaurant I was excited to check out with my friend Lisa.
We were the only ones here, which was great for us. There was enough space for us to feel safe and still enjoy a delicious meal and support a local business.
After looking over the menu, I went with a strawberry banana smoothie to start. I'm really into smoothies lately, and this one was a good version. It's not large and a bit thin, but fresh flavor.
Then, I tried the sambusas with cheese. These triangular fried filo dough savory pastries. I'm less familiar with this version, but I enjoyed them. I would've loved a sauce with a bit of spice to complement them.
At some point, we got an order of fries, but I was trying to save room for the remainder of the meal. They were thick-cut steak fries, though, and had a nice little crisp.
Hummus. What meal is complete without a side of hummus. This was a good, straightforward version. I like mine to taste like two bulbs of garlic, but that's not for everyone.
My main entree was the chicken shawarma, which was a bit heftier than others I've had. But the sauce with it was more of a savory, meaty sauce, rather than that smooth garlic sauce I crave. Good, but not my favorite.
Finally, let's end with some baklava, of course. Simple with pistachios. Drizzle that syrup on it for some more decadence!
Grade: B
Hermosilla's Deli & Market has been a Fairmont staple for a number of years, bringing fresh deli meats, cheeses, olives and more to the area.
They do a few things really well here: You can order a meat and/or cheese tray for celebration, you can get a fresh made sandwich will all these options and you can visit the olive bar to pick and choose what you'd like to take home.
Because we don't have a big celebration any time soon, I first turned my attention toward the sandwiches. they have a number that are "specialties" or you can make your own.
There are so many options - from kettle fried chicken and chorizo to green onion cheese and smoked gouda. Plus an assortment of toppings, veggies and condiments.
I went with the "Amish Cold Cut," which had ham, turkey bologna and American cheese on white bread. I added olive tapenade and mayo. And, I am now a firm believer that olive tapenade belongs on any and all sandwiches forever.
It was like the nostalgic bologna & cheese sandwiches from my youth, kicked up a notch, which warmed my heart. It was really tasty, honestly, and I would love to have one again ASAP.
And, I couldn't forego the olive bar, so I picked up a small container and filled it with various options from the bar - olives, pasta salads, stuffed cherry peppers. That briney flavor was a beautiful accompaniment with my sandwich, and I would be content having all my meals like this.
To finish everything off, I enjoyed a black tie mousse cake. Chocolately, rich, indulgent - perfect.
Grade: A
Fairmont is home to a number of old-school restaurants that I haven't spent enough time exploring. But I recently went up to the area to go ramp hunting with my friend Liz, and I wanted to grab a bite and support a small local business before heading back to town.
Hoops Cafe is like a sports bar that is family-friendly. At the time of my visit, we were still under quarantine. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to check out the inside. BUT, I was able to place and order and pick it up. The menu has fried appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, and wings - which I heard was their specialty. I went for 10 wings in the "Saloon Girl" sauce, which is "a must for any wing enthusiast. A balance of sweet BBQ and subtle heat makes this one of our best sellers!"
It's not your typical sweet BBQ flavor. It has a little something extra. I like my wings a bit more crisp, but overall, these were decent.
Grade: B
MonValley Vineyards is a new winery in Fairmont that truly looks like a wine cellar just off a countryside. Walking in, we saw the beautiful build-outs that house the wine, and I couldn't wait to dig in.
Sam and I shared samples so we were able to try a little bit of everything. They have dry to sweet, with my favorites being somewhere in the middle.
Rapsberry, blackberry, syrah and shiraz were all tasty. But the sweet mango was different and so much fun to try.
Have you been here yet? Which is your favorite?
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