In my (crazy?) efforts to try all of the restaurants on the 101 Most Unique Places to Dine in WV List (at the time of writing this, I just have one left!), I’m traveling all over the state. And, most recently, my adventures took me to Martinsburg to check out Everything Cheesecake.
This shop specializes in gourmet cheesecakes, as well as pastries and coffee. I pulled up, parked right out front and was the first customer of the day. Cheesecake for breakfast, sure, why not?
The space is really lovely - beautiful track lighting, lounge areas with comfy seats, and giant windows that let in tons of natural light - my favorite.
The display case has these giant beautiful cheesecakes topped with caramel or strawberries or Reese cups. I was told their salted caramel is one of their most popular, and you don’t have to convince me to ever order anything caramel. I’ll probably beat you to it.
As the woman working prepared to carve my slice from the giant cheesecake, she told me a little bit about the history of the shop and how it’s this really integral part of the community. I loved hearing how the owners are involved and wanting to give back.
After just a short wait, my beautiful slice of cheesecake heaven was in front of me, and I was looking at it from all angles trying to determine how to best dig in. The thick layer of salted caramel on top was rich, indulgent and perfectly paired with the rich and creamy cake. The crust was light and crumbly. It is not for the faint of heart, though, as it is so decadent you almost need something salty to balance it all out. Perfect with a cup of coffee.
Or, you know, don’t eat it all in one sitting like I tend to do.
So, if you have a sweet tooth or are looking for a nice bite after dinner, stop by. You won’t be disappointed.
Grade: A
Distilleries are popping up all over the Mountain State, and few are as impressive as Martinsburg's Black Draft Distillery.
Serving up authentic moonshine, Black Draft Distillery is crafted in a converted horse barn behind the owners' home.To tell a great story, you have to go back to the beginning…
It began with a remarkable horse.
Before there was a Black Draft Distillery, we were just Black Draft Farm with a Percheron draft horse named Biscuit. For ten years we were known as “that farm with the big beautiful horse”. The one that would ride through the nearby neighborhoods, bringing friends and family out of the homes to meet her and go on rides. And, they’d fall in love with her just like we did.
And every year starting in the fall, she became the main horse that rode in the Apple Harvest parades, then as Santa’s main ride for the Christmas festivities of our town’s Annual Tree Lighting ceremony.
Last fall, we suddenly lost her, and the barn was left empty with her spirit still very much a strong part of the farm.
And that is when we decided to take a new chapter in our lives in a very different direction. We sat down as a family, and decided to start a new business and bring the farm back to life again. We wanted to bring back the plow-to-earth business that would make our ancestors proud, and that could be handed down to the next generation. And that is when we decided to get into the whiskey business.
When it came time to choose a name for the new venture, there was only one that would honor the spirit of our beloved Biscuit. These stories. That horse. These generations. And, that moonshine. This is what brings family and friends together. And that’s what makes moonshine great!
I was fortunate that Glen and Tara were kind enough to allow me to visit during off-season hours. I don't get to Martinsburg often, so when I knew I'd be passing through, I got in touch with them immediately. They were more than happy to sit down with me and talk to me a little bit about what they do.
There's something really special about talking to people about what they're passionate about. That's a main driving force in why I wanted to pursue journalism. So hearing the owners talk to me about how they got into this and what it's like serving their community is pretty incredible.
They're welcoming and inviting, and - most importantly - totally willing to have a drink with me!
They sell four different drinks: First Harvest Moonshine, Rise & Shine Coffee Moonshine, White Julep Moonshine and a bourbon that flies of the shelf faster than they can make it.First Harvest Moonshine: Made with locally grown NON-GMO corn! Click here to read more about our local corn harvest season.
If you fancy yourself a connoisseur of all-things-whiskey, think again.
For the first time since Prohibition, you’ll soon be able to (legally) settle into a glass of true-blue, or should I say clear, West Virginia Moonshine, courtesy of Black Draft Distillery.
Old school mason jar?
Check.
Smooth finish so you can even taste the corn?
Check.
Listen. This ain’t your college bathtub juice. Nor is it some souvenir swill from a corner in a general store. Our First Harvest Moonshine is an honest-to-goodness West Virginia unaged corn whiskey made in the heart of bootlegging country. We’re in the Shenandoah Valley, right in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains. And by incorporating local products, we are working to create a truly authentic, pure, and tasty, libation.
Most moonshine is made primarily with sugar, and is typically referred to as “white lightning” mainly due to its hot, harsh taste. But we use corn, barley, and wheat to create a smoother, rich flavor and taste.
And, while some of you out there might have already tangled with the illegal variety, Black Draft Distillery promises a product that won’t land you and your buddies in the clinker.
Available in 375ml- “pint” or 750ml “fifth” size. Visit our purchase page to locate where to Get Your Shine On!
The regular moonshine is much cleaner and smoother than I expected a moonshine to be. The coffee moonshine - made with local roasters Black Dog Coffee - is a must for any West Virginia coffee-lover. And, the White Julep moonshine is not typically something I would typically go for, but mixed with some fresh mint, maybe some cranberry, some bitters... this could be one helluva drink. I even got to try some of the unfiltered bourbon. Top notch. 
If you're in the area, give Glen & Tara a call. They'd be more than happy to chat with you. And, you certainly won't regret it. 
I can't wait to see how they grow and expand from here. 
Well, if there's one place in Martinsburg I've been dying to go to - it's La Trattoria. It's the first place mentioned when the city is brought up, it has previously made the list of 101 unique places to dine in the state, and I've heard nothing but amazing things.
When I walked in, he was literally packaging up my meal as we spoke and waiting for the freshly baked bread to come out of the oven. I peeked into the dining area to get a feel for the restaurant. It's pretty much exactly what you expect from an Italian-American restaurant in a small town. Some art depicting Italian scenes, synthetic flowers on the table and a wall full of awards declaring it the best restaurant in the region.
The gentleman who worked with me was just phenomenal. He gently packed up each component to my meal, taking the most care to assure it would be to my satisfaction. He even packed up a few little packets of butter to go with the freshly baked bread. And, while the food was done when I arrived, we continued to chat for another 10 minutes or so. I learned about his family and how his daughter goes to WVU. Just great people.
La Trattoria was founded more than 20 years ago, and the Romo family bought the restaurant in 2007. Since then, it has consistently been one of the highest rated restaurants in the area. And once I was finally able to dig into my meal, it did not disappoint. First was this spinach egg-drop soup in a chicken broth. It was certainly different, but savory and warm, which is perfect for the rainy day.
Next, these incredible rolls. I think he gave me half a loaf, and thank god, because I devoured every last one of them. Soft, chewy, buttery deliciousness.
I had ordered the Tortellini Pink, which is cheese tortellini with a pink creamy sauce. So tasty! It makes me wish I had time to try all their other offerings, because the menu is long with tons of enticing entrees. The tortellini was creamy, rich, indulgent ... it eschews traditional red sauce in favor of this thick, comforting cream-based sauce. Delicious? Check. Amazing service? Check check. Will I be back? Check check check.Grade: A
It's no secret that ice cream is one of the biggest influencing factors in my life. There are a few ways to make me fall in love with you, and offering me ice cream is one of them.
When I recently ran across a list denoting West Virginia's best ice cream spots, I immediately jotted down all locations and made it a mission to get to them.
Petrucci's Country Market, located in Martinsburg, dishes out ice cream from the side of its building where it also has deli meats, fresh produce and other general country market merchandise. I quickly perused inside before heading outside to ice cream heaven.
This place, which apparently used to be called Tad's Dairy Barn, has Hershey's Ice cream in addition to shakes, sundaes, specialty sundaes and more.
So, I went for a simple caramel sundae, which came out topped with whipped cream, nuts and a cherry.
The ice cream was good - nothing too extravagant, but standard and tasty. You really can't go wrong with ice cream, and this was up to par. A richer or thicker caramel or maybe a softer or more flavorful ice cream could've kicked it up a notch even further. But I'm just nitpicking right now. Decent ice cream in a country setting. Perfect for summer, I'm sure.
Grade: B
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