This past year has been the "year of the coffee shop" in Morgantown. There have been a handful that have popped up, and they're all lovely. The latest in that series for me is Annie's Coffee and Creamery. 



Located on Fort Pierpont Drive, this coffee shop comes from the same folks who brought us Apple Annie's, San Marzano Italian Market and more. 



The cofffee shop is located in the plaza on Fort Pierpont Drive along with a handful of other new (well, new to me) restaurants, shops and other businesses. There's plenty of parking, and the buildings are completely new.



The space has high ceilings with some cozy areas flanking the large counter space. Again, when circumstances change, I can see this being a lovely spot to have a coffee or ice cream, get some work done (or catch up on blogging in my case) and relax. 



I love that they support the community. Their coffee beans are roasted by Stone Tower Joe in Fairmont, loose-leaf teas come from The Tea Shoppe at The Seneca Center, and fresh-baked goods are rom Apple Annie’s.



They offer espresso and coffee drinks like lattes, flat whites and macchiatos, teas, and hot cocoa. You can have them hot or iced. Then there's ice cream - bowl, cone, sundae or try the Annie-Lanche, which is soft-serve blended with a mix-in. And, there's a variety of muffins, scones, cookies, cupcakes, cake, pies, pepperoni rolls. sandwiches and wraps.



On this day, I went with a red velvet cookie, a pepperoni roll and a latte to go. The cookie, dotted with white chocolate chips, was large, perfectly chewy and delish. The pepperoni roll is unique in that they use both slices and sticks. And, they're pretty fresh, which is crucial for fluffy dough. And the drink was great. It had a great balance of bitter and sweet and was all-around comforting.



Have you been?

Grade: A

In Cheat Lake where there has been some rapid development, there's a new coffee shop called Hillside Cafe and Taproom. Right now, they're focused on coffee, but "taproom" sounds promising. 



I was only passing through the area, but I really wanted to check this place out. So, I made haste to get here and arrived a little over an hour before they closed. Perfect ... I thought. 



The space is lovely - it always has been. It's a good size and has lovely wooden floor, modern lighting and some nice nook areas to study or relax. They also have their own branded mugs and coffee from Mountaineer Roasting Co. 



On this day, I think maybe they closed at 3 p.m. (don't quote me on that), and I strolled up to the counter, waited a few moments, and the woman working came over. I inquired about the paninis on the menu, and she said they stop serving food one hour before they close. I looked down at my phone and saw it click over to 2 p.m. on the dot. I looked at her and said - ah man, are you sure? Maybe just something small real quick? And she was unwavering - "nope." 



She probably didn't see it, but my heart sank in that moment. I understand closing the kitchen a bit early - sometimes that takes time. But, we're talking paninis and salads here. She probably didn't know - or care - that I just drove 3 hours to get there in the nick of time. But, that's neither here nor there. I went for a coffee drink and a pastry instead.



The frozen coffee drink with caramel was fine; flavors were a bit muddied - too much ice maybe? The pastry I had was pretty good. It was super rich, sweet and a nice crunch from walnuts.

Yet, I still had a sour taste in my mouth. I didn't exactly feel welcome there - and with so many good coffee options in Morgantown - I might go to one that has a bit more of a warmer welcome. 

Grade: B

A brand new Italian market has opened in Morgantown, and, wow is all I can really say.



San Marzano Italian Market, from the same folks who brought us Apple Annie's, is located on Fort Pierpont Drive. 



In fact, it's actually located right next door to Annie's Coffee & Creamery, and there's even a little passageway connecting the two businesses, which quite frankly is genius. If you're waiting on your order at the coffee shop, you can peruse the market.



This market truly has a little bit of everything. 



Fresh bread? You got it.



Biscotti from the Strip District in Pittsburgh? Yep.



Olives, marinara sauce, and pasta? Oh yes.



But, wait, there's more.



At the back of the market, there's a deli counter where you can get all kinds of goodies.



They have fresh sandwiches, prepared salads and slabs of meat and cheese that you can order by the pound. 



They also have a wide selection of Delallo products, which is a local favorite. 



I had to try a few different things.



First, I ordered up some caprese salad - the sliced mozzarella and tomato salad is one of my favorites. This, paired with fresh basil - is perfection. I topped mine with some balsamic drizzle when I got home, and it was perfect.



While here, I also snagged an Italian sandwich. Actually, I would typically call a cold sandwich already made a hoagie. And then a sub it's being made in front of me or is warm. I don't have a real rationale behind that, but that's where we are.



I digress.



You can of course get a variety of other cold cuts and cheeses here, too.



Take a look at what I went home with. 



What have you purchased here?

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

Morgantown always feels like home to me. Like, I spent my young adult years here and truly grew a lot. Part of that growth, I think, is trying new foods. So, whenever I get to come back "home," I'm always excited to try new places.



Zeke's Breakfast & Bakes is located on High Street and is slinging coffee, breakfast sandwiches and other goodies. Think breakfast cafe - from some of Charleston's best beverage folks (Apothecary Ale House owner & latte artist).



The space isn't huge - but it's airy. It's clean, and it's pretty quick. I ordered a bacon, egg and cheese bagel, as well as a latte. The sandwich was tasty - if not just a touch over for me - but the coffee was phenomenal. I'm glad to see a spot with a new twist in this college town. Check out this straight-forward shop to fill your belly and start your day off right.

Grade: A

Ray's Rub is a new seasoning blend located in Morgantown that I've been wanting to try. Why this one? Well, it's an all-purpose seasoning blend - meaning it works on beef, pork, turkey, chicken... and the list goes on.



I got lucky and won some on an Instagram contest - 6 to be exact! So, they made perfect little presents for my boyfriend, friends and parents. So, we could all try a little bit.



And - so far, so good! I've used it to season ground beef - and it added some nice flavor! And, maybe, just maybe, it might make an appearance on my Thanksgiving turkey. We shall see. But if you, like me, appreciate an all-in-one, versatile spice that punches up the flavor of everything just a bit - give it a try. 

Farm 2 Table Direct is a new shop in Morgantown that replaced the former Working H Farms butcher shop.



"We own the farms, butcher shops and the markets to make sure our clients eat the cleanest food. We sell free range animals that are raised traditionally. We aren’t revolutionizing food, we are just going back to the way it was 200 years ago."



The butcher shop of course has tons of local meat. But they also have cheeses, some produce and condiments.



On some days, they even have fresh donuts. Have you been?

During these crazy times, I'm trying to stay as safe as possible while also supporting local businesses. So, there has been a lot of takeout. A LOT of takeout. Even at places like Dockside Grille, which considers one of its biggest selling points being right on the river.



Nonetheless, I got a nice view of the space when I went to pick up. The island vibe is spread throughout the space, while still having a touch of refinement.



To start off, I ordered the coconut shrimp. Breaded, deep-fried shrimp with the sweet coconut outer layer. Plus a side of a creamy sweet chili sauce brought it all together. Yum.



Then, it's lobster ravioli time. Plump ravioli, stuffed with lobster meat and cheese, and topped with a creamy tomato sauce. This is not a new flavor to me, but it is one of my favorites. Creamy, cheesy, indulgent - in all the best ways.



Grade: A