While traveling for work, we spent an evening in Evansville, Indiana. Now, I've been to this town previously because my good friend Kayla lives nearby. But I was excited to try a new place I had never been: Turoni's Pizzery & Brewery.



This pizza shop is also a brewery. So, it's the best of both worlds here. The restaurant is known for its super, super thin crust pizza - like almost a cracker! I've learned this is reminiscent of St. Louis-style pizza.



For my order, I went with the Iron Man, which had mushrooms, garlic, spinach and artichoke hearts. Very thin crust, but the toppings were tasty. Definitely get more of a taste for those than with a thicker dough that can mask some of that flavor.



OKAY and then there was the beer. They had a handful of local brews. So I went with a flight to try a little of everything.



Unfortunately, things got a little mixed up and turned around so we weren't totally sure which beer was which and we ended up with an extra. I can tell you, though, my favorites were the honey one and my least favorite was the dark beer. It had a certain kind of bitter.

Grade: B

The Pinch Sam's Hot Dog Stand is a bit elusive. It tends to only be open on weekdays during lunch hours.



But on this visit, I got lucky. I was able to snag a pepperoni roll - stuffed with pepperoni and thick dough! Pretty standard.



UPDATE 10/29/23: Finally was able to check it out - and they have a really solid hot dog - if not a little mushy.



Grade: B

Comfort is a town I had never heard of - but I ventured there in search of hot dogs.
The Sam's Hot Dog Stand here is primarily a gambling spot - I had to buzz to get let inside. And when I asked for a hot dog, they said they didn't carry any.



After looking puzzled, they prepared me one.



I gotta say, it was a pretty sad looking hot dog. It looked like they cut it a few times, so it wasn't entirely appetizing.

My last column in the Charleston Gazette-Mail, for now:

In these times of uncertainty, there’s one sure comfort: Girl Scout Cookies.

You know them as Samoas, Tagalongs, Thin Mints, Do-si-dos, Trefoils, Toffee-Tastics, Girl Scout S’mores and the new Lemon-Ups.

As a young Girl Scout, I peddled the classic cookies up and down my neighborhood, vying for a coveted prize like inflatable furniture or a neon T-shirt. It was the ’90s, after all.

My love for Girl Scout Cookies began at a young age (namely, Samoas), and it’s continued throughout my life (now, Tagalongs). Not just because they’re delicious, but also because of what they represent: young women entrepreneurs learning key skills to make them leaders.

Recently, I was honored to participate in the 2020 Girl Scout Cookie Taste-Off. This event featured Girl Scout-created desserts that highlighted six of the cookies. Girl Scout Cookies are no doubt tasty, but they can also be incorporated into so many desserts, which makes them very versatile. Just look at this lineup of delicious creations:

- Tagalongs Do-si-dos Cupcake
- Thin Mints Sweet and Salty Mix
- Tagalong Shake
- Girl Scout S’more Campfire Cupcakes
- Trefoils Cheesecake Cup
- Samoa Brownie Parfait
If you missed out, you can make these at home by following recipes supplied by the bakery, Little Brownie Bakers.

The desserts were truly scrumptious. Each bite was made more so knowing that the program — and organization — is dedicated to helping develop girls into leaders across the state and beyond.

Sweet in flavor and sweet in satisfaction — a match made in cookie heaven.

In full disclosure, I am employed by the Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council, and opinions expressed here do not reflect or express those of the Council. They are solely my own. I’ve always loved Girl Scout Cookies, so I am excited to share my devotion — no matter where I am.

I've made my way to Danville to try the Sam's Hot Dog Stand. This Sam's had a cute little set-up in a gas station with cute overhead signage and a decent space on the side.



But what caught my eye first is that there were a whole, fresh pile of pepperoni rolls on the counter. I got a "Zesty" roll, which had salami, sauce and banana peppers. So, so tasty.



The hot dog - this time with just ketchup - was solid. If not a bit too much ketchup.

Sam's Hot Dog Stand is a hot dog stand that has locations throughout southern West Virginia.


So, of course, I now have a goal to visit every location.



So, I made my way to some in the area. The first was the location in Alum Creek. It's located in an Exxon and features other options like burgers, corn dogs and even BBQ. But I went with a classic hot dog - chili, slaw, mustard. onions on an English bun. All in all, pretty tasty.

Here's another Tudor's location off my checklist: Barboursville.



Just a quick drive-thru at this one - to get the new blackberry biscuit. This one was missing the granola on top - and the cream - but still had that super sweet, delicious blackberry sauce.

Hillbilly Hotdogs is a kitschy hotdog tourist attraction that capitalizes on hillbilly stereotypes - outhouses, broken-down school buses, etc.

I've been here a handful of times, and they have some creative hot dogs. But one that has been on my to-try list for some time is The Homewrecker. It's 15 inches of jalapeños, sautèed, peppers and onions, nacho cheese, habenero, chili sauce, mustard, slaw, lettuce, tomato, and shredded cheese, piled high on a 1-pound all beef weenie in a big 'ol bun!

You can do this as a challenge and eat the whole thing in 12 minutes for a T-shirt, and the man besides us complete it, which was fun to watch. But for Sara and I, just trying it was good enough. I took a few bites - but honestly, that hot dog was not my favorite. Hot dogs were not meant to be consumed in a giant hunk. Because the flavor was not great. The toppings were fine. But I think, in all, we maybe ate 1/4 of this.

Have you tried it?

Holy Smokes BBQ in Ceredo has made a name for itself for being pretty dang tasty. It took me a minute to get over to the area, but I finally did.

And while they have BBQ in their name, they also have a ton of other enticing options on their menu, like burgers, philly cheesesteaks, and meatloaf. On this overcast day, I asked what soups they had. The conversation went something like this:

Server: White bean, chicken tortilla and chicken & dumpling.
Me: I'll take chicken & dumpling.
Server: Do you want the two sides with it - green beans and potatoes?
Me: With soup?
Server: Well, we call it soup.
We stare at each other. The girls laugh to one another. I say OK to end this awkward transaction.

What I got was a plate of chicken and dumplings - which was very good. I loved the dumplings, the gravy, the potatoes and the roll. It was a very strange interaction.
 
Grade: A

1010 Coffee Shop is located inside Huntington Cycle & Sport. They have limited hours, so I've struggled to make it here while they're open - until recently!

The inside is not huge, but it's decked out with bikes and a small coffee counter to the left. The menu features basics like coffee, tea, latte, espresso shot and then you can make your own flavors with syrups.

So, I kept it simple with a caramel latte, which was heavier on the caramel side - which I love. Perfect and such great, kind folks at this place.

Grade: A

The Girl Scout Cookie Taste Off is a media event held by the Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council.  Marriott chefs are paired with Girl Scouts to make some classic desserts with Girl Scout cookies. I was so excited to attend this year, and I wanted to share some of the tasty treats:

Tagalong Shake 

Girl Scout S'mores Cupcakes


Trefoil Cheesecake Cup

Samoa Brownie Parfait (my favorite!)

Tagalong and Do-si-do Cupcakes



Thin Mint Sweet & Salty Mix


You can find all of the above recipes and more here.

Highway 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries is a fast-casual restaurant that has two locations in West Virginia: Huntington and Barboursville.

The 1950s-themed restaurant is decked out in baby blue and hot pink. There are some neon lights and memorabilia on the walls.

The menu has burgers, of course, so I looked through to pick out one of the restaurant's namesakes.
John Boy & Billy BBQ Bacon Burger: Served with your choice of American, provolone or pepper jack cheese, mustard chili, bacon, a crispy onion ring, and tangy John Boy and Billy's Grillin' Sauce.

The burger was good. The tater tots were good. I even got a strawberry milkshake, and it was good. Unfortunately, the service was some of the worst I've ever had. It was clear the server was having some issues... stumbling into tables, fighting with the cook, and making me question my overall choice to be here. Maybe the Barboursville location will be better.

Grade: C

The only monthly subscription box that I order is the Appalachian Mercantile Box from J.Q. Dickinson. I look forward to it every month. It includes a curated collection of Appalachian products - whether that's food, crafts, spices, soaps - you name it.

My most recent box included a cherry pinch cellar from Allegheny Treenware, a greeting card from Appalachia Press, some heirloom popping corn from Bluestone Mountain Farm, popcorn salt from J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works, grapefruit drinking vinegar from Mother Shrub, Red Hot Sprinkle from Olde Virden's, and Black Beans from Shagbark Mill.

I can't wait to dig in and see what I can have fun with!