Charleston Restaurant Week is held the last week of January, and, this year, I was traveling for the duration of it.

I am fortunate to volunteer for this event, so I was able to get some behind-the-scenes views of the menus before they were made public. I may have sneaked a few tastes here and there in advance of the week as my own personal restaurant week.

1010 Bridge just always consistently delivers a delicious meal with inspired ingredients.



Tuscan white bean and sausage



Cast iron seared skirt steak with herb & garlic smashed potatoes, winter vegetables, red wine jus



Chocolate silk pie with brown butter graham crust and salted caramel

Soho's churned out the best special menu that I've seen from them in years. I loved everything I tried, especially the baked brie.



Butterflied jumbo shrimp baked and stuffed with crab meat



Baked Alouette Brie in a cast iron skillet, topped with brisure cherries, praline hazelnuts and hot honey and served with toasted ciabatta bread



12 oz. oz. cider-brined bone-in, french-cut pork chop served with rosemary roasted red skin potatoes and herb-buttered broccolini



Manicotti stuffed with ricotta, romano and mozzarella, topped with fresh lobster in a lobster cream sauce



Two-layered strawberry cake with a cream cheese filling and strawberry pieces, covered in dark chocolate ganache, strawberry coulis and fresh whipped cream



Vanilla bean brûlée with macerated Madagascar vanilla pods, crispy oat crust topped with torched raw sugar

Volstead Room is a brand new contender this year, and they didn't pull any punches. One of my favorites from them was this icebox cake, which was ooey and gave me more vibes.



Which restaurants did you enjoy this year?

FeastivALL is FestivALL’s annual fundraiser held each February. This dinner and silent auction has raised thousands of dollars in support of FestivALL’s mission and was a key part of the initial success and funding of FestivALL Fall. Each year, FeastivALL has welcomed a sell-out crowd, and this year it expanded to a new space: the University of Charleston.
The fundraiser is centered around food and drink, which includes an epic battle of libations. At each course, attendees are presented with a beer and wine pairing, and after the course is over, diners vote on their favorite. I had a wonderful time; here are some highlights
COURSE 1
Tuna Tartare Wontons
By Chef Seth Samples

WINE: Whitehaven Sauv Blanc
- New Zealand, light-bodied, lemongrass, salted lime, yuzu, pear

BEER: Hawk Knob Hard Cider Salty Beach - Citrus, salty, tangy

I liked the wine best with this course, which had a nice subtle heat.

COURSE 2
A Humble Salad
By Chef Emily Isaac
Baby Arugula & Shaved Brussel Sprouts with Candy Striped Beets, Roasted Fennel, Toasted Pine Nuts & Parmesan Reggiano finished with Tomato Vinaigrette made with DiTrapano Olive Oil

WINE: William Hill Chardonnay - NC California, medium-bodied, lemon, buttery, oak, apple

BEER: High Ground Brewing Yomir the Creator Farmhouse Ale - Crisp, rye, subtle fruit

This was my favorite course of the evening. The salad was bursting with flavor and satisfying crunchiness. I wish I could buy that vinaigrette.

COURSE 3
Tuscan Bean Soup
By Chef Tim Urbanic
Ditrapano Olive Oil and James Beard-inspired Chicken Broth

WINE: Thread count Red Blend - California, full-bodied, acidic, cedar, boysenberry

BEER: Jackie O's Endless Echoes Hazy IPA - Hazy, hoppy candied grapefruit

This was a nice, traditional soup in an old world Italian vein, though I didn't really lean toward the beer or wine pairing for this course.

COURSE 4
Braised Wagyu Beef Cheek Bourguignon
By Chef Paul Smith
Herb Garlic Yukon Gold Smashed Potatoes and Seasonal Vegetables

WINE: Quilt Napa Cab - California, full-bodied, hazelnut, cocoa, rhubarb

BEER: Bridge Brew Shays Revenge Oatmeal Stout - Light-bodied, creamy, roasted

This was a reliably solid dish from Chef Paul. It's hearty and comforting.

COURSE 5
James Beard-Inspired Shortcake
By Chef Brian Magliochette
West Virginia Maple Sugar Strawberries and Bourbon Chantilly Cream

WINE: LaMarca Prosecco - Italy: Light-bodied, crisp, apple, peach, honeysuckle

BEER: Screech Owl Wild and Wonderful Strawberry Blonde - Light, fruity, refreshing

I loved the beer with this one; the aroma alone put me in strawberry heaven

Here's my latest column for the Charleston Gazette-Mail: If you’re a candy connoisseur like myself, you may be familiar with the following tasty combination candy bars:

- Chocolate, cookie and caramel (Twix)
- Chocolate and nougat (3 Musketeers)
- Chocolate, nougat and caramel (Milky Way)
- Chocolate, nougat, caramel and nuts (Snickers)
- Chocolate and peanut butter (Reese’s)
- Chocolate and crispy peanut butter (Butterfinger)

If you’re from the Pittsburgh area, though, that last one may have conjured up images of a different candy bar: the Clark Bar.

The Clark Bar consists of a crispy peanut butter core and is coated in milk chocolate. It was introduced in 1917 by the D.L. Clark Co. and manufactured in Pittsburgh.

“The Clark Bar ... was the first nationally marketed combination candy bar and its success induced numerous others to produce comparable products,” according to the “Encyclopedia of Junk Food and Fast Food” by Andrew Smith.

Six years after the debut of the Clark Bar, the Butterfinger burst onto the scene from Curtiss Candy Company. And 13 years after that, Luden’s created the 5th Avenue bar.

But it all started in 1886, when David L. Clark, an Irish immigrant, first began selling candies out of a horse-drawn wagon in Pittsburgh’s North Side, according to “Historic Pittsburgh” from the University of Pittsburgh’s Library System.

What started as a wagon-based business grew to a large factory, and by 1920, the company was producing nearly 150 different kinds of candy. The Clark Company quickly became known for its innovations in candy — including introducing mint, peanut butter and coconut to chocolate candies.

It was the Clark Bar that skyrocketed to fame and continues to be produced today, followed by the Zagnut Bar, which contains coconut.

The original, family owned business manufactured the candy until 1955, when it went through a series of corporate owners via sales and bankruptcies. In 1999, the well-known Massachusetts-based “New England Confectionery Company” (Necco) purchased the company. But, following Necco’s 2018 bankruptcy, Clark Bar production moved to Altoona-based Boyer Candy Company in western Pennsylvania.

With those changes came slight tweaks to the recipe. Boyer Candy Company, known for the Mallo Cup, began producing “Clark Cups” — taking the Clark Bar flavor and forming it into cups like its other products.

Nowadays, it’s difficult to find the original Clark Bar. But, it is still in production, according to the website.

“The iconic Clark Bar has been a Pittsburgh tradition since 1917. One bite will answer life’s three big questions: YES, we still make Clark Bars. YES, they are amazing. YES, they sell out often,” reads the website.

Now, when I see a Clark Bar, I gain a bit more pride for our region. Pittsburgh, affectionately referred to as the “Paris of Appalachia,” shares much of the same industrial history of West Virginia. And as a Yankee West Virginian who grew up north of the Mason-Dixon line, Pittsburgh is like a second home to me.

A home made of chocolate and peanut butter.

Located in the Denver Milk Market, Morning Jones serves up muffins, pastries, breads and other sweet and savory treats. Between the full-size cakes and mini treats, it was a slice of heaven.



Featuring 16 venues run exclusively by acclaimed Chef Frank Bonanno, Denver Milk Market is one of the nation’s only dining marketplaces led by a single chef. In addition to the coffee & pastry shop, the market also has concepts around pizza, pasta, hot chicken, brunch, poke, salads, burgers, sandwiches, ice cream, seafood and tacos.



At Morning Jones, there are a bazillion pastries and coffee options, so I took my time perusing the options behind the case.



No coffee for me on this visit, but I did enjoy a raspberry dessert. The giant serving had layers of cake and cream. Sweet, but balanced nicely with the tartness of the raspberry.



Have you been?



Grade: B

Milkbox Ice Creamery is a Union Station small-batch ice cream shop located in a former barbershop space in Denver. It's a really neat spot that fawls modern but still rooted in the classics.



This ice cream shop stocks 16 flavors of ice cream, including sorbet and vegan options served as a shake, sundae, cone or cup, as well as boozy alcohol shakes.



Flavors include:
Almond Joy*
Banana Pudding
Basil Blueberry Swirl
Black Walnut
Chocolate*
Cinnamon Churro
Coffee Bean
Cookie Monster
Toasted Coconut
Dulce De Leche
German Chocolate
Key Lime Pie
Luv Chunks (raspberry with brownie chunks)
Malted Whopper
Maple Walnut
Mexican Chocolate
Mint Oreo
Pineapple Sorbet
Salted Caramel Peanut Butter Cup
Salted Butterscotch
Salted Oreo*
Strawberry Sorbet
Snickers
Strawberry Cheesecake
Sweet Basil Blueberry
* = Vegan Available



I went with a simple cup of dulce de leche. The deeply rich flavor is one of my favorites. It was beautifully smooth and creamy - no overchurning in sight here.



Grade: A

Crema Bodega in the Denver Central Market features small-batch coffees and creative espresso drinks. They have 22 local, national and international coffee roasters. I opted for a small, iced caramel latte, which was the lovely little jolt of energy I needed. It was a robust flavor profile with just the essence of caramel notes. True coffee lovers would be fans.



Grade: A

Take a look at all the goodies in this month's J.Q. Dickinson Appalachian Mercantile box.

HERITAGE VIRGINIA MILLS
Cornbread mix
Organic, stone ground grains are in this easy to make cornbread mix. Owned and operated by a multigenerational family in SW Va.

MOUNTAIN TABLE
Coffee
This coffee is organically grown, fairly traded, and locally roasted with care in Renick, WV.

ROUTE 11 POTATO CHIPS
Dill Pickle Chips
Kettle cooked chips with a tangy dill pickle flavor. Made in Mount Jackson, VA

MOM BLAKEMAN'S
Kentucky Cream Candy
This delicious candy is made with a centuries old recipe where the sugar is pulled on a hook to develop the unique texture.

BROOKSTONE SOAPS
Body Butter
Made in Ona, WV from natural ingredients and nigari from J.Q. Dickinson to add extra minerals and extreme moisturizing.

OH, LITTLE WREN
Wood Magnets
These precious magnets are laser engraved in Virginia with unique designs to add décor to your home or office.

Izzio Bakery is a family-owned Colorado bakery that has been baking traditional organic sourdough breads since 1994.



At the Denver Central Market location, the bakery also features breakfast and lunch items in addition to an enticing dessert display.



A fresh fruit tart caught my eye. A cookie disc layered with a frosting and topped with a colorful bounty of summer berries. What's not to love? It was absolutely lovely.



Next time, I may opt for a sandwich and try that fresh-baked bread.



Grade: A

I have found the best bagels outside of NYC. That's because Rosenberg's Bagels in Denver does just about everything it can to replicate the NYC classic right in Denver.



"We only use the highest quality ingredients. Our bacon is heritage-breed pork, processed by Denver’s premier bacon company. We use cage-free eggs that were farmed locally no more than a week before being served. We ‘recreate’ NYC’s water with a machine that we had custom-fabricated, in order to make our bagels as authentic and delicious as possible. And being in a landlocked state, it can be pricey to fly in fresh (never frozen) fish, of which we only use the highest quality and is sustainably sourced and every slice, masterfully hand sliced," reads their website regarding pricing.



I visited their Stanley Marketplace location, which is technically in Aurora, and the first thing I noticed was the smell. There are few things better than fresh baked bread.



I ordered The High Class: Specialty Smoked Fish, Caviar Cream Cheese, Tomato, Red Onion, Choice of Bagel (garlic). Plus a half sour pickle.



It's a little fancier than my standard lox bagel, so that made it a bit more fun. Slightly brinier and with some more interesting texture. Silky, smokey salmon, cream cheese, chewy bagel = it's a beautiful flavor combo.



Grade: A

Great Harvest Bakery is a franchise bakery & cafe that has recently expanded to The Mountain State - in Bridgeport and Elkins.



"For over 30 years we have been using long, traditional methods of baking to create breads that are truly one-of-a-kind, simple, wholesome, and delicious. Bread. The way it ought to be ... We still fresh mill our 100% whole grain flour every day. Baking from scratch was the norm for our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and so forth. Bread. The way it ought to be ... Our wholesome sandwiches are layered with premium, nutritious ingredients between fresh baked bread. Sandwiches where the outside is as good as the inside! Bread. The way it ought to be."



The fast-casual cafe features sandwiches and salads, as well as breads, muffins, rolls, scones and the like. It reminds me of a more country-style Panera Bread with the agriculture-focused decor and menu items.



I visited around lunchtime, so I perused items like the Cubano, Roasted Pepper Chipotle Cheesesteak and the Spicy Apple Bacon Grilled Cheese before ultimately deciding on the Italian with genoa salami, smoked ham, roasted red pepper, black olive tapenade, provolone cheese, red wine vinaigrette, lettuce, tomato and onion on Farmhouse White Bread.



I gotta say - I was pretty happy with this sandwich. It was piled high with those classic Italian deli meats that when paired with fresh veggies and a nice, acidic vinaigrette, it is *chef's kiss*. Fresh, but flavorful.



I also snuck a butterscotch and coconut blondie type situation that was dang good. Sweet, but not too sweet. A little crunch, a little bitter. I appreciated the well-roundedness.



Grade: A

Samurai Hibachi & Sushi in Ripley is a Japanese and Asian fusion restaurant that runs the gamut of offerings - from teriyaki and bento boxes to ramen and poke.



The space is one that has seen many restaurants come and go. But it's easy to find with plenty of parking. Inside, it is not unlike other similar restaurants in the area. Bar seating, high-tops and red/black hues dominate:



I ordered Cheese Wonton (5), Lava Drops, Chicken Teriyaki and Strawbery Thai Boba.



These lava drops were pretty tasty bites of deep-fried sushi with spicy mayo and eel sauce on top. A nice combo of salty/sweet.



The teriyaki left a bit to be desired. I think the sauce could be more viscous so it could adhere to the chicken. Plus, a few gristley pieces turned me off.



Wontons were decent (but could have used more filling), as was the strawberry boba. The ginger salad is always a no for me. What's your favorite item?



Grade: B