I visited The Belgian Waffle Shop a few months ago and was excited to try out something new. Sure, you're probably familiar with Waffle House, but there are a handful of local places around the state that also focus on the waffle. Wheeling happens to be one of them.



To start, I feel for the businesses in this part of town that have had the road inaccessible for quite some time. I'm sure that affects business. Additionally, there seem to be some behind-the-scenes struggles in terms of ownership that have made the rounds on social media lately. I don't want to get into that debate.

But I will debate what IS a Belgian waffle. In comparison to regular waffles, Belgian waffles are smaller without an outer rim and are a bit crisp on the outside and fluffy and dense inside. I think a lot of places use the term Belgian to sound fancy, but most are just regular ol' waffles.



The small shop offere several specialty waffles - Butter Pecan, Double Triple Chocolate, Strawberry-N-Cream, Toffee Crunch and Traditional Vanilla Bean. Plus, they do bubble waffles. And drinks.



I ordered the toffee crunch, waffle, which was more of a regular waffle: large, fairly soft, fluffy. The toppings are really, well, over the top. Candy pieces and ice cream and whipped cream remove this from any breakfast territory and send it straight to dessert alley. My only hope is that my next waffle is more crisp.



Grade: B

Wheeling is home to a few new candy stores.



Luckies Candies 2 is one of them. They feature trendy candies and international treats.



I grabbed a few Laffy Taffies. Have you been?

Rock Hill Creamery is a Shepherdstown ice cream shop that keeps it simple: "We make our ice cream right here in the shop using only milk, sugar, and heavy cream as our base."



In 2021, the local paper wrote: "Founded by Gary Miller in Martinsburg in 1996, Rock Hill Creamery was officially closed six years ago. One of Miller’s longtime employees, however, lived in Shepherdstown and realized she wanted to bring the creamery back to life in her town."



I kept it pretty simple with salted caramel, but it was the most silky, luxurious salted caramel I've had in recent memory. maybe because of the simplicity, the flavors really popped. I know next time I want to try a waffle cone, if available.



Grade: A

Twisted Grille is a local business that has been serving burgers, nachos and fries via brick-and-mortar and food truck. When I saw their food truck, I already knew I wanted to order the Route 60 Nachos. It is tortilla chips topped with pulled pork, white queso cheese, and barbecue sauce. I do love a good nacho, and these were surprisingly simple. I think a pickled jalapeno would add a bit ot fresh, sweet and spice to each bite.



Grade: B

I recently heard about Penny's Sweet Confections, so I placed an order to try a bit of everything. Available cookies:

Peanut butter
Chocolate Chip peanut butter
Chocolate chip
Double Chocolate Chip
Creamsicle
Strawberry
S’mores
Snickerdoodle
These were all tasty, but my favorites were the strswberry and s'mores. Have you tried them yet?

Alfredo's has had several Italian/Greek restaurants around the state: Summersville, Buckhannon, Lewisburg, and Marlinton - which we are visiting today.



For as small as downtown Marlinton is, this restaurant is smack dab in the middle. It sits a level above ground, so we walked up the stairs to visit the dining room. It is pretty basic in terms of decor and ambience.



The menu features, pizza, wings, subs, burgers, pasta, gyros and more. Truly fits the definition of "a little bit of everything."



The salad was basic with iceberg lettuce, the garlic knots with cheese were a bit different but dry, and the spaghetti with meat sauce was the definition of comfort food. It's not my typical go-to, but sometimes the simple dish just hits the spot.



Grade: B

Clendenin Brewing Co. is a microbrewery & AirBnB in the small town of Clendenin.



It's a neat space with a garage style door and a mishmash of decor and brewing equipment.



Some of the beers on tap included:

Clendenin Cream Ale Cream Ale
Slow Paddle Pilsner
Mothgirl
Amber Knights
Cannel Coal Imperial Stout
Gingerbread Stout
Secret Hopper
Udder Mayham
Mountain Mango IPA Double IPA
Three Step Mister
KeyLime Gose
Shya's Shandy
Margarita Beer



The food menu consists of a couple sandwiches, smoked meat platters, nachos and mac & cheese bowls.



I went to check it out with my friends, Erin and Beth, and we played some of the tabletop games while perusing the menus.



I gravitated toward the lighter-bodied beers, and my favorites included the key lime gose and both shandies. I was feeling the summer vibes, and they were just so refreshing.



I ordered the buffalo chicken dip macaroni and cheese. Separately, these are two of my favorite dishes. Together, they could use a little work. Some crunch or herb or something would have made this dish a bit more complete and broken up the soft texture.



it's a local addition to town, and I look forward to trying some of their new and seasonal items.



Grade: B

I attended Bop & Nana’s Fancy Ramp Sunday Supper today with my friend Elizabeth. Everything was phenomenal. Take a look: Some passed appetizers for the table: Beverages: Complimentary bellini with a strawberry, water, coffee, ginger tea and mint tea Ramp Chimichuri and Oil Cured Olives in Ramp Marinade Mini Ramp Biscuits & Ramp Butter Rosemary & Parmesan Focaccia Bread Pickled Ramps, Carrots, Broccoli and Cauliflower Gift from the Chef:
Mini Ramp Frittata Appetizer:
Kale with Pork Belly & Sautéed Ramps Soup:
Homemade Ramp & Ricotta Ravioli in Chicken Broth Salad:
Spring Greens with Feta, Redbud, Carrots & Candied Black Walnuts with Ramp Dressing Intermezzo:
Fresh Fruits - strawberry, honey dew, cantaloupe, blueberries Entrée:
Carnitas over Polenta with sides of Ramps & Kale & with Brown Beans Dessert
Chocolate babka garnished with Ramp Sesame Brittle & fresh whipped cream

Bop & Nana’s would like to give thanks and appreciation to all of our local West Virginia growers and food producers who inspire the Chef and help make our 2024 Sunday Suppers possible:

Aroma of the Andes Coffee
Berea Gardens
Chestnut Ridge Winery
Circle S Farm
Every Herb Bearing Seed
Family Roots Farm
Garden Treasures
McColley Gardens
Misty Mountain Farm
Mountain State Farm
Spring Creek Farm
Villa DiTrapano
Working Girl Apiary

Some of the tastiest Mexican food I have had in the state is in Spencer. La Finca, a roadside restaurant with a small lot, could be mistaken for a house. And the food inside is as good as home-cooking.



With a menu full of options like chilaquiles, burritos, fajitas, enchiladas, chimichangas, and the like, I narrowed down my options by finding a meal covered in queso. The burrito filled with shredded pork was moist and flavorful and juicy. The cheese sauce drenched the tortilla, creating a perfectly cheesy, meaty bite. Simple, but made with care.



Grade: A

Another airport - this time in Chicago! Chicago is one of my favorite food cities, so I get excited to try any new restaurant here. Even if it's in an airport. Gene's Bistro is a sit-down spot that felt welcoming after getting off the plane.



"Wide ranging menu, featuring yummy appetizers, handheld sandwiches, fresh salads and a handcrafted cocktails and wine list. Elegant bistro style location with airy seating area, full bar, and flight information to keep up to date on eye on before heading to the gate," reads the website.

The menu is not huge, but it does have a little variety for each meal of the day. I ordered the penne à la vodka. It's no secret that pasta is my love language. This dish was decent - I liked the flavor of the creamy and spicy sauce. The penne was done well. And the parmesan and chili flakes added a little extra depth. But it kind of became a monotonous mouth feel with the same texture over and over. I would've loved some meatballs or hunks of sausage or even roasted garlic to make it a bit more exciting to eat.



Grade: B