Mintage Vintage is a market that hosts more than 100 artisans seasonally in the Parkersburg area. The open-air market spans a number of buildings at the 4H campgrounds in Mineral Wells. There is everything from stickers and clothing to dog treats and food. Of course, food.


Valley View Apiary & Breads
Valley View Apiary & Breads was a new one to me! These breads looked so good.
Sweet Ash Cookies
These beautiful custom sugar cookies are almost too pretty to eat. But don't worry, I will be devouring these carrots.
Wood Chipps BBQ
I started my day with some pulled pork nachos, complete with cheese sauce, bbq sauce, ranch, jalapenos, and, of course, pulled pork. I would've loved these even more if those toppings were layered, but tasty nonetheless.
Farmhouse Kitchen & Bakery
These pastries and baked goods made it hard to choose because each one looked delicious. I ended up going with a Reese Peanut Butter cup brownie. I'm still working my way through that beast.
Philly Twist
Braided soft pretzel with a variety of dips; I went with the honey mustard. A soft pretzel is one of those simple delights because they're not readily available everywhere. It makes me think of a carnival or other event.
Mama Maria
I was pleasantly surprised to see a locally made marinara sauce from Bridgeport. In addition to the sauce, there was also meatball mix and the base for the sauce. If you want to put your own spin on it. I've already been using the sauce as a dip for pepperoni rolls.
Willowbrook Cottage
Speaking of, I snagged a little round pepperoni roll from this bakery. They had mozzarella and pepper jack cheese. Nice for a snack sizespeaking of, I snagged a little round pepperoni roll from this bakery. They had mozzarella and pepper jack cheese. Nice for a snack size.
Fluffy Hippo
I think one of my favorite confections is homemade marshmallows. They don't last as long as the commercial ones, of course, but you can get such interesting flavors. Here, I tried a peanut butter and jelly. The texture is probably off-putting for a lot of folks, but it was so satisfying for me. Like flan, but with more bite.
Timmy’s Originals
As "home of the Smashburger," this food truck made it easy on me. I knew what I had to order. I got one smash burger with cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayo, mustard, and ketchup. I don't think that it was as flat as I expected from a smashburger, but it was still tasty.
Leslie's Grub Shack
Hands-down, my most favorite bite of the day: a sloppy joe. It was the perfect blend of sweet and tangy, and the huge portion kept me full all day. I'm still thinking about it days later.
Kettle Pop Company
Last, but not least, who doesn't love some kettle corn?

I saw 9290, LLC posted on Facebook that they were going to be serving up dinner plates today.

Because they are primarily a catering business, I hadn't had a chance to try much from them.

So, I jumped at the opportunity and placed an order for fried chicken, sweet mac & cheese, potato salad, honey cornbread & water. All for $17. The fried chicken was nice and crispy, but it was a bit difficult to bite through to the meat without ripping all the skin off in one go. The mac & cheese was a little sweet, which is my favorite. I could have eaten an entire box full of that. The potato salad had sweet pickles/relish, which is not my favorite. And the cornbread was OK, but the entire edge of mine was burnt so I tossed that part of it all in all, a nice comfort food meal perfect for a Sunday. Grade: B

Starvin' Arvin's is a restaurant on the West End of Huntington that features comfort food in a fast environment.



Think spaghetti with meat sauce, pot roast with vegetables, open faced roast beef sandwich -- all at a place with a pick-up window. Is this a dream?



I enjoyed chicken & dumplings - hand-pulled rotisserie chicken immersed in a rich, savory chicken gravy with fluffy dumplings for a comforting, homestyle meal. Soul satisfying.



Mac & cheese - this was okay. A little bland for me. Give me some more flavor.



Meatloaf - a classic blend of seasoned ground beef and pork, baked to a savory finish and topped with a sweet and tangy glaze. Nostalgic favorite for me.



All washed down with a fresh strawberry lemonade, which hit the spot. Delicious.



Grade: A

Savannah Bee Company is a local and specialty honey producer - in the form of honeycomb, bath & body products and more.



"At Savannah Bee Co., our mission is centered on supporting the vital work of bees. Beyond honey, we're committed to safeguarding these essential pollinators, crucial for building hives, sustaining our food supply, and enhancing our environment. Climate change and pesticides threaten their existence, making bee preservation our top priority. Through every honey jar, bee-powered beauty product, or cultivated hive, we actively contribute to their protection. By choosing Savannah Bee Co., you're not just buying products; you're joining our mission to preserve bees and the planet for future generations," reads the website.



They offer so many varieties of honey, from wildflower and tupelo to orange blossom and lavender.



"The species of flower from which the bee gathered the nectar determines the color, flavor, and sugar composition of the honey. Buckwheat honey is black and strong in flavor, acacia honey is almost completely clear and mild. We mostly sell monofloral honey – nectar from one specific flower species. We like to say all honey is good, but some honey is great. And believe us, there is a big difference. Common commercial honey is often blended for color consistency without regard to taste," reads the website.

Spice of Life is an international grocery store in Kanawha City. I went to check it out and first perused the dry spices and other mixes. The variety covers all parts of Asia. Next, I spent a great deal of time perusing the instant noodle section. I think they have become more widespread thanks to TikTok. I have been exposed to a lot more brands, so I nabbed some to try. I also loved the selection of juices and syrups with fruits you don't always see in the store. While I didn't investigate, they also had two freezers full of meats. It has a pretty wide selection of a little bit of everything. Plus, there are items you may have seen or heard of, but didn't know where to get them. This is the place. Have you been?

Sergio's Cucina Italiana & Steaks is a newer restaurant in Hurricane that I visited with two of my closest friends, Elena and Amanda, when it first opened.



This restaurant is one of several from the namesake owner, who also owns the Guadalajara restaurants. But, the specialty for this location is specifically Italian fare and steaks. And I had set my sights on Italian.



I started with a minestrone soup, which I wasn't crazy about. But the warm breadsticks with parmesan were fluffy and buttery.



I built my own trio with the following:

Meat lasagna - layers of hearty ground beef, creamy ricotta, and Parmesan cheese, all nestled between sheets of pasta and smothered in rich tomato sauce and baked to perfection.

Chicken parmesan - breaded chicken cutlet served over a bed of spaghetti pasta and topped with rich marinara sauce.

Fettuccine rosa - A delectable blend of marinara and house-made Alfredo sauce tossed with fettuccine, served with tender chicken.



The meal was so comforting and filling - it's impossible not to enjoy it. The flavors were not anything I haven't had before, but they were tasty. Carbs are my love language.



Grade: A

Leong's Asian Diner is "Home of the Original Springfield Style Cashew Chicken!"

"Springfield-style cashew chicken comes with a well-documented story. Area natives love the regional favorite, and newcomers ultimately come to adopt it as their own. Residents in Springfield, Missouri have long recognized Mr. David Leong as the originator of Springfield-style cashew chicken, and as such they embrace the Leong family as a part of their own.

David Leong immigrated to the United States in 1940 from Guangdong, China. He became a naturalized citizen, then served his adopted country during World War II. (During the Normandy invasion, he was in the fourth wave of troops to hit Omaha Beach.) In November 1963, he opened Leong’s Tea House, a 350-seat white-tablecloth restaurant on the suburban fringe of Springfield, Missouri in what had once been a cornfield.

Inspired by the economy of the cashew chicken and the success of the Teahouse, a number of cashew-chicken-centric restaurants followed Mr. Leong’s lead. By the 1970s, the Leong family’s dish had become such a part of the Springfield culinary scene that there were literally hundreds of Chinese restaurants serving their version of cashew chicken, and many still do today."



So, of course, I had to try the cashew chicken. It is deep-fried chicken chunks covered a sauce made from chicken stock, soy sauce, oyster sauce and cashews. It's savory and umami and satisfying.



The dish is popular in the Springfield area and is often cited as the unofficial "dish of the city." Springfield even hosts an annual festival that is centered on this chicken dish: Springfield Sertoma's Cashew Craze.



Grade: A

Perched next to "The Dome" in Three Rivers, California, was Lotus Blossom Vietnamese Cuisine. This pop-up of sorts had just a couple menu items to choose from and seating in the great outdoors.



I ordered the lemongrass chicken with noodles, salad and eggrolls. This dish delivers a beautifully balanced combination of freshness and texture. The lemongrass chicken is the star — tender, juicy, and marinated just right with that citrusy, fragrant punch lemongrass is known for. It's savory with a touch of sweetness and just enough char from the grill or pan to add depth.



The noodles serve as a great base, light and slightly chewy, soaking up the flavors of the chicken and sauce. They’re not heavy, which helps keep the dish feeling fresh rather than weighed down.

The salad adds a refreshing crunch — with carrots and herbs — and when paired with the nuoc cham (a classic Vietnamese dipping sauce), it cuts through the richness of the meat and noodles perfectly. The eggrolls round out the meal with a satisfying crispiness on the outside and a savory, well-seasoned filling inside. They're a welcome contrast to the rest of the plate and bring that comforting, indulgent element.



Grade: A

"Burgers, tacos & more" is the name of the game of Baker's Drive Thru, a San Bernardino staple since 1952.

In 1952, in his hometown of San Bernardino, Neal Baker opened his first modest hamburger stand on Highland Avenue. Mr. Baker’s love of the business grew, and in 1953 he opened a second Baker’s location in Rialto, which still stands today. By 1955, Mr. Baker had become a standout in the industry as an innovator in creating America’s First Twin Kitchen® operation–an offering of both American and Mexican entrées–a concept that quickly caught on with the evolving Inland Empire customers.



I opted for the Cali Steak Burrito, which has Beans, Steak, Cheddar Cheese, Onion, Guacamole, Fries, all wrapped in a Flour Tortilla. And another side of fries, for some reason.



This was a big boy. It was stuffed full. I appreciate the variety in fillings; I do wish some of those ingredients added some texture. When it all becomes a bit mooshy, it's a bit lesss exciting.



Grade: B

Grant Grove Restaurant is a breakfast grab & go stop in the Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks.



These parks are notable for giant sequoia trees, including the General Sherman tree, the largest tree on Earth by volume. The General Sherman tree grows in the Giant Forest, which contains five of the ten largest trees in the world. The park also contains the highest point in the contiguous United States, Mount Whitney, at 14,505 feet (4,421 m) above sea level.



This was just a quick breakfast, but it wasn't bad. I had a breakfast bagel with cheddar and egg.



Adding a side of fruit rounded out the meal for me and provided a solid start to my day of hiking.



Grade: B