The Asylum is a new addition to my Lewisburg to-visit list, as it just opened in 2014. I penciled it in for dinner on my second night in town.

The Asylum is located just back off the main street at 114 East Randolph St. I'm not totally sure the background on the name or theme, but the interior is pretty nice. Tall, tufted benches and dark wooden tables and tall round high tables. Some dark blue accent walls. A few TVs are placed around the dining area with some comfy seating, too.

My coworker Jayne and I sat at the bar and looked over the menus. They also have a fairly extensive craft beer and spirit menu. Jayne is a bit (lot) more discerning about the food she eats, so her decision was pretty simple - black bean burger.

I took a bit more time. They offer typical fried appetizers: basket of fries, calamari, house-fried potato chips, spring rolls and their version of twisted nachos, sidewinders. There were a few salads; a build-your-own-burger section; sandwiches like a club, ham and cheese, West Virginia hot dog, and Philly steak and cheese; and entrees like fish and chips, Angus ribeye and fried chicken.

I landed on their namesake burger: 8 oz. of beef, house-made pimento cheese, sauteed onions, bacon and bbq sauce on toasted split top bun. With sweet potato fries. The burger was pretty good, but it was pretty greasy, too. I was really hoping to taste more of the pimento cheese (because mmm), but I didn't get much. Bacon could have been crisper to give some texture variance. Sweet potato fries were tasty. Overall, pretty average. I didn't dislike it, but I think there are other places in Lewisburg I would go first if given the option.

Grade: C

Any dinner can be made better by dessert. That's my theory. At least for this blog post, anyway.

After dinner in Lewisburg for my first night, I scoped out ice cream shops nearby. The first that popped up was Cakes and Cones Ice Cream and Bakery (doesn't it seem like it should be reversed? Cakes and Cones Bakery and Ice Cream. Or Cones and Cakes Ice Cream and Bakery?). It is located in downtown Lewisburg, so I made my way there.

I walked in and was greeted. Then there was some awkwardness because I think the owner's kids were supposed to be helping out, but they weren't doing what they were supposed to be doing. Awkward. I instead started perusing the Hershey's Ice Cream case. Two kinds especially stood out to me: Muddy Sneakers (premium chocolate caramel peanut candies and milk chocolate flakes in premium white chocolate ice cream with a caramel fudge ripple) and Candy Bar Overload (premium caramel and chocolate coated peanuts and nougat ripple in caramel flavored ice cream). Are you sensing a theme? *drools over anything caramel*


Two scoops in a cone, and I was on my way. The ice cream had a super sweet candy taste. Sugar overload. Lots of crunchy pieces of candy in the middle. But was it good? Of course. But it's also straight form Hershey's and not produced on site. So, it's kinda hard to judge based on that. The service was just a bit off, but the atmosphere in here seems totally cute, and I think I'd go back on another day to check it out.

Grade: B

When in Lewisburg recently, I stopped in Edith's Health and Specialty Store. I just thought it was so neat right in the center of Lewisburg to have these specialty items. They even have canisters with dried fruit or other snacks. Have you been?

I always get excited when Lee Farms shows up to the Morgantown Farmers Market. And judging by the line that quickly wraps around their booth, I'd wager others are excited, too.



The Fairmont farm grows vegetables and has an orchard of 350 trees that produce several varieties of apples, peaches, plums, and pears, as well as concord grapes.

I recently purchased a half peck of nectarines and a half peck of summer rambo apples. These nectarines were perfect for a quick snack of part of my lunches. And the apples? They looked beautiful sitting on my counter for a bit until I used them to create a crisp. So tasty!

What are your favorite items from Lee Farms?

Let me set the scene for you:

You wake up from a deep slumber at the General Lewis Inn. The lifted queen bed was a perfect firm - but not too firm - that had just a bit of give to facilitate level 10 coziness. Birds are chirping, and the morning sun is quickly rising, filling your room with light. After a quick shower and selection of today's outfit, you grab your room key (attached to a metal room number) and race down the stairs.

You begin the descent down the hill into downtown Lewisburg past antique shops, lunch spots that will open later in the day and local businesses. Small shops are just opening, erecting flags outside the front door. You turn the corner to see The Bakery already booming with a crowd. Customers are shuffling in and out of the door, wafting smells of fresh-baked bread with them.

You're excited to finally get to The Bakery, because when you're in Lewisburg, it's usually in the evenings. This time, though, you finally get to try the tasty bagels and pastries you've heard people rave about.

Once you finally get to the counter, you quickly look over the offerings. There's biscotti. There are some cookies and other sweets. You inquire about what bagels they have today; stopping at the spinach and parmesan bagels, which are warm out of the oven. "Do you want that with cream cheese?" the lady behind the counter inquires. "Absolutely," you respond.

Clutching the warm, wrapped treat in your hand, you climb the hill back up to the General Lewis and claim a rocking chair on the front porch. You peel back the layers of white paper to reveal this golden nugget of a breakfast.
 
The bagel - It's airy. It's light. It's crumbly and flavorful. It's not dense or hard, like most other bagels. It's more of a biscuit, maybe. The ever so slightly sweet flavor of spinach with a creamy cheese and golden browned bagel was delicious. Truly, delicious.


Grade: A