The Davis/Thomas area is one of my favorites, and when I went there recently to do some research for an upcoming column, I walked along East Street in Thomas (one of the coolest streets in the entire state) taking in all the amazing shops.

There are some great artist galleries like The White Room Art Gallery, Lamplight Gallery and Creature (which I have fallen in love with). I also gotta mention nearby Davis has the WV Highlands Artisans Gallery, which is also great. There's Three Castle Antique and the Christmas Shoppe & More. There are also a bunch of shops that cater to all your foodie needs.




Thomasyard is a florist, with garden and gifts, and also has lots of specialty food items - chocolates, fresh produce, wine, cheese, crackers, cookies, honey, apple cider, apple juice, apple butter, apple sauce. Plus, yummy samples and popcorn!









Riverfront Antiques has West Virginia wines - and tastings! - in addition to other local novelties.

And, then, I stopped by the smallest church in 48 states because why not! :)

So, I have a soft spot for Americanized Chinese food -- I always will. That first bite of an eggroll in Pittsburgh as a kid opened my eyes to a whole different world of food ... one that didn't exist in Wellsburg at the time.

So when nearby Follansbee got New Hong Kong, I was ecstatic that some sweet & sour chicken, eggrolls and General Tso's chicken were at my fingertips. And, yes, I understand there are other dishes besides these ultra artificial ones -- but let's be honest, we're not going for authentic here. We're going for tasty. It's sweet, sticky, comforting and makes me happy.

They have your typical dishes: chow mein, foo young, sweet & sour chicken, lo mein, beef & broccoli, General Tso's, Sesame Chicken, etc. You know, what you'd expect from a standard Chinese joint.

They have a dine-in area, as well. This came in handy when I wanted to meet up with Kaitlynn on Christmas Eve to exchange presents. We came in, browsed the menu overhead, and I decided on one of their specials: honey chicken.

And, it sounds overly sweet, salty and everything I wanted. Perfect. We walked around to the back, sat at one of the booths and awaited the food. A few minutes later, we were presented with tasty dinners - and this is perhaps the first time I've seen their food on real dishes and not just the plastic take-out containers.

Fried hunks of chicken tossed in a sweet sauce? I mean, it doesn't take much to make me happy. It essentially tasted like a diluted honey was coating the dish. I'm not complaining; it hit all the right spots. The eggroll on the side was just fine - a bit too crunchy on the outside, and no real exciting filling inside, but fine.

So, no, this is definitely not the best Chinese food I've had. However, bonus points for the fact that it's the only game in town. Also, I got exactly what I wanted, so how can I complain? Plus, I got to spend a portion of my Christmas Eve at a Chinese restaurant. It only seems fitting.

Grade: B

So, I visited Blackwater Brewing Company a while ago when I wrote a piece on the brewery for the magazine. I met with Lincoln and fell in love with not only his beer, but also the inventive dishes he was churning out.

So, I was surprised when I learned of "Barrels Brewhouse" taking over the restaurant portion of the business. Barrels Brewhouse is a sister restaurant to "Bricks and Barrels" in Charleston, which I dined at during Restaurant Week last year and became a fan.

It's definitely a touch upscale with tall barrel tables, wood-paneled walls and TVs on every wall. The music was quite loud, and the place as empty - save for the handful of staff hanging out when I entered. Since I had my pick, I took up a larger table over by the window. I had a number of different servers bring menus, list what's on draft and question what I was taking photos of. I think because there were so many of them and only one customer, they had all their attention on me -- and toting a giant camera attracts attention.

The menu is quite different with lots of great options: truffle tots, pimento cheese fries, burgers, and some entrees like chicken, shrimp & grits, and bourbon & brown sugar flat iron steak. Some really nice options that are classics but with a modern twist.

Well. I ordered the pimento burger, which is a custom-blend burger topped with housemade pimento cheese and bacon. I also upgraded my side to truffle tots - white truffle oil, Parmesan cheese, garlic aioli.

Wow. I mean, wow. The burger was perfectly medium done. And the pimento cheese just oozed out overtop the burger, creating this cheesy, sweet, spicy layer of goodness. Crisps bacon on top for some salt and texture. Piled into a bun. It's pretty simple, but it's indulgent. Think of a thick, juicy burger and ask yourself, 'self, how could this be better?' Add southern favorite pimento cheese to it. That's how. I'd be lying if I said I didn't add a little ketchup, though, for some extra sauce. The tots were also quite good with the truffle oil, but some extra would've been even better. If you're gonna go all out, GO ALL OUT, amiright?

I'm curious to see if the local community turns out for the restaurant, because it has a more commercial appeal - flashy items, but tasty ones. I enjoyed my meal, and the staff was very friendly. I think a little time, and once word spreads that the food here is good, it won't look quite as empty.

Grade: B
 

This hippie store on Davis was just too cool to pass up. Wild Ginger and Spice has mood rings, leather-bound journals and a bevy of spices, herbs and loose-leaf teas.

So, I just thought it was a cool option for anyone interested in getting their hands on some crystallized ginger or maybe some organic cinnamon sticks. Or cacao nibs!

Then, there's stevia, tarragon leaves, chipotle peppers and habanero peppers.

Not your thing? What about Earl Grey, English Breakfast or Forever Fruit Herbal Tea? All organic.

Have you been? What have you purchased?

A local bed and breakfast in Davis serves breakfast to the public. And when I saw Bright Morning Inn's menu, I knew that meant I was going to get to Davis early in the morning.

My day trip to the area started with a stop at Bright Morning Inn to get my fill of their French toast. I parked just across the street easily and walked inside. No one was readily available to seat me, so I found a little area with plenty of light (best for photos!) and made myself comfortable.

The interior is clean, a bit dated, but in a sort of charming way. It was decorated for the holidays, which made it feel honey. It also overlooks the main street in Davis, so it was fun to people-watch.

The menu features lots of tasty items - pancakes, veggie specials, country breakfasts and more.

Their French toast goes by the moniker "banana dream" and comes with potato bread coasted in cinnamon batter with a hint of banana liqueur and rolled in oats and topped with fresh, sliced banana. I also got an order of sausage - though they forgot that, and they came out halfway through my meal. Always gotta have the savory with the sweet.

The French toast is extra filling. There are a bunch of triangles, but then the oats on top of it make for a pretty dense bite. I loved the fresh bananas, which add a nice smooth, fruity note to the heavily sugared dish. Not sure it's my favorite rendition of French toast, but that's a dish that's near and dear to my heart so I'm a bit critical of it. It was a solid take on it, and definitely a good option if you're extra hungry.

I struggled a bit with the service, if only because the woman who brought out my food was talking to another table as she sat mine down -- and didn't bother to ask if it looked OK or if I needed anything, but continued her conversation past me to the next table and walked back to them. If I didn't need anything, it wouldn't have been a problem, but my missing sausage had to wait until another server came back around so I could flag her down and ask for it. I know this wasn't intentionally dismissive, but I sometimes find this common when dining alone. Whether it's because I won't have the largest bill or because I'm profiled as young & not a good tipper, it's just a tad frustrating. She seemed sweet, otherwise.

But my server was actually quite apologetic and very kind, and my meal was good. Just a minor blip in an otherwise lovely dining experience. If you happen to find yourself in the area between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m., I encourage you to check it out, get something warm in your belly and enjoy this local gem.

Grade: B