Last year a new, Hampshire County, West Virginia, farm owner and his crew were out generally clearing some land when this one particular oak tree was felled. As it came crashing down, a large family of flying squirrels bailed out and scattered.

So in honor of those squirrels, the Flying Squirrel Ranch & Farm was born. And soon, some attractive farm-based ventures will follow.“I was mortified,” said farm owner Stephen Settimi. “I said right then and there that I would never cut down another dead tree again because there are things living in them.”

Settimi’s current passions are his farm and starting a farm distillery. He moved to rural Hamshire County from Washington, DC, with exactly that thought in mind. His Rada Craft Distillery (the venture’s official name) is now fully licensed (Brilliant Stream).

After a bit of a crazy adventure (running late, a low tire pressure light, rain, and no cell phone service), I made it for my appointment to check out Flying Squirrel Ranch & Farm and RADA Brand Appalachian Spirits.

• GIN: Hampshire style Gin made from 100% twice distilled spirits with flavor of juniper, coriander, bergamot, and wild carrot
• BRANDY: True brandy made from 100% grapes grown in the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia
• APPLE BRANDY: Distilled, then barreled from hand-crushed apples pressed and allowed to ferment. The subtle flavor of apple is enhanced with pure apple juice. 
• SPIRIT WHISKY: Our flagship batch whiskies each have their own unique quality. Distinctive flavors of traditional American Whiskey. Compare our premium batches to Bourbon.
• SPICED RUM: Made from 100% pure cane sugar and molasses, select spices and stored in slightly toasted oak barrels. 
• HOWLIN SHINE: A premium moonshine, Howlin Shine, is made from selected whiskies and flavored with apple, pear, and a dash of cinnamon, (sweet)

Flying Squirrel Ranch & Farm is located in the Potomac Highlands of Appalachia. We’re about equal distance from Washington DC, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh. We employ a full green- cycle farm-to-table and grain-to-glass operation. We grow and harvest corn, grapes, nut, and fruit trees for eating and craft distillery operations. A small garden and fish pond provides food and sustenance for us human residents while marauding wildlife eat what we can’t harvest quick enough. Distillery byproducts and water recovery is used for feed, fertilizer, and irrigation. Most of the 30 acres is left wild for the native flora and fauna. The 5 acres of pasture land carries a small creek and fishing pond. The meadow has many medicinal herbs and wildflowers. A frighteningly fast 500’ zip line runs from the barn facility at the top of the hill to the meadow below. Aside from overnight camping, fishing, and hiking, our mini craft distillery offers free tasting of a variety of artisan-made spirits such as whiskies, gin, rum, liquors and of course, "moonshine”. When not in production cycle, the large 3200 square foot barn with lofts serves as an events and gathering facility. Nearby Rada is the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad offering a train tour along the Southern Branch of the Potomac River running from Romney to Petersburg where travelers often catch glimpses of Bald Eagles or bears. Other nearby attractions are Civil War battlefields and historic towns of Moorefield, Romney, and Keyser (Flying Squirrel Ranch).

Have you been? What's your favorite?

Rainelle's Fruits of Labor Cafe & Bakery is only open for lunch on weekdays and works with folks in the community who may have struggled with addiction. Their connection to the community is strong, and not only are they nourishing the community nutritionally - but also in a wholesome way. That's commendable.

Fruits of Labor is where the fruit of the earth meets the fruit of the Spirit. The corporation comprises of six main areas: Fruits of Labor Café & Bakery, Wedding and Corporate Events, the Retreat Center, the Agriculture and Culinary Training, and speaking engagements for Author and President of Fruits of Labor, Inc., Tammy Jordan. 

The vision all started with entrepreneur Tammy Jordan's dream at age five to have a show farm. She was formally educated in science, worked for over a decade in agricultural research with USDA, while growing Fruits of Labor simultaneously for over a decade. It is a corporation designed to marry her passion for agriculture and her love of the culinary industry, by growing much of the food for weddings and corporate events. Her and the staff at Fruits of Labor have truly experienced the fullness of that vision. Fruits of Labor Corporate Headquarters is located in Greenbrier County, Dawson, WV.

This restaurant has a large space - which I'm sure helps with the other missions of this larger organization. The restaurant is just one component, but it's quite lovely. The open dining area has all new tables and chairs and an impressive display case full of goodies. After being affected by the flooding, it looks as it's brand new.

Develop a sustainable agricultural model to inspire small Appalachian farms to realize a profit in food production, while retaining the environmental integrity of the land for future generations. (Agricultural Mission)

Develop an advanced culinary training facility for chefs and students in culinary programs where they will experience the complete cycle of food production (selection, planting, care, harvest, storage, and consumption) to then be challenged to develop recipes using seasonal produce from the farm. The training is an entrenchment into the philosophy of buying local and how as a chef, they can incorporate local foods into their future menus. (Culinary Mission)

After I had a seat, I looked over the menu. It's quite large for just being a lunch menu - everything from salads and soups to sandwiches and burgers.

Though it was a tough decision, I ordered the "Bacon & Blue Burger" because a good burger is an artform and pretty telling of a restaurant. It is made with 1/3 lb. ground beef brisket topped with Amish Blue Cheese, smoked bacon, and baby Swiss cheese served on a housemade bun. I got a side of pasta salad, too.

The burger was on this cool cheese bun, and everything was clearly homemade. It was tall and round - not wide and flat like you typically see. It also came with a side of peppers if you need to add a little spice. This was a good burger! I love that everything is clearly homemade, and they're using quality ingredients.

The pasta salad was creamier than I anticipated, but still very good. I loved the bits of fresh veggies, which gave some crunch.

And we all know I don't say no to dessert, so when I saw the display case, I knew I was in trouble. I ordered a cream pie, which came in a few different flavors. I wanted the peanut butter and chocolate one - even though it fell over a bit. The filling is piped into a pie crust, and it was SO GOOD. Light, but flavorful and I loved the tiny pie crust that pulled it all together.

Visiting Fruits of Labor Café & Bakery means far more than purchasing bakery products or a having a delicious meal – it is a personal, tangible investment in the growth and nurturing of people in our own community who demonstrate the daily courage it takes to overcome addiction. Seeds of Recovery Culinary and Agricultural Training Program is specially designed for recovering addicts. The program works with the whole person, and offers training in the culinary and agricultural industries with emphasis on the farm-to-table movement to help increase job opportunities at no cost to the student for women and men participating in Greenbrier County Drug Court Programs. Your purchases supports the cost of this program. Under the direction of Fruits of Labor’s training staff our Seeds of Recovery training program already sees significant results in the recovery and healing of our students, with many firmly prepared to reenter the workforce upon completion of our program. With drug addiction plaguing much of the state of West Virginia, we hope to inspire businesses and residents in our community to learn how they can play an active role in community healing. Please consider making a donation towards the training costs by sponsoring a student. Ask your wait staff how you can be a vital part of this program by contributing towards the cost. Read more about the program on the back of the table number at each table.

This place is a great addition to the community. And, considering they have fallen on tough times with the flooding and other issues, I see this as a bright shining spot in the area.

And, if you haven't checked this place out yet, you should. It's a testament to the strong dedication to this place. And, the food is damn good.

What's your favorite item here?

Grade: A

Dessert is often equated with heaven in my book, so I was excited to check out Lil' Bit o Heaven Cupcakes in St. Albans. 

This cupcake shop is in a cool, older building with bright, pink, girly decorations inside. There's a little bit of seating if you wanna enjoy your dessert on-site, but it seems as though most folks grab theirs to go.

On this day, they had Oreo Red Velvet, Peanut Butter Cup Temptation, Wedding Cake, Death by Chocolate, and Mixed Berry Cream. I think some of the offerings vary by day - and they of course also have cakes, cheesecakes, donuts and other goodies.

I went for a "peanut butter cup temptation" cupcake to go. Just look at that deliciousness!

I plucked the peanut butter cups off first (mm!) before digging in. And, this was tasty! I only wish I had gotten there a bit early in the day because I assume they are a bit more moist earlier in the day. Even so, it was still good with a light sweetness - not thick and dense.

What's your favorite cupcake? What do I ned to try next?

Grade: B

Just a few more places on my 101 Most Unique Places to Dine in WV list, and we've made it to Parkersburg.

Third Street Deli has locations in both Marietta, Ohio, and Parkersburg. So, I drove back on 3rd Street, parked outside the building and walked in to see a huge menu with tons of sandwiches, salads and soups. I think a deli is a key part of a restaurant scene, and I wish Morgantown had a solid one.

The space is a substantial size with lots of smaller tables. Look over the board at the counter, order up there and then have a seat. There's also an outdoor seating area that I'll have to check out in nicer weather.

Seasonal fresh-made deli sandwiches, soups, salads and desserts. Eat-in or take-out. Besides indoor seating, enjoy our seasonal outdoor patio. Complete catering service. They're the great little place you'll keep coming back to.

I ordered the #2 "Grand Gorgonzola," which had grilled chicken breast, bacon, roasted red sweet peppers, gorgonzola and a touch of Dijon mustard on a Third Street roll. I thought this was good. It's pretty simple. I think some simple touches - maybe warming the chicken so that gorgonzola melts a bit or toasting the bun so there's just a little crunch so there's texture - would really make this even better. But, still, it's a solid sandwich, and I'd love to try another!

What's your favorite? Which should I try next time?

Grade: B

Swilled Dog Hard Cider is the second hard cidery in West Virginia (the other being Hawk Knob). I had written about how the hard cider industry is making a comeback in Appalachia, and I'm happy to see another cidery enter the market.

Swilled Dog is located in Franklin and does not yet have a taproom, but they are doing events around the state. I went to a tap takeover at Iron Horse, where I got to sample all their ciders.

In 2016, Swilled Dog Hard Cider was launched in Franklin, West Virginia. From the simple idea of making small batches of hard cider in our basements to bringing our company to life, our goal has always been threefold: share our passion for making hard cider with everyone, promote sustainable happiness, and make an impact in the communities we serve.

Throughout our journey from apple to bottle, we take great pride in the ciders that we make. From fast fermentation, naturally flavored variety ciders to more traditional slow fermentation ciders, it is important to us that you not only enjoy our ciders, but you also understand our process. Therefore, being as transparent as we can about our production is paramount. The majority of our apples used in our ciders come from our local farmers who share our commitment for expanding both the hard cider and apple industries. We are also working with them to plant more cider specific apples. Without them, our cider company would find it difficult to exist. However, it is still challenging to source specific varieties of apples that are needed to make great ciders. Therefore, we have planted our own orchards with varieties of heirloom and cider specific apples that will one day be a part of some amazing ciders that we can't wait to share with you. Helping to restore our industry, promoting local agriculture, and educating consumers about heirloom variety apples trees will continue to be a top priority for us.

As a family owned cidery, we also enjoy having a good time, and we hope that our enjoyment for our business shows in everything we do. Whether it is concocting new and exciting recipes, planning an awesome event, promoting the hard cider industry, or just simply sharing a nice, crisp glass of cider with you, we want everyone to have a great time. To us, this business is a passion that never feels like work.

Lastly, we strive to not only bring our customers high quality hard cider but to also make a difference across the communities we serve. Because of this, we have made a commitment as a company to contribute at least one percent of all of our sales to making an impact in our local communities. For us, our business gives us the opportunity to give back; not only with sales proceeds but more importantly our time (Our Story). 

Their motto is "Get Swilled." So, we did just that.

Walk the Dog
Walk the Dog is our flagship semi-dry cider meant to be enjoyed all year long. After selecting the perfect combination of apples and fermenting to the right balance of flavor and acidity, this cider offers a refreshing finish that will keep you wanting more, or as we like to say, this cider will surely Walk the Dog!

Bunny Slope
We call this one the Bunny Slope because we feel that it is a nice and easy transition to hard cider for all you craft beer lovers out there. After our initial fermentation process, the perfect amount of hops are added for that bitter, citrusy taste that you are used to enjoying with your favorite craft beers. So to all you craft beer drinkers out there, get introduced to hard cider by taking a run at our Bunny Slope.

Apple Bottom
Apple Bottom is a semi-dry unfiltered cider. Born from the perfect blend of apples and champagne yeast fermented in the slow traditional manner, this cider offers a great balance of sharpness and acidity while delivering a refreshing, crisp, and full-bodied apple flavor that you will love.

Granny's Gold
This semi-sweet cider is made by taking a blend of what we call the golden grannies (Goldrush, Jonagold, and Granny Smith apples) along with a few complementary varieties and stopping the fermentation process at just the right time to leave the perfect amount of residual sugar with a nice tart finish. A little bit of honey added after fermentation really makes this cider something special.  The wait is over Swilled Dog fans! We are so excited to introduce Island Vibes, our take on pineapple cider, to the Swilled Dog lineup. We think that you'll agree that hard cider can be enjoyed all year long after you taste our Spring/Summer seasonal. This beachin' cider will take you to the islands with our special blend of pineapple and apple. No matter your location, the addition of pineapple will transport your senses to a tropical paradise. Soon you'll feel your toes in the sand, hear waves breaking, and see palm trees blowing in the salty sea air. Now who's ready for some warmer days ahead with Swilled Dog Hard Cider?