Have you seen these trendy "Hot Cocoa Bombs"? The first ones I saw were on Facebook from Kelly's Cupcakes and Confections. As soon as I saw these, I thought they looked fun and delicious and I needed them.



After a little planning, I placed my order for six hot cocoa bombs: cookies & cream, white chocolate and salted caramel. Look how beautiful they are! 



While the concept is to drop them into warm milk, and they burst open and reveal marshmallows that then float to the top... I didn't have that experience with any of them. Probably due to user error. But, they were delicious and fun, nonetheless. 

Buster's Blazin' Grill was located nearby recently, so my friend Sara and I went to go check it out. They specialize in burgers, but also have hot dogs and BBQ, as well.



These aren't just regular burgers. They have themes - like the southwest burger with onion rings and BBQ sauce. OR the Buster's Blazin Burger with spicy cheese sauce, spicy pickles and jalapenos. 



I went with the "Moose," which had two patties, melted cheddar cheese, American cheese, grilled onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles, house sauce on a brioche bun. 



The first couple ingredients are to be expected and help make a good burger. That house sauce, though, made this a phenomenal burger. I don't even know what it was, but it brought a sweetness with some tang that was just perfect. 

Grade: A

Ansted's Tudor's Biscuit World is a tricky, tricky location. I tried to knock them off my list months ago, but they were closed - not sure if it was COVID-19 related or not. But, when I went to check them out most recently, they were open thankfully. 



So, as I take a leave of absence from biscuits, I looked over the lunch menu to see what piqued my interest. And, I see Tudor's version of a chicken strip basket. I've had this before, so I know it's bangin. But let's see how this location does.



And it was delish. Maybe a tad on the itty bitty side, but still fried goodness that hit that comfort food spot.

Grade: B

So many things have changed over the past year with the onset of the pandemic. One of which is dining out. It's a huge part of my life, and I've been consistently trying to find ways to support local businesses during this time while also keeping them and myself safe. 



So bear in mind that while visiting these restaurants recently, I may not be getting the most of the experience. But, it's likely similar to what you'd experience, too. While driving through Elkins, I called in an order to Sakura Japanese Steakhouse to go. 



Let's start with crab rangoons, of course. Crunch on the outside, creamy on the inside. With a side of sweet sauce.



I went with a simple California roll with crab, avocado and cucumber. I also ordered a Sakura Roll - shrimp tempura, spicy crab, seaweed salad, crunch, wrapped in soy paper, topped w masago, spicy mayo & eel sauce.



I gotta say - I know what I like. These were both solid, standard. They weren't mind-blowing or necessarily the most flavorful renditions I've had. But they were good and I wouldn't hesitate to try them again.

Grade: B

So, I didn't have a reason to drive to Akron recently. Except. There's a DiCarlo's Pizza there. So, that became my reason to visit Akron. And, it's the last DiCarlo's location I hadn't visited. 



This large, stand-alone location had a huge parking lot all on its own and kinda seemed to be in the middle of nowhere. But it was decorated with DiCarlos-themed art, so I was here for it.



In typical fashion, I ordered a couple pieces with mushrooms. 



After a bit of a wait, out came two beautiful squares topped with fresh cheese gently melting overtop. I appreciate the abundance of cheese on these two pieces; the sauce was standard and the crust was on the crunchier side. 10/10, as always.



Grade: A