Like I mentioned before, there are a handful of T&L Hot Dogs locations in the North Central WV area. And, I can't leave a list unfinished. So, I made my way to the location on Old Bridgeport /hill.



This space has a real diner feel with neon lights, checkerboard decor and vinyl booth seating. 



First, I went for a cookies & cream milkshake. It was really thick, but also pretty good once it loosened up a bit. 



I went for a hot dog, as one should, and it was pretty consistent with the other T&L versions I've had. The bun is soft, the chili was a bit dry, and the slaw has a more loose consistency - I tend to like a more cohesive, almost paste-like slaw. BUT, overall, a decent hot dog for lunch.



Grade: B

Morgantown always feels like home to me. Like, I spent my young adult years here and truly grew a lot. Part of that growth, I think, is trying new foods. So, whenever I get to come back "home," I'm always excited to try new places.



Zeke's Breakfast & Bakes is located on High Street and is slinging coffee, breakfast sandwiches and other goodies. Think breakfast cafe - from some of Charleston's best beverage folks (Apothecary Ale House owner & latte artist).



The space isn't huge - but it's airy. It's clean, and it's pretty quick. I ordered a bacon, egg and cheese bagel, as well as a latte. The sandwich was tasty - if not just a touch over for me - but the coffee was phenomenal. I'm glad to see a spot with a new twist in this college town. Check out this straight-forward shop to fill your belly and start your day off right.

Grade: A

Broadway Sandwich Shop, located in Parkersburg, takes you back to a simpler time. 



From the outside weathered awnings and simple sign to the letterboard menu and cash-only signs, Broadway Sandwich Shop puts on no facade. 



And, the service - like the space - is a little rough around the edges. They don't want to wait, they want you to know what you want and they want you to move on. 



When I got to the front of the line, I recited the order I had been repeating in my head - one cheeseburger.



Almost as soon as I ordered, my burger was ready. It was small - maybe the size of my palm - and was wrapped in a cellophane paper. 



It didn't even really have time to melt the cheese, but I really enjoyed it. The experience was fun - though a bit intimidating - and the burger was a good pre-game to the bigger lunch I would have later in the day. It was just a few bites really - but it's also only a little over a buck - so well-worth it. Fresh flavors, no frills and a simple meal.



Grade: A

Here is my latest column for the Charleston Gazette-Mail:

You know how they say “as American as apple pie”?

Pie makes up a huge slice of American cuisine. Think apple pie during the Fourth of July. Pumpkin pie during Thanksgiving. Summer pies with fresh fruit.

In particular, a whole slate of pies became popular during times of hardship like the Great Depression and World War II.

“Depression pies” were made from what staple ingredients were available: butter, sugar, eggs, flour, etc. These pies were created from sheer practicality, a virtue ingrained in the Appalachian culture.

Because of those similarities, many of these pies have remained popular in our region. Let’s talk about five of the most popular ones:

Buttermilk Pie

Made with sugar, butter, eggs, buttermilk and wheat flour, buttermilk pie is associated with Southern cuisine. It often includes lemon juice and zest for a little extra zing. The creamy filling is often thickened with flour and it’s all housed in a buttery pastry crust. The now-shuttered Bluegrass Kitchen in Charleston served my favorite version of this pie: blueberry buttermilk pie. If you need to try it, you can still order it at Starlings Coffee & Provisions. You won’t regret it.

Chess Pie

Similar to buttermilk pie, chess pie makes use of sugar, butter and eggs. But it uses cornmeal, rather than flour. The creamy, pale yellow filling is gooey and sweet and dense. The origin of its name is unclear, but some say it’s because the pie used to be stored in a pie chest, or “chess,” while others say that the name is derived from it being simple — “it’s ches’ pie.”

Vinegar Pie

If you have sugar, butter, flour and vinegar, you can make this sweet and tangy pie. Vinegar was added to pies in lieu of elusive and expensive fresh apples or lemons. The vinegar creates a tart flavor that pairs perfectly with the sweet sugar base.

Sugar Cream Pie

Likely originating with Shaker communities in Indiana or Pennsylvania, Sugar Cream Pie usually consists of sugar, cream, vanilla and flour all set in a pie shell. And, it’s even Indiana’s official state pie.

Water Pie

Water, flour, sugar, vanilla and butter are combined in a pie crust to create a delicious dessert that can be made when fresh fruit is unavailable or too expensive.

There are many more “make-do” pies, including shoo fly, mock apple and mincemeat. The ingredients all differ slightly, but what connects them all together is that they were developed from available ingredients. Whether that’s a lack of refrigeration, seasonal fruits or cash, those ingredient shortcomings made way for ingenuity and creativity in the form of pie.

Eggs, flour, sugar, grains and dried fruits were more accessible than high commodity items and made their way into pies with the resourcefulness of housewives. And they’ve persevered throughout Appalachia due to those same qualities that made them popular in the first place.

So if you value resourcefulness, I think that’s as good an excuse as any to enjoy a slice of pie. Or five.

I was so excited about discovering Gino's pubwich, that I decided to go try it again at a different location. 



Setting my sights on Malden, I put in an order for another pubwich and a small order of the boneless wings.



The sandwich, which is made up of ham, mozzarella, provolone, mayo, tomato and sweet onion, kinda looked like it was made inside out. It didn't have the nice golden brown all over like my previous one. It was also messier, so I had pieces falling out as I was eating it. It wasn't bad, but I was not as excited as I was with the Hurricane location.



The wings are pretty similar - I enjoy this tangy gold flavor. But instead of a cup of homemade bleu cheese, I got a packet of dressing. Not nearly as tasty. 



Grade: B