With a name like H.B. Snallygaster, this Bolivar store seems like it might be right out of a Harry Potter novel. However, it's just full of yummy food, delish snacks and lots of great local products.



Bolivar Bread is one of those local companies that has lots of great goodies at this store. I bought some granola as a gift and also found Joan & Joe Coffee, which is based in Harpers Ferry and roasts their own coffee beans. I can't wait to go back and check out their own coffee shop.



And I also got this perfect assembly of herb blends to make dips from The Cottage of Herbs. Yum!



But right here at H.B. Snallygaster, they have a small deli with sandwich, flatbread and soup offerings. 



I went with a simple ham and cheese sandwich, which was so packed full of ham that it was difficult to close it! They don't skimp, that's for sure. This version didn't have melty cheddar, but was instead a cool sub with mayo and white cheese.



Such a fun little store with a beautifully old soul - and some tasty food.

Grade: A

What is time? The last year has been a bit of a blur with the COVID-19 pandemic, and I'm playing catch up. But I didn't want to keep this delicious secret from you for any longer: Hamilton's Tavern 1840.



This Bolivar restaurant all the way over in the tip of the Eastern Panhandle is one of my favorite discoveries of the past year.



My actual visit was quick - I was just inside for a few moments to pick up a to-go order, but it is absolutely lovely. The decor is beautiful, with a combination of traditional features with modern touches - all in a robin's egg blue. It looks elegant yet rustic.



The menu features gems like deviled eggs, mushroom mille-feuille, pork wellington and seafood newburg. In my neverending quest to devour all things mac & cheese, I went with the seafood mac & cheese on this day - shrimp, langoustine lobster, old bay, and sharp cheddar cheese - fitting for an area bordering Maryland.

Creamy, indulgent and some nice baked crispies for texture - even green onion to give it a nice little kick to cut through the fattiness. Delish.



I believe the restaurant is moving to a new location, so it may be a perfect excuse to visit again, dine in and try yet another outstanding dish.

Napoli's Pizza has a few locations in the Mid-Ohio Valley area, and I was ready to check out something other than pizza.  



This time, I was after a meatball sub. I placed an order at the Mineral Wells location to be ready at a specific time, but there seemed to be some confusion, and I ended up waiting about an additional 20 minutes.



That's no problem - as long as it's worth it. Was the meatball sub worth it? Eh, it was not my favorite. The meatballs seem like the frozen kind that have that certain "pre-packaged" flavor that's hard to shake. The bread was a little extra done - but thankfully there was a good amount of stringy mozzarella. Standard, utilitarian sub that can fill the belly but maybe not totally satisfy the tastebuds.

Grade: C

My J.Q. Dickinson Appalachian Mercantile subscription box was waiting for me when I got home! 



Six Appalachian-sourced goodies awaited me. 



THREE-GRAIN PANCAKE-MIX - Try this special blend of buckwheat, wheat flour, and cornmeal stone ground and mixed in small batches. By using locally grown, non-GMO grains, you get a real taste of Virginia for breakfast. It’s all you need to be ready for the day.

MAPLE SYRUP - Produced in the mountains of The New River Gorge of West Virginia, this award winning maple syrup has gone from a family hobby to something for everyone to enjoy. From pancakes to cocktails, this maple syrup will elevate anything you put it on.

SANDWICH WRAP - Natural food wraps can make a powerful difference in reducing plastic waste. Wrap your sandwich or snack for lunch on the go. Build your sandwich, then wrap and tie. Use the warmth of your hands to seal for natural food storage. Bee's Wrap will hold its shape when it cools, creating a seal.

BUTT NAKED LOTION BAR - Used to help improve dry skin. A solid bar of lotion. Lotion Bars have all the ingredients of lotion except the water. Rich in shea butter, sweet almond oil, vitamin e and just enough beeswax to make it solid. Excellent for cracked heels, elbows or just dry skin.

SALT GRINDER - These are for the person who loves to grind. Our largest crystal of salt and Tellicherry peppercorns are easily available for the perfect seasoning. Pepper cannot be grown in the USA, so these peppercorns are imported from India. Tellicherry peppercorns stay on the vine longer resulting in a slightly sweeter, more rounded pepper flavor. The glass grinders are refillable, making them a sustainable choice.

CHILI PEPPER SPRINKLE - Olde Virden's Red Hot Sprinkle and Spicy Verde is a must have for your spice cabinet. From the farm to the bottle, Olde Virden's is dedicated to producing the cleanest pepper blend on the market. Completely free of additives or preservatives, this is an unforgettable seasoning crafted with just one natural ingredient: chili peppers. From your eggs in the morning to pizza at night, you will discover a million different uses.

Here's my latest column in the Charleston Gazette-Mail:

Those bright pops of yellow that spring up on a summer lawn are more than just weeds indicating that the grass is a day or two past its prime.

Dandelions, named for their sharply toothed leaves (a version of the French phrase “dent de lion,” which means “lion’s tooth”), offer much more in the way of culinary and herbal value.

The flower belongs to the genus Taraxacum, which can be found all over North America. The common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) was introduced into North America hundreds of years ago from Europe for a variety of reasons: The young greens are delicious and healthy with high amount of Vitamins A, B, C, E and K, in addition to calcium, iron, manganese, magnesium and potassium.

Dandelions play a large role in a number of herbal medicines. The dandelion, which now propagates as a wildflower, also provides a nectar source for a wide variety of pollinators especially early in the season: honeybees, butterflies, moths and nearly 100 more species of insects. Plus, the leaves and seeds feed birds, chipmunks and other wildlife. That’s because dandelions are edible from root to flower.

Dandelions are often described as having an earthy, nutty, and slightly bitter taste. The perennial herb’s root is a relative of chicory and can be dried, roasted and used for coffee. That same root can also be peeled and cooked like a vegetable. The greens are perfect for a salad or for pesto. Roots, leaves and stems can all be brewed to make tea. The blossoms can even be dredged and deep-fried like squash blossoms for a special treat.

So, with all these positive attributes — is the dandelion a weed? Or a flower? It depends on who you ask — and where it’s growing.

A weed is a wild plant growing where it is not wanted and competing with cultivated plants. A flower is the part of the plant often brightly colored at the end of the stem and survives for just a short period of time. While the dandelion doesn’t appear on the USDA’s Federal Noxious Weed List, most people don’t want them in their carefully manicured gardens or competing with surrounding plants that can affect the local ecosystem. The hardy plants grow well in most soil types and have a high tolerance for nutrient-poor soil, as well.

Our ancestors may have seen dandelions as an invaluable flower that could provide food, medicine and help the local honeybees, whereas most people today aren’t foraging for their food and instead find the ferocious grower a pest. The dandelion maintains those steadfast and hardy characteristics that are emblematic of Appalachia. They bloom even when the environment is tough and are resilient even when some may not want them to be so.

Whether you wish for the dandelions to rise to their respected position in the flower chain or to disappear from your lawn altogether, you can do so with a big exhale on a dandelion puffball.