Phat Daddy's on Da Tracks is an open-air BBQ joint located on the West Side of Charleston that is Black owned. They're still in their opening phase, but they are serving consistently so my friend and coworker Hannah and I went to check it out.



The restaurant has been sharing their progress vis their Facebook page - from a simple structure to a more sprawling space brightly colored in red and yellow. 



At the register, there is a menu, which consists of items like philly cheesesteak (chopped cheese), fried fish sandwiches, steak or shrimp bowls (which have a baked potato and broccoli), plus more traditional BBQ items like brisket and ribs are coming soon.



I ordered a "chopped cheese," macaroni & cheese, and tater tots. I usually don't got for a philly cheesesteak, because I've had many that are full of fat or gristle or lack flavor and are full of grease. Let me be clear: This "chopped cheese" is one of the best I've had. Every single bite was full of flavor - tender meat, creamy cheese, perfect bread, and some texture from peppers and onions. You have got to try it.



The mac & cheese was good - it was more like milky, rather than cheesy? So very creamy and peppery. Different, but tasty. And the tater tots were standard - I'd love to kick them up with a cheese sauce or something.



Go support them and fill your belly with yummy food.

Grade: A

This month's J.Q. Dickinson Appalachian Mercantile subscription may be one of my favorites yet. Why? Well, I immediately started using 4 of the products as soon as I opened it. The bourbon beef jerky, pretzels and creamy mustard became my dinner, while I lit the candle for some ambiance. 



Here's what we got this month:

Multi-grain pretzels: Don't settle for 1 Grain when you can have 7 in these hearty multi-grain "Splits". All-natural, quality baked goodness. Unique homestyle baking process precisely matures the pretzel dough and then bakes it to split-open perfection from Reading, Pennsylvania.

Bourbon beef jerky: Made with North Carolina double malt bourbon. Subtle flavors with a touch of molasses & a sweet black pepper finish. Produce in Conover North Carolina.

Coffee: Taylor Coffee is an artisan coffee roasting company that is locally owned and operated in Charleston, WV. The medium grind cinnamon dulce is a deliciously sweet way to start the day.

Mustard: Sweet, hot, creamy, and delicious this mustard can be used as a traditional condiment or a dipping sauce. Each batch from Athens, Ohio is made with the highest quality ingredients. Available in Famous Kream and Golden Ale

Cherry Spreader: This beautiful cherry spreader is the perfect match to our cherry butter dish but can also be used with cheeses. It will quickly become a favorite utensil in your kitchen. 7" Made by Matt Thomas of ThomasWork in Shock, WV

Votive Candle: Made of beeswax from Smokey Ridge Apiary 

This mustard - the famous Kream - is like my favorite kind of mustard. It's a little hot, it's sweet, it has a consistency of like honey. It's really good - and perfect to dip pretzels into. I'll be buying it again.

Also Taylor Coffee! I had never heard of it, and I love trying every new coffee roasted in West Virginia. So, this was quite the treat. Here's some more on them:

Taylor Coffee is an artisan coffee roasting company with a mission to bring elevated coffee experiences and local profit by selling and serving locally roasted coffee.

A locally owned and operated West Virginia business, we sprung from Taylor Books, the wonderfully eclectic Independent Bookstore/ Cafe/ Art Gallery/ Underground Theater founded in 1995 by Ann Taylor Saville.

David, our VP of Flavor and Roaster is Ann’s oldest child. He brought artisan, locally roasted coffee to Charleston in 1997 as the original roaster for Taylor Books.

David’s 30+ years of coffee expertise began in Los Angeles, CA and continues to grow. Now he is developing an apprenticeship program for West Virginians to participate in this booming industry.

We donate to Cafe Appalachia in support of their beautiful mission : enjoy Taylor Coffee there and help them support WV families !

Newly located at Boulevard Tower, a nationally registered historic building, Taylor Coffee will serve Charleston as an elegant, private indoor & garden setting, providing special occasions such as wine, local beer and coffee tastings, weekend brunch and events supporting local catering and businesses as we recover together from the pandemic and bring prosperity back to our lives.

Mugshots is a new coffee shop in downtown Wheeling that has a fun, quirky theme. 



You may have guessed it - but their decor features mugshots of celebrities on the tables, menus and countertops.



While heading back to Charleston from Wellsburg, I stopped here for a little caffeine boost. Okay, okay, and a snack.



I love the historical space. The architecture of the building is lovely, even if there are more modern touches inside.



The menu has a nice variety of coffee drinks, including cold brew, French press, espresso, latte, red eye, breve, frozen, and more. I ordered a frozen honey nut latte, which has honey, hazelnut, espresso and steamed milk. It was delicious - a treat with just a bit of espresso. 



I also ordered a smoked salmon wrap, which has dill cream cheese, capers, balsamic vinegar and mixed greens on a spinach wrap. It was so good.



It's so filling but is light and fresh, and the dill cream cheese pulls it all together and the balsamic adds that acid. It's just an easy, smart dish that I could eat all the time. Plus a side of hummus and pita? Yes, please. All day long.



Grade: A

The Winchester is a steakhouse located in the Holiday Inn on Pineview Drive in Morgantown. This is actually the second location of the restaurant, with the first in Ashland, Kentucky.



"The Winchester is the newest steak and seafood restaurant in the Appalachia area. Our savory steaks and succulent seafood will please your palate. Enjoy the highest quality steak and seafood in a casual Appalachian Atmosphere no matter which location you dine in. Our Family Owned & Operated business currently has two locations. Our first location was built in 2019 and is located in the Historic Downtown Ashland, KY area on the second floor of the new Delta by Marriott Hotel. Our newest Winchester is in Morgantown, WV conveniently located on the edge of the West Virginia University campus and within walking distance of the WVU Football Stadium. At both locations we offer indoor and outdoor seating with large, full-service restaurants and Bourbon Bar that offers fresh steak, seafood and over 100 of the World’s Finest Bourbons. Whether you visit our Guitar Bar with Live Music on Friday & Saturday or relax in our Signature Bourbon Room in Morgantown, a good time is always to be found at The Winchester!"



Because my visit was during lunchtime, I opted for a cheeseburger, rather than steak, seafood or bourbon. And a side of potato croquettes.



The burger was topped with mushrooms and cheese, which was delish. But the burger itself was bit dry and could use a generous helping of salt. It was thin, so that probably didn't help. The croquettes had a nice crisp on them - though a bit oily - and were served with some sour cream. Overall, both of these were good - just not great. But I'd love to check out the steaks or seafood.

Grade: B

Mountaineer Roasting Co. has been producing coffee for some time, but they recently opened up a cafe where they serve it, along with other tasty treats. 



It's located in a new build along with other businesses. It has large windows that let lots of natural light stream inside. 



The design is lovely - trendy with light wooden shelves, dark metal brackets, chalkboards, marble-esque countertops and a minimalist vibe. 



I kept it simple with a latte and a blueberry muffin - a beautiful pairing.



If I'm getting a stronger coffee, I like to pair it with a sweet treat. If I'm just having a coffee, I'll add cream and sugar to it. 



The coffee is good - robust and strong. And look at that cute latte art! I alternate taking a bite of muffin and siping on the latte for some sweet and bitter flavors together.



The blueberry muffin (always one of my favorites) was extra sweet with an icing topping. But still moist and made for a perfect complement to the coffee.



Grade: A