Breathe Wine & Culture Co. is a cute beer, wine and specialty store in Cross Lanes.



The store has a great selection of local beer, unique wines and so much more that falls under that "culture" label.



They serve lunch Monday through Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. with sandwiches, salads and sides.



They also have a cooler full of grab-and-go options like salads, charcuterie trays, hummus plates, chicken salads croissants and more.



And, they have flavored coffee and tea for purchase.



I took a few laps around, collecting goodies to purchase before taking a look at the lunch options. 



I ended up purchasing an assortment of items so I could try a few different things (my motto). 



I started with a pepperoni roll, which were packaged on the counter. I asked if they were made in house, but the person working wasn't quite sure. 



They were OK - a lot of bread, so a bit dry.



But, I also ordered a strawberry tea. I think I'm the only person south of the Mason-Dixon Line who doesn't enjoy sweet tea (though I do like Brisk), so I wasn't sure what to expect.



I ordered a strawberry tea, and it was pretty refreshing. It still has the bitterness of tea that I don't love, but the flavor of the strawberry helped.



The star of the show, however, was the charcuterie plate I bought that came with spinach dip, cheese, chicken, pita, grapes, chocolate, salami, olives and strawberries.



This is really my preferred meal, any time of day. I like snacking, and I love the creamy and the sweet and the bitter all together. 



Have you visited this place yet? If not, what are you waiting for?

Grade: A

I have seen Scragglepop Kettlecorn in shops or events in the area, but I had no idea they had their own space in the mall in Barboursville.



"A lifetime of being unhappy with the popcorn that was found in holiday tins and local events, owner Dale Scragg sought to change that with his own kettlecorn creation, Scragglepop. After 13 years, Dale found the recipe to cure his popcorn unhappiness by creating a kettlecorn that is gluten-free, has zero trans-fat and uses no peanut oil. He created a snack that is better for you, more flavorful, and will never be stale, unlike the popcorn that you normally find in holiday tins and in the chip aisle at the store."



The kettle corn comes in a few different varieties, like chocolate, caramel apple, blueberry vanilla and more.  I tend to like the original flavor because it still has the integrity of the popcorn flavor - just ab it sweeter. Which is your favorite?

In Barefoot Landing, Myrtle Beach, there are a bunch of little shops and boutiques that you could spend all day exploring.



And, I maybe did just that.



And, quite a few of them were food related, so I thought I'd share some finds. 



We already talked about River City Cafe, which is the only sit-down restaurant I stopped at. 



Though, I've never been to Dick's Last Resort so I thought about it. 



My first stop was Wee R Sweetz, which is "a family owed business that has been in operation for over 30 years. This family owned business proudly makes all their taffy, fudge, truffles, chocolates and gourmet apples. Come in and watch today! Be amazed by our world famous Salt Water Taffy made ON SITE by 100 year old machines! We are proud to announce that we were voted "Best Boardwalk Eats" by Rachel Ray Magazine." I purchased a handful of goodies here.



Next up was Pepper Palace. I was intimidated to walk in here, and I think they knew I didn't belong. "From hot sauce to dry rubs, BBQ sauces to salsa, and everything in between, if it's hot, it's at Pepper Palace" I passed on these.



The Olive Shoppe was more my speed. 



Specialty olive oils and infused vinegars and olive medleys - yum. 



I had a few samples - always love a good punchy vinegar! 



Next up is The Spice & Tea Exchange, which has lots of teas, seasonings, spices and more. 



I did end up falling in love with a few seasonings - like a truffle salt, and a garlic/onion mixture. 



I have been using both, and they've been a great addition to my spice cabinet. 



Moving onto IT'SUGAR. They have just about any candy you can think of - in giant form, tiny form and everything in between. 



I've been to one of these before, so I knew what I was getting myself into and may have left with some goodies. 



Okay, and one more spot that was opening just as I was leaving - The Fudgery. Why do tourists and fudge go so well together? I have no clue, but I'm not mad about it. 



There are tons of places here to satisfy your sweet tooth. Which is your favorite?

I've been hearing really good things about Guadalajara Modern Mexican in Nitro, so I was looking over the menu when I discovered the description for their shrimp fajitas: "12 jumbo shrimp caught fresh from the Kanawha River grilled with fajita veggies. Served with rice, beans, cema salad and tortillas."



They ultimately said it was a joke...  At the very least, it turned me off from that item. So I opted to try a different dish instead. I ordered the "Enchilada Supremas," which is ground beef, shredded chicken, tinga chicken, and potato enchiladas. They're topped with a mole sauce, lettuce, crema, tomatoes and cheese. Plus a side of queso.



The space was bright and busy, but super quick with my order. First, I dug into the queso dip, which is much thicker and has more heat than other quesos I've had. You can see bits of pepper and spices, which is often absent from otherwise very thin, cream quesos. I did enjoy this rendition with a bit more kick!



The enchiladas were good, except instead of a potato one, I received a pork one. I was weirdly looking forward to the potato one because it's different. But they were all tasty, and I'm enjoying learning about and trying different types of mole. This dish is beautiful - colorful - and certainly filling. The chicken tinga enchilada was my favorite because it was full of flavor.

Grade: B 

Would you believe it took until my 30s to visit Myrtle Beach? I once made a quick drive through as I embarked on my Carolina BBQ tour, but I've never spent any time there. Until now.



On a long weekend, I mapped out the places I wanted to go, the things I wanted to see, and of course, the meals I wanted to eat.  



One of my first stops was River City Cafe. They claim to have been voted the best and have world-famous burgers. 



It definitely has a burger joint vibe, with license plates on the walls and funky colors dancing on the ceiling.



They have a number of burgers - from a Nacho Crunch Burger and Peanut Butter Banana Burger to Fried Mac & Cheese Burger and Philly Cheesesteak Burger. 



I went with the Palmetto Cheeseburger, which was topped with pimento cheese. This is sometimes risky because pimento cheese can vary so much. I prefer a creamy version that has some sweetness to cut through the sharpness of the cheddar. This rendition was decent - not a super flavorful pimento - but a nice little melty cheese flavor that always makes and burger better. 

Grade: B