Shawnee Park recently played host to this year's Ribfest. Last year, I went the rib route. But this year, there were a few other vendors I was interested in checking out.



Nellita's Cocina - She had empanadas for sale: bbq chicken or pork. I went with the chicken, and it was delicious. Seriously good. The outside was crispy - but not oily - and the inside as moist and flavorful.



Next up is Mountain State Italian Ice. It's like a creamier version of shaved ice with a fruity flavor. 



I went with cherry, and it was a biiiig serving. And perfect for a warm day. 



Have you had Italian ice? 



My last treat for the day was Holy O's. I had just missed out on their last pepperoni roll.



But I wasn't too disappointed to get donuts instead. 



I went for six, topped with caramel. These mini donuts that are topped with something and eaten with a fork are trendy these days. I do like that they're a bit easier to eat, but I miss the slight crisp on the outside giving away to a fluffy interior. Still, can't go wrong with this sweet treat.

Take a look at all the goodies in this month's J.Q. Dickinson Appalachian Mercantile box.

Farm Life - Pear Jam (I almost typed pearl jam): This is SO delicious. Think applesauce, but pears! I'm eating it on top of greek yogurt right now.

Buffalo Bob's Jerky - Maple Duck Meat Sticks: Curious what duck jerky will be like!

Emily Ruth Prints - Dogwood Greeting Card: This is so cute; I don't know if I'll frame it or gift it

Pittsburgh Honey Co - Foaming Honey Cleanser: Very excited about this one

Clark & Hopkins - Virginia Pepper Sauce: I have SO much hot sauce that I do not really use - anyone want this one?

JQ Dickinson - Popcorn Salt: A classic

Taco Spot is a food truck-turned-permanent-spot in Fayetteville. Rather than traveling around, I think they have a solid home on Court Street - next to an ice cream spot. Tacos and ice cream, does it get much better?



The menu isn't huge - a few tacos, nachos, rice and beans. But they also have specials that are always creative and look delicious.



They have beef quesa birria tacos, chicken tinga tacos, and barbecue pork tacos. You can get three tacos with rice and beans, so I did that with one of each kind.



The beans, which I'm not usually a fan of refried beans, were good because they were kinda thick and had cheese on top, so points there. And the rice was not dry, which is another common fatal flaw. 



My favorite taco was the bbq pork. I like the bit of smoky and sweetness. But they were all good - flavorful, moist and creative yet classic. The chopped onions and cilantro make the tacos so fresh. Solid tacos.

Grade: A

Let's hit up yet another Gino's location - this time in Summersville. 



I went with an old stand-by: the wings in the tangy gold sauce. I really enjoyed the sweetness with a bit of tang. My only downside was that they were a bit on the dry side. Dipping them in blue cheese really helped, though! 
 

Grade: B

Local Eats is a new food truck that has been making the rounds at area events.



I was able to check them out at the Clay Center on a very warm day. 



One thing that's really fun about this food truck is that their offerings are creative. They're embracing food truck cuisine in a fun way: walking tacos, walking banana puddings, waffled chicken tenders, and more. 



After a bit of a wait, I received my food. The chicken tender waffle cone was tasty - a sweet waffle cone filled with hunks of crispy chicken bites drizzled with BBQ sauce and there was a side of syrup, too. I managed to get two things that didn't have flat bottoms, so I was balancing things precariously.



The walking banana pudding was my favorite. Because it's like such a smart idea that I haven't seen elsewhere, and it's so simple. And so good.



The mac & cheese wasn't bad; you could tell it had been reheated though, as it was separating a bit. So, they're still new and nailing down the timings - but the food, I would go back just to try out the rest of the menu.

Grade: B