Fired Pie is a "fast, casual, rich in flavor customizable pizzas and salads made from scratch using fresh ingredients, just the way you like it" and found in 16 locations in Arizona.



The menu starts with two options: pizza or salad. Then, do you want a specialty type or custom. First is your crust, select sauce, then choose cheese, move onto meats, pick your veggies and finally garnish with fresh herbs. I went with a regular crust, tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, mushroom, garlic and artichokes. I love all these ingredients separately, but maybe not the best together. I think a sweetness would round out the flavors, and it was a bit mushy - maybe because of the ingredients I chose. Not bad enough to stop me from devouring it.



Grade: B

Regional chains are always fascinating to me because they often have a loyal fanbase. Sometimes while traveling, you're on a tight time crunch. But I refuse to get something I can get back at home. So regional fast food chains kinda fill that gap.

    

Blake's Lotaburger claims "The Original Green Chili Cheese Burger," which uses their exclusive variety green chile that is 100% grown, harvested and flame-roasted in Hatch, New Mexico.

     

"When WWII Navy Veteran, Blake Chanslor, flipped the first LOTA Burger in 1952 he gave birth to a New Mexico Tradition. Seventy years later, Blake’s LOTABURGER® has become a cultural icon in the Land of Enchantment. Our Signature “New Mexico Style - The best ingredients, always cooked fresh, have made Blake’s a favorite for locals & a must-stop for visitors to the Southwest. Our signature “New Mexico Style” LOTA Burger is made with two large, fresh premium beef patties, melted cheese and our exclusive, flame-roasted Hatch Green Chile."
    

I went there for breakfast, so I opted for that green chile in a breakfast burrito. Sausage, eggs, cheese, potatoes and some heat. I like my burritos oozing with cheese, where it becomes a sauce. And that acts as a foil to some of the hotness for me. This would be more preferable for someone who wants to feel those chiles. Decent flavor, yes, overall meal - okay.
     

Grade: B

"Wienerschnitzel is an American fast food chain founded in 1961 that specializes in hot dogs. Despite the name, the company does not sell Wiener schnitzel, only selling it once as a promotional item ... The chain is recognizable by the A-frame-style roofs of its older restaurants. Structures that have been converted from Wienerschnitzels into other restaurants often retain the distinctive architecture. The chain's advertising mascot is an anthropomorphized hot dog known as The Delicious One, who runs from people who want to eat him."



This building was just so interesting; it was like you were driving through the middle of a building. It caught my eye, and I was interested to check it out.



I went with one of their specialty hot dogs, The Kansas City dog, which had bacon, beer mustard, grilled onions, and Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce. This is just one of their specialty dogs that include everything from chili and cheese to sport peppers and tomato slices.



It was a decent hot dog. A lil bit on the mooshy side, even though it was a new, fun flavor combo. The texture could use a bit of improvement. But I'd be curious if somee of their hot dogs that didn't have so many toppings might be different.



Grade: B

"As we say in Spanish, “my house is your house” and we are pleased that you are paying us this visit. The history of this famous Mexican restaurant a stone’s throw from Las Cruces, NM is long and colorful. This is the original La Posta. For more than a century and a half, these adobe walls have withstood the attack of elements and man, sheltering such personalities as Billy the Kid, Kit Carson, General Douglas MacArthur and Pancho Villa. A roaring Wild West town during the late 1800’s, Mesilla was the largest town in the Southwest between San Diego, California and San Antonio, Texas. During this period, La Posta served as the Corn Exchange Hotel, a favorite stop on the Butterfield Stagecoach Line. Many years later a young, vivacious and colorful Katy Griggs Camuñez started La Posta de Mesilla Restaurant and Cantina with four tables, dirt floors and no running water! La Posta’s authentic dishes are made from century-old recipes handed down to us from the Fountain, Chavez and Griggs Families. Now one of the oldest and most recognized Mexican restaurants in the Southwest, La Posta de Mesilla still offers its traditional hospitality, fine food and spirits to all who wander here…just the way Katy would have wanted it!"



I ordered: Enchilada Plate, which consisted of rolled enchiladas - one red chile cheese, one green chile cheese and one meat with cheese (I went with red carne, which is made with achiote peppers). These were saucy and spicy. But there was a depth of flavor here that I really enjoyed.



I also ordered chile con queso, which I thought would be thick and cheesy, but this was a much thinner and heavier on spice than dairy. Really good flavor, though. It was less of a dip and more of a soup. A hearty, hot, rich soup.



Grade: B

The Minted Vintage Market was held this past weekend. The Minted Vintage Market is a curated collection of local talent that can be found in the Mid-Ohio Valley area and beyond. The event is located on the grounds of the Wood County 4-H Camp ... it's a A gathering of 100+ makers, artists and curators from the MOV & beyond with live music + food trucks. Theee open-air shopping event showcases local artisans and small businesses, according to the website.



There were so many vendors, but these were some that were on the top of my list to check out: Royally Baked, DJs Creations, Munchies, Sugar Rae’s Cotton Candy, Ben Haven Farms, Heavenly Treats WV, Rollin In The Dough, Timmy’s Original Food Truck, Crown Florals & Gifts, Valley View Apiary, Philly Twist, Sweet Ash Cookies, Howe Sweet It Is, and even more.



Munchies Truck - tacos, desserts and some fried apps. I went with a pork street taco. These were pretty tasty, minus the stems from the cilantro. But these did have some sauce, which I was concerned would be nonexistent.







Granny Mae's - I got a corn dog here! Pretty straight-forward. The drizzle of ketchup here looks beautiful! It was fine.





Heavenly Treats - these freeze-dried treats are becoming super trendy! This little neopolitaan ice cream might have been my favorite one I've tried so far. It was sweet but actually had flavor.





Sugar Rae's Cotton Candy - there need to be more grape-flavored things in the world. This flavor reminded me of Bubbalicious bubble gum. But in edible form.





Rollin' in the Dough - beautiful sugar cookies! These all usually have a similar light sugar cookie flavor.





DP Concessions - I think this is a food truck from DiCarlos, which of course I had to try. They did have some pizza slices, but with the cheese was melted. Still good.







Crown Florals & Gifts - fudge! The caramel toffee was soo sweet and delicious that I can only handle about a bite at. a time.









Royally Baked - deliciously, slightly spicy pepperoni rolls that I can't wait to try more of!