The Willis-James Bed & Breakfast is a lovely spot in Chillicothe, Ohio. I recently was able to spend a weekend here and wanted to share the "breakfast" portion of the stay.



We started with a grilled peach wrapped in prosciutto and drizzled with honey. Then, our main meal was quiche, a side of bacon and a simply dressed salad. All made in house. With herbs from the garden.



Grade: A

I have wanted to try this Greek restaurant in Kimball, West Virginia, for as long as I can remember. Ya'Sou Restaurant is a stalwart in terms of restaurants in southern West Virginia; the longevity of this restaurant in this area is admirable. Low population, fairly conservative and low income community - yet this restaurant survives. Moreover, it thrives as a community gathering space and center of town.



"On February 7, 1947, the Greek-American families of John Genadopoulos and Adamantios “Tommy” Balasis and Mary Balasis purchased the A.P. Wood Grocery. Though the store was renamed the West Virginia Grocery, the name A.P. Wood remains etched in beautiful stained glass over the door at present day Ya’Sou. From that time until the devasting flood of July 2001, the family kept the grocery in operation. Ten months later, a second major flood hit the town within days of the business being reopened. Despite this major setback, we were determined to move forward and reopen the business. Having my own restaurant was a lifelong dream, and on February 7, 2003, with the help of my mother Mary Balasis, my brothers John and Mathew, my husband Jimmy Joe, my son Adam, my mother-in-law Mary Verduce Gianato and the Grace of God, that dream became a reality with the opening of Ya’Sou Restaurant. I am immensely proud of the success that I have achieved. I offer home-cooked meals, daily specials, and Greek cuisine along with many sandwich choices. Most of the recipes I have used have been handed down to me from my mother and grandmother. My love for the restaurant business came from my first job at the Virginian Restaurant in Pearisburg, Virginia, working under the guiding hands of, in my opinion, two of the greatest chefs, uncles and mentors, Mike and George Genadopoulos. It was my days at the Virginian that made me realize I would someday like to become a great chef. I strive for this every day. This has allowed me to meet many wonderful people who have stopped in along the way, as well as many local regulars who come in and make my day complete. We hope to serve you for many years to come. Everyone that comes here, even for one time, becomes a part of the labyrinth of my life and will always be part of the memories here. I want my guests to feel at home and comfortable when that are here. If you have any concerns or requests, please feel free to ask. ---Markella"



The space itself is a bit cluttered, with memorabilia and other artifacts donning the walls. The menu features hamburgers, hot dogs, gyros, wings, subs, salads. Special shoutout to the spanakopita, souvlaki sandwich and baklava.



I ordered the gyro with lamb, and it was great. It was simple but flavorful. You can't see the veggies tucked in there, but they added the crispness and freshness needed. And the hospitality? Top notch.



Grade: A

Mama T's Munchies is a food stand in Morgantown serving up craveable favorites roadside.



Though the menu can rotate, I visited when they had pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs, fries and some funky eggrolls. Those latter options intrigued me.



Pulled pork eggroll, philly cheesesteak eggroll and cheesy bacon jalapeno eggroll. I will have one of each, please. Next time, I'll throw in the dessert cheesecake eggroll for good measure.



All three were good! Fried nicely, flavorful fillings. I think sone toppings on the eggroll could take it up a notch. A pinch of coleslaw and BBQ drizzle on the pulled pork eggroll? That would be delish.



Totally satisfied with my eggroll trio, though, and look forward to more creative offerings.



Grade: B

"Kevbot Chocolate is crafted from great cacao beans, and only a few ingredients. Our chocolate bars are handmade in West Virginia, from beans rigorously and transparently sourced in partnership with Uncommon Cacao."



How cool is that? I love that this chocolate and crafted in Alderson, West Virginia. It is made with both good practices and good ingredients. It is vegan and dark. I'll be honest, dark chocolate is not my preferred chocolate. But I did want to support the small business and check them out.



"Kevin - or Kevbot - believes in making chocolate work better for you, and for all those who help create it. Along the way he learned about Uncommon Cacao, and saw a partner in guaranteeing you know the impact of your chocolate. Kevbot Chocolate delivers a unique, delicious bean-to-bar chocolate experience straight to you - with care for all the lives it touches."



If you are into responsibly sourced foods, West Virginia, and dark chocolate, well, I know the perfect holiday gift for you.

"Latin American Fusion" family restaurant is how Summersville's Original Flavor Bistro bills itself, with influences from Puerto Rico, Cuba, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela and more.



That is a lot of ground to cover - and the expansive menu reflects that: Arepas, cachapas, street food sandwiches, Polish sausages, mofongo, yucca, plantains, and a whole host of entrees that include churrasco steak, pork chicharron, fried swordfish and more.



I tried an empanada platter, which had 5 one-inch half-moon fried corn pastry stuffed with one of each: shredded roast beef, cheese, chicken, black bean and pork. These were also served with 5 different sauces: Rose Sauce (mayo-ketchup), Garlic Sauce, Chimichurri Sauce, Guadacaca Sauce (avocado), and Aji Spicy Sauce. I absolutely love the variety here, but they were a bit too oily for me, which was the overwhelming flavor.



We also tried a cachapa with cheese, which is a sweet cornmeal pancake cooked in butter and filled with white melted oaxaca cheese. I enjoy the touch of sweetness here and would love a flash of freshness, too.



Also had a Reina Pepiada, which is an arepa with pulled chicken, mayonnaise, and avocado. This is a savory cornmeal pocket and the pulled chicken is a cold chicken salad. That surprised me, because I was thinking a hot pulled chicken sandwich. But, not bad.



Patacones Sampler - 4 fried plantain green topped with 1 chicken, 1 pork, 1 beef and 1 shrimp, topped with coleslaw. This was fun, too, because it was a nice sampling of so many different flavors. All of which are good. The crispiness loses some crisp when the ingredients are piled on, but maybe I just n eed to e aat more quickly next time.



Grade: B