Midge's Kitchen is a Wheeling-based food service that offers weekly menus crafted by a private chef using local ingredients.



You can also find some of her meals in the refrigerated section of The Public Market. I was excited to get the chance to try some of her food because I had heard such good things. I saw the hoisin glazed vegan meatballs and wasn't overly thrilled but thought I would give them a try. I am glad I did.



Honestly, I may be a bigger fan of these than meat-based meatballs. the texture was just smooth and there's no random hard bits or chewy cartilage pieces full of flavor with that hoisin sauce, and perfectly paired with the white rice.



Grade: A

There is a small little convenience store in my hometown of Wellsburg that sells a little bit of everything: lottery tickets, cigarettes, basic pantry items, and more. But, when I recently stopped in, I noticed they have a selection of deli items, too, like sandwiches, side salads, broasted chicken, meat and cheese platters and more.



Mark's Carry Out is such a frequently visited spot for most in town that I didn't even think about it for its food necessarily. But, I did try some of the chicken and sides on my most recent visit.



"Broasting is a method of cooking chicken and other foods using a pressure fryer technique invented by L. A. M. Phelan and marketed by the Broaster Company. The method essentially combines pressure cooking with deep frying to pressure fry chicken that has been marinated and breaded. Internationally, broasted chicken remains highly popular in Middle Eastern and South Asian countries such as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, as well as in Latin American countries such as Colombia and Peru. Many restaurants and fast-food chains in these countries also have the word "broast" in their names," according to Wikipedia.



So, the chicken is part of a larger, franchised organization. And, it was decent. I like a harder fry on my chicken, and this was certainly more moist, but not bad.



The pasta salad was my favorite. What can I say? The Northern Panhandle knows how to do pasta salad better than anywhere else I've been. The noodles have some firmness, and there's a lot of add-ins, opposed to just swimming and dressing.



Overall, it is a nice stop if you're looking to get a few random things all in one go plus a quick meal.



Grade: B

"The Olga’s Kitchen odyssey began in the mid-1960’s when Detroit-resident and founder Olga Loizon returned to the Mediterranean to visit her family. She and her three small children wanted to reconnect with their Greek heritage. In the process, Olga would discover her legacy. A visit to the local market square inspired what would grow into an iconic Michigan brand. Here, Olga’s children first tasted souvlaki, a traditional Greek sandwich of meat and vegetables wrapped in fresh-baked pita bread. Her kids were hooked…and Olga was inspired. In her quest to buy an authentic vertical rotisserie to cook the meat, Olga was refused because women didn’t typically own businesses in the 60's. As we know, Detroiters don’t give up so Olga gave her uncle the money to buy the machine for her. Olga, her kids and her new vertical rotisserie were then on their way back to Michigan."



"Back home, Olga recreated the savory delicacy her children fell in love with in Greece with one important improvement—the bread, which Olga found grainy and dry. For two years, Olga rolled and kneaded, baked and balanced, tasted and tested, until finally, she had created the Best Bread on the Planet. Olga layered her secret recipe with seasoned beef and lamb, vine-ripened tomato, sweet onion, and her homemade Olgasauce®. The classic culinary delight known as the Original Olga® was born. Olga was now ready to share The Original Olga® with the world. In Birmingham, Michigan's Continental Market, Olga walked past a wooden shoe store that was closing. Its 10 x 10 space was perfect. After securing a loan at her local bank, the first woman to ever achieve that small feat, Olga was in business. Initially, no one knew what an Olga was so Olga handed out free samples to passersby. With one simple taste, Olga had transformed the “unknown and unwanted” Original Olga into the “celebrated and sought-after” classic now enjoyed by the masses. Suddenly, Olga’s went from a single 10 x 10 location to a chain of restaurants throughout Michigan serving Olga's, The Olga Salad®, Spinach & Cheese Pie, Peasant Soup, and everyone’s favorite, Olga’s Snackers®. Today, Olga’s Kitchen is owned by TEAM Schostak Family Restaurants and boasts over 25 locations and an expanded menu."



There is an express location in Charleston, available through an online ordering app. It appears to be based out of the Embassy Suites hotel. I ordered The Original Olga - Our signature blend of the highest quality beef and lamb, seasoned with select spices, broiled, thinly carved and finished in vine-ripened tomato, sweet onion, and Olgasauce®. This was like a gyro mixed with a wrap. I would have loved fresh lamb shaved from the spit, but this was OK - definitely ask them to go light on the onions, though. Chips were way too dark, but the dip with it was interesting - sweet and creamy.



Grade: C

Here's my latest subscription box from J.Q. Dickinson Appalachian Mercantile:

UNCLE FRANKIE'S
Tomato Basil Sauce
This fresh tasting sauce will perk up your next pasta dish or casserole. Made in WV. Contains cheese.

CHOCOLATE MOONSHINE CO
Boozy Snacks
These snacks are delicious with an infusion of spirits.Made in Pennsylvania

SUGAR PLUM
Maple Brown Sugar Veggie Seasoning
This is a great seasoning for brussel sprouts, carrots, parsnips, and winter squash. Sprinkle on a few minutes before serving.

MAGNOLIA MIXES
Sugar Cookie Mix
Perfect for the season. An easy process for delicious cookies. Gluten free-Made in northern Alabama

ALLEGHENY TREENWARE
Cherry Salt Spoon
This tiny spoon is sized well for salt and other condiments. Made by former coal miners in Grafton, WV

STARFANGLED PRESS
Happy Winter Greeting Card
Original art and letter press printed this card will warm your soul. Designed and printed in Brevard, NC.

Located in Ritchie County, Wines of Bonds Creek is a local winery set in the countryside serving up both delicious wine and food.



"We are a Private Winery/Restaurant Open Summer and Fall, Serving our own wines, SANGRIA, charcuterie and wood fired pizza. We have a large deck with a great view!" according to their Facebook page.



Chardonnay, Peach Chardonnay, Blackberry Melange, Blueberry Melange, Cabernet Sauvignon, Frontenac, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Black Pearl (estate), and Sangria are the wines on their lineup.



For food, they offer some pizzas, charcuterie boards, and smoked cream cheese platters. The latter comes with bread, crackers, and veggies. I had to order one of these while sampling some of the bevs.



There's a nice mixture of both more dry and more sweet wines, so there is something for everyone. I also love that they make their own sangria, and the estate wine uses their own berries, which is pretty cool.



The smoked cream cheese platters are a step up from charcuterie boards. They're pretty simple, but I love the idea of a seasoned block of cream cheese that I can dunk veggies and bread and crackers into. I tried both an everything bagel seasoned one and a raspberry chipotle. VERY yummy.



I didn't have time on this particular day to sit and enjoy the view while sipping on a drink, but that is exactly how I would spend my next visit here. A nice view plus tasty wines plus delectable bites equals a good day.