Here is what we received in this month's J.Q. Dickinson Appalachian Mercantile box:

YALL SAUCE
Tennessee Jezebel Sauce
Yall Sauces are keeping old southern recipes aline. This is made from orange marmalade, sorghum, mustard & horseradish.

EVELYN'S ELEGANT EDIBLES
Cherry Almond Biscotti Mix
Easy to make and perfect with a cup of coffee. Dink 'em on in! Made in Pennsylvania

APPALACHIAN CHOCOLATE CO
Salted Milk Chocolate Bar
Made from bean to bar in the eastern panhandle of WV this decious bar is salted with our own J.Q. Dickinson Salt

FEELING SMITTEN
Exfoliating Sugar Cubes
These cubes are great in the shower or the bath. They naturally exfoliate your skin while moisturizing. Made in Asheville, NC

HIGHLAND RIDGE
Dish Towel
This soft and absorbant dish towel will freshen up your kitchen. Hand designed and printed in the mountains of East Tennessee.

MYTHICAL MEAT
Meat stick
This company loves mythical creatures and high quality meat snacks. High protein and low in sugar. Made in Pennsylvania.

"Locally owned and nationally known, Cousins Maine Lobster brings authentic Maine lobster to neighborhoods across the U.S. by way of our food trucks, food halls & brick & mortar restaurants. As seen on Shark Tank, We bring our customers the most authentic Maine seafood experience by staying close to the source, proudly serving premium, wild-caught, sustainably harvested lobster from Maine, accompanied by our signature Downeast Maine hospitality.

Started in 2012 by real-life Cousins and Mainers, Jim Tselikis and Sabin Lomac, Cousins Maine Lobster began with two things: A Food Truck, and a shared vision to extend the highest-quality Maine lobster to the lobster-starved masses. Growing up in Maine, lobster was tradition, and always a reason to gather family, friends and loved ones to share a special meal. After appearing on Shark Tank a few months later, Jim & Sabin partnered with Barbara Corcoran and began franchising, partnering with local owners and entrepreneurs to bring Maine lobster to over 30 cities across the country.

Since 2012, Cousins Maine Lobster has been continually featured on the most influential entrepreneurial and culinary programming, including Shark Tank, The Food Network, Good Morning America, The Today Show, CNBC, The Chew, the Cooking Network, and more. Voted best Lobster Roll on the West Coast by Tasting Table three times, Cousins Maine Lobster regularly appears in leading publications Inc., Entrepreneur, Saveur, Food & Wine, Zagat, Eater and many more." One of these famous food trucks made a stop in Charleston outside of Fife Street Brewing. I had heard about this business, and I was excited to see it come to my own backyard. Me, along with half the City of Charleston. I joined an already lengthy line at around 11:50 a.m. They opened at noon. At about 1:30 p.m., I received my food. A quick note on this: I am a huge supporter of local businesses. In fact, one of the reasons I even have this blog is to showcase those hidden gems across Appalachia. But, I am also a supporter of letting people enjoy what they enjoy. Something new, out of the ordinary, limited, etc. is going to be exciting to people and that's OK. I want to try the same food that Barbara Corcoran tried that made her invest in this company. It is an experience, and you can spend the other 365 days of this leap year supporting our local restaurants in town. You can support both. Starting with the menu, it has lobster rolls, soups, tots, quesadilla, tacos and grilled cheese. While waiting, I initially started with just an item or two in my head, but as time went on, my order grew to double the size to make the wait worth it. Here is what I went for:

Maine Roll: Our Maine roll features Maine lobster, served chilled with mayo, on a New England roll, with a lemon wedge. One of our two classic roll styles, the Maine Roll is a favorite of Mainers and purists alike.

Connecticut Roll: Our Connecticut Roll features Maine lobster, served warmed with butter and lemon, on a New England Roll. The second of our two classic styles, our Connecticut Roll is our most popular roll and often referred to as heaven on a bun.

New England Clam Chowder

Lobster Bisque The lobster rolls themselves are fairly small – maybe the size of a regular hotdog – so two was the perfect size. Both were topped with big hunks of fresh lobster, though I truthfully did not notice much of a difference in the two rolls, because the the butter or mayo were very minimal. Lobster meat is a touch sweet, which was delicious with the buttered bun. I didn't even mind the bite of shell I got. The clam chowder was hot, which was the main thing that attracted me to it in 30° weather. But, it was flavorful, and one of the better versions I have had. Creamy, flavorful and perfectly salty. The lobster bisque was thick and sweet and paired great with the oyster crackers I sprinkled on top to add a touch of salt. Plus, easily the best Whoopie pie I've ever had. I didn't even really think I liked them until this one. Overall, something a little different, and interesting to try.

When you arrive to a restaurant to see a window boarded up, you know you're in for an adventure. Apparently, a car drove into the window of The Zone Bar & Grill, but that didn't stop them from operating. So, inside we went.



The sports bar was empty during the day for lunch, but the pool tables and dart boards give me the impression that the nightlife is more robust here. Things were also a bit sticky and the air a bit stale.



The menu was a bit more expansive than standard bar fare: appetizers, wings, sandwiches, burgers, wings, pasta, salads, etc. Not a bad assortment.



I ordered the mushroom, onion, Swiss burger. I was hoping for this extremely melty umami-packed mixture that would have added a lot of moisture, but it fell a little short. There was a bit of melted cheese, but it stopped there. I want the spices and seasonings to be kicked up several notches.



Grade: C

"The Southern Kitchen WV is woman owned and community driven. Sharell Woodward, a graduate from West Virginia's own WVU strives to not only feed the soul's of those in the community but also invest in the community... because there is no community without UNITY!"



This restaurant is unique in a few ways. When I first entered, there is a hostess stand that primarily looks as though it's a carry out restaurant. But you can enter the dining room behind that stand. then, there is kind of a bar upfront and also some lounge-like seating. I think they were still getting into their groove when I visited, but food can trump anything.



I did the "Pick FOUR: (2) Meat (2) Side" - Baked Mac & Cheese; Pasta Salad; Meatloaf; and Sweet & Sour Meatballs.



The meatballs were by far my favorite. I love the sweet and sour juxtaposition. I would have loved some more sauce with the meatloaf and some more *oomph* with the pasta salad. You can't go wrong with mac & cheese in my book. Some really good, some OK.



Grade: B

I'm on a mission to visit every T&L Hot Dogs location. These WV classic hot dog joints are usually decorated in the theme of a diner. That is certainly the case at the location in Clarksburg at Rosebud Plaza.



"With seven great locations and our famous hot dog chili for sale at your local grocery store, you’re never far from a dining experience that is pure Americana. Enjoy our classic hot dogs, made-to-order Black Angus burgers, hand cut french fries, homemade cole slaw and thick milkshakes – while surrounded by great American nostalgia."



I went for the standard West Virginia style hot dog complete with chili, slaw, mustard and onions. I was surprised to see hunks of carrot in the law, because that's usually not as noticeable. Not a bad hot dog; a solid quick choice when the hankerin' hits.



Grade: B