This small-batch coffee roaster has a unique twist. Not only does Bean Theory Coffee create tasty coffee, but they also aim to teach classes on coffee brewing, roasting, and more from a scientific perspective. Based in Poca, Bean Theory can be found at local events and online.

"At Love Handle, diners know to expect the unexpected. The menu at this no-frills mom-and-pop Indy sandwich shop explores uncommon ingredients in fantastic pairings. Tendons, tongue, belly and heart are all fair game for Chef Chris Benedyk, who has spent a large part of his career transforming these overlooked cuts of meat into sophisticated creations," reads the Food Network blurb that convinced me to check out this breakfast/brunch spot in Indianapolis.



It's almost like a dive bar, but with trendy menu items. Decor is inspired by the local antique shop with a special focus on vintage beer signs. And, there was a movie playing on the projector screen the whole time we were there.



There are some unique specials on the chalkboard wall, but the standard menu features breakfast sandwiches, grits, burritos, soup and the "house sando."



The house sando comes with choice of protein: pork belly, shrimp, fried chicken, fried fish or brisket.



I opted for the pork belly. It comes with a house remoulade and house slaw.



I enjoyed the sandwich overall. The pork belly was thickkkk and I happen to get a good bit more of the fatty pieces than any actual meat. So, it was a bit offputting to bite through that much fat. That porky, smoky flavor was great paired with that house, run a lot, and a little bit of crunch from slaw.



Grade: B

The First Baptist Church of Charleston has a commercial kitchen and has been cooking up some delicious dishes on specialty days each week - like Wing Wednesdays. I finally was able to try their Fish Friday, which has been around prior to Lent. And, they are not playing around when it comes to fish. On this particular day, they were offering whiting, red snapper, catfish and perch. Plus shrimp and alligator. You can get an entire dinner with fish, two sides and a drink for $15. I went with whiting, macaroni and cheese, and Creole potato salad. That macaroni and cheese was so cheesy and had just a hint of sweetness – my favorite. The creole potato salad had some nice mustard seed flavor kick. The whiting did not have the thick, golden, deep-fried batter I was hoping for. But, I have learned that fish in the south is more commonly crusted with a sort of cornmeal coating. So, it's a bit more crunchy than it is crisp. It was flaky, white fish with a great flavor. They thought of all the accompaniments as well; I had tartar sauce, hot sauce, and a tangy sort of barbecue sauce. Super tasty.

Last weekend, I excitedly attended the Winter Blues Farmers Market here in Charleston.



This market brings together tons of producers from around the state into one space for the best of local shopping. Here are some of my highlights:

Bakery



BAKED - I had to try a cookies & cream cookie from here, and it did not disappoint.



Goldilocks Grazing





Handmade WV Market - I so want to try these pepperoni rolls and unique jellies
Kristi Ann’s Bakery
Legacy Foods
Lisa’s Jar of Love
Mama Faye's Fudge & Confections
Mrs. Mels
Nanas Kitchen



RF Sweet Shop - I want to get my hands on some of this fudge in the future.
Rise Appalachia Donuts and Sourdough



Small Business and Sundry LLC - A cookie from here went home with me, too.
Sunrise Sweets and Treats LLC





Sycamore Farm and Primatives - I had never had a strawberry cheesecake bread before this place, and wow!
The Wild Ramp
Tibbenham Chocolates
Walnut Hollow Farm



Whimpsey and Willows Market LLC
Wildee Made
Willow Brook Farm



The Sourdough Effect


Coffee
Aroma of the Andes
Coal River Coffee Company
Mountain Table
The Black Dog Coffee Company


Goods, Snacks & More
Dark Hollow Foods
Cerealsly Delicious
Perk Farm Organic Dairy
Putnam Farmers Market
Riverbend Farm and Gardens
Angie’s What’s Poppin Shoppe
Arbaugh Farms
DARN Enterprises



Eldridge Alchemy - Finally had a chance to check this place out; their drinks are interesting
G & G Heritage Farm
Grassy Creek Farm
J.Q. Dickinson Salt
Mama Maes Apple Butter and Freeze Dried Candy
Moonraker Alpaca Farm
Mountain Juice
Mud and Woods
Novak Farms
Sassy Gals
St. Albans Farmer’s Market
Tower Garden





Tracy Sugar Shack - I had to try some freeze-dried Starburst
Twelvepole Trading Post
Villa DiTrapano
We B Fryin Snacks
Blue Acre Aquaponics
High Priestess Goods


Meat
Angelo’s Italian Sausage
Circle S Farmers Market and More
Custard Stand Chili
Lost River Butcher Block Overholt Homestead LLC
Pig Man
Quicken Farms
Red Tool House Farm
Taylor Family Farms and Custom Meat
Twisted Chicken Farm
Wilfong Farms


Mushrooms/Produce







Glascock’s Produce
Green Thumb Botanicals
Hernshaw Farms
Mon Valley Mushrooms
Spring Valley Farm and Orchard
Oh My Greens
Harvest Trails


Plants
Native Florals
Terra Fate Exotics
Ellison Mountain Heritage Nursery
Gritt’s Farm


Pet
Mary’s K9 Bakery


Bath & Body & Candles
Appalachian Botanical
Appalachian Lavender
Blessed Full Farms
Brookestone Soaps
Good Horse Scents
Grassy Meadows Goat Milk Soap
Hill and Holler Herbal Company
Sachet Lavender
Soaps by Sid
T.L. Soaps



Tarts in Heart - A blueberry pancake candle went home with me because it was just absolutely too cute
On the Go Soaps
Rustic Root Soap LLC


Canned Goods, Jams & Jellies
Clara’s Gourmet
Honey Do Produce
Jar Head Farms



LeJa Produce - I know they're closer to the Morgantown area and have been wanting to check them out.
Owl Mountain Farm LLC
Sloping Acres
Williams River Farms



Mals Produce - another Morgantown stop I want to check out when the weather warms up
Smoke Camp Crafts
Sunset Berry Farm
T.L. Fruit and Vegetables
Uncle Frankies
Tarbilly’s BBQ
Tipsy Roos
Uncle Bunks LLC


Hemp
Almost Heaven Hemp
Dovetail Ridge Farm
Genesis Mountain Farm


Maple & Honey
Fruits De La Rose and Oldham Sugarworks
Ronk Family Maple Farm
Treats from Trees
Twelvepole Trading Post
Howe Sweet It Is
Carry Apiaries
R+A Honey Bees LLC
Rimfire Apiary
Schamberger Honey
Sugar Bottom Farm

'Tis the season for lenten fish fries.



"According to Christian teaching, Jesus died on a Friday, fasting on Fridays became a way to honor his sacrifice. However, this type of fasting didn’t mean not eating anything (unlike trendy modern-day fasts). It simply meant abstaining from eating the flesh of warm-blooded animals—since the thinking goes, Jesus was a warm-blooded animal. Fish, though, which are cold blooded were considered okay to eat on fasting days. Hence, Fish on Fridays and “Fish Friday” (among many other religious holidays) was born," according to the website The Better Fish.



St. Francis of Assisi in St. Albans is one of a few churches in the area hosting a fish fry.



For $15, you get baked fish, fried fish, fried shrimp, green beans, macaroni and cheese, rolls, baked potato, coleslaw, hush puppies, a homemade dessert, plus tartar sauce, cocktail sauce, butter, sour cream, and a drink.



Yum! Who in the area has your favorite fish fry?