Here is my seasonal box from J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works.

J.Q. DICKINSON SALT-WORKS
Applewood Smoked Salt
Solar evaporated and hand harvested in the mountains of WV this salt is perfect when you want to add a hint of smokiness.

ASHEVILLE TEA COMPANY
Cold Brew Tea
Made with a blend of local botanicals this easy to make tea is thirst quenching all summer.

WE MADE
Hummingbird Cake Mix
Hummingbird Cake is a delicious Southern Staple. WeMade is a social impact company providing workforce development for people with disabilities.

WILL ROWSEY
Wild Flower Print
West Virginia artist Will Rowsey hand painted these images. His delicate work portrays the wild flowers of the Appalachians.

SUNSET BERRY FARM
Freeze-dried strawberries
This family owned farm in Monroe County, WV grows the sweetest strawberries in the state. Freeze-dried for a great snack.

REDWOOD & CO
Hand Sanitizer
Covid may be in the rearview mirror but we all have the habit. This Staunton, VA company make the process very pleasant.

Berger Cookies are an iconic Baltimore dessert that I couldn't pass up while visiting the area. The history of Bergers Cookies began in 1835, when German immigrant Henry Berger arrived in the United States. A baker by trade, Henry came to The Land of Opportunity to follow his dreams, and soon opened a bakery in East Baltimore, reads the website.



Famous for their fresh-made Berger cookies, Market Bakery has been a Market staple since 1972 – owned by Greek immigrants Minus and Fannie Houvardas, and now their son Minas Mastrominas. Market Bakery serves comforting baked favorites like their beloved birthday cakes, cookies, donuts, bread pudding and elephant ears.



The cookies are made from an original, homemade recipe from the 1800’s with some minor adjustments to adapt to the processing of raw ingredients. The hand-dipped cookies have a soft, cake-like body covered in fudge icing.



I imagine these cookies are nostalgic for many and a tradition for some. For an outsider, they taste fairly simple. A basic cookie with fudgey topping. They were also a bit dry, which is a sticking point for me.



Grade: B

Gioacchino Vaccaro established Vaccaro’s Italian Pastry Shop in 1956. He was born and raised in Palermo, Italy. Mr. Jimmy, as he was so aptly known, brought with him the recipes and the knowledge of how to make the finest Siciliano pastries Baltimore had ever seen. Soon after opening, it was evident that the cannoli and rum cake had created a sensation among Baltimoreans, reads the website.



Today Nick Vaccaro continues the family tradition begun by his father with the same Old World recipes brought over from Italy. Vaccaro’s has grown to include the new Pasticceria (pastry shop) which offers both carry out and a sit-down café to enjoy, a state-of-the-art production facility and warehouse, and three other locations throughout the Greater Baltimore area.



Because cannolis seem to be the big draw, I zeroed in on them. The shells and cream both are special in their own right.



Cannoli Shells – An authentic Sicilian favorite, deep-fried cylinder type pastry. Open ends for easy filling.

Cannoli Cream – Rich whole milk Ricotta Cheese mixed with sugar, flavorings and cocoa drops.



I went with the classic flavor, which perfectly blended the very lighty sweetened cheese filling with a crackly shell. So smooth and crunchy at the same time.



Grade: A

Artifact is a coffee shop in Baltimore that serves Small Planes coffee, baked goods, sandwiches and more.



They work with local farms and adapt their menu to the seasons. That alone made me interested in their handcrafted drinks.



Some of their current creative coffee line-up includes: Moroccan Spiced Iced Coffee, Cardamom Mocha and Japanese Iced Coffee - which is flash chilled.



I went with a latte - add caramel. This is a pretty reliably standard drink for me. I could taste the bitter notes of the espresso, but the caramel took the edge off.



I also tried the sour cream coffee cake, which was just a bit too dry and too bland for my personal taste.



Have you been?



Grade: B

"Well known for serving up classic flavors along with constantly evolving roster of delightful, small-batch flavors beloved in Baltimore, Taharka Brothers’ award winning ice cream lineup includes favorites like Honey Graham, Mintflix & Chillz, Key Lime Pie, and Caramel Crunch," reads the website.



I ordered a "honey graham" scoop in a cup. It was SO good. Graham cracker is so underrated as an ice cream accessory. A little crunch, slight sweetness. It's a wonderful supporting character - and here, it's the star.



Grade: A