All of Morgantown was dipped in chocolate Saturday afternoon. Bustling with children, families and even college students, everyone was skipping from each shop to the other in search of a chocolate and a stamp on Chocolate Lovers' Day. My friends, who may or may not have reluctantly tagged along only due to my enthusiasm, and I first stopped at Monongalia Arts Center to register.

I was a little intimidated since I haven't done this thing before, but they really make it quite simple. You could register at the Monongalia Arts Center or Arts Monongahela. Large red heart-shaped balloons and a register sign were at both locations. I walked in, surrendered $5 and received a wristband, sheet of paper and piece of candy in return. The paper had a map of the participating locations, as well as what points each location was worth. While many businesses were located along High Street, a few were on Chestnut or Spruce or side streets and were worth more points - most likely to get people off the beaten path a little bit. At each location, you received a chocolate treat and a stamp on the sheet of paper. The idea here is to visit all, or a majority, of the businesses. If you get at least 70 points total, you get to be entered into a drawing for tickets to Hershey Park.


So most participating locations along High Street were worth one point. And the harder-to-find ones ranged from 3 to 5 to 7 points. We tried to hit up almost every red heart-shaped balloon donning establishment. And I was surprised at the ones who participated - lots of restaurants, but also some churches, the library, sporting goods stores, etc. Of course they didn't bake their chocolate, so they set up small bite-sized candies. All in all, it was a pretty cool experience. I was exhausted afterward, though. I think I ended up with 73 points total - so maybe I'll get that grand prize afterall.


Participants:

• Animal House
• All-Pro Photography
• Amanda Pasdon
• Arrow Gift Shoppe
• Arts Monongahela
• Bead Monster Boutique
• Black Bear Burritos
• Blue Moose Cafe
• Boston Beanery
• Buffalo Wild Wings
• Cafe Mojo
• Chaang Thai Restaurant
• Coombs Flowers
• Dahlia's on Walnut
• Dairy Queen
• First Baptist Church
• Garcia's Latin Market
• Golden Finch
• Gibbie's Pub & Eatery
• Kevin Poe
• Lira
• Little Caesars Pizza
• Maxwell's
• Monongalia Arts Center
• Morgantown History Museum
• Morgantown Public Library
• Nonna's Bakery & Deli
• Old Stone House Gift Shop
• Pathfinder
• Pinocchio's Books & Toys
• Spruce Street United Methodist Church
• Tanners Alley Leather Design Studio
• The Cupcakerie
• Elegant Alley Cat
• Needlecraft Barn
• Tonique's Trilogy
• UniversiTEES
• Wild Mountain Bakery
• Glow Beauty Lounge

Beginning

History Museum

Black Bear - chocolate covered pretzels

Garcia's Latin Market - chocolate donuts

Needlecraft Barn - lots of goodies (white chocolate chip)

Pathfinder - fun-size candybars

Lira - chocolate fondue

End

This sweet store/gas station combo is located outside of Princeton. I wish I knew exactly where to pinpoint it, but Sun Valley Country Store in the Athens/Pipestem area. A lot of things in this area are named Sun Valley, so maybe that's the name of this small town. Regardless, you could miss this one if you blink.

Driving along, searching for some food, we happened to pass this gas station. But written in large letters along the front said "restaurant." My squeal of excitement was embarrassing. Chris and I pulled up to the front, past the gas pumps, and walked inside.

Typical convenience store fare took up the majority of the store. To the right was a counter, and around the back were some tables and chairs. As we walked around back, we discovered a quaint little dining area. I plucked a small dining menu from the counter and looked through it. They had a pretty good amount of food - things like salads, subs, pizza, burgers, and more. I decided on a turkey and cheese sub, with all the fixins - lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo and Italian dressing. We also ordered some buffalo fries to split.

The service here is out of this world - honest, down-to-earth folks who actually care about your experience. Our buffalo fries were super tasty - covered in oozy nacho cheese, bits of bacon and hot sauce. Many of them were too hot for me, but that's not saying much.


My sub was an average cold-cut sub. I wasn't crazy about it, because there was too much bread. I ended up picking it apart and eating the portions I wanted. But it's your run of the mill sub. Oh, and there's a nice outdoor dining area if that's your thing.

Grade: C

I kept seeing, what looked to me to be, a small farmers' market along Oakvale Road in Princeton.I asked around to the locals I knew to see if they had heard of this place, Jim's Produce. No one really knew about it, but I was determined to make a stop. The small, hand-painted signs boasted things like potatoes and honey.


When Chris had a day off, we swung by. We parked along the edge and make our way to the small building. More hand-painted signs greeted us, as well as a friendly fellow who quickly told us all the produce is inside because it was too windy out. He was carrying the last of the products that were outside on the tables inside so it didn't blow away.

Walking up the stairs, the inside of the the small room was brightly lit from the sun shining. Freshly plucked baby vidalia onions were off to the side, while shelves housed honey jars. Other fruits and veggies lined the walls. I picked up a jar of beets, a small bunch of baby vidalia onions, a tomato and a jar of apple butter.

Apparently Jim gets his veggies from some people who grow them. At first, I thought he grew them, but they're all imported. Most within the regional area, but they're hoping to get even more local. I didn't get a chance to taste the apple butter, as I left that for Chris. But the rest of the goodies were tasty, and I hope to go back soon.

So, I love Morgantown Magazine. And recently, they've been doing some more features on food, which, of course, I'm loving. I wanted to post their 12 must-tries for the town. I have my own list I have posted, but this is a great little list for something different.

12 Local Delights You Must Try
Written by Aaron Rote & Nikki Bowman

FRIES & BLEU
Wings Ole

1125 University Avenue, 304.296.4486; 725 Chestnut Ridge Road, 304.598.3010; wingsole.com
When alumni return to Morgantown they have two things on their mind: cheering on the Mountaineers and making sure they get their fix of French fries and bleu. Wings Olé’s bleu cheese recipe is a thing of legend—something you’ll want to savor as much as another X in the win column.

HOT WINGS
Mario's Fishbowl

704 Richwood Avenue; 304.292.2511; mariosfishbowl.biz
The company, the character, the memories on the walls—Mario’s Fishbowl has more than enough charm to retain customers. This neighborhood favorite’s secret weapon, though, is its hot wings. Instead of offering a telephone book full of flavors and heats, the restaurant keeps its selection to a relatively modest six, ensuring that every order of wings is note-perfect. These wings balance spicy with sweet even with the heat turned all the way up. Pair a dozen and a half of the spicy BBQ with a Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat if true chicken wing bliss is what you’re after.


GREEK CHICKEN & LEMON SOUP
Taziki's Cafe

1090 Suncrest Towne Centre & 1150 University Avenue, Mountainlair; 304.777.4455; tazikiscafe.com
This soup will conquer any cold and flu season. A Greek staple, Avgolemeno is a tangy and tart combination of shredded chicken, rice, lemon juice, broth, and egg that will make your taste buds tremble. Served with fresh pita wedges, you can buy it by the cup or  by the pint, but just be forewarned, you’ll be going back for seconds.


ORGANIC BEANS & BROWN RICE WITH KALE
Kenyan Cafe

1137 Van Voorhis Road, Suite 20, Chelsea Square; 304.598.3044; kenyancafe.com
For a taste that’s out of this world, or at least off of this continent, fill up at Kenyan Café. Nearly everything at Kenyan Café is 100 percent organic. Many of the dishes can be mixed and matched, and there are many vegetarian options as well as meat dishes. A couple of the most popular dishes are the organic beans and rice, or the goat stew. Feeling adventurous? Try the café’s own signature hot sauce with your dish. “It’s a pretty simple meal to take out, too,” says owner Denis Gekara of his beans and rice. Denis says the dish holds its own and can be microwaved for later, as well. You can enjoy your meal with some of the best black tea in one of the restaurant’s many cozy chairs, or call ahead for takeout.


PAD THAI
Chaang Thai

361 High Street; 304.241.5374; chaangthai.com
When Chaang Thai recently opened on High Street, Thai aficionados jumped for joy. This perennial favorite—tangy-sweet stir fried rice noodles with eggs, fish sauce, tamarind juice, red chili pepper, bean sprouts, crushed peanuts, splash of lime, and your choice of chicken, shrimp or beef—strikes the perfect balance of zip and zing. Hands down the best in town, this Pad Thai dish will quickly become an obsession. The restaurant will soon offer a full-service bar, delivery, and deck patio seating.


BUBBLE TEA
Lavender Cafe

247 Beechurst Avenue; 304.296.2266
What do you get when you combine a mysterious, glowing milk tea with tiny pearls of tapioca and a giant straw? Bubble tea—the refreshing, Taiwanese drink that’s as confounding as it is delicious. And nobody does bubble tea quite like Lavender Café, with a flavor combination to suit even the least adventurous of diners. First-timers should try the restaurant’s signature Lavender Green Tea, which pairs nicely with a spicy tuna roll—and the smile, or look of confusion, on your face.


ARAGOSTA MAC & CHEESE
Stefano's

735 Chestnut Ridge Road; 304.581.6930; stefanosmorgantown.com
This ain’t your grandmama’s mac n’ cheese! Stefano’s—one of Morgantown’s best places for fine dining—brings old world elegance to Italian and American cuisine, but you’ll become a kid again when you try their Aragosta Mac and Cheese. Broiled cold water lobster, mascarpone cheese, and orzo in a to die for lobster cream and basil oil is a decadent way to begin your meal.


Still Hungry?
MORE GRUB WE LOVE

GRILLED CHEESE
Boston Beanery

321 High Street, 304.292.0165; 383 Patteson Drive, 304.599.1870; bostonbeanery.com
With thick, buttery bread, provolone cheese, and fresh veggies, you can’t go wrong with this filling lunch. Or go traditional with American cheese. Don’t forget the curly fries and ranch dressing.


GRILLED STEAK
Richwood Grill

318 Richwood Avenue; 304.292.1888; richwoodgrill.com
Richwood Grill’s steaks don’t have to travel far to make it to your plate. The restaurant’s rotating selection of Delmonicos, ribeyes, and filets are the pasture-raised product of farms in Monongalia and Preston County. Sure, you could look at the menu first, but you can never go wrong with Richwood’s steak of the day. Medium-rare, of course.


CHICKEN CURRY SALAD
Sargasso
215 Don Knotts Boulevard; 304.554.0100; dinesargasso.com
Sargasso, celebrated for its world fusion cuisine, is Morgantown’s go-to power lunch venue, and the Chicken Curry Salad is one of the restaurant’s most popular lunchtime dishes.


PORK CHOPS
Cafe Bacchus
76 High Street; 304.296.9234; cafebacchus.net
The only problem with Café Bacchus’ mouth-watering 14-ounce pork chop (served with sautéed vegetables and three-cheese baked macaroni) is having to call your mom and tell her that she now makes your second favorite pork chop.


FROZEN YOGURT
Naticakes
1030 Suncrest Towne Centre; naticakes.com
Downright darling and delicious, this yogurt and cupcake boutique will make your life sweeter! Couture flavors with tons of toppings will bring you back again an

Morgantown will celebrate Chocolate Lovers' Day on April 14. The 11th annual celebration will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in downtown Morgantown.

The one-day of chocolately goodness is open to the public and allows patrons to taste chocolates from local shops and restaurants. Around 30 restaurants participate each year.

Local restaurants, shops, chocolate ... sign me up!

The price is $5. Children under 5 get in free. Registrants will get to sample the chocolate treats at each location. The more places you go, the more points you accumulate, which goes toward the grand prize drawing: four tickets to Hershey Park in Hershey, Pa.

Registration for the event is from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Monongalia Art Center, which is located at the bottom of High Street.

For more information on Chocolate Lovers’ Day, call 304-292-0168.