These home-based charcuterie businesses are popping up around the state - and I am so happy about it. We've tried one in Morgantown and one in Charleston, and now, there's Gourmet Grazing in Beckley.



There are a variety of different kinds of charcuterie boards you can order, depending on how many folks you plan to feed. For a small portion, I ordered a 6x6 and when asked if there were any specifications, I just asked for no dark chocolate (bleh) - which is so nice! Since she prompted me, I felt like I wasn't being a pain. 



Typically, they deliver, but since I was just driving through town, I picked it up. I also believe they may be in the process of getting their own location - which is so exciting! 



The box was full of cheese, fruit, salami, chocolate and more. 



And I absolutely loved the cute little wooden utensils, like this absolutely adorable honey dipper. I just can't with how cute it is. I think that's part of this whole like experience - the picking and choosing and abundance of goodies and it's all presented in this lovely little package. Are you a fan?

I stumbled upon Oma Goodness on Facebook, and I love to support a local business - especially when they're offering sweets! 



"Oma Goodness is a home based candy business that offers homemade goodies from your childhood. Fantasy fudge, no-baked cookies, potato candy, hard rock candy, coconut bon-bons and more! It is all custom made, all by hand." 



I ordered some milk chocolate buckeyes (yum!) and some cool whip candy, because it sounded fun! She even threw in an extra St. Patrick's Day-themed candy sucker because it was near the holiday! The buckeyes were delish. I always love a good buckeye. The cool whip candy was kinda reminiscent for me of a Three Musketeers. Have you tried this tasty home business yet?

Wing It, located in Weirton, focuses on - wait for it - wings! I went here a month or two back (when yes, it was still snowing) while at home visiting family. I ended up going here because they made it SO EASY. You can order right online, and they have a drive-up window. In the times of COVID-19, it's so simple and safe to get some dinner this way. 



So, I ordered a half pound of boneless wings in honey BBQ - a classic. And I picked them up right at the window. This was honestly a huge portion, and they had a nice crispy coating. The flavor left a little to be desired. I love honey BBQ, but this wasn't especially flavorful. I wish there was more or it was more bold - but that's on me. Next time, I'll try another.

Have you been?

Grade: B

Hallowbeans Coffee House, located in Ripley, has a year-round Halloween vibe. Much like its sister restaurant located downstairs and facing the street, I Scream Sundae, the coffee house is perfect for lovers of thrillers, gore and other creepy things.



If you know me, you know I can't do things that are gross. A hair will ruin my appetite. The site of blood can make me ill. And scary movies? Not my thing.



I'm happy to try interesting foods - frog legs, pig brains, escargot. I'll try anything once. But gross or unclean things? I cannot handle. So, when I stopped by the coffee shop, I wanted to bring my bet self and prepare for what I knew would be very exciting for some folks. 



So, the space is organized like a house with a handful of rooms. Each has a unique theme. And, the counter is straight ahead to order. This would really be a cool place to do some work since there are little nooks carved out for some space. That is, if you're into each of the rooms' themes. 



There's a room with some clowns, there's a room with some bloody gory meat on stakes, there's a room with creepy old pictures of people. 



I think it's creepy. I think little kids could be scared -- or they could absolutely love it if they're into that kinda thing. Either way, I took to the counter to look over the menu. 
 


But, first, I checked out Enchanted Eats. This gluten-free bakery line is sold at the coffee shop: cupcakes, pepperoni rolls, etc. There were a handful of different flavors. But the "White Rabbit" is what I went with, which is like a crisp blondie brownie. This wasn't bad - even though I tend to like mine more chewy. 



The drink menu has some more palatable names that don't elicit such strong imagery. 



Darkness, RIP, Ghosted, Creeper - these are all names I can deal with. But, of course, the one I was most excited about was the Camp Fire S'mores. 



The drink itself was OK. The flavors were there. But, I'll be honest, it was tough for me to put the imagery of bloody gore out of my mind as I drank it. I realize I'm a wimp and this probably doesn't bother most people - and many probably even like it! Which is why I ranked it higher for the quirkiness. 



Have you been?

Grade: B

It's my favorite time of the month - J.Q. Dickinson Appalachian Mercantile delivery day!! Let's see what we have. 



Spicewalla - Buxton Hall Chicken Seasoning: From award winning chef and pitmaster Elliott Moss this rub will elevate chicken, or any other white meat, to another level. Perfect blend of sugar salt and spices. Made in Asheville North Carolina.

WV Harvest - Sweet Pickled Ramps: The embodiment of Appalachian delicacy, Pickled Ramps are the perfect accompaniment to any dish or as a stand alone treat. Natures springtime gift from Morgantown, WV is an amazing blend of wild onion and garlic flavor.

Vino di Milo - Fresh Herb Marinara Sauce: Smooth and savory! This seductive marinara has loads of fennel, thyme, basil, and parsley for an incredible flavor. Finished with a splash of Malbec

Scratch Pasta - Spinach Fusilli: These delicious pastas are made in Lynchburg, VA by Stephanie Fees of Scratch Pasta Co. The Virginia Wheat Campanelle is made with a mix of semolina flour and Virginia-grown wheat flour, this whole wheat pasta is a lighter alternative to traditional whole wheat pastas. Balanced and delicately flavored, this pasta is perfect in just about anything, but our go-to move is mixing it with some delicious pesto. Stands up to heartier sauces. The Semolina Pappardelle is perfect for a simple tomato sauce or a heavier bolognese. It has a great texture. Gluten free fusilli is made with a blend of tapioca and brown rice flour for a perfect texture. The Spinach Fusilli is an amazing bright colored pasta that will brighten any meal.

Lindera Farms - Lemongrass Ponzu Sauce: Lindera Farms' owner, Daniel Liberson, sources local ingredients around Virginia for his vinegar and soy sauce. The Honey Vinegar is made from honey near his farm and is a rich, slightly sweet vinegar with low acidity. It is a great addition to any salad. The Ramp Vinegar is made with ramps foraged by Daniel himself. It's bright onion/garlic flavor is great on vegetables of any kind. The Soy Sauce is made from dark, rich, locally grown black soy beans. It is finished with apple wood to give it a touch of smokiness. Drizzle over meats, stews, and sauteed vegetables to elevated the flavors of your cooking. The Scotch Bonnet and Aji Pepper hot sauce is a must in every pantry. It has a kick of heat but excellent flavor that will not overwhelm the palate. The ponzu sauce is made with citrus and lemongrass. It is a great seasoning for Asian food. Most items come in 100 ml bottles, others in both 100 ml and 200 ml bottles.

Thomaswork - Leaf Motif Bookmark: Lazer cut bookmarks that feature a crisp tree design into either sycamore or walnut. Produced by Matt Thomas, of ThomasWorks in Shock, WV these bookmarks are the perfect way to keep your place in a good book.