You'll never find the hidden gems if you don't sometimes take a risk. Sometimes that risk may be stopping at a Mexican restaurant attached to a gas station in Winfield, West Virginia. 



Roxy's Tacos, also known as Eliz Tacos, serves tacos, burritos, fajitas, quesadillas and dinners. There are a handful of tables in the restaurant area, but I imagine most folks go for carry-out. I don't know why but steak fajita nachos were calling my name.



And, these were pretty good! They had some great seasoning and a nice helping of veggies. I wouldn't have hated some fresh herbs or something on top to bring a bit of freshness. Or even a unique sauce. But all in all, not too shabby.

Grade: B

West Virginia has a love affair with hot dogs; they can be found in just about every nook and cranny of the state.



Hot Johnson's is a new takeout window in Ripley that serves up hot dogs - as well as pulled pork, cheeseburgers, fried bologna and wraps. 



They're located literally as just a window on the side of what appears to be an industrial building. They're cash only - but the sign says PayPal, Venmo and Cash App work, too. 



I ordered two hot dogs - one with chili, slaw, mustard and onions. Another with ketchup and onions. I liked the chili - mild, but not too oily. And the slaw was finely chopped, which I always appreciate. A little heavy on the mustard for my taste, but still two decent hot dogs. 

Grade: A

Lewisburg is full of delicious restaurants, but what happens when it's a little late? And you want to try something different?



You might find yourself at Habanero's Mexican Grill. 



The restaurant is painted in bright colors and has some fun glass sculptural elements. 



The first thing I noticed is that they have margarita flights - yes, please. 



I mean, how absolutely adorable are these? 



Banana, lime and peach - doesn't that sound like a delicious summer combo?



And for my meal, I had shrimp burritos with queso sauce, and you just really can't go wrong with that. Overall, pretty standard, but pretty good, too.

Grade: B

It's my latest column in the Charleston Gazette-Mail!

It’s known by a few different names: pull candy, cream candy, cream pull candy, Kentucky pull candy, pulled cream candy and myriad combinations of the aforementioned terms.

The Kentucky treat is made with just a few simple ingredients, like heavy cream, sugar, vanilla and boiling water and dates back to the 1800s. What it lacks in ingredients, it makes up for in labor: The candy is often a team effort that involves cooking, pouring it on a cold marble, pulling, cutting, creaming and finally enjoying.

The result may look basic, but the Bluegrass State delicacy has a unique smooth-crumbly texture that melts in your mouth. From what originated in family recipe books to then being created in mass production, the candy has a storied history – with three northern Kentucky businesses at the center.

Rebecca Ruth Candy
After gifting chocolates to friends and family during past holidays, substitute school teachers Rebecca Gooch and Ruth Hanly Booe built their hobby into a candy enterprise. In 1919, the two twenty-somethings opened Rebecca Ruth Chocolates in Frankfort, Kentucky, and the business still sells “Kentucky Creamed Pull Candy” in both plain and chocolate-covered varieties. The humble pull candy is often overshadowed by the famous “bourbon ball,” which was later invented by Ruth Hanley Booe.

Ruth Hunt Candies 
Two years later, Ruth Hunt of Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, began selling her homemade confections that had become a hit at her local bridge club. The demand for her sweets, which were crafted in her home, became so great that she moved from a small store in her home to a large factory. Ruth Hunt’s Blue Monday bar, which is the cream pull candy covered in dark chocolate, is the company’s most famous product. They also come in milk chocolate and mint varieties and received their name after a preacher stopped into the store and said he needed one of the sweets to cure his “blue Monday.”

Mom Blakeman’s Candy
In the 1940s, Maxine “Mom” Blakeman began making her creamed pull candy in her home in Lancaster, Kentucky, and became the final well-known, old-school cream pull candy creator. She was encouraged to market her candy by her good friend, Colonel Harlan Sanders, founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Mom Blakeman’s offers a variety of the candy: bourbon, chocolate covered with pecans, strawberry, peppermint, orange and peanut butter.

These early companies helped expand the prevalence of cream pull candy throughout Kentucky and Appalachia as a whole, and it can be found in pockets throughout the region. Former Charleston Daily Mail reporter Zack Harold shared a story for West Virginia Public Broadcasting earlier this year about a retired coal miner in Winfield who has made the candy for 36 years.

In author Mark Sohn’s book, “Appalachian Home Cooking: History, Culture, & Recipes,” he lists “cream pull candy” in the top 50 foods associated with Appalachia — along with the likes of ramps, shuck beans, and venison.

The old-fashioned confection may have modest beginnings, but it has certainly grown to have quite an impact — not just on our culture, but on our taste buds, too.

Recently, I saw "Almost Heaven Pepperoni Rolls" popping up across Facebook. i had not heard of them or tried them before, but I know I needed to try them out. 



Based in Mt. Nebo, this cottage business serves "gourmet pepperoni rolls filled with marinara sauce, pepperoni and mozzarella cheese, with a garlic buttery crust."



They have a few different versions available, which was really exciting! The "Original" consists of the buttery garlic roll stuff with pepperoni, mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce. 



The "Ramp Roll" is the buttery garlic roll stuff with pepperoni, pepper jack cheese, sauteed ramps and marinara sauce.



The "New Yorker" is the buttery garlic roll stuff with pepperoni, mozzarella, cheese, banana peppers, sauteed white onions, marinara sauce and anchovies -- the last is optional! I got one with and one without.



The "Kickin Chicken" is the buttery garlic roll stuffed with mozzarella cheese, buffalo chicken, pepperoni and ranch.



The "Coal Miner" is the buttery garlic roll stuff with sauteed white onions, green peppers, mushrooms, black olives, pepperoni, marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. 



Honestly, each of these were so good! The roll itself is good, though.I would recommend once you get them to repackage them outside the foil. They can get soggy after a while. But, it's fun to have a pepperoni roll filled with so many veggies or other flavors. Check it out