Have you heard of Von Blaze Sandwiches?



The current food truck and soon-to-be restaurant is dishing out some super creative sandwiches, wings and fries. 



I happened to get lucky and found Von Blaze out and about while in town. You may recognize Chris McDonald as the former chef at Stefano's who has been recognized for the incredible food he put out. So, I had high standards.



The first thing on the menu that stuck out to be was the "lobster dog." This housemade lobster and shrimp "hot dog" has napa slaw, fingerling potato chips, brown butter mayo, on a toasted New England style bun. 



That sounds weird, which is right up my alley. First of all, take a look at this beautiful specimen. It's not a regular hot dog. The potato chips on top are like these beautiful waves of crunchy, salty goodness. 



And it really is like seafood in a hot dog, but it works. It's more like seafood with a hint of salt and crunch and cream with the mayo. It all works for a weird Appalachian twist on a lobster roll. 



Grade: A

A new locally owned and operated butcher has opened in Morgantown recently.



Village Butcher and Market, located  on University Avenue in Star City in a new building, offers a variety of fresh cuts of beef, chicken and pork. 



They also have sausages, salamis and more. 



In addition, they also offer a sandwich menu, as well a other market goodies like kettle corn, biscotti, cheese, olives and prepared salads.



If I were living in town - or even had a cooler - I would be tempted to purchase a delicious steak. Local folks are going to have to tell me how those are.



But since I was just passing through, I opted for a sandwich.



The "Prosciutto" had my name written all over it: prosciutto, aged manchego, baby arugula, fresh Mission figs, house-made fig preserve, and a hint of Dijon served on a french demi baguette.



This sandwich is, hand's down, one of my favorites in all the state. 



The bread was fresh with that crusty top, the greens were fresh, the prosciutto was flavorful and shaved thin, the figs added a delicious sweetness, the manchego brought just a little funk, and the hint of dijon helped balance it all. 



It really is a fairly simple sandwich with a few high-end ingredients, but that's all it takes.



I also ordered a side of pasta salad, which was OK. I like mine to be really zesty, and this one was pretty mild in flavor - but not bad.



There were also a few products I wasn't familiar with that I'd like to try next time.



I've not had Almost Heaven Kettle Corn, but it looked good! 



I also need to try the house biscotti - with a nice coffee, of course. 



And I had no clue the folks from Tutto Gelato are making pasta! I really can't wait to pick up some of that. have you been? What's been your favorite purchase?

Grade: A

J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works has opened up a store and restaurant concept in Morgantown: Appalachian Mercantile General Store and Cafe. 



J.Q. Dickinson, located in Malden, is known for its incredible heirloom salt - and possibly my favorite West Virginia product, period.



But, they have expanded beyond that to be a curator of other Appalachian goods, which are sold in their shop and part of a monthly subscription box. 



And now in Morgantown - technically Granville - they'e expanded that concept into a full-fledged store and cafe. 



I had been waiting to a coordinate a trip to Morgantown when it opened, but I couldn't wait any longer. THEN, I got lucky and saw that they just so happened to be opening on the same day I made it to Morgantown. 



The building is located in a newer developed section that also houses the New South Media building. 



There's a cool old truck sitting out front, and once you enter, it's Appalachian goods heaven. From BBQ sauce and drink mixes to home decor and pasta, there' a little bit of everything.



I was excited to be familiar with many of the products, because they had been featured in a subscription box at one point or another. 



That didn't stop me from picking up a few things: a cherry soda, some miso caramels, a spice rub and more. 



But then as I made my way through all the great products, I saw the cafe area. There was a case full of pastries, a menu board with drinks, and then a paper menu of snacks. 



First, I got a blueberry muffin, which I believe they source from LeRoy's Bakery in Bridgeport (I need to get there, too!). It was tasty!



I also had to try a coffee -- the affogato is my latest obsession. A dark roast with a scoop of vanilla ice cream is just the perfect bitter and sweet indulgence. 



And then let's talk about the full menu.



It's a beautiful assortment of charcuterie, local breads, cheeses and more. 



I ordered the Blue Ridge Baked Cheese Skillet - because I wanted something more than what I could assemble - but I still can't pass up a charcuterie of some sort. It's Firefly Farms bloomy breeze cheese served warm with walnuts, figs, Appalachian wildflower honey, crostini and crackers. 



This was delicious. But I could literally eat this kind of meal every day for the rest of my life. It's so, so good. The combination of that cheese with the sweet figs and crunchy walnuts was *chef's kiss* so good. 



Finally, I bought a small container of pimento cheese to bring home. It's really like an Appalachian culinary haven. I'm already planning my next trip, as I know it's only going to expand and get even better.



Grade: A

I'll take any excuse to eat a charcuterie board - and when there's a new local business serving them up? I can indulge all in the name of research. 



Valley Grazing Co. is based in Scott Depot and has a few different options available for folks to order. I ordered the "Signature Grazing Box" which is $40. It's meant for two, so I ordered one for a date night in. 



I noted a few of my dislikes (dark chocolate, grapefruit), so none of those made their way into the box. BUT, I did get a cool detailed list of everything inside! I loved that, because I've not received it before. The owner dropped off my charcuterie box at work, and I was set.



It came with one giant box with all the goodies, then a smaller box for the crackers - which is awesome because the moisture could make them a little soggy. The box was so full that the bottom was actually not super stable - which could be a good problem to have! There was a nice variety of fruit - grapes, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries. And a couple cheeses and meats, too. All with bamboo cutlery and a honey packet. Have you tried them yet?

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