You know what's perfect on a cold, snowy day? A casserole.



Casseroles To Go is a new ghost kitchen based out of Carnival Eats that specializes in homecooked meals delivered to your door - hot and fresh.



I love a casserole - and wish that there were like personal sized ones. There are so many different kinds. I wanted to try them all: shepherd's pie, ham & broccoli, tuna noodle, Amish breakfast, baked ravioli, and more. But I put in an order to try two different things.



First up is the: Crunchy Chicken Casserole. This casserole is a taste of goodness with a crunch you will love. Chicken, rice, celery, cream of chicken, mayonnaise, water chestnuts, almonds, onions and corn flakes.



It was pretty tasty overall. I added a touch more salt to punch it up. Since it's crunchy on top, it's not something that can keep forever unless you want the sog. But hot, fresh from the tin - it is good.



I also got a pan of macaroni & cheese, which I think I ate on for a week. It's a pretty straightforward, creamy mac. I added a bit of sugar to mine because I like mine a bit on the sweeter side. 



Have you tried them yet? I think they would be perfect to send to a family in need or a friend with a busy week. Just a really cool option in town.

Grade: B

Graze With Me is a new charcuterie board business based in South Charleston that I had a duty to check out.  



Paige Withrow, the owner, is doing these killer boards that have a little bit of everything - cheese, crackers, fruit, salami and sweets. She made this one for me for a date night.



And, it's all on a super cute heart board! Some of my favorites were this herby cheese and even a little macaron! I am always a fan of the salty and sweet together. There was even this beautiful rose on top (and my middle name is Rose!). What is your favorite goodie to find on a charcuterie board?

Gulla's Lunch in Bellaire, Ohio, is known for its hot dogs.



The "Gulla Dog" is made with their specialty chili sauce, onions and mustard. 



They kind of have taken on a life of their own. It's known along the likes of DiCarlo's pizza and Drover's wings (though since those two are from my hometown, I'm a bit more biased toward them). 



While traveling through the area, I put in an order for a Gulla dog, an eggroll and fries with gravy. The hot dog is interesting in that the chili sauce is a little sweet, a little tang, but no meat. It was all very soft in texture, but I enjoyed the flavor. 



I thought it was interesting to see egg rolls available - and they were decent. Nothing too crazy there. Deep-fried so it has a nice crunch, but lots of filled inside.



The fries have "comfort food" written all over them. It can certainly get heavy and soggy, but if you get a few nice, crisp bites, they are dang good. 

Grade: B

Hilltop Coffee is one of the coolest coffee shops I've visited in recent memory.



Located in Crab Orchard, Hilltop Coffee is situated inside 'the offices at Orchard Park' which is the former Crab Orchard Elementary School and the location of Vaught Neurology.



Once you enter the coffee shop itself, it has a really cool vibe with edison bulbs, chalkboard, subway tiles - very trendy.



They offer espresso drinks, blended drinks and a unique selection of snacks and treats.



They even have coffee from White Oak Bee Company roasted in White Oak, West Virginia.



I ordered a delicious red velvet frappuccino, which was not overly sweet and had a delicious light creme flavor. 



Have you been?

Grade: A

Have you seen a purple house in St. Albans that displays a "dinners to go" chalkboard sign? That would be The Violet Kitchen.



The St. Albans house has a Victorian-themed interior and serves takeout homestyle dinners Wednesday through Friday. 
 

When I saw this was one of the options this week, I messaged them an order on Facebook immediately: Meatloaf w/ Mashed Potatoes, Pan Fried Green Beans & a Roll.



My biggest concern was whether this was going to be a thin, brown-gravy-laden piece of meatloaf or whether it would be the sweet tomato thick hunk of meatloaf. To my delight, it was the latter. It was a very moist, flavorful hunk of meatloaf with a sweet tomato glaze on top. Chunks of onion and green pepper just made it delightful. Homemade green beans and mashed potatoes round it all out, with a soft roll on the side. 

Keep an eye on their Facebook to see their weekly specials. And if they offer the meatloaf again any time soon, get it in your belly.

Grade: A