Margaritas in Huntington is a Tex-Mex restaurant that offers a lot of the standard fare we've come to expect: fajitas, enchiladas, burritos, etc.



I've come to appreciate tex-mex cuisine in its own right, as opposed to lamenting its "authenticity." It's a cuisine in its own right - adapting to an American palate and making a living with their food.



I ordered the "Pollo Con Crema - Grilled chicken in our chipotle cream sauce. Served with rice, beans and flour tortillas." A bit more spice than my typical order. But I enjoyed the sauce - and the crema helped cool things down a bit. Good flavor overall.



Grade: B

Mister Crabs is a food truck, of sorts. Maybe more like a vendor, because there was no truck per se. And, I say Bridgeport, but these folks get around. I was able to check them out when they were in Huntington. Either way, these folks are dishing out fresh seafood boils like nowhere else locally. Crabs, shrimp, mussels and, of course, all the accoutrements.



I ordered a jumbo crab cluster - which was so big, it barely fit in the box. Another box was full of potatoes, corn, shrimp, sausage and both cocktail sauce and melted butter. I could eat this meal every day. Taking simple, fresh ingredients, prepared well, and only adding seasoning makes for such a safisfying meal. It was delicious, abundant and perfect for a summer afternoon.



Grade:

Rakku is a pan-Asian restaurant that offere everything from sushi and hibachi to Orange Chicken and ramen - the latter of which is relatively uncommon to find in West Virginia.



I wasn't in the mood for ramen on this particular day so I went for a few other things. Starting with, of course, crab rangoons. Imitation crab, cream cheese all wrapped up and fried. These are such a guilty pleasure; I will get these everywhere. I did like the shape of these because there's that big pocket of cheese and I can discard the too-crunchy ends.



I also ordered two rolls: The West Virginia Roll and a shrimp tempura roll. The former is "Deep fried, crabmeat, avocado, cream cheese, Chef's sauce." This is usually my go-to combo (again, guilty pleasure) but the fried portion has been taking over my palate and the overwhelming flavor is oil.



The shrimp tempura roll is a more reliable go-to and doesn't make everything taste oily. A bit crunchy, a bit creamy. That's the balance I enjoy.



Grade: B

Fruits of Labor is a cool concept that includes bakeries & cafes in Rainelle, Alderson, Beckley and Montgomery. "OUR TEAM, regardless of roots, is a family bound together by talent in a field we call home. Leadership and expertise abounds in: Culinary, Pastry, Baking, Cake Design and Sustainable Agriculture Practices. OUR CUSTOMERS know that supporting Fruits of Labor means far more than buying fresh produce, bread and bakery products, or a delicious meal – it is a personal, tangible investment in the growth and nurturing of people in their own community who demonstrate the daily courage it takes to overcome addiction," according to the website.



"You'll be greeted warmly at the Fruits of Labor Café & Bakery. Sometimes by a core staff member, other times by a neighbor in recovery or young person in an addiction prevention program. Both groups of students participate in our Nationally Certified American Culinary Federation Quality Training Program & Farm-to-Table Café and Bakery. Each time you visit Fruits of Labor, your purchase invests in our students and allows us to offer this training and certification free of charge."



I had been to the Rainelle location previously, so I was fairly familiar with the menu. Sandwiches, burgers, salads, soups and teas. The interior is basic, with some tables and chairs and a cold case but minimal decor. I landed on a ham salad croissant sandwich with a side of pasta salad.



I think the sandwich was OK: the ham salad was not super flavorful. I think it needed more salt, sugar, seasoning, something. Similar for the pasta salad, but it had a kinda sweet flavor. I wish it had some more savory notes with veggies and whatnot.



Grade: B

The Big LeBOWLski is a traveling food truck "with some spunk," according to their facebook. They riff on the famous movie with their tagline that they pack the freshest bowls.



Often found at Root 19 Outpost in Mt. Lookout (a gathering spot for food trucks and other vendors), the truck features sandwiches, nachos, mac & cheese and hot dogs.



I really wanted "The Dude," which is mac & cheese, beer cheese and bacon sloppy joe. They unfortunately had run out, so I went with "The Duder."



"The Duder" has mac & cheese with pulled pork on top. Plus hella jalapenos, apparently. Judging by the vast array of hot sauces they also have to top your dish with, these folks are not shy with spice.



They served up my order in a box tray with an old-school RC and side of sauce. It was more like a mustard-based BBQ, and I enjoyed that tang.



Both the mac & cheese and pulled pork were a touch dry. I'm not sure if that's because they're batch cooking, and it gets dried out over time or what. Some cheesiness or even fattiness from the pork would have helped. The sauce, though, helped with that.



Those jalapenos were a lot. Especially raw. I would have loved a pickled jalapeno. I moved most of them off to the side - but I am a wimp. They threw in an extra chocolate donut treat to top things off.



Grade: B