In honor of Pride Month last year, Low Ivy Catering produced some specials at Starlings that were super colorful.



There were 5 colors of steamed buns stuffed with 16-hour smoked pork, gochujang bbq and lime-honey napa slaw.



Have you enjoyed any Pride-themed meals this month?



Let's keep it going all year round!

Royal Restaurant is a beloved institution in Keyser. The family restaurant has been around since 1904 serving up diner favorites and breakfast all day.



When I was seated, I saw some groups of folks who seem like they had probably been coming here for years and had made lots of memories around this place. They had regular orders and inside jokes, and it was a real feel-good gathering space. The interior is well-worn and well-loved but clean and simple.



I mixed both breakfast and lunch by ordering a cheeseburger and a side of home fries. Plus a topping of cheese and onion.



The burger wasn't bad, but a little extra done for my liking. The potatoes had ample cheese, but I was hoping they would be a little bit crispier. Standard mom and pop fare that is filling, for sure.



Grade: B

I think I've been to about 100 Rio Grande restaurants in my lifetime so let's add one more in Huntington. I kid, but it is a pretty common name for Mexican-American restaurants, and I distinguish this Rio Grande by noting that it is on 5th Avenue.



I placed a take-out order for lunch, which included chips and salsa, and the enchiladas suizas, which came with grilled chicken, tomatillo sauce and queso.



It wasn't really a looker of a plate, but that could be in part because it was to go. it seemed pretty on par with other Mexican-American restaurants in the region. Salsa was thin, but I enjoyed the flavor, even though it could use a bit more spice. The texture of the enchiladas in the sauce left something to be desired, but they were full of grilled chicken that was seasoned well and it's hard to beat the cheese dip.



Grade: B

"New Heritage Distilling, LLC focuses on making delicious apple brandy! Distilled from cider provided by our friends at Winchester Ciderworks, we just love the flavor the apples yield once they are distilled and oak treated. We couldn't be happier to be making brandy in Canaan Valley and the beautiful mountains of Tucker County. Following the renovation of an old 1970's gas and service station, the site not only lends itself, but is perfect for distillation. We are in the heart of Davis, WV and sit right on the Blackwater River with gorgeous views."



I was literally driving around the corner in Davis West Virginia when I saw a small sign that said distillery. I followed the sign around back to see New Heritage Distilling. It is like a garage space, but fairly open for its moderate space with samples, merch, and more to check out.



This new-ish distillery is producing apple brandies in a variety of styles and flavors like: VicBob’s Apple Jack, VicBob’s Oaked Apple Brandy, VicBob’s Maple Syrup flavored Brandy. and Maple Syrup Moonshine.



"Our Brandies - We start with fermented cider we get from our friends at Winchester Ciderworks in Winchester, VA, which is about 6.5% ABV. We distill the mash in our 135-gallon column still to get our base, which is our clear Apple Jack. Then, we add that clear brandy with charred white oak spirals into ultrasonic machines, which break down the cellular structure of the wood and infuse that color and flavor in about 3 weeks, to make our Oaked Apple Jack. We take that oaked apple jack, and add a touch of local WV maple syrup to smooth off the burn on the back. The subtle maple flavor is more of an aftertaste in our Maple Syrup Flavored Apple Brandy. Each batch is proofed to 80 proof using limestone spring water we get from our friends at Still Hollow Distillery in Job, WV.

Our Maple Syrup Moonshine - Unlike anything you've tasted before! We ferment local WV maple syrup with yeast, which takes about 2 weeks. Then distill the maple syrup mash, oak that moonshine using the ultrasonic system, and proof it to 80 with the limestone spring water."



VicBob's Apple Jack Brandy - clean & clear apple flavor

VicBob's Oaked Apple Jack Brandy - smooth & oaky with a nice burn clean

VicBob's Maple Syrup Flavored Apple Brandy - not too sweet, easy on the burn

VicBob's Maple Syrup Moonshine - made with Preston County maple syrup



I loved every single one of these. They all deserve a spot on my bar cart. Which ones of you tried?

I am always happy to travel to Shepherdstown whenever I can because I know that good food will be in store.



Kome Thai & Sushi Bistro serves up both Thai cuisine, and Japanese cuisine, with a variety of entrées for each.



"The chef/owner, Kenny, personally selects and designs the very unique and special menu items and specialties. We use only the freshest ingredients including authentic spices from Thailand giving each dish its unique qualities. We work closely with distributors to make sure our seafood and sushi are freshly imported."



I ordered a few small plates so that I could sample a few things. I went with the crab puffs, which came with a yellow curry and cucumber relish. I liked that this was some thing a little bit different, but I do wish the entire was a bit more moist. Plus, I went with an always reliable California roll with some spicy sauce on top. Fresh, comforting, and expected.



My last app of thr trio was fun, simpler a veggies, which were all tasty. Overall, a tasty lunch, and I look forward to trying other items there.



Grade: A