Belle's Bread is one of my most favorite roadtrip discoveries of all time. Thanks to a head's up from my nail tech (and friend!) Christina, I stopped at the Columbus bakery and entered into a new world. The Japanese bakery & cafe is located in Kenny Centre Mall and draws on inspiration from France for its take on breads and pastries. It is family-owned and -operated. Takashi Takenaka opened the business after emigrating from Japan in 1972. There's the red bean roll, frank roll, and curry and boiled egg doughnuts. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. The bear-shaped strawberry butter cream pastry was as adorable as it is delicious. I wasn't going anywhere without a ham & onion roll, which also had mayonnaise. All familiar flavors, but combined in the best way. My favorite of the trip may be the curry & boiled egg donut. Think sweet, fluffy exterior with an explosion of flavor inside. It is sweet and has some depth of flavor from the curry and also creaminess from the egg. Delicious. Their signature Caramel Almond Roll features a light, fluffy sponge cake with rich caramel and crunchy sliced almonds. There were a number of other unique options that I'll save for next time: tuna cheese, bacon corn roll, spicy tuna and more. If you've been, let me know your favorites in the comments below. Happy eating! Grade: A

Tensuke Market is the largest Japanese grocery store in Ohio. "Growing up in a tiny village in Japan, Takashi Takenaka loved fishing in nearby streams, often immersed waist-deep. As he grew older, he dreamed of sharing his knowledge and love of seafood and Japanese cuisine," reads the website. "After leaving his homeland and settling in America, he established one of Central Ohio's first Japanese restaurants in 1987, now called Akai Hana. Shortly after that, he opened a Japanese seafood and grocery store - Tensuke Market." "Over 30 years, the company has grown to include the 6 shops of Japan Marketplace, each providing a unique piece of Japanese tradition and culture. Takashi notes that when we prepare Japanese food for our customers, they experience a sense of well-being – similar to what he felt while enjoying the delicious meals from his mother growing up." "Tensuke Market is committed to offering the finest of Japanese food, products and culture to nourish our great community of Columbus. We hope that you can enjoy a taste of Japan's beautiful cuisine and renowned traditions." I picked up a teriyaki chicken & mayo onigiri. The first task is figuring out how to open it. It is designed to keep the seaweed crispy. Pull the center tab down (1), pull the right corner out (2), and pull the left corner out (3). I also got some gummy grape candy for dessert. Both were tasty. What an awesome place with so many offerings. I'd love to go back when I have a cooler in tow. Grade: A

"Some of the city’s best Chinese food can be found in a Kenny Centre strip mall at Xi Xia. The restaurant’s specialty is its chewy noodles that are painstakingly made by hand. You’ll find them in their excellent signature dish: stirred noodles with supple pieces of beef shank, bok choy, and a kick of chili oil. The springy strands also show up in soup dishes of rich, slow-cooked bone broth that’s a solid hangover cure. Don’t miss the wonderfully gelatinous spicy chicken feet, the excellent lamb rice pilaf, or the salt-and-pepper chicken that’s an excellent takeout order for the family," reads The Infatuation. With a description like that, how can I not order that signature dish. The silky noodles were my favorite - so delicate. And the egg - I would love a soy egg with every meal. The meat was my least favorite; the beef shank flavor was a bit on the earthy side for me. Grade: B

Fox Hops Brewery is a new, award-winning brewery in Elkins that has a unique claim to fame: "We are home to the only certified female brewer in the state of West Virginia, bringing unique perspective and innovation to every batch." In addition to a variety of beer styles including Amber Ale, Brown Ale, Chocolate Stout, IPAs and more, the brewery offers up some delicious noshes. "Fox Hops offers a unique food menu designed to pair perfectly with your pint — from bratwursts made with our own house Amber Ale to specialty burgers like the unforgettable PB&J burger," reads the website. First things first, I ordered a growler of RAMP beer. I repeat, RAMP beer. Using locally sourced ramps. Named "Mountain Music," it has an intense aroma but fairly light in flavor. On the food side, I ordered pimento cheese bites, that are honey pretzel crusted bites filled with pimento cheese, drizzled with honey sriracha. These were addictively good. I also did the PB&J burger, which includes a 1/3 lb. burger topped with bacon, pickled jalapenos, cream cheese, peanut butter and jelly - definitely an interesting combination! That's precisely what drew me to it. It was a solid combo. I almost wish the jelly was a dipping sauce on the side, so I could control the level I wanted. I wanted more! Cool beer. Good food. Locally owned. What more can you ask for? Grade: A

Folklore Pizza in Spencer is a casual bar & grill known for its artisan wood-fired pizzas and local craft beer. The menu has fun items like Mothman wings and "A-TUNA- Matata," which is a housemade tuna salad topped with provolone cheese, served on a Soft Kaiser Roll and topped with locally grown fresh Tomatoes and Lettuce. I ordered The Mystic, which has bacon jam, mozzarella, mushrooms and crushed red peppers. I'm a sucker for the sweet & salty play, though I wish I could see more ways to do it than bacon jam. But it's a quick and easy way to give that pie more depth. An extra point for me would have been adding a funky cheese on top. Have you been? Grade: B