The Woody Creek Bakery & Cafe is known for fresh-baked cookies, breakfast sandwiches, soups, salads, wraps and specialty sandwiches. It has locations both downtown on the 16th Street Mall and in Denver International Airport, which is where I made a quick stop. I ordered a ham & cheese quiche, which included cheddar jack cheese and fruit. Clearly a heat-and-eat situation, but not bad for an airport option. It was a decent pastry with a ham and cheese filling, and the side of fruit -- in this case grapes -- made for a balance in flavor. Grade: C

Located in Concourse C, Root Down is the airport version of the popular Denver restaurant. Root Down focuses on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients with a highlight on vegetarian and vegan choices. I ordered the Banh Mi Turkey Burger with Cilantro Chutney, Jalapeño, Pickled Vegetables, Cucumber & Sriracha Aioli w/ Sweet Potato Fries. This was wonderful for airport food. The burger was moist, and those pickled veggies made for a dynamic bite. The atmosphere? Service? General vibes? All a bit rushed, impersonal and what I'd expect at an airport - even though I was hoping for more. Grade: B

The Refectory Restaurant is one of Columbus’s most iconic fine-dining destinations, known for French-inspired cuisine, an exceptional wine program and a setting featuring a restored 19th-century church building. Inside, you'll see soaring wooden beams, candlelit dining rooms and stained-glass accents that create an old-world atmosphere. I enjoyed the chef's four-course Alsace tasting menu, which first included a gift from the chef. The terrine was a surprise because my first course was also a terrine. Two terrines in one meal is possibly two too many. But then, I received the bread basket, which was one type of bread, but at least it was warm. Now, onto our official tasting menu. Sockeye Salmon and Smoked Salmon Terrine horseradish vinaigrette, caviar blend blinis. It included creme fraiche, salmon roe, caviar, tomato fricasse and microgreens. Wild Mushroom Lasagna brandy sauce, tomato fondue Prime Pork Loin and Duck Sausage Duet mustard velvet sauce Alsatian Cheese Cake blueberry coulis, almond joconde, griottines A jelly, a chocolate and a creme brulee finished the meal. Grade: A

Rebel SmokeHouse is the premier (and only?) BBQ joint in Mullens. PLUS burgers, pasta, steaks, sandwiches and wings. Now that's a mouthful, literally. Here's what I went with: 1/4 rack St Louis Style Ribs with beer bread, pasta salad & mac & cheese. St. Louis-style ribs are a specific cut of pork ribs. They’re trimmed from spare ribs to create a more rectangular, uniform shape, with the rib tips and cartilage removed. Compared to baby back ribs, St. Louis ribs are typically meatier, have more fat and connective tissue, and often deliver a richer pork flavor. They’re a barbecue favorite because they cook evenly and hold up well to smoking, grilling and saucing. The ribs delivered on a rich, savory flavor and a satisfying bite. Less tender than I'd prefer. The beer bread added a slightly sweet, malty note. The pasta salad provided a cool contrast. The mac & cheese added some creaminess. So it's like we hit all the food groups.

Grade: B

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