This & That Bakery in Morgantown (well, technically Granville) delivers delicious goodies like macarons and pepperoni rolls fresh from the oven. "Annie, Becky, and Molly are self-taught bakers who have a lifetime of experience baking and cooking for friends and family, and as cottage-law bakers in WV for almost 15 years," reads the website. Their signature pepperoni rolls, offered in regular, banana-pepper, jalapeño, and seasonal ramp flavors — are baked in garlic-herb bread with olive oil and deli pepperoni. More options include artisan loaves, assorted bagels, savory scones, focaccia, and even tomato-ricotta tarts. Sweet treats include cupcakes, cakes, brownies and more. I enjoyed a solid pepperoni roll and a variety of other traits that were all just as tasty. Have you been? Grade: A

Holly Jolly Hideaway is a seasonal pop-up cocktail bar, timed to coincide with the first weekend of Holly Jolly Brawley. It is set up in the space formerly occupied by Dem 2 Brothers Restaurant at 189 Summers Street. The idea was to create a cozy, festive “holiday-bar vibe” with Christmas-themed decorations, thousands of lights, holiday films on screen, and a fun, immersive seasonal atmosphere. The Hideaway has a selection of seasonal holiday-themed cocktails and themed small plates / apps. Some featured drinks include:

The Naughty Bean — a peppermint-kissed espresso martini.

Mistletoe Margarita — with cranberry juice and rosemary.

Tinsel & Tonic — gin with elderflower liqueur and edible glitter.

Yule Be Sorry — Fireball + cider + ginger beer.

Reindeer Games — bourbon with pomegranate and orange.

The Grinch — a green-hued cocktail with Midori, vodka, lemon, and Sprite, garnished with a small red fruit “heart.” Food options include:

Ho-Ho-Hot Chicken Sliders — three buttermilk-fried chicken sliders with spicy honey glaze and dill pickles on brioche buns.

Slay-Ride Sliders — mini brisket burgers with smoked gouda, crispy onions, and pepper jelly.

Naughty Nachos — chips topped with your choice of brisket or chicken, white queso, pickled jalapeños, and cranberry BBQ drizzle.

The Grinch Dip — a spinach-artichoke dip with a jalapeño kick served with colorful nacho chips. Here's what I sampled: Reindeer Games cocktail which was a very generous pour with a healthy amount of bourbon. I also tried the Yule Be Sorry, which did the exact opposite - made us all thankful for such a tasty drink. The brisket burger sliders had a perfect blend of salty, sweet, smoky & crunchy all in one bite. Wonderful. The spinach-artichoke dip took things up a notch with Doritos Cool Ranch chips. Would I ever have paired those? No. Will I always pair those moving forward? Yes. Grade: A

Bricello’s Grilled Formaggio is a Berkeley Springs–based food truck known for taking the humble grilled cheese sandwich and turning it into something unforgettable. Originally launched as Bricello’s Caterers in Maryland, the business later moved to West Virginia and evolved into a mobile sandwich concept built around high-quality ingredients, creative toppings, and notable vegetarian and vegan options. The name “Bricello’s” comes from the owner’s children — Briana and Marcello. Some menu items include: A “Cheesy BLT” — with provolone, organic romaine, tomatoes, and vegan bacon; an “Eggplant Parmesan” sandwich — one reviewer called it “one of the all-time best eggplant parms I’ve ever had"; and a “Pesto, Pepperoncini & Parmesan” grilled-cheese variation. The Caprese featured mozzarella, organic arugula, pesto, sliced tomato & balsamic dressing. This was unreal. I think the buttery bread + pesto + balssmic combo made this sing. Grade: A

Wardensville Garden Market is an on-farm market + bakery + general store — part of a broader social-enterprise/ nonprofit project run by Farms Work Wonders. Through it you can buy produce from their organic farm, baked goods from their in-house bakery, pantry items, artisan crafts (including glass art from a glass-studio), meats/eggs from their farm, jams, sauces, and other locally or regionally made goods. The market sits on a historic 100-acre farm (originally the Frye Farm) in Wardensville, WV — land bordered by the Cacapon River. It launched in 2016 as a small farm stand — by responding to community interest, it grew into a full market in a restored farmhouse, with bakery and expansion over time. The Garden Market sells goods produced by Mack’s Bingo Bakery — like cinnamon rolls, breads, pies, cookies, pepperoni rolls — all of which I tried, and they were delicious. All profits from the market (and associated enterprises: bakery, farm, kitchen, glass studio) are reinvested into local youth programming, giving jobs, training, and scholarship opportunities to Appalachian youth. Grade: A

Monarca Taqueria in Morgantown is a casual spot known for serving Mexican street-style favorites with bold, authentic flavor.



Located on Walnut Street, it offers a wide range of dishes — from al pastor street tacos and quesabirria to birria ramen, elote, and vegetarian options — with generous portions.



I went with three fish tacos, Mexican elote and a tamale. The tacos were super fresh and crunchy, with a nice hit of lime that kept them bright and tasty. The elote was creamy, cheesy, and a little smoky — basically everything you want in street corn. And the tamale was soft and cozy, with a flavorful filling that made it the perfect comfort bite.



Have you been?



Grade: B