Eatery A is the go-to destination in Iowa's capital city for Mediterranean cuisine with hints of Spain, Morocco, Egypt and Italy.

"Our culinary experts blend old-world and contemporary cuisine, serving dishes like bacon-wrapped dates with red pepper coulis, octopus with kale pesto and crispy leeks, and house marinated olives. Enjoy craft beer at our bar, as well as cocktails made with local spirits and eastern flavors—pomegranate, basil, mint and ginger," reads the website.



Eatery A is decorated with reclaimed wood. The centerpiece of the kitchen is a wood-burning oven, which perfects fresh pies.
I ordered the Shrimp & Grits - house hot sauce, charred onion grits, scallions, feta, plus a side of fruit.



I thought this dish was OK. The chart bits didn't necessarily appeal to me and made it difficult to eat. I would've loved some more acid inside the dish. But that's why I got a side of fruit.



Grade: B

Elkview Supermarket is the local grocer in Elkview, and they're known for some of their deli items.



To start, the deli has a seating area. So, once you get your goodies, you can dine in.



The supermarket offers homemade potato salads, pepperoni rolls and other pre-made goodies on the shelves, but the real star is the main deli counter.



That menu includes their signature potato wedges - or hillbilly taters. Plus other dinners, like chicken and pulled pork.



First up was breakfast biscuits. There were a handful of sausage and chicken biscuits, so I snagged one of each.



Both of these were OK. I enjoyed the sausage enough, but it ate a bit dry. The chicken wasn't the best quality so the texture was off.



I did also get a pulled pork sandwich with the famous hillbilly tater.



This I enjoyed a good bit more. It was a huge sandwich with a nice sweet, tangy flavor. And the slaw added a nice touch.



The potato wedges - or what I'd call jojo potatoes. A little crispy, a lotta potato.



What's your favorite thing here?

Grade: B

One of West Virginia's most iconic restaurants has reopened.



Secret Sandwich Society, located in Fayetteville, experienced a devastating fire several years ago that required rebuilding from the ground up. And now, they're back and better than ever.



Known for their creative takes on sandwiches and salads named after presidents and first ladies, Secret Sandwich Society has increased its space inside and outside to accommodate even more folks. It's a pretty popular place, so that is welcome news.



While this is my first visit to the restaurant since it has rebuilt, I had been to the previous restaurant many times. So, I have a good idea of some of my favorites on the menu. Though, truly, you can't go wrong.



I ordered the TRUMAN - turkey, peach jam, blue cheese spread & crispy onions on a toasted potato roll. The turkey was tender and flavorful, perfectly balanced by the unexpected sweetness of the peach jam. That little hit of fruitiness played so well with the blue cheese spread, which added a tangy, creamy bite without overpowering. And let’s talk about those crispy onions - they brought the perfect crunch and just the right amount of savory to round everything out. All of it came together on a potato roll that was soft yet sturdy enough to hold up to the layers of flavor. It’s sweet, salty, creamy, and crunchy all in one bite - definitely not your average turkey sandwich. I’d order it again in a heartbeat.



Plus a side of parmesan truffle fries with a trio of dipping sauces: Roasted Garlic Mayo, Homemade spiced Ketchup and some pimento cheese for good measure. The roasted garlic mayo was rich and velvety with a mellow garlicky kick, the homemade spiced ketchup had just the right amount of heat and sweetness, and the pimento cheese - as always - was creamy, tangy, and totally perfect. If you’re a fry lover, this is the kind of side that makes the meal.



If you haven't been, what are you waiting for?



Grade: A

"The Putnam Farmers Market was established in 2009. All of our vendors are local, within a 50 mile radius or from West Virginia. You'll find in-season produce, locally raised meat, farm fresh eggs, home baked goods, local honey, fresh flowers, berries, handmade jewelry and crafts, and so much more from local farmers and artisans! Find something new every Saturday!"



The Putnam Farmers Market is held every Saturday from May through October. I stopped by a while back to check out all the vendors.



Here's a sampling of some vendors I've visited there:

Hope’s Harvest Farm, LLC - potatoes, tomatoes, beets, greens and more.

Amandus Family Farm - Family of four raising pigs, chickens, & goats through rotational grazing & pasture based principles.

Mountain State Fungi - Mushrooms



The Potager - tomatoes, peppers, berries and more.

Sycamore Farms & Primitives - pies, blueberry muffins, strawberry bread, garlic pull apart bread, yeast bread and rolls, cinnamon rolls and more.

WeeGreens - microgreens



Hammett Family Farm - eggs

G & G Heritage Farm - Pepperoni Rolls Mozzarella, Pepper Jack, Smoked Gruyere and Gouda, and Scorpion Gruyere and Gouda, Jams, Pineapple Upside-down Cake, Everything Bagel Seasoned Cashews and Focaccia Bread

Vibrant Mountain Lady - eggs



Crago Country Farm - plants, bread, cookies

Vine & Branches Family Farm - sunflowers, bouquets

L&L Produce - eggs, fresh strawberries, strawberry muffins, brownies



LeJa Produce - Honey, Garlic Scapes, Choi, Kale, Collards, Asparagus, Onions, Apple Butter, Zucchini Bread, Cobbler (Blackberry, Peach), Jam (Blackberry, Peach)

Fox Run Metal Works - metal yard art

Feather Ridge Farm - eggs, quail eggs, whole chicken, and freeze dried candies!

Roo’s Flower Coop - flowers

Cooper's Cottage - microbakery

The Ugly Cupcake - microbakery

Katie's Country Kitchen - baked goods

Payne's Produce - produce

Kyndall's Kitchen - baked goods

Mountain State Farm - meat

"Located inside the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the iconic Indian Pueblo Kitchen offers guests an unforgettable Indigenous dining experience that showcases our creative, Native American culinary artistry and celebrated Pueblo hospitality. Indian Pueblo Kitchen is owned and operated by New Mexico’s 19 Pueblos and proudly features the flavors of our Native communities in homemade stews, fresh breads, bakery items and savory sauces. Our creations are inspired by historical Pueblo traditions and recipes and utilize ingredients such as red and green chile, blue corn, and our harvest of fresh local produce and spices. At IPK, each dish is prepared with care by a team of Pueblo heritage. Our staff’s culinary talents, passion, and traditions are part of the rich cultural experience that guests from around the world enjoy when they visit the IPCC," reads the website.



I started with a Pueblo Stew with fry bread. I opted for the Red Chile Beef Bone Posole, which was very beef forward.



For my main entree, I went with Monte Cristo - Pueblo oven bread battered and deep fried with Swiss and cheddar cheese, roasted turkey, and ham. Plated on red chile infused raspberry preserves and triple berries. Lovely.



Pueblo potato salad was a bit different than a typical potato salad, but I didn't hate it.



Mostly, I just felt really lucky to be able to enjoy this cuisine. This isn't something that is mainstream in my region, so it was exciting to be able to experience a bit of this culture through food.



Grade: A