Hello Vietnam is a locally owned restaurant in Bridgeport that highlights pho and banh mi.



The small restaurant has minimal seating, so I placed an order to go.



Instead of pho or banh mi, though, I went with something different.



Bun Thit Nuong - or vermicelli bowl - consists of rice noodles, grilled pork, vegetables, shrimp and pickles.



I love noodles in every cuisine. And here, they are served in the light, vinegary way. The dish eats very clean and fresh. Absolutely delightful.



Grade: A

"At The ROQ, we provide a completely unique atmosphere paired with exceptional service. Customize your evening entirely!" reads the website.



Located in the basement of The Quarrier Diner, The Roq has been hosting a salsa band and serving up specialty drinks for over a year now.



More recently, they added food - bar bites and flatbreads. Bar bites consist of bacon-wrapped dates, pulled pork sliders, and shrimp cocktail.



The flatbreads include cheese, three meats, caprese, annd the portobello & garlic onion - which is what I chose. Portobello mushrooms, roasted red peppers, garlic onions, shredded provolone, smoked bleu cheese andn garlic oil base.



Paired with my "Lychee Drank," which has vodka, St. Germainn, lychee puree and lemon, this was really quite good. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised with this little bite. It had enough flavor to be satisfying and just enough funk to keep it interesting. Just know that your breath will never be the same.



Grade: A

A while back, there was a vendor show at the India Cennter that had a ton of wonderful desserts, snacks, breads and more. Here is just a sampling of those I got to try:

The Carb Peddler





Sugar Mt. Sweets





Willie's Candy





Beeg's Bakes





Tastes Cotton Candy





Mohawk Cheesecake



Jenn’s Candy & Crafts



DARN Good Freeze-Dried

Cheri's Sugar Shack was a pop-up bakery shop at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center. Cheri moved onto a new role recently, so it's unclear what that means for the sugar shack. But while it was here, it was wonderful. You could get pepperoni rolls, cakes, pastries and even quick lunches - like potato soup and a hunk of bread. One of my favorites was a white cheddar & thyme scone. A slice of cookies & cream cake was a like an Oreo, but even better. The hours and parking were a bit limiting, but most of the food I tried was worth it. Did you get a chance to go? Grade: B

I found a hidden gem in Frankford, West Virginia. This small community in Greenbrier County is home to Good Roads Bakehouse.



They are a small-batch country bakery and trade post with everything from cookies and pastries to breads and brownies.



And they must be doing something right because they were named to Taste of the South Magazine's 2022 Taste 50 list.



When I made my way here and found a parking spot in the gravel lot, I went inside to find a long line had already beat me there.



But, that gave me more time to peruse the offerings. I pointed to everything that caught my eye - a quiche, a brownie, a pastry - you get the idea.



One bite, and I could see why everyone is clamoring to this place. They have classics, but they're done well. Fresh and flavorful.



They even have pizza and pepperoni rolls, the latter of which are pretty tasty, though I haven't had a chance to try the former.



They even had a unique version of a pepperoni roll - a brisket kolache - that was quite good. Same concept with meat baked into a soft roll - but a new spin (at least for this area).



Grade: A