Dari-Land in Marlinton is an ice cream counter with a food menu that includes items like philly cheesesteaks, burgers and hot dogs. They even have breakfast and coffee. Kinda like a one-stop shop for any meal, any time of day. Since I was passing by in the morning, I perused their coffee menu and landed on a caramel latte. The flavor was a bit watered down, but I didn't mind the mild espresso flavor. I would like to check out the ice cream or food on another visit. Grade: B

I have discovered a hidden gem deep in the mountains of West Virginia that has become one of my recent favorites. Mim's Kitchen is located in Marlinton and serves up homemade food cafeteria-style. A few words of wisdom if you go: It's likely you won't have cell phone service, so make sure that you download your driving map to get there while you still have service. It's also important to have cash on hand. While the restaurant usually does take cards, the machine was down while I was there, and luckily, I had a personal check to use. To start, the building is lovely. It is rustic but cozy and it is secluded enough to feel like you're in a private space. Once you walk in, you veer to the right and see the menu that is available that day. On this particular day, there was meatloaf, roast beef, broccoli and cheddar chicken, and honey pork as the mains. At the counter, the options are laid out behind glass and the person working offers you options. It started with salad - and not the leafy green kind. More so the prepared kind. I opted for broccoli salad, which is crunchy and a bit sweet and creamy, too. For my main, I went with the broccoli & cheddar chicken, which looked like one of those delicious homemade recipes you'd find on Pinterest. Super moist and a heaping helping. Then, it was time for sides. I went for green beans and macaroni & cheese. Both solid. At the very end, a cooler full of desserts awaits. It's not included as part of the dinner price, but it is not to be missed. Every single option looked phenomenal, but I opted for the pecan pie cheesecake. Wooo-weee. So, once everything is assembled, one of the employees brings it into the dining room and sets it at a table for you. They also fill your drink cup. I had an entire feast in front of me - but that still wasn't all. They bring buttery rolls out, which were delish. All in all, this was a wonderful meal in a beautiful setting. Have you been? Grade: A

On The Rise Bread Company is a bakery and cafe in Roanoke, Virginia. It serves fresh traditional European style bread baked daily, plus subs, paninis, soups, salads, pizza, and sweets. The counter has a beautiful display of goodies, like sweets and pizza and pastries. I snagged a brownie and a spinach & cheese pastry in addition to my main order: French Quarter Panini. The panini is filled with roast beef, gorgonzola spread, lettuce and tomato. I'm not a huge fan of warm lettuce and tomato, so I should've opted out of those. But love the idea of gorgonzola spread and I could've used more of it. And maybe red onion! Both the pastry and the brownie were pretty tasty, too. The pastry was my favorite of the bunch - buttery and savory but filled with rich flavor. Grade: B

The Marlinton Motor Inn looks like it was ripped right from the pages of 1980 - complete with some rooms designated as smoking rooms! A motel, also known as a motor hotel, motor inn or motor lodge, is a hotel designed for motorists, usually having each room entered directly from the parking area for motor vehicles rather than through a central lobby, according to Wikipedia. I had no idea! This motel offers a pool, lounge and restaurant. Well, I personally didn't have a chance to taste the fare, a couple friends did. Check out the wings, fries, and fried pickles. Have you had a chance to check it out?

I recently traveled to Myrtle Beach to take part in a class to become a certified chili judge. The class was offered by the International Chili Society as part of the World Championship Chili Cook-off. I've judged plenty of chili cook-offs in the past, and you do not need to be certified to do so. But, I enjoyed learning all about chili. According to the society, the red chili is the main category here, and it requires meat and a cumin-heavy flavor profile. The homestyle category require requires beans, and it has more leeway with the flavor. Then there is green and veggie.