Homemade Italian Goodness

When we first moved to our little corner of West Virginia, the thing we missed immediately was restaurants. Heck, before we even moved in, we knew we'd have to have some sort of food preparation facility during the construction process or we'd starve.

Not literally. There were some places in town. Just nothing that really made our mouths water. It was a happy occasion when the Subway sandwich shop opened. And I don't even really like Subway. But I'd take that any day over McDonald's. There's a Dairy Queen in town, too, which is okay. But it's still fast food.

We may not be the high maintenance or super picky type, but we can only eat so much fast food. That's why Hubby and I were both pleasantly surprised a few years back when Italian Touch opened.

Italian Touch

450 East Main Street

Romney, West Virginia 26757

Phone: (304) 822-5800

Menu_Front | Menu_Middle 1 | Menu_Middle 2 | Menu_Back

Let's just say we were cautiously optimistic. Because there are other places to eat in town. Romney isn't that small. There just aren't many good places.

The restaurant business in small-town America is far different than it is in a major metropolis. Hours are shorter. The selection is more limited. Sadly, the quality isn't always as good either. So we weren't expecting much.

We weren't among the first customers to cross the threshhold. In fact, we drove past for weeks, looking in to see if people were actually there, eating. They do carry out and delivery as well as sit-down meals.

Keep in mind, we don't live in town. And most weekends we were doing various construction projects. We weren't always fit to be seen eating in town. Which is another reason we didn't end up eating here until months after it opened.

Finally we decided to bite the bullet and test the place out. And you know what? It's delicious. Not passably good. Really good.

No lie. I've never had a bad meal there. Some okay ones maybe, but not bad.

Our favorite meal is the Stromboli. The dough is homemade. It is generously stuffed with sausage, pepperoni, and lots of mozzarella cheese. The top is brushed with butter or olive oil and then topped with garlic bread sprinkle. The small size ($6.95) and an order of Fried Mushrooms ($3.75) is usually enough to feed the two of us. And we're folks with hearty appetites.

The pizza is quite good, too. Of course, it's made with the same fabulous homemade dough. A one-topping personal sized pizza (10") is only $5.75. You can get a large, 2-topping pizza for just $10.99. Assuming you don't want it delivered. If you do want delivery, a large 3-topping pizza is only $12.99.

If there's one thing I am particular about, it's salad. The huge variety of lettuces and other greens available to the common man in even the smallest supermarkets has me spoiled. I'm a Spring Mix girl. I find iceberg lettuce salads completely boring. BUT, if I've gone a stretch with no green vegetables, I will get a salad. And I must say, they're always nice and fresh.

The Cheesesteak sub ($6.50) is tasty. And it's served on a fresh, crusty roll.

I did say we have hearty appetites, right? In my opinion, the Cheesesteak sub is perfectly stuffed. Often. when I've gotten those elsewhere, there's just way too much meat.  So I like their Cheesesteaks. Hubby will get one if he isn't super hungry. But in general for him there isn't enough meat on them.

Note to you folks who like "hots" on your subs... they don't do hots in Romney. Apparently that's a more-local thing. You can get hot banana peppers, but not crushed red cherry peppers in oil (aka HOTS).

This past Saturday I was in the mood for something different, so I got a Meatball Parmagiana sub ($6.50). Actually, I only paid $5.99 because I got there at lunch time and could take advantage of the special, which is any sub plus fries for $5.99. The subs are about a foot long, too.

I'm also particular about meatballs. I hate store-bought meatballs. They always have a rather strange, mushy texture. I was sort of worried that these might be purchased (I worry about that every time I eat meatballs anywhere, even at people's houses). But they weren't. Or, if they were, they were great imposters. The meatballs were awesome. And the sub was so big, I could only eat half of it. Hubby could only finish half of his cold cut, too.

Next time we go there, I'm going to get a pasta dish with meatballs. They were that good.

Italian Touch is on the east side of town in an old house that was converted into the restaurant. It is right on US-50 (one of the best motorcycle roads in the US) across from the West Virginia School for the Deaf & Blind.

West Virginia School for the Deaf & Blind

One more plus about Italian Touch is that they're open late. Their hours are Monday through Thursday, 11am - 10 pm. Fridays and Saturdays they're open 11 am - 11 pm. And on Sundays, they are open noon - 10 pm.

They don't serve alcohol. I don't know if it's a BYOB place or alcohol is a strict no-no. But The Cruise Thru (drive-through liquor store) is only right up the street.They sell beer and wine at the supermarkets, gas stations, convenience stores, drug stores, etc., too.

I don't know about you, but after a long ride, I almost always drink a nice, ice-cold beer. Preferably a big one. :-)

I wasn't paid to do this review. I wasn't even offered so much as a meal discount. I'm talking about it here because it's a great restaurant and I want them to stay in business.

So, the next time you are in our near Romney and are hungry, stop at Italian Touch. You won't be disappointed.

The Anchors

There are three very good reasons why Hubby and I don't do more long-distance riding. Or at least more weekend bike trips.

Meg

Belle and K (L-R)

Not that I'm complaining, mind you. I can't imagine life without dogs. They make us laugh, multiple times, every single day.

Another excuse reason for not getting out more is our kitchen project. We recently renovated the kitchen at the WV Place. While it's mostly finished, there are some minor things left to do.But we're getting there.

Belle enjoying a romp through the woods.

We'll be out and about soon. Guaranteed.

Belle and Meg on our road.

I'm itching to go for a ride. Not just a little day trip either. A weekend adventure.

Oh the places we could go...

Meanwhile, I'll have to be content with short jaunts. And weekends at the WV Place with our girls.

Happy-go-lucky K

What do you do with your spare time when you're not riding?

What a Difference a Day Makes

Friday was an absolutely gorgeous Spring day. Saturday? Not so much. In fact, we had rain, rain, and more rain. So much rain that, according to the National Weather Service's Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service, the river is pretty close to flood stage.

We had to drive over to Capon Bridge yesterday to run a couple of errands. Normally it would've been a pretty drive, what with all the flowering trees. But the wet weather spoiled it a bit.

Redbud Row in the Rain

Yesterday was not the time to see Redbud Row. Not only because of the rain, but because the trees just started blooming.

If you want to see Redbud Row for yourself, next weekend should be the perfect weekend for it. Hopefully it'll be sunny for you. If you plan right, you'll have time for lunch or dinner at El Puente, our favorite Mexican restaurant in Hampshire County.

El Puente is located on US-50 in the heart of Capon Bridge. If you're not a Mexican fan, there are several other places there to eat, too. Though, to be honest, El Puente is the only one we've ever tried. We like it so much, we couldn't imagine making the trek to get there and eating somewhere else.

There's an Anthony's Jr. pizza and sub shop on the corner of US-50 and Cold Stream Road. We've never eaten at that one, but there's another location in Paw Paw where we like to stop for cheese-steak subs. I imagine the food would be about the same.

If you do plan on heading out to Redbud Row, let me know. Maybe we can join you at El Puente.

On a Mountain Morning

I'm not typically a morning person. The ole brain is pretty slow to fire that early in the day. I'd much rather delay conversation until after I've had at least one cup of coffee.

That's one of the reasons I actually enjoy my morning walks with the girls (dogs). They're not usually very vocal in the mornings. And I get to watch them cavort through the woods as we walk, having the best time ever. Other than the sound of their feet crashing through the leaves, it's pretty quiet. And I get to listen to the birds sing.

This morning, I heard a strange voice. Unfamiliar, but lovely. Luckily, I had my zoom lens on the camera and I actually caught a picture of the nice little guy (or gal) who was kind enough to serenade me.

Brown Thrasher

These birds aren't very common around here. They're year-round residents further south. Apparently they come north to breed. It was very peaceful listening to this one singing this morning (the link will take you to a page where you can hear the Brown Thrasher sing).

I was VERY happy to see that the leaves are flowering.

Flowering Tree

I have no idea what kind of tree that is (above), but I know what the one in the image below is. It's my favorite Springtime tree...

Eastern Redbud

You know it's Spring for real when the Redbuds start blooming.

Early Redbud Blooms

Doesn't that picture just scream Spring? Redbuds are native to this area, so they're scattered throughout the woods. We don't have many. What I really like is when the Dogwoods and Redbuds are both in bloom. Because most trees still don't have flowers or leaves, the pinks and yellows really stand out.

Spring Puddle

It's been a pretty wet Spring so far, so there are lots of puddles around. And we're supposed to get more rain tomorrow.

Small Flower

"Hello, little flower. It's nice to see you again after that long, cold Winter."

New Leaves

I love watching, week to week, as the leaves start to emerge. Doesn't that branch look cool as it's filling in?

All Wrapped Up

This bit of vine caught my eye as I was checking out those new leaves. I think it makes for a pretty interesting picture.

Magic Morning Light

And I LOVE how the morning light makes this dead grass look so nice and golden.

Fat and Happy

And this guy just makes me smile. He was a gift from my friend, Carol. He sits up on the hill looking in our kitchen window.

That was my mountain morning. Did you enjoy our walk, too?

ABCD: will YOU take Part ?

Here's a challenge from Gary France


Maybe you would like to join in with this.....

A Bloggers Centerline Day, or ABCD, will take place on Sunday 1st May 2011.

The plan is to inspire as many bloggers as possible to go outside and take a photograph of themselves on this day, wherever they are in the world. The photo can be creative, arty, contain more than one person, be in any type of location and can contain anything else you like. It must however contain the centerline of a road and at least part of you, the blogger.

There are 5 rules....

Rule 1 - the picture must be taken on 1st May 2011.

Rule 2 - the picture must be of yourself, and you must be a person that publishes a blog. You can include whatever else you like in the picture, including other people if you wish.

Rule 3 - the picture must include the centerline of a road.

Rule 4 – you should publish the picture on your blog on 1st May 2011, along with a few words about the picture and why you chose that location or pose.

Rule 5 - when you have posted the picture on your own blog, put a comment on http://garysusatour.blogspot.com/2011/04/abcd-will-you-take-part.html and include in that comment the address of your own blog post containing your own picture.

Gary France will then pick his favourite photos and publish these as being the winners. There will be a prize of $100 awarded to the overall single winner, as chosen by Gary.

In order to get this event known as widely as possible, please copy and paste this posting onto your own blog, including the title. Please do that today!

As a reminder to yourself to take the photo and post it, put an entry into your diary for 1st May 2011.

Let’s see if we can get as any people to join in as possible.

Okay, peeps. Spread the word. This should be lots of fun!

I can't wait to see all my blogger buddies on May 1.

Oxford Pennsylvania Loop

As true riding season slowly approaches, my mind is occupied with places to go, things to see, and roads to conquer. As with most motorcyclists, our rides are seldom about a destination. Our rides are all about getting there and back safely. Wherever "there" happens to be.

Our plan for this weekend was to leave Saturday morning and head north through Pennsylvania. We were going to traverse some of the Eastern Pennsylvania counties we rarely see (Chester, Schuylkill, Lehigh, Berks, Bucks, and Montgomery, just to name a few). And I wanted Hubby to see the parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey I only recently discovered (late last year) and keep raving about.

But the weather didn't cooperate. Go ahead, laugh if you must. But when it's supposed to be in the 50s/60s and overcast/potentially rainy, we'll ride if we have to. It's just not ideal. Riding isn't fun when it's cold and wet.

Because the forecast was so iffy, we opted to stay home on Saturday. Perhaps because we had Pennsylvania on the brain, we drove (in the car) to the Amish market in Annapolis to buy some steak for Sunday dinner. And some lunch meat. And while we were there, we got some Bavarian Apple Cheesecake to have for dessert. Oh yeah, we bought hot dogs, too, because Shannon was making pretzel dogs (completely from scratch) for Saturday's dinner.

We did ride on Sunday. It was in the low 50s and overcast when we left. We had high hopes that things would warm up, but they never did. The sun never appeared either. It would have been a bit more pleasant had I not removed the winter liner from my jacket a week ago. Or, more accurately, had I remembered to put the liner back into my jacket or at least take it with us. If I'd worn a long sleeved shirt instead of short sleeves, I might have been more comfortable, too. Of course, some heated clothing would've been nice, too.

Sorry, I'll stop whining. It was a nice ride. Just chilly.

We hit three PA counties (York, Lancaster, and Chester). It wasn't exactly new territory, just ground we don't usually cover on our motorcycles. (Only because our bikes are usually at the WV place, which is much further west.)

There were quite a few Amish buggies on the road, which adds a whole new dimension of excitement. Locals have little patience for the Amish and will pass them often, whether it's safe or not. One has to remain VERY alert. Not only watching out for the buggies, but for the multitudes of impatient motorists. And we can't forget all the road apples.

If you'd like, you can have a look at a PDF version of the trip map and directions.

Sorry this report is a bit dull. I didn't stop to take any pictures even. The day was really very dreary. But at least we got out there. I promise the next report will be more lively.

Words on a Page

One of the bloggers I follow shared a poem in her latest post, which got me thinking. I'm not a huge fan of poetry. It's got its place, certainly. But you really have to think and absorb the words as you read them. Otherwise, you usually miss the point completely.

Since I don't particularly enjoy reading poetry, I rarely ever choose to write it either. But about 10 years ago, when taking a writing course, several of our assignments required writing poems.

If you think reading poetry takes great thought, try writing it once. This is no masterpiece by any stretch, but since it's probably the best of the poems I had to write, and since it is motorcycle-related, I thought I'd share it here.

It was written not long after I bought my Yamaha 650 V-Star Classic (three bikes ago!), which is why it is titled...

The V-Star Classic

It's a beautiful sunny Spring day on the dirt-and-gravel
Lot adjacent to the little-used warehouse.
Sitting alone, unperturbed is a V-Star Classic.
As the sunlight glints off of the beast just right,
It catches my eye,
Beckoning for me to come a bit closer.
The blood-red paint over burgundy accents
Stands in sharp contrast to
Its twinkling, glistening chrome.
As I step nearer I can just imagine grabbing hold,
Throwing my right leg across its back
And climbing aboard.
I stand it up at the same time as my bottom sinks
Luxuriously into the ample leather saddle.
The tank is wide between my legs. Meaty.
No other way to describe
The feel of this great machine.
My hands tighten on the grips and I squeeze
First the brake lever and then the clutch.
My left foot moves to the peg automatically,
Toes tensing and itching to drop the machine into gear.
I glance surreptitiously down and find
To my delight, the keys are in the ignition.
I look around. No one is watching.
Before I know it, my thumb brings the beast to life.
It vibrates gently under me,
Speaking to me in a deep bass rumble.
Kickstand up. Gearshift down. Clutch eased out.
And I am rolling, rumbling quietly away.
I near the highway. No cars are coming
As I lean the beast into the road.
Roll on the throttle, shifting
Smoothly up through all four gears.
The wind is in my hair and in my heart,
The joy is indescribable
As the yellow lines streak steadily by.
"What's happening?" a voice asks.
Bringing me out of my reverie.
"Nice bike," I tell the guy.
"Thanks," he says, "you ride?"
As I smile and walk away sadly
My heart beats slower in its latent lament.

Our first real road trip on the then-new bikes. Luray, Virginia was our destination.

The V-Star 650 was a decent starter bike. But I really enjoyed the greater power in the V-Star 1300, which I just recently traded for a BMW.

I don't really miss either bike. They never felt like an extension of my body like the F650GS does. I'll probably miss the 1300 on the highways. But we tend to avoid those because back roads are just so much more fun.

What sort of rider are you? Cruiser? Dual-purpose? Sport bike? Have you ridden other types before? What do you like best about your bike of choice?

Points to Explore in 2011

As I wait, not so patiently, for the weather to turn and all of our niggling little DIY projects to be completed, I can't help but think about all of the local places I want to explore this year. Local as in somewhere in MD, WV, VA, or PA.

I really am excited about this blog, which I have pondered for awhile, and am anxious to actually get out there and find some new stuff to share with you. Not that the places I've already discovered aren't interesting. I just want to see new stuff or revisit some of our favorite places.

Anyway, I decided to start building a list -- and a map -- to show all of these places. They'll be featured in no particular order. The first spot, which I would've driven to yesterday if the weather hadn't looked like THIS, is Lover's Leap (Cumberland, MD).

Lover's Leap is a rock promontory overlooking the Cumberland Narrows. It's in Will's Mountain State Park (WMSP). Oddly, WMSP is shown on Google Maps as a state park. It doesn't appear as a state park on the Bing map, but a Bing search pointed to the location. It results in no Mapquest hits.  The MD State Parks web site doesn't even list WMSP.

This is why some of my blog posts take so much time. I had to know why WMSP isn't listed. But after about an hour, I gave up. That when I realized the following explanation would have to do for now: "The land is a mix of public and privately owned land but is not currently promoted for public use."

There's nothing hugely significant about Lover's Leap other than the fact that it's supposed to have some pretty nice views.

Check out this cropped screen shot of the terrain map and perhaps you can imagine why there would be good views.

 When I go, I'll have to drive to the end of Will's Mountain Road, which sits a couple hundred feet higher.

Here's a shot of the Narrows I captured last weekend from across town.

The town in the foreground is Cumberland, Maryland.

My Places to Explore 2011 map, which is in its infancy with just one point right now. But there WILL be more. Stay tuned...

Any cool spots in MD, WV, PA, and/or VA you'd like to recommend?

Where to Start in West Virginia

So, you want to come and visit West Virginia, but have no idea where to begin.

A lot depends on where you start, I guess. I mean, if you're coming from Kentucky, you'd be better off in the southwest section of the state. Let's suppose you're coming from somewhere in the Mid-Atlantic or Northeast region. Morgan, Berkeley, and Jefferson are the three easternmost counties in West Virginia. I guess that's why they call it the Eastern Panhandle. But Hampshire County has more to offer. At least in my opinion. But then, I'm a bit biased because that's my county.

Hampshire County is part of what many refer to as the Potomac Highlands. And for good reason. The Potomac River gets its start here. The river actually has two sources. The North Branch of the Potomac starts at the Fairfax Stone where Grant, Tucker, and Preston counties meet. The South Branch of the Potomac doesn't start here but does run through the area. Both branches converge east of Green Spring in Hampshire County to form the Potomac.

South Branch of the Potomac just north of Moorefield, West Virginia

The "highlands" part of that title is pretty self-explanatory. Because everywhere you look, there are mountains, mountains, and more mountains. Not jagged, craggy, 10,000 feet-plus mountains like you'll find in the Rockies, but shorter, smoother, rolling mountains that make for some of the best motorcycle roads in the country. (Spruce Knob, West Virginia's tallest point, only rises 4,863 feet.)

If you're planning a trip to Hampshire County, be sure to visit the Hampshire County Convention & Visitors' Bureau Web site for lodging links. You should probably bookmark this site, too, as I'll be adding more and more awesome West Virginia rides.  And be sure to visit the WV Department of Commerce for a copy of the latest (free!) WV Travel Guide. This very same book is typically available in abundance at the various rest stops scattered across West Virginia and even some of the neighboring states.

And don't forget to let me know, too. I love playing tour guide. Or, if I am not available for that, I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you might have and/or give you some personalized route tips.

Utility Trailer In Search of Good Home

We've got an enclosed 7x14 Continental Cargo utility trailer to sell.

I'm going to post it on E-Bay and some other places, but thought I'd mention it here first.

 

Other than a dent on the left side in the rear (shown in the last three images below), it's in great shape. Oh, and the roof vent needs replacing. We have no idea how that thing got torn off.

Hubby bought the trailer used a few years ago. We've only used it a few times to go back and forth between the MD and WV houses. It is currently located near Romney, West Virginia. 

It's big enough to haul two big, fat cruisers, which we no longer own, with plenty of room to spare in the front to stow gear. There's even a little shelf in the nose to secure a good bit of stuff.

The ramp in the back makes loading easy as pie. And there's a side door near the front for easy access.

These things go for $3,000 to $4,000 new.

We thought we'd get a lot of use out of it, but we usually just keep the bikes at the WV place. The thing has been sitting idle until January when Hubby used it to haul our new kitchen cabinets from MD to WV. Unfortunately, it was just after a snow, the roads were still covered with snow/ice, and the truck slid off the road and into a tree. That's how the dent got there.

Known anyone that might be interested? Send me an e-mail at toadmama@gmail.com. I'm hoping to get rid of the thing relatively quickly.