Huntington’s Nomada Bakery #1 in U.S., Charleston "farm" bar makes top 20 list

A chocolate "baby cake" from Nomada Bakery in Huntington

Last week we talked about local restaurant closings and changes, some of which were sad to many. This week I’ll bring you back up again with a roundup of big bakery, restaurant and bar accolades. And the winners are …

Nomada named #1 cake shop by USA Today

A small globally inspired bakery tucked inside downtown Huntington’s Heritage Station has been named “Best Cake Shop in the United States” by USA Today.

Nomada Bakery inside Heritage Station

“We are incredibly honored to win the number one spot in the United States,” said Ariel Barcenas, who owns Nomada Bakery at 210 11^th St. in Huntington along with husband Shawn Schulenberg. “But it definitely took us by surprise, because we had no idea how it happened or who nominated us.”

He said that shock, however, quickly turned into excitement for his team and the city.

“Our team works so hard and the response we’ve received from the public has been nothing short of amazing,” Barcenas added.

A wedding cake from Nomada Bakery

“We’ve seen a significant increase in new faces at the bakery, all eager to try our products, along with an abundance of beautiful messages both online and in person. Honestly, the best part of it all has been witnessing the pride this has brought to our community.”

Inspired by flavors and traditions he enjoyed in his grandmother’s kitchen back in Panama – and has since blended with other cultures around the globe – Barcenas said the premise of Nomada’s success is simple. They use high-quality, organic, fresh ingredients to make delicious food from scratch daily, paying careful attention to detail every step of the way.

If you order those goodies to enjoy in the bakery’s intimate café inside the city’s old railroad depot, they’ll be served using antique ceramic plates and cups.

Cupcakes from Nomada Bakery

Those treats might include fresh-baked classic, almond, chocolate and pistachio croissants; lemon curd, berry and chocolate cookies and tarts; rich brownies or delicate alfajores, which are South American cornstarch shortbread cookies filled with dulce de leche cream (sometimes flavored) that somewhat resemble French macaroons.

And, of course, there are the famous cakes that won Nomada that top national ranking, which come in small and large sizes – and in many chocolatey, nutty and fruity combinations.

Also on the menu are savory empanadas stuffed with chicken curry, Argentinian-style ground beef, Mexican street corn, lentils, spinach and ricotta, ham and cheese, or egg whites with honey bacon and cheddar, plus sweet versions filled with caramelized pineapple or oozing with guava and cream cheese.

Smoked salmon sandwich from Nomada

Sandwiches include a gorgeous smoked salmon on a brioche bun with thinly sliced radishes, arugula, whipped cream cheese, wasabi aioli and avocado relish, plus a very popular Waldorf chicken salad option featuring spring mix topped with almonds on a homemade laminated brioche roll.

Even though Nomada is a small place, I can tell you it’s worth every bit of this big hype.

I’ve popped in for coffee (locally roasted Panamanian and Brazilian blends), sweet treats (chocolate croissants and carrot cake) and lunch (Waldorf chicken salad sandwich and silky coconut curry miso soup) and have enjoyed an excellent, exquisite experience every time.

Whether you live in the Huntington area or have to take a little road trip to get there, how could you NOT visit the country’s top-rated cake shop – right here in the Mountain State?

• IF YOU GO: Nomada Bakery at 210 11^th St. inside Heritage Station in Huntington is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. For more information, call 681-204-5528, visit www.nomadabakery.com or check out the bakery’s Facebook page.

Four WV restaurants honored by Wine Spectator

Speaking of major awards, four West Virginia restaurants have been honored by Wine Spectator for curating outstanding wine lists paired with equally top-notch food.

The bakery case at Nomada in Huntington

Sip Downtown Brasserie in Huntington, The Wonder Bar Steakhouse in Clarksburg and Bistro 112 in Shepherdstown are all repeat winners of the prestigious wine magazine's “Award of Excellence” designation.

Final Cut Steakhouse at Hollywood Casino in Charles Town has once again won the prestigious “Best of Award of Excellence” designation, the second-highest honor the national magazine bestows.

Although I still (still!) have never visited Wonder Bar, I can vouch that the other three locations are primo when it comes to vino.

17th best U.S. sports bar is on a … WV farm?

This is one of those “best in the country” lists you have to take with a grain of salt (being a sportsbook betting operation does not a sport bar expert make) but it’s still pretty interesting nonetheless.

The Farm Bar & Grill

Sportsbook BetUS recently released its ranking of the “Top 20 Sports Bars in the America” and coming in at #17 is none other than The Farm Bar & Grill in Charleston.

The what bar, I thought?

A quick Google search found that this spot at 5769 Kellys Creek Rd. out past Sissonville is a rustic sports bar featuring food, drinks and indoor/outdoor entertainment from time to time – along with cabin rentals and electric hookups for campers.

The Farm Bar & Grill

With the sports bar market expected to reach 34 billion by 2030, BetUS analyzed the top bars in each state and ranked them based on their Google review scores, alongside their prices for a beer and a burger. With a 4.3 Google review score, $3 draft beers and burgers starting at less than $9, The Farm Bar & Grill broke into the top 20.

“The Farm Bar & Grill stood out for its welcoming staff, strong community support, and of course having affordable game day food staples,” said Andres Vargas, Head Content Editor at BetUS.

It’s over an hour round-trip from Charleston to head out to The Farm, but it sounds like I just need to bite the bullet and go.

• IF YOU GO: The Farm Bar & Grill at 5769 Kellys Creek Rd. in Charleston is open from 4 to 11 p.m. Thursday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, 1 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and 1 to 11 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 304-984-6324 or visit the bar’s Facebook page.

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Steven Keith is a food writer and restaurant critic known as “The Food Guy” who writes a weekly column for the Charleston Gazette-Mail and has appeared in several state, regional and national culinary publications. Follow him online at www.wvfoodguy.com or on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. He can be reached at 304-380-6096 or at wvfoodguy@aol.com.