Author: Matt Ingersoll

Matt Ingersoll writes about all things food and drink, covering new restaurants and following the most delicious foodie trends in the state. Reach him at [email protected].

In the kitchen with Danny Pilsbury

Danny Pilsbury of Salisbury is the owner and executive chef of Alexandra’s Bistro (15 Village St., Penacook, 565-5066, find them on Facebook), which he opened in September, in the space long occupied by Donatello’s Pizza, with his business partner, John Brusseau. Pilsbury’s interest in cooking started while he was a junior at Merrimack Valley High School, where he enrolled in a two-year vocational program in culinary arts. From there he would go on to study at NHTI in Concord, and soon got his start as a prep cook and dishwasher at the Lake Sunapee Country Club in New London. He worked his way up the ranks in the industry, eventually becoming executive sous chef at The New London Inn and Coach House, just a few miles up the road. Named in honor of Pilsbury’s late wife, who died of cancer in December 2021, Alexandra’s Bistro is known for offering a lineup of locally sourced, scratch-cooked items like starters, sandwiches, pastas and other plated entrees, with seasonally inspired menu changes throughout the year. “People are definitely associating us, I think, with an anniversary [or] date night kind of place, which is great. That was definitely kind of my goal,” he said. “I’ve heard from a lot of customers too that, considering how small it is, we have a decent variety.”

What is your must-have kitchen item?

I cannot go without a marker. I have one in my pocket all the time. … I label things so much all day. We make so many things from scratch here in the kitchen, and so I don’t have things coming in with expiration dates on them. I’m making all of the labels myself.

What would you have for your last meal?

This one was a no-brainer for me. I’d get a nice, big juicy steak. Steak and potatoes, either mashed or baked, [with] some green beans and a nice big piece of garlic butter.

What is your favorite local restaurant?

The Millstone Restaurant. It’s right up on Main Street in New London. It’s owned by a previous manager of mine, Richard Stockwell, and he’s just got an unbelievable staff over there. … They have a really good burger there. I get it almost every time.

What celebrity would you like to see eating in your restaurant?

[I’ve] always been a big fan of comedies for sure, and I just think it would be really cool to have Adam Sandler in here.

What is your favorite thing on your menu?

On the rotation right now, we have a duck pot pie that is just out of this world. … I had never made it before — I had done some other pot pies, but one day I was like, ‘Oh, we should try it with duck,’ and oh my God, it’s amazing. We make the duck stock right there in house, and it’s just super rich and thick and dark, and it’s loaded with veggies and nice big puff pastries on top. … I think it might be one of the best dishes I’ve ever created.

What is the biggest food trend in New Hampshire right now?

I think the whole farm-to-table concept is making a comeback, finally. I think chain restaurants have been dominating for a long time now, I mean, they’ve popped up all over the place, and there’s just something boring and plain about those places that has formed over the years. … I think people like to hear where [their food is] coming from, and that it’s antibiotic free and hormone free. … Just that natural kind of fresh, local, healthy food.

What is your favorite thing to cook at home?

I like a good grilled cheese, almost always with some tomato soup, or I’ll just put the fresh tomatoes right in the grilled cheese. … For me, there’s just a lot of nostalgia behind it. It was one of my mom’s go-to lunches for us as kids. … It’s fast, it’s easy and it’s relatively affordable. You can’t go wrong.

Lemon basil pesto aioli
From the kitchen of Danny Pilsbury of Alexandra’s Bistro in Penacook

⅛ cup lemon juice
¼ cup basil pesto (store bought or made from scratch)
1 cup mayonnaise
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon white pepper

Whisk all of the ingredients together. According to Pilsbury, the aioli can go well on everything from sandwiches and flatbreads to pasta salads, french fries or even fried calamari


Featured photo: Danny Pilsbury, owner and executive chef of Alexandra’s Bistro in Penacook. Courtesy photo.

Flavors of Puerto Rico

Salem’s Rice & Beans 603 gets new owner, menus

Last year was eventful for longtime Manchester-area food trucker Tony Elias. He became an official mobile food vendor for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats as owner of the Superstar Tacos trailer, while his other truck, The Spot To Go, was hired to cook on the set of Madame Web, an upcoming Marvel film shot just outside Boston.

As 2022 came to an end Elias announced his newest venture: his first brick-and-mortar restaurant. He’s the new owner of Rice & Beans 603, which reopened Jan. 14 on Route 28 in Salem with his menu of scratch-cooked Puerto Rican street foods.

Elias said he met the eatery’s former owners last year while he was a vendor at Tuscan Village.

“They had a growing family, and I mean, in the restaurant business, it just requires you all the time, 24/7,” he said. “So in their eyes, it became kind of selfish to their girls. But they called me up one day and said, ‘We’re thinking about selling, would you be interested,’ and I mean, I just couldn’t let this opportunity go.”

A native of Philadelphia, Elias got his start in the food truck world when he launched the Made With Love 603 trailer in Manchester in 2014. He’s known for items like beef and chicken empanadas, as well as combo plates with pork, rice and beans, and Puerto Rican jibaritos, or fried plantain sliders with pork, cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayo ketchup. Elias’s Puerto Rican tacos and canoas (roasted yellow sweet plantains sliced down the middle — like a canoe — and stuffed with beef, melted cheese, cilantro and an aioli) are also huge hits.

These are among the many items Elias is now also offering at Rice & Beans 603, although he did decide to keep some staples the former owners had, like rice bowls and fried and stewed chicken.

“I’m keeping a good amount of the stuff they previously had, [but] just doing my flavors and interpretation of it,” he said. “The menu has a lot of stuff from the food truck that I’ve integrated, so I’ve kind of combined both of them. … The rice bowls, though, ended up becoming their biggest hits, so I mean I figured I’d be stupid to take those off.”

Elias said he intends to continue slinging tacos at Fisher Cats home games once the 2023 season begins in mid-April. As for his larger, drivable food truck, the plan is for him to reserve that one for larger events and bookings — he usually gets hired by Recycled Percussion, for instance, during the band’s annual round of shows.

A professional wrestler in his former life — a member of a two-man tag team called The Big Islanders — Elias said his experience with the Fisher Cats has even unexpectedly brought him out of retirement.

“The [front] office people at the Fisher Cats are actually fanatics of wrestling,” he said. “So when they found out I was a wrestler, that was kind of the cherry on top for them. They ended up doing Wrestling Nights at the stadium. … What gets me is that I caught the itch for it again, so now I’m actually doing a seven-city tour that I got to fit into my crazy daily schedule.”

Rice & Beans 603
Where: 288 N. Broadway, Unit D, Salem
Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Closed on Sundays and Mondays.
More info: Find them on Facebook and Instagram @riceandbeans603 or call 890-1626

Featured photo: Photo courtesy of Tony Elias of Rice & Beans 603 in Salem.

Love bites

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a special dinner or sweet treat

Valentine’s Day is almost here, so if you’re looking for a local spot to dine out with your special someone (or get your meal to go), or you want to give the gift of gourmet chocolates or sweet treats like chocolate-dipped strawberries, check out this list of New Hampshire businesses working hard to help you mark the occasion.

Since Feb. 14 falls on a Tuesday this year, several local eateries are electing to celebrate Valentine’s Day the Saturday or Sunday before. Others are choosing to offer special menus on other days throughout the preceding week and weekend, or are opening their doors on weekdays they’re usually closed. Where applicable, we’ve indicated the exact dates for each. Chocolatiers, candy shops and bakers with special offerings of their own have also been included — just be sure to contact the establishment directly for the most up-to-date availability. For Seacoast-area venues, see the end of the online version of this round up at hippopress.com.

Did we miss any local restaurants offering special Valentine’s Day dinners that you know about? Tell us about it at [email protected] and we can include a mention in the next issue.

• 603 Charcuterie (603charcuterie.com) is taking orders for a variety of specials for Valentine’s Day, including three-tiered charcuterie boards of New Hampshire-made cheeses and other products; four-, nine- or 18-sized packs of chocolate-covered strawberries; personalized heart-shaped wooden charcuterie boards, and do-it-yourself Valentine’s cookie kits. Pre-order online for pickup at The Factory on Willow (252 Willow St., Manchester) on Saturday, Feb. 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 12, from noon to 3 p.m., or Monday, Feb. 13, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

• All Real Meal (87 Elm St., Manchester, 782-3014, allrealmeal.com) is taking orders for romantic five-course dinners for two, complete with reheating instructions, to be delivered to your door on Tuesday, Feb. 14. Included items are fresh baked rolls with lavender honey butter, butternut squash and bourbon bisque, winter salad with organic greens, spinach and berries, tender slow-cooked roast beef, Marry Me chicken, cheddar mashed potatoes, roasted veggies and red velvet cake and creme brulee cheesecake for dessert. The cost is $95 and orders are being accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Alpine Grove Banquet Facility (19 S. Depot Road, Hollis, 882-9051, alpinegrove.com) will host a special Valentine’s Day candlelight dinner and dance on Saturday, Feb. 11, from 6 to 10:30 p.m. The five-course dinner will include assorted hors d’oeuvres, a seasonal house salad and strawberry lemon sorbet, followed by your choice of an entree (Champagne airline breast of chicken, duet of filet mignon and lobster tail crown cabernet sauvignon demi glace, scallops and shrimp in a savory white wine cream sauce, cedar plank-glazed Norwegian salmon or butternut squash ravioli with a Frangelico cream sauce) and dessert (petit fours or chocolate-covered strawberries). Along with the dinner, there will be a cash bar, and music and dancing beginning at 8 p.m. The cost is $160 per person before Feb. 5 and $180 after Feb. 5. Reservations are required.

• Atkinson Resort & Country Club (85 Country Club Drive, Atkinson, 362-8700, atkinsonresort.com) will hold a special Valentine’s Day Masquerade Ball on Saturday, Feb. 11, from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. featuring a prime rib dinner buffet and live music by the Brandy Band. Tickets are $70 per person general admission and $175 VIP admission, which includes a complimentary bottle of Champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries. You can also order a Valentine’s package for $350, which includes a private table for two, an overnight stay at the resort and a complimentary breakfast for two at Merrill’s Tavern the next morning. Valentine’s Day specials at the restaurant will also include scallops and bacon, arancini, confit duck leg, veal osso buco, filet and lobster, profiteroles and raspberry and blood orange sorbet garnished with fresh mint.

• Averill House Vineyard (21 Averill Road, Brookline, 244-3165, averillhousevineyard.com) will host a special Valentine’s celebration featuring a five-course chocolate-infused dinner with wine pairings. Two nights are available — Saturday, Feb. 11, or Tuesday, Feb. 14, at 6:30 p.m. — with party sizes of up to three indoors or four to eight out on the vineyard’s gazebo or inside one of the igloos. Courses will include smoked salmon tartar, beet and fried goat cheese salad, lobster-stuffed ravioli, coffee and chocolate-crusted grilled petite sirloin and strawberry shortcake mousse for dessert. Tickets are $89 per person (event is 21+ only) and reservations are required.

• The Bakeshop on Kelley Street (171 Kelley St., Manchester, 624-3500, thebakeshoponkelleystreet.com) is taking orders for milk, white or semisweet chocolate-dipped strawberries, cherry chocolate cheesecake, chocolate molten lava cake, crispy cream puffs with fresh fruit, chocolate mousse gâteau, shortbread hearts, cupcakes (Champagne, chocolate raspberry, red velvet, chocolate truffle and merlot) and more. They’re also offering Valentine’s samplers, featuring truffles, cannoli and dip, chocolate-dipped strawberries, heart-shaped shortbread cookies, mini chocolate cupcakes with whipped cream dip and roses. The shop is normally closed on Tuesdays but will be open on Tuesday, Feb. 14, from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Bearded Baking Co. (819 Union St., Manchester, 647-7150; 580 Lafayette Road, Hampton, 601-6878; beardedbaking.com) is taking orders for 4-inch bento box mini heart cakes for Valentine’s Day (serving two — flavor options include chocolate, vanilla or red velvet) in addition to chocolate-covered strawberries in quantities of six or 12. Order by Feb. 7. Pickups will be on Saturday, Feb. 11. Both locations will also have a variety of seasonal grab-and-go items in store starting Feb. 11, like cupcakes, red velvet whoopie pies and red velvet cheesecake brownies.

• Bedford Village Inn (2 Olde Bedford Way, Bedford, 472-2001, bedfordvillageinn.com) will serve a special four-course prix fixe menu for Valentine’s Day on Tuesday, Feb. 14, with seating times from 5 to 9:30 p.m. The meal will include your choice of an appetizer (New Hampshire oysters, pancetta and pea arancini, steak tuna tartare miso butter poached hake or cauliflower bisque); a salad (Lola Rosa or Boston bibb); an entree (savory lobster risotto, grilled filet mignon, Dunk’s mushroom and spinach lasagna, New England seafood “Thai hot pot,” Vernon Family Farm chicken statler or herb-crusted lamb rack); and a dessert (red velvet cake, coffee creme brulee, lemon semifreddo, galette frangipane, chocolate financier, a sweet and salty dessert board for two, or the Inn’s famous sweetheart chocolate bag to share). The cost is $125 per person and reservations are required.

• Birch Wood Vineyards (199 Rockingham Road, Derry, 965-4359, birchwoodvineyards.com) will hold a special Valentine’s Day four-course dinner with wine pairings and a cocktail reception on Saturday, Feb. 11, from 5 to 9 p.m. Courses will include tomato basil soup, baby field greens with Craisins, candied walnuts, goat cheese and a raspberry honey vinaigrette, your choice of an entree (a duet of beef Wellington with baked stuffed shrimp soubise potatoes and lemon Parmesan asparagus, or eggplant Napoleon with quinoa salad, marinara, balsamic reduction and basil pesto), and dessert du jour. The cost is $90 per person ($115 per person with the wine pairings) and a cash bar will also be available. Reservations are required — tickets will remain on sale through Feb. 5.

• Bistro 603 (345 Amherst St., Nashua, 722-6362, bistro603nashua.com) will serve a special features menu for Valentine’s Day from Friday, Feb. 10, through Tuesday, Feb. 14, during which the eatery’s regular menus will also be available. Reservations can be made online or via phone.

• Bite Me Kupcakez (4 Mound Court, Merrimack, 674-4459, bitemekupcakez.com) is taking orders for a variety of specialty items for Valentine’s Day, like dairy-free breakfast in bed platters, featuring two Belgian waffles, two cinnamon buns, two doughnuts and fresh fruit available for waffle toppings. Also available to order are six-pack Valentine’s Day cupcakes, chocolate-covered strawberries or heart-shaped whoopie pies, cookie boxes, mini heart-shaped cakes, and an “ultimate Valentine’s Day” box, featuring two chocolate-covered strawberries, two cookies, two heart-shaped whoopie pies and two Valentine’s Day-themed cupcakes. Order by Feb. 3.

• Blue Bear Inn (534 Mountain Road, Francestown, 808-0174, bluebearinn.com) will serve a special five-course dinner with wine pairings for Valentine’s Day on Tuesday, Feb. 14 — courses will include marrow toast, oysters on the half shell, pasta nero di seppia (pasta with squid ink), braised beef short ribs and creme brulee. The cost is $135 per person and reservations are required.

• Buckley’s Market & Cafe (9 Market Place, Hollis, 465-5522, find them on Facebook @buckleysmarketcafehollis) is taking orders for heat-and-eat Valentine’s Day takeout dinner boxes for two, featuring a shrimp cocktail, a surf and turf entree with pan-seared filet mignon and crab cake, roasted potatoes, spinach, tomatoes, Madeira demi-glace and remoulade, chocolate and raspberry mousse cups garnished with fresh berries, and a bottle of Prima prosecco. The cost is $140 per box, or $125 without the bottle of wine. Order by Feb. 8. Pickups will be on Monday, Feb. 13, or Tuesday, Feb. 14, after 10 a.m.

• Caroline’s Fine Food (132 Bedford Center Road, Bedford, 637-1615, carolinesfood.com) is taking orders for romantic dinners for two, featuring your choice of an entree (beef tenderloin with a port demi glace, roasted duck breast with a cherry gastrique or horseradish-encrusted salmon), along with your choice of pot de creme or baby lemon cake for dessert. Sweet and savory dessert boards are also available to order a la carte. Order by Feb. 10.

• Chunky’s Cinema Pub (707 Huse Road, Manchester, 206-3888, chunkys.com) is teaming up with chef Keith Sarasin and his team at The Farmer’s Dinner for a five-course kitchen takeover dinner and screening of the 1998 Adam Sandler film The Wedding Singer, happening on Tuesday, Feb. 14. As of Jan. 24, tickets were still available — VIP ticket holders arrive at 5:30 p.m. for a “secret chef appetizer” and complimentary craft beer or wine. Non-VIP purchasers arrive at 6 p.m., with the movie starting at 7 p.m. Before the movie begins, Sarasin will speak about the locally sourced menu. The cost is $75 per person and includes both the dinner and the movie. Vegetarian and wine pairing options are also available.

• Colby Hill Inn (33 The Oaks, Henniker, 428-3281, colbyhillinn.com) will serve a special three-course prix fixe menu for Valentine’s Day on Sunday, Feb. 12, with seatings from 4 to 8 p.m. The meal will include your choice of a first course (coconut curried squash soup, New England seafood chowder, heirloom beet salad, organic frisee salad or potato, roast garlic and goat cheese pierogi or Dutch meatballs); an entree (roasted hen in citrus and bay leaves, Burgundy-braised lamb shank, seared tenderloin, heirloom squash and goat cheese maultaschen or pan-roasted Faroe Island salmon); and a dessert (chocolate fondue for two, chocolate trio, passion fruit panna cotta, caramelized pineapple brown butter cake or sorbet duo). The cost is $85 per person.

• Copper Kettle To Go (39 Main St., Wilton, 654-2631, copperkettletogo.com) will serve a special four-course meal for Valentine’s Day on Tuesday, Feb. 14, from 6 to 9 p.m. Courses will include minestrone soup, arugula winter salad, your choice of an entree (braised short ribs with mashed red potatoes and carrots, or homemade ricotta gnocchi with scallops in a lemon butter white wine sauce with capers); and two options to choose from for a dessert. The cost ranges from $64.95 to $68.95 per person (depending on which entree you choose), and specialty drinks can also be purchased at the time of seating.

• Cotton (75 Arms St., Manchester, 622-5488, cottonfood.com) will be celebrating Valentine’s Day with some seasonal specials on Tuesday, Feb. 14, and Wednesday, Feb. 15, from 5 to 8:30 p.m., in addition to its regular menu on both of those nights.

• The Cozy Tea Cart (249-9111, thecozyteacart.com) will hold a Valentine’s Day afternoon tea tasting on Sunday, Feb. 5, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Gatherings at The Colonel Shepard House (29 Mont Vernon St., Milford). In addition to a selection of fine quality teas, there will be assorted tea breads, sandwiches and pastries, as well as chocolate-covered strawberries. The cost is $39.95 per person and reservations are required.

• The Crown Tavern (99 Hanover St., Manchester, 218-3132, thecrownonhanover.com) is taking a limited number of reservations for Valentine’s Day on Tuesday, Feb. 14, when it will serve its regular menus. The restaurant is also adding an additional day that week, and will be open regular hours on Monday, Feb. 13.

• Cupcakes 101 (132 Bedford Center Road, Bedford, 488-5962, cupcakes101.net) is celebrating Valentine’s Day with a variety of seasonally inspired items available for order or for pickup, like cake pop bouquets, chocolate-covered strawberries, chocolate-dipped Oreos, chocolate-covered pretzels, hot cocoa bombs and more. Call or email to place an order.

• Dancing Lion Chocolate (917 Elm St., Manchester, 625-4043, dancinglion.us) will hold a special Valentine’s edition of its “down and dirty” chocolate class for couples on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 5 p.m. As of Jan. 25, signups were still available. Participants will get to taste chocolate during this hands-on class, learning tips and tricks about making chocolate ganache for truffles and taking home what they make. The cost is $350 per couple.

• Frederick’s Pastries (109 Route 101A, Amherst, 882-7725; 25 S. River Road, Bedford, 647-2253; pastry.net) is celebrating Valentine’s Day with all kinds of seasonally inspired sweets and treats, like Champagne tortes topped with chocolate-covered strawberries, as well as cookie kits, assorted heart-shaped cookies, Champagne cake truffles, chocolate lover’s cheesecake cups and more.

• Granite Restaurant & Bar (The Centennial Hotel, 96 Pleasant St., Concord, 227-9005, graniterestaurant.com) is accepting reservations for Valentine’s Day on Tuesday, Feb. 14, from 5 to 8:30 p.m., during which it will be serving its regular menu with some “romance-inspired” specials. Reserve online through OpenTable.

• Granite State Candy Shoppe (13 Warren St., Concord, 225-2591; 832 Elm St., Manchester, 218-3885; granitestatecandyshoppe.com) is celebrating Valentine’s Day with all kinds of seasonal sweets and treats, like assorted chocolate heart boxes, freshly dipped strawberries in white, dark or milk chocolate, rose- or heart-shaped chocolate pop molds and more. Strawberries are available to order for in-store pickup only — they’ll be available for pickup on Monday, Feb. 13, or Tuesday, Feb. 14, after noon and should be consumed within two days.

• Greenleaf (54 Nashua St., Milford, 213-5447, greenleafmilford.com) is celebrating Valentine’s Day with a special five-course prix fixe tasting menu from chefs Chris Viaud and Justin O’Malley, which will be available on Friday, Feb. 10, Saturday, Feb. 11, Monday, Feb. 13, and Tuesday, Feb. 14. Menu courses will include spiced hamachi with cranberry ponzu and sesame puffed rice; beet gnocchi with duck confit, mushrooms, spinach and a whipped lemon ricotta; chicken milanese with arugula pistou, mache, pickled fennel and spiced pistachios; grilled New York strip with potato croquette, Gruyere cheese, carrot, parsnip, romaine and a beet foam sauce; and red velvet cake with pink peppercorn meringue, passion fruit, semifreddo spiced chocolate and cocoa lace tuile. The cost is $125 per person, or $155 with optional wine pairings. Greenleaf’s regular a la carte menu will also be available on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, although on Tuesday, Feb. 14, only the prix fixe Valentine’s Day menu will be served. Reserve online through Tock.

• Hanover Street Chophouse (149 Hanover St., Manchester, 644-2467, hanoverstreetchophouse.com) may be fully booked on Tuesday, Feb. 14, for Valentine’s Day, but they have added an additional day — Monday, Feb. 13 — when a limited amount of reservations are being accepted. Reserve online through OpenTable to see the most up-to-date available times.

• The Hills Restaurant (Hampshire Hills Athletic Club, 50 Emerson Road, Milford, 673-7123, hampshirehills.com/the-hills-restaurant) will host a special Valentine’s Day dinner and dance event on Saturday, Feb. 11 — a three-course meal will be served from 5:30 to 7 p.m., followed by dancing and lessons from 7 to 10 p.m with the Royal Palace Dance Studio. Dinner courses will include smoked sugar beet and heart of palm with scallion, arugula and a charred citrus vinaigrette; your choice of an entree (red wine-braised pork osso buco, or roasted root vegetable tart); and vanilla bean cheesecake with red berry coulis and blush chantilly cream for dessert. Tango and bachata performances and lessons will follow, in addition to some time for open dancing. The cost is $80 per person ($75 for Hampshire Hills members). Reserve online through Resy.

• LaBelle Winery Derry (14 Route 111, 672-9898, labellewinery.com) will host a special Valentine’s soiree dinner and dance party on Saturday Feb. 11, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The evening will include a three-course dinner featuring a green salad with roasted root vegetables and a molasses red wine vinaigrette; your choice of an entree (chicken cordon bleu with mustard and Gruyere cheese, herbed duchess potatoes, braised kale and lemon veloute, or za’atar dusted cauliflower steak) and chocolate pot de creme with whipped cream and a chocolate-covered strawberry. Jazz cover group the KTO Band will perform live, and the dance floor will be open during the evening. A full bar will be featured, with wine, cocktails, beer and non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase. Tickets are $80 per person (event is 21+ only) and reservations are required.

• Luna Bistro (254 N. Broadway, Salem, 458-2162, luna-bistro.com) will serve a special Valentine’s Day four-course dinner with wine pairings, live music, comedy and dancing — it’s all happening on Tuesday, Feb. 14, from 6 to 9 p.m. Courses will include grilled hearts of romaine with chilled crab meat, Parmesan wafer and passion fruit vinaigrette; pappardelle with guanciale, shallots, roasted garlic cognac cream sauce and grated Parmesan; Tuscan pork skewers with zucchini, squash, bell pepper, red onion and tomato and mushroom polenta; and chocolate lava cake with fresh whipped cream and chocolate-covered strawberries for dessert. All courses will be accompanied by Banfi wines. The evening will include live music by Joey Canzano, singing love songs from Elvis, Neil Diamond and others, along with comedy from Jason Merrill and magic by Phil Volonino. The cost is $125 per person.

• Michaela’s Sweets Gluten Free Bakery (Hooksett, michaelassweets.com) is taking orders for several specialty items for Valentine’s Day, including cupcakes and whoopie pies (strawberry, red velvet, Valentine funfetti, chocolate-salted caramel and white chocolate raspberry); cake pops, available by the dozen or two dozen (chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, red velvet, Valentine funfetti and white chocolate); and brownie bites, available via half- or full-sized trays (chocolate fudge, Valentine funfetti, white chocolate chip and chocolate raspberry). All of their treats are produced in their celiac-friendly home kitchen — you can order by filling out a form online through the website or requesting items via phone. A 48-hour ordering notice is appreciated, and local pickups and deliveries are available.

• Mola Foods (9 Simon St., Nashua, 877-593-8157, molafoods.com) will hold a special Taste of Africa Valentine’s Day celebration on Tuesday, Feb. 14, at 6:30 p.m. — as of Jan. 25, tickets were still available. Guests will be treated to a culinary tour of Cameroon, Ethiopia and Morocco, and the dishes will be paired with wine from Brookline’s Averill House Vineyard. Live music will be provided by Rabihah Shabazz. The cost is $50 per person and the dress code is semi-formal.

• Pearls Candy & Nuts (58 Range Road, Windham, 893-9100, pearlscandynh.com) is celebrating Valentine’s Day with specialty sweets and treats like gourmet chocolate heart boxes, conversation hearts, red- or silver-foiled milk chocolate hearts and more.

• Presto Craft Kitchen (168 Amory St., Manchester, 606-1252, prestocraftkitchen.com) is taking orders for four-course Valentine’s Day dinners for two, featuring charcuterie boxes of domestic and imported cheeses, Italian meats, berries, crackers and other accompaniments, along with your choice of a salad (Caesar, field green with vinaigrette or caprese with balsamic Greek); an entree (sirloin Marsala over penne, chicken Parmesan over penne, heart ravioli with vodka sauce, shrimp scampi over linguine, roast filet with mushroom risotto and roasted Brussels sprouts, or cranberry cornbread-stuffed chicken and gravy with roast potato and carrots); and two desserts (triple chocolate cake, tiramisu, red velvet cake, Snickers cheesecake, chocolate-covered berries, lemon mascarpone cake, pistachio cake, macaroons and strawberry New York cheesecake). You can also order some a la carte desserts, like jumbo chocolate-covered strawberries, giant breakable chocolate hearts filled with desserts and candies, mini red velvet cake, Oreo cheesecake truffle pops and chocolate-covered Oreos. Order by Feb. 8. Pickups will be on Friday, Feb. 10, or Monday, Feb. 13.

• Rambling House Food & Gathering (57 Factory St., Suite A, Nashua, 318-3220, ramblingtale.com) is hosting the second installment of its Legends & Lore Storyteller Series, “Legends of Love,” on Wednesday, Feb. 15, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The evening will include your choice of selections from the eatery’s full winter dinner menu, followed by a special appearance from humorist and author Simon Brooks, beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40 per table for two and reservations are required.

• Ruby Cakes (Milford, ruby-cakes.com) is taking orders for specialty flavors of cakesicles, including red velvet cake with a cream cheese frosting and chocolate cake with a chocolate frosting, as well as “hot choc-sicles” (milk chocolate shells filled with hot cocoa mixes and mini marshmallows — simply stir into a cup of warm milk). Orders can be placed through Feb. 13 and are available for collection between Friday, Feb. 10, and Tuesday, Feb. 14 — select your pickup date and time during the checkout process. Alternative pickup dates and times can also be arranged via the contact page (the order confirmation provides the address for pickups).

• Sweet Treats by Emilee (Milford, find them on Facebook and Instagram) is celebrating Valentine’s Day with a variety of specialty sweets and treats available for preorder, like heart-shaped decorated and bagged sugar cookies, milk chocolate saltine toffee, brownie or chocolate chip cookie dough-flavored cakesicles, Oreo cookie chocolate-dipped lollipops, traditional or heart-shaped hot cocoa bombs, jumbo breakable hearts and more. Order by Feb. 7. Pickups will be available at the Manchester Craft Market (inside the Mall of New Hampshire, 1500 S. Willow St., Manchester) after Feb. 9. See manchestercraftmarket.square.site for a full list of offerings.

• Van Otis Chocolates (341 Elm St., Manchester, 627-1611, vanotis.com) is taking orders for milk, white or dark chocolate-dipped strawberries (available for in-store pickup only — ordering at least 48 hours in advance is required and consuming within 24 hours of pickup is recommended). The shop is also celebrating Valentine’s Day with items like assorted chocolate heart boxes, jumbo marshmallow hearts, “I Love You” chocolate-dipped Champagne bottles, black forest Swiss fudge, strawberry Swiss fudge and more. Order by Monday, Feb. 13, at 10 a.m. to ensure local delivery on Tuesday, Feb. 14. To arrive within New England, order by Feb. 7 at 10 a.m. To arrive outside of New England, order by Feb. 2 at 10 a.m.

• Vine 32 Wine + Graze Bar (25 S. River Road, Unit 107, Bedford, 935-8464, vinethirtytwo.com) is offering a special Date Night package for guests on Tuesday, Feb. 14, or Wednesday, Feb. 15 — reservations for 5:30 or 7:30 p.m. are available for those two dates. The package includes two $25 wine cards (to access the onsite self-serve wine bar), along with a five-item cheese and charcuterie board, and a chocolate fondue or chocolate chip cookie skillet. The regular menu will also be available for add-ons.

• Wolfe’s Tavern (The Wolfeboro Inn, 90 N. Main St., Wolfeboro, 569-3016, wolfestavern.com) is celebrating Valentine’s Day with a special three-course prix fixe menu on Tuesday, Feb. 14. Courses include your choice of Caesar salad or tomato boursin soup, along with an entree (filet mignon or pan-seared chicken) and dessert (chocolate lava cake or raspberry creme brulee). The cost is $55 per couple. Reserve online through OpenTable.

Seacoast Valentine’s Day Places

• CR’s The Restaurant (287 Exeter Road, Hampton, 929-7972,  crstherestaurant.com) is taking reservations for Valentine’s Day on Tuesday, Feb. 14, serving their most popular menu items with some specials. Local musician Bob Tirelli will be playing in the lounge starting at 6 p.m.

• Epoch Gastropub (The Exeter Inn, 90 Front St., Exeter, 778-3762,  epochrestaurant.com) is accepting reservations for Valentine’s Day on Tuesday, Feb. 14, from 5 to 8 p.m., during which it will be serving its regular menu with some specials. Reserve online through OpenTable.

• Fresh AF Bakeshop (34 Church St., Kingston, 642-8609,  freshafbakeshop.com) is taking orders for a variety of specialty items for Valentine’s Day, including sweetheart cakes (strawberry crunch, red velvet berry or triple chocolate); 6-inch double-layer strawberry shortcakes; 6-inch deep-dish pies for two (chocolate pudding, banana pudding, classic cherry, half baked or caramel apple crumb); macarons, by the dozen or half-dozen (chocolate-covered strawberry, Boston cream, chocolate brownie, red velvet Oreo, raspberry cheesecake or chocolate-salted caramel); and other treats, like chocolate-covered strawberries (available by the dozen or half-dozen); cherry cordials, flourless chocolate tortes and strawberry shortcake-stuffed doughnuts. All Valentine’s Day items are available through Feb. 12, for pickup in store during normal business hours, or third-party delivery through DoorDash, UberEats or Postmates (subject to availability).

• Huckleberry’s Candies (293 Lafayette Road, Hampton, 926-5061,  huckleberryscandies.com) is celebrating Valentine’s Day with seasonal sweets and treats, like milk chocolate foil hearts, jelly bean hearts, conversation hearts, specialty boxed truffles and more.

• La Cascade du Chocolat (109 Water St., Exeter; 214 State St., Portsmouth; 777-5177; lacascadeduchocolat.com) is celebrating Valentine’s Day with heart-shaped bonbons, available in eight-, 16- or 21-piece quantities and a variety of flavors (passionfruit and coconut, strawberry and dark chocolate, cinnamon hot chocolate and more); milk, dark or white chocolate “el-love-phants”; dark hot chocolate hearts for two; and limited-edition roses-and-strawberries dark or white chocolate bars.

• Street Exeter (8 Clifford St., Exeter, 580-4148, streetfood360.com) will serve a special five-course prix fixe dinner menu for Valentine’s Day on Tuesday, Feb. 14, in addition to its regular menu. Courses will include whipped feta with roasted beets, walnuts, olive oil and a warm pita; arugula salad with fennel, citrus, pine nuts and a blood orange vinaigrette; arancini mushroom risotto with provolone, mozzarella and a red sauce; house-made sun-dried tomato pesto pasta with Parmigiano Reggiano and Italian bread crumbs; and chocolate panna cotta with raspberries and whipped cream for dessert. The cost is $65 per couple and reservations can be made via phone.

Featured photo: Cakesicle from Ruby Cakes.

The Weekly Dish 23/02/02

News from the local food scene

• Greek eats and happenings: Join Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church (68 N. State St., Concord) for its next boxed Greek dinner to go, a drive-thru takeout event on Sunday, Feb. 12, from noon to 1 p.m. Now through Wednesday, Feb. 8, orders are being accepted for boxed meals featuring dinners of beef stew with orzo, a Greek salad and a dinner roll for $20 per person. The event is drive-thru and takeout only — email [email protected] or call 953-3051 to place your order. In preparation for the Big Game — on Sunday, Feb. 12 — the church will be hosting its second annual Souper Bowl Sunday of Caring competition on Sunday, Feb. 5, sponsored by the Mother Maria of Paris Outreach Ministries. Participants will get to taste soups made by local parishioners and vote on their favorite, with prizes awarded to the winner. Donations will be accepted to benefit local charities fighting hunger. Additionally, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church is hoping to revive its annual Greek food festival,to take place on Saturday, Sept. 30 — the first meeting on preparations for the event is due to take place on Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 6 p.m., according to the church newsletter. Visit holytrinitynh.org.

• Tastes for a cause: Get your tickets now to Crafts, Drafts & Barrels, an annual tasting benefit to support Concord Hospital’s Cardiovascular Institute. Sponsored by Martignetti Companies of Northern New England, the event is due to return to the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive, Concord) on Friday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m., and will feature beer, wine, spirit and mocktail samples from area breweries, vineyards and distilleries. Also included are a variety of small bites provided by local restaurants, as well as a silent auction and a chef’s tasting with Corey Fletcher, owner of Revival Kitchen & Bar. Tickets start at $75 general admission. Visit giveto.concordhospital.org.

• A new restaurant family member: The Kitchen on River Road (1362 River Road, Manchester) is now part of the Chopscotch Hospitality Group family, the restaurant group that owns the Hanover Street Chophouse and The Crown Tavern, administrative assistant Mairin MacDonald confirmed. The deli-style spot offers fresh baked goods, butcher meats and specialty pantry items, along with beer, wine and oven-ready meals to go. Online ordering is also now available for pickup within 25 minutes — the menu includes sandwiches and paninis made to order until 4 p.m. each day, along with soups, salads and more. The Kitchen on River Road is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit thekitchenrr.com, find them on Facebook and Instagram @thekitchenonriverroad or call 782-8325.

In the kitchen with Gerald Oriol

Gerald Oriol is the owner and executive chef of Caribbean Breeze (233 Main St., Nashua, 883-4340, find them on Facebook and Instagram @caribbeanbreezerestaurant), a one-stop culinary destination for authentic Caribbean eats, featuring Haitian, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Jamaican and Dominican items all under the same roof. Arriving in the former Norton’s Classic Cafe storefront on the corner of Main and West Hollis streets in Nashua in late 2021, Caribbean Breeze also features a menu of many familiar breakfast items the space has long been known for. Oriol is originally from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and has amassed more than three decades of experience as a chef. For 19 years he served as an executive chef for Sodexo, and before that he worked for the DoubleTree Hotel in Cambridge, Mass. A certified executive chef through the American Culinary Federation, Oriol is also the recipient of several awards, including Sodexo’s Rookie of the Year award in 2001 and a silver medal in the ACF’s Hot Food Competition in 2004.

What is your must-have kitchen item?

A knife.

What would you have for your last meal?

I have so many choices. It would be whatever’s available to me, because as a chef, doing what I’ve been doing for so many years, I learn … to love and appreciate any food.

What is your favorite local restaurant?

I used to like to go to Chicken N Chips [in Nashua], but unfortunately now they are closed. … I used to travel a lot, so I’ve tried many places, but I don’t have enough time to eat out because of the business I have now.

What celebrity would you like to see eating in your restaurant?

Guy Fieri, because he knows and understands food … and I think his critique would be very well-received.

What is your favorite thing on your menu?

Whatever the customer tries, because that’s the food that I will make them … to please them and make them happy. Everything on the menu that I have from the islands [is] all very authentic.

What is the biggest food trend in New Hampshire right now?

To be honest with you … I feel like Caribbean food is a trend, because people will feel like it’s not something they can find anywhere else. … And you don’t need to travel to the Caribbean or go down to Boston. You don’t need to leave New Hampshire.

What is your favorite thing to cook at home?

Unfortunately, when I get home, I get home late. … So if I have time, I will cook whatever my family wants to eat. … Usually I like to grill.

Haitian potato salad
From the kitchen of Chef Gerald Oriol of Caribbean Breeze in Nashua

4 potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 carrot, peeled and minced
2¼ teaspoons salt
1 small beet
2 eggs
½ cup sweet peas
½ onion, minced
⅓ cup red bell pepper, diced
⅓ cup green bell pepper, diced
2 Tablespoons mayonnaise
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Boil the potatoes and the carrot in water with one teaspoon of salt for 10 minutes, or until tender. Boil the beet separately in water with one teaspoon of salt until tender, then peel and mince. Boil the eggs separately in water with 1/4 teaspoon of salt until hard. In a bowl, place the cubed potatoes, minced beet, sweet peas, carrot, onion, red and green bell peppers and mix with the mayonnaise. Add the black pepper.


Featured photo: Gerald Oriol, owner and executive chef of Caribbean Breeze in Nashua. Courtesy photo.

Brews by the Oval

Ogie Brewing now open in Milford

Nearly four full years after Bill Ogert signed a lease to open his own nano brewery in Milford, his vision is now a reality. Ogie Brewing, a stone’s throw from the town Oval, celebrated its grand opening Jan. 6 with a lineup of 10 beers on tap, following many months of delays.

“I’ve loved how many people have come in on our days open and said, ‘We’ve been watching you for years, we’ve been so eager, we’re so glad it finally happened.’ That’s encouraging,” he said. “You stop and look around [and] … you suddenly see the reward for all the hardships.”

It was February 2019 when Ogert, a former aerospace engineer who originally became interested in homebrewing through his brother, found the former Bravo Pizza storefront on South Street. Eighteen months of litigation would follow, stemming from a neighbor’s complaint over a zoning exception and eventually reaching the state Superior Court. The pandemic hit right in the middle of the legal proceedings, Ogert pointed out, further delaying the process.

By September 2020 the two parties were able to settle in mediation, clearing Ogie Brewing to begin its construction phase. But with Ogert’s lease up for renewal the following February, he quickly found himself at a crossroads.

“I just had to make up my mind, like, you’re in or you’re out,” he said. “And my wife convinced me to just keep doing it. We renewed the lease. … I was still working my day job through all of this, and pretty much every penny I made went into keeping this place going.”

By May of last year Ogert decided to quit his day job in favor of getting the brewery open. Just before Christmas, Ogie Brewing held a “super soft” opening, pouring pints of one beer — an easy-drinking lighter version of a Norwegian farmhouse ale Ogert called “Soft Serve” — with the plan to hold a grand opening two weeks later with a full array of beers on tap.

“When you’re trying to pick one beer to please a broad audience, it has to be a little lighter and a little easy to drink. Not super-hoppy, not super-yeasty,” Ogert said. “We named it ‘Soft Serve’ because it was the only beer we served for the soft opening. People come in and they’re like, ‘Is that some kind of an ice cream IPA?’ I’m like, no, it’s just a play on words.”

As for the rest of his beer lineup, Ogert said his intention has always been to have a total of 10 that rotate out. His offerings out of the gate include a Belgian-style witbier made with Maine wild blueberries, a single-grain, single-hop American pale ale, a sour flavored with California figs, a German-style hefeweizen, and a hazy IPA with tropical aromas and flavors, among others.

“People ask me what I specialize in, and my honest answer is that I specialize in variety,” Ogert said. “I decided I’d start off with a menu that would hopefully have something for everyone and also expose people to styles they may not have ever tried. … And, I mean, I’ve spent so much time … getting each recipe to where it is now. The ones I didn’t like either got reinvented to [what] they are on the menu or they were discarded completely.”

Ogert also has plans to implement a food menu — he’s thinking simple items that pair well with beer. While he said he isn’t focused too much on distribution outside of the brewery, he is implementing a “crowler” system for his beers — similar to growlers, only in cans.

“They would usually fill it like a growler and then can it at that time,” he said. “It gives us the ability to just pour off taps without pre-canning stuff. If you’ve tried a flight and you’re like ‘Wow, I really like this beer, do you have any to go?’ We just pour them off the tap like it was [for] a glass, set it on the canner, attach the lid and out you go.”

Ogie Brewing
Where: 12 South St., Milford
Hours: Currently vary; see their Facebook page for the most up-to-date details on their hours of operation each week.
More info: Find them on Facebook @ogiebrewing or call 249-5513

Featured photo: Ogie Brewing’s starting lineup of beers. Courtesy photo.

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