Matt Ingersoll

Spring into deliciousness

Great New England specialty food and artisan show returns

More than 150 exhibitors will gather inside the Hampshire Dome in Milford for the Great New England Spring Specialty Food & Artisan Show — now in its sixth year, the two-day event is a prime destination for food lovers, with all kinds of products available for sale and sampling. It’s happening on Saturday, April 15, and Sunday, April 16, and will also feature live music, food trucks outside, children’s activities, door prize-winning opportunities and more.

A wide variety of sweet and savory items will be available for attendees to try, from honeys, maple products, jams and drink infusions to hot sauces, chocolates, toffees, spice blends, seasonings, salad dressings and much more.
“We really do try to stick to our model of ‘Never the same show twice, but always just as nice,’ and it’s the truth,” show organizer Jody Donohue of GNE Events said. “We’re always changing it up for people, so that every time they come, there’s a variety of different items.”

With Donohue’s recent expansion of the company’s annual events to the Seacoast, she said she has been able to reach a wider range of participating exhibitors. As a result, many of those area artisans and specialty food makers will be coming to Milford for the first time.

“It will be really nice for them to get a new audience, as well as those that attend to see new exhibitors,” she said.

Queen of Whoopies, a multiple first-prize award winner at the annual Maine Whoopie Pie Festival, is expected to attend.

“Her recipe is like how the old Devil Dogs were,” Donohue said. “They are huge whoopie pies, bigger than the palm of your hand.”

The Chocolate Butcher, meanwhile, will be there with its chopped chocolates and truffles.

“They sell more chunks or pieces of chocolate, so you can melt them down for baking purposes as well as just eating them right from the bag,” Donohue said. “We also have the Mill Fudge Factory coming, and then we have Seacoast Pretzel Co., so you can get boxed pretzel nuggets or you can get the regular braided soft pretzel, which is also larger than life.”

This is also the first year 603 Charcuterie will be participating; Donohue said their team will be there offering samples of New Hampshire products as seen on their featured boards, and will provide a demonstration on how to put a board together.

Craft beer and wine will be available for sampling in addition to the food, and a number of other booths will be there, selling home decor, soaps, candles, personal care products and more.

While most of the vendors will be indoors, Donohue said a couple of food trucks and other purveyors will be parked outside the Hampshire Dome, including a coffee truck and a barbecue truck. Live local music will also be featured, both inside and outside.

Attendees will have a chance to win a $100 cash door prize, while $200 worth of scratch tickets — two packages of $100 each — will also be raffled off.

New to this year’s show will be a coloring crayon station for kids, while Donohue said there will also be face painting and cookie decorating.

“We’re keeping it fun, giving the artisans new audiences and giving everybody something to do to get out of the house,” Donohue said.

Sixth annual Great New England Spring Specialty Food & Artisan Show
When: Saturday, April 15, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, April 16, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: The Hampshire Dome, 34 Emerson Road, Milford
Cost: General admission tickets are $5 per person, valid for both days. Tickets are available in advance online or at the door (free for attendees ages 14 and under). Foods are priced per item.
Visit: gnecraftartisanshows.com/april-spring-show to purchase tickets

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

The Weekly Dish 23/04/13

News from the local food scene

• Cheers! The final days of this year’s New Hampshire Craft Beer Week are ahead, as the state’s Brewers Association’s campaign wraps up on Saturday, April 15. There’s still time to participate in several Association-sponsored events, like the inaugural downtown Nashua craft beer tour. Participants can visit each of the Gate City’s six downtown craft breweries through Sunday, April 16, for access to special food and beverage deals, available with a special stamp book. Tickets are $30 per person and also include commemorative pint glasses — see downtownnashua.org/beertour. Visit nhbrewers.org for more Craft Beer Week details, and be sure to save the date for the Brewers Association’s annual Keep NH Brewing Fest, which returns to the Everett Arena Waterfront Park in Concord on Saturday, July 8.

• Cooking for a cause: Join the Nashua Center for its 20th annual Taste of the Towns, a food and wine tasting and benefit auction happening on Thursday, April 20, at 6 p.m. at LaBelle Winery Derry (14 Route 111). The evening will feature options from a variety of local restaurants coming together for a good cause, as well as several special items to be auctioned off. Single tickets start at $75 per person, with proceeds benefiting the Nashua Center, now in its 50th year of providing services to local children and adults with disabilities or acquired brain disorders. Purchase tickets online at nashuacenter.org.

• Get on board: Saturday, April 15, is the last day the 603 Charcuterie shop inside The Factory on Willow (252 Willow St., Manchester) will be open, as the company undergoes a transfer of ownership. A 75 percent off “everything must go” sale applies to all remaining in-store products from Thursday, April 13, through Saturday, April 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., which include many of the local cheeses, meats and other accoutrements commonly seen at the company’s charcuterie board-building classes at area breweries and wineries. On March 22, 603 Charcuterie announced in a social media post that the business will be taken over by Leah and Tom Bellemore, who own Vine 32 Wine + Graze Bar in Bedford. Classes, according to the post, will resume at the end of May under the new ownership, with future available dates to be posted within the next couple of weeks. See 603charcuterie.com or follow them on Facebook and Instagram for updates.

• From Nashua to Africa: Save the date for the next Taste of Africa event happening at Mola Foods (9 Simon St., Nashua) on Friday, April 21, at 6:30 p.m. Guests will be taken on a culinary tour of African nations like Cameroon, Somalia and Senegal, and featured dishes will be paired with wine from Brookline’s Averill House Vineyard. Vegan and gluten-free options are also available to those with dietary restrictions upon request, and there will be live music from singer-songwriter Ruby Shabazz. A native of Cameroon, Mola Foods owner and founder LaFortune Jeannette Djabea debuted her Taste of Africa lunch and dinner series last year to consistent success, with events continuously selling out at her Nashua shop. Tickets are $60 per person and there is a semi-formal dress code. Purchase them online at molafoods.com.

• Wine and a show: Head to Lake Park at Tuscan Village (9 Via Toscana, Salem) for an outdoor spring wine fest on Friday, April 21, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The event will feature more than 30 different types of wine available to taste, alongside appetizer samples from Tuscan Market, live music and more. Tickets are $45 per person (event is 21+ only) — purchase them online at tuscanbrands.com.

10 terrific trails

Great spots for hiking – as picked by Hippo readers

We asked, you voted, and now it’s time to hit the trails.

Among the more than 100 other “Bests” in this year’s Readers’ Poll, we asked you to name the best hiking spot in southern New Hampshire. The answers we received were diverse and included everywhere from moderately challenging mountain hikes to flatter, nature walk-type experiences.

What follows are key details from the top 10 highest voted hiking spots, in order, as shared by city and town planners, state and town park personnel, trail guidebook authors and local hiking aficionados. Trail terrain, interesting features and points of interest are all included. We even threw in the closest local ice cream shop to each, for afterward when you make that next trip outdoors.

For those trails listed within New Hampshire’s state parks system, reservations are highly recommended, especially during peak season, as visitors will be turned away if the parks are full.

Looking for your next new favorite hiking spot? Read on for some ideas as voted by readers.

1. Mount Monadnock

169 Poole Road, Jaffrey, 532-8862, nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/monadnock-state-park

Scaling 3,165 feet at its summit, Mount Monadnock is one of the most frequently hiked mountains in the Northeast. The mountain, located within Mount Monadnock State Park in the towns of Jaffrey and Dublin, was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1987.

Kimball Rexford of Goffstown, a freelance web developer and avid hiker who runs TrailsNH.com, said he finds Mount Monadnock to almost always be “neck and neck” with Mount Washington in terms of the most frequently searched trails. Mount Monadnock State Park is also a popular camping destination, especially during peak season.

About the trails: The park’s main headquarters are accessed at the end of Poole Road in Jaffrey, which is also where the two most commonly hiked trails to the summit start — the White Dot trail and the White Cross trail. Rexford said he recommends ascending the mountain using the White Dot trail and descending using the White Cross trail. The loop is about 4 miles long round-trip, or roughly three to four hours of steady hiking.

“It’s kind of classic New England hiking,” Rexford said. “I think going up the White Dot is a little easier, because it’s a little bit steeper in some spots. So when you get to those little steep sections, it’s easier to use your hands, whereas going downhill you’ve got to sit on your butt.”

Closest ice cream: Station 16 Ice Cream (31 Peterborough St., Jaffrey, find them on Facebook) is about 4 miles away from Mount Monadnock State Park’s headquarters and is scheduled to open for the season on April 14, offering multiple flavors of hard ice cream and soft serve.

Points of interest: Mount Monadnock is known for its barren, isolated summit, which features stunning panoramic views on clear days.

“You can see the skyline of Boston, and on really, really clear days, mainly in the wintertime, you can see Mount Washington from the summit,” said Tara Blaney, South Regional Supervisor for New Hampshire State Parks.

Off another popular access point called the Old Toll Road is the site of the Halfway House, where Blaney said a hotel once stood dating back to the 1800s.

“There’s no longer a building up there, but there is a sign of some kind … and people carve their initials in rocks, but at that location and all over the summit,” she said.

2. Mount Major

875 Mt. Major Hwy. (Route 11), Alton Bay, forestsociety.org/mtmajor

Mount Major reaches an elevation of 1,786 feet. It’s located on the far eastern edge of the Belknap Range and is known for its panoramic views of Lake Winnipesaukee.

“It’s a destination that seems to get a lot of new users every year,” said Matt Scaccia, recreation and community relations manager for the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, which has conserved several parcels of land on the mountain. “While Mount Major is a consistent favorite among more experienced hikers, it is also a common gateway for people looking to try their hand at exploring the outdoors. For some hikers we hear it is the first time they have climbed a mountain.”

About the trails: There are several trails that lead to the summit, and the main access point is the signed parking lot on Route 11 in Alton.

Trailheads include the Main trail and the Boulder Loop trail, with round-trip hike options ranging between 3 and 3.4 miles, depending on which routes you choose.

“Personally, I typically take the Main trail, then follow the Brook trail, which is a somewhat gentler approach, but it’s slightly longer,” Scaccia said. “The Main trail is pretty steep in some sections near the summit, especially if you’re hiking down from the top.”

Closest ice cream: Drive for just 4 miles south down Route 11 and you’ll come across Stillwells Ice Cream of Alton Bay (18 Mt. Major Hwy., 875-0200, stillwellsicecream.com), open seasonally and serving multiple flavors of Richardson’s Ice Cream, of Middleton, Mass.

Points of interest: Mount Major’s primary attraction is its view of the southern end of Lake Winnipesaukee from the summit. But another interesting feature is the remains of a stone hut known as “Phippen’s Hut,” named after the late former owner, George Phippen.

“It was originally a resting shelter, and there’s a stone outline of where it was,” Scaccia said. “Evidently, the roof blew off in the 1920s, but visitors still enjoy exploring its remains when they are at the summit. In terms of man-made features, that’s the main one hikers associate with the mountain.”

3. Mine Falls Park

Whipple Street, Nashua, 589-3370, nashuanh.gov

Located in the heart of Nashua, this 325-acre park is bordered on the north by the Nashua River and on the south by the city’s Mill Pond and canal system. It’s filled with forests, wetlands and open fields, and includes a total of seven access points, one of which also features a boat launch.

“Where Nashua is a city, it’s like a hidden gem where you can leave the city and go into the woods,” said Pam Anderson, a member of the volunteer-run Mine Falls Park Advisory Committee. “You’re right in the woods, but you’re only a few steps away from being in the city. Even if you’re at work and you want to take a break for lunch, you can go and take a little walk, or you could be there for a long time.”

About the trails: All seven access points lead to interconnecting trails of varying distance and terrain within the park that are color-coded. Some are paved, while others are dirt paths.

“All of them intertwine,” Anderson said. “We have a couple of Boy Scout troops that have even made the markers so that you can follow them. … You can take some that are only a mile [to] a mile and a half. Some go a little bit farther. You can do the whole entire trip [across the park] and it would be about 5 miles, or you could take two routes that connect.”

Closest ice cream: Roughly 4 miles to the north and east of Mine Falls Park is The Big 1 Ice Cream Stand (185 Concord St., Nashua, thebig1icecream.com), which opened for the season on Feb. 25 and serves dozens of flavors of Richardson’s Ice Cream, of Middleton, Mass.

Points of interest: Mine Falls Park features a variety of amenities. In addition to the boat launch off Riverside Street, there is a sports complex that can be easily accessed from the Whipple Street entrance, which has six soccer fields and a softball field.

There is also a historic gatehouse by the Riverside Street entrance, which was constructed in 1886 as part of the park’s canal system, a brochure from the city’s Parks & Recreation Department shows. In 2009 it received the New Hampshire Preservation Achievement award.

4. Uncanoonuc Mountains

300 Mountain Road, Goffstown, goffstowntrails.com/pdf/Uncanoonuc-Trails-2017.pdf

The Uncanoonucs are a pair of small peaks in Goffstown — the North peak, at an elevation of 1,324 feet, is the highest point in the town, while the South peak rises to 1,321 feet.

About the trails: Both peaks have a series of interconnecting trails with multiple access points that reach the summits. Among the most popular routes on either of the Uncanoonucs, Rexford said, is the White Dot trail on the North peak.

“A lot of people will just go up and back White Dot,” he said. “[The trail] is steep … but the view from the top is just fantastic. … It’s a pretty straightforward hike that gives you a great view of Manchester down into the valley, and it won’t take you all day. For me, it’s the perfect after-work hike.”

Of the two, Rexford said the North peak offers more of a natural, outdoor experience. The South peak, meanwhile, is known for having several radio and television broadcasting towers, and was also once home to a ski lift in the middle part of the 20th century.

Both peaks share some trailheads in common, while others are devoted to either one or the other.

“If you’re coming from Goffstown Village, you’ll take a left onto Mountain Road and the White Dot trail is the first one that you come to,” Rexford said.

Closest ice cream: Less than 3 miles to the north of the Uncanoonucs is Devriendt Farm (178 S. Mast Road, Goffstown, 497-2793, devriendtfarm.com), which is due to open sometime later this month or in early May, serving more than two dozen flavors of ice cream.

Points of interest: A few minutes up the White Dot trail is a unique cave-like structure.

“A granite slab slid and created a big overhanging,” Rexford said. “You can look underneath it, and it kind of looks like a little cave, which is interesting.”

The Incline trail, on the South peak, is accessed from Mountain Base Road.

“On the east side of the South peak, there is a foundation from an old hotel, a small hotel that was built in the early ’30s,” said Rick Silverberg, leadership training coordinator and past chair of the Appalachian Mountain Club’s New Hampshire chapter. “In that area, there’s a rather unique view over toward the river and the Mill buildings in downtown Manchester. … Some of the folks that I went up there with originally, 40 years ago, told me that when you look from that position, it doesn’t look a whole lot different now than it did back when the Mills were still operating.”

5. Pulpit Rock Conservation Area

New Boston Road, Bedford, plcnh.org/pulpit-rock-trails

Owned by the Town of Bedford, the 338-acre Pulpit Rock Conservation Area features 10 marked trails totalling more than 3 miles. The main access point and parking lot are on New Boston Road.

About the trails: Rexford said the Kennard trail is a mostly flat, easy-going route that is among the Pulpit Rock Conservation Area’s most frequently used trails.

“The trail starts out across a swamp. It’s quite pretty,” he said. “It’s kind of an elevated, wooden trail for a little bit through the swamp, and it’s just a flat, very pretty hike.”

Travel south on the Kennard trail for just over half a mile before it branches off into several other trails. One of those, the Pulpit Brook Trail, eventually connects at the other end through Amherst to the Joppa Hill Conservation Area. The eponymous Pulpit Rock is near the center of where several of the trails interconnect.

Closest ice cream: The Inside Scoop (260 Wallace Road, Bedford, 471-7009, theinsidescoopnh.com) is roughly 6 miles east of the conservation area and serves more than 30 flavors of Richardson’s Ice Cream, of Middleton, Mass.

Points of interest: Other than Pulpit Rock itself, there is a small ravine just off to the south.

“It’s a little rugged to get down to, but it’s neat to see,” said Ken MacGray of Concord, an avid hiker and Appalachian Mountain Club guidebook author. “This time of year, it’s actually probably pretty neat with all the snow melt, because there’s a little waterfall that flows down to the ravine.”

The best way to view the Pulpit is from its base, accessed from the Ravine Trail. The Ravine Trail, which is damp most of the year, also follows Pulpit Brook through other interesting rock formations, according to Kathleen Ports, associate planner for the Town of Bedford.

6. Pack Monadnock

Miller State Park, 13 Miller Park Road, Peterborough, 924-3672, nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/miller-state-park

Established in 1891, Miller State Park is the oldest state park in New Hampshire, according to Blaney — it was dedicated in memory of Gen. James Miller, a Peterborough native who fought in the Battle of Lundy’s Lane in the War of 1812. The park is also home to Pack Monadnock, the highest point in Hillsborough County at 2,290 feet.

A paved 1.3-mile-long auto road leading to Pack Monadnock’s summit, accessed from Route 101 in Peterborough, is open to cars. Reservations are available online and are especially recommended during peak season.

About the trails: Three main hiking trails all lead to the summit of Pack Monadnock, Blaney said — two of them start right at the base of the auto road.

“The trail on the east side of the mountain is the Marion Davis trail, and then the trail on the west side is the Wapack trail,” she said. “The Wapack trail is a 21.5-mile long-distance trail. It starts down at Mount Watatic in Ashburnham, [Mass.], and then it stops at North Pack Monadnock, which is in Greenfield, so it goes over lots of little small mountains.”

Closest ice cream: Drive west of Pack Monadnock on Route 101 for about 5 miles to reach Ava Marie Handmade Chocolates & Ice Cream (43 Grove St., Peterborough, 924-5993, avamariechocolates.com), which scoops around 20 flavors of ice cream year-round and up to 40 flavors during peak season in the summer months.

Points of interest: Like from Mount Monadnock, Blaney said Boston’s skyline is visible from Pack Monadnock’s summit. On crystal clear days you can even climb to the top of the fire tower on the summit for a 360-degree view of Mount Washington.
There is also the Pack Monadnock Raptor Observatory, part of a joint effort with New Hampshire Audubon and the Harris Center for Conservation Education, which is staffed daily from Sept. 1 through mid-November.

“It’s really just a platform and an area where people can go and observe different raptors, because in the fall they are migrating and always flying over this area,” Blaney said. “The Harris Center and Audubon folks come out and they do raptor counts, just to keep monitoring the populations of the birds. Lots of people come out to that, and you can learn to identify the different birds and ask questions, so that’s kind of a cool thing.”

7. Marjory Swope Park Trails

Long Pond Road, Concord, concordnh.gov

Marjory Swope Park is dedicated to the memory of the late Concord environmentalist Marjory Mason Swope — her husband, John Swope, gifted the land for the 77-acre park for the city. It’s open year-round for activities like hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

About the trails: The trail system within Marjory Swope Park consists of a 1.5-mile-long loop trail that is accessed from Long Pond Road.

“This is one of our more popular trails,” Concord assistant city planner Beth Fenstermacher said of the park’s main loop trail. “It’s got a little bit of terrain, but it’s pretty easy for most people. There are some sections that are a little steep, but they are short, so we find that most people can navigate it pretty easily.”

While the loop is a popular route by itself, there are also a few other connecting trails throughout. One connects to the Winant Park trail system to the east, while a connecting trail in the other direction eventually brings you to the area of Carter Hill Orchard. Two trails also lead to the summit of the 712-foot Jerry Hill.

Closest ice cream: Just under 5 miles to the north of Marjory Swope Park is Frekey’s Dairy Freeze (74 Fisherville Road, Concord, 228-5443, frekeysdairyfreeze.com), which recently celebrated the grand opening of its 40th season in business on April 1. The stand serves more than two dozen flavors of Gifford’s ice cream.

Points of interest: Marjory Swope Park’s main loop trail has several vista points, including of the southwestern part of the state from the summit of Jerry Hill. One of the other most notable vista points features views of Penacook Lake, the city’s drinking water reservoir.

“We maintain it so that that view remains open all the time. … You can get off the path and look out over the water,” Fenstermacher said. “It’s a really nice spot. We’ve done yoga hikes and book club meetings up there.”

8. Oak Hill Trails

Shaker Road, Concord, concordnh.gov

The Oak Hill trail network features several interconnecting routes — Fenstermacher said its main access point is on Shaker Road, but there are other small parking areas on Oak Hill and Hot Hole Pond roads.

About the trails: Unlike at Marjory Swope Park, where the trails are only identified by color, Fenstermacher said the trails within the Oak Hill network are all named. Most of them are under 1 mile long by themselves, but many pick up at the ends of other connecting trails.

“A lot of people pick their favorite loop and that seems to be the one that they always do, so you can make a series of 2-mile loops or 3-mile loops and it’s all within the same trail system,” she said. “You could do 7 miles out there easily if you start at the main parking lot.”

Closest ice cream: Head to Arnie’s Place (164 Loudon Road, Concord, 228-3225, arniesplace.com), which is roughly 5 miles to the south of the Oak Hill trail network. The shop reopened for the season on April 1 and offers dozens of flavors of homemade ice cream.

Points of interest: The longest standalone trail in the Oak Hill network is the 2-mile-long Tower trail, which runs east just over the town line into Loudon and features a fire tower at the end.

“It’s a straight shot and then you can go and climb up the fire tower,” Fenstermacher said. “It’s nice if you want to be out there for a couple of hours. It’s kind of like a destination point for people.”

Silverberg said he especially likes to hike the 0.8-mile-long Luti trail, which can be accessed from the parking lot on Oak Hill Road.

“It goes up pretty quickly through several old homestead sites that are on the side of the hill,” he said, “and you can see the old stone walls and the foundations from the old cellar holes from where the houses were. They are all houses that were built in the 1700s, originally, long since gone.”

9. Pawtuckaway State Park

7 Pawtuckaway Road, Nottingham, 895-3031, nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/pawtuckaway-state-park

At right around 5,500 acres, this is one of the largest state parks in New Hampshire. There are lots of opportunities for hiking on Pawtuckaway’s many trails, and there is also an onsite campground, a boat launch and a large family beach on the park’s lake.

About the trails: Blaney said Pawtuckaway State Park is home to a series of three peaks — the north mountain is the tallest, at about 1,011 feet, while the south mountain comes in at 908 feet and the middle mountain at 800 feet.

“The trails to get to these summits are relatively short, and I would consider them very easy,” she said. “The south mountain has a fire tower on it, which is cool. So again, that has a couple of view points and then if you climb up the fire tower you can see all around you. … [The] middle mountain has a nice outlook in one direction looking north, and then the north mountain actually has the least views.”

The park’s Mountain trail, she said, begins at a sign to the left just past Mountain Pond. Another popular trail is called the Fundy trail, which begins across the road from the entrance to the group picnic and camping areas and borders Burnham’s Marsh.

“It goes along a really large marsh area, so there’s a good chance to see lots of wildlife that you might encounter in a marsh,” Blaney said.

Closest ice cream: Head south of Pawtuckaway State Park for about 3 to 4 miles to reach Stillwells One Stop Ice Cream Shop (63 Route 27, Raymond, 895-1100, stillwellsicecream.com), open year round and serving multiple flavors of Richardson’s Ice Cream, of Middleton, Mass.

Points of interest: One of the best-known features at Pawtuckaway State Park is its large boulder field.

“It’s a pretty big area full of glacial erratics, which are big boulders dropped from when the glaciers retreated [during] the Ice Age,” Blaney said. “There’s little caves that have formed from the moving rocks, so that’s a super-popular location as well.”

10. Welch-Dickey Loop Trail

Orris Road, Thornton, fs.usda.gov/recarea/whitemountain/recarea/?recid=74773

On the southern edge of the White Mountain National Forest, in the town of Thornton, the Welch-Dickey trail is a single ledgy 4.4-mile-long loop around the twin peaks of Mount Welch and Mount Dickey.

“It’s kind of one of the best half-day hikes in the Whites, and it’s definitely one of the best bang-for-your-buck type hikes, because you’re out on open ledges for a lot of the hike, and they’ve got fantastic views,” MacGray said. “It’s all kind of one mountain mass, but there are two named summits. … It’s also a great place for a sunrise or a sunset hike.”

About the trail: The trailhead and main parking area for Welch-Dickey are at Orris Road in Thornton. Rexford said it’s common for most hikers to complete the loop counterclockwise.

“It will be very gradual until you get to your first ledge, which is kind of a big, flat ledge, and then you’ll come up from the back side and look down into the ravine to the road, going into Waterville [Valley],” he said. “It basically feels like you’re going from ledge to ledge, and they are maybe five to 10 minutes apart. It’s an absolutely beautiful hike.”

Although it won’t take you all day to complete, MaccGray said he does consider Welch-Dickey to be a moderately challenging hike.

“There are some potentially difficult sections where there are steep granite slabs,” he said, “but they usually aren’t an issue unless things are wet or icy. That’s the only time you’d really need to use any caution.”

Closest ice cream: Roughly 15 miles southwest of the Welch-Dickey trailhead is M ’n M Scoops (67 Main St., Plymouth, 536-4850, mnmscoops.com), offering a variety of flavors of ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet, sherbet and more.

Points of interest: While the summit of Mount Dickey is wooded, one of the most dominant vista points is from the summit of Mount Welch, MacGray said, where you can see many of the peaks in the White Mountains, including the 4,802-foot Mount Moosilauke to the northwest.

Featured photo: A sunrise hike on Mount Major. Photo by Emily Lord and courtesy of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests

In the kitchen with Kevin Anctil

Kevin Anctil of Litchfield is the owner and pitmaster of Smokin’ Spank’s Barbecue (smokinspanks.com, and on Facebook and Instagram @smokinspank), a 22-foot food trailer he launched last fall. Anctil, who is affectionately known in his college friend circle as “Spank,” describes his concept as traditional Southern barbecue, but with some New England roots. His brisket, for instance, is smoked Texas-style with salt and pepper in tribute to his own travels, while other items include maple baby back ribs that are finished with maple syrup as a glaze. Anctil grew up on family-owned farmland in Lewiston, Maine, where his late grandfather was revered in the community for his barbecued chicken. He even pays homage to his family’s roots on the trailer, using the same original basting sauce and finishing sauce recipes for his own barbecue chicken, as well as a custom-built pit that implements the same type of sandwich grating techniques his grandfather once employed. Find Smokin’ Spank’s in the parking lot of New England Small Tube Corp. (480 Charles Bancroft Hwy., Litchfield) most Sundays, from 1 to 5 p.m. Online pre-orders are often also available.

What is your must-have kitchen item?

I guess I’d have to say my smokers. That’s really where the magic happens. If I didn’t have my smokers, I’m just another kitchen.

What would you have for your last meal?

A homegrown tomato sandwich. If you’re feeling fancy, you might do it on toast or with a little olive oil, some basil or something like that.

What is your favorite local restaurant?

I want to shout out the entire Litchfield food scene here. There’s a lot of stuff going on locally in town. … We’ve got Tammaro’s Cucina, which is a new Italian place, and Romano’s Pizza who has been around longer. We’ve got Day of the Dead doing fantastic Mexican, and then the Bittersweet Bake Shoppe does some fantastic desserts.

What celebrity would you like to see ordering from your food trailer?

I’m going to date myself a bit, but Ray Bourque. He was the legendary captain of the Boston Bruins when I was growing up. … He was just the pinnacle of an athlete to me, both within his sport and just being a gentleman and a classy guy and role model. … I know he’s a foodie too … so it would be pretty cool to be able to serve him some barbecue.

What is your favorite thing on your menu?

That would be my brisket. … The only things that go on my brisket are salt, pepper and smoke, and I serve it to you sliced fresh to order. You do get some Texas table sauce along with your order, if you choose to use it or not.

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

Poutine seems to be making a comeback, and I’m here for it!

What is your favorite thing to cook at home?

If I’m cooking for myself, then a ridiculously big steakhouse-style steak dinner, [with a] baked potato, a big, thick steak and spinach — the works. If I’m cooking for the family, chicken soup. I do a chicken soup that takes me like two days to cook. It’s phenomenal.

Texas table sauce
From the kitchen of Kevin Anctil of Smokin’ Spank’s Barbecue in Litchfield

2 cups ketchup
1 cup white vinegar
1 lemon (juice and zest of)
½ cup white onions, grated

Combine all of the ingredients in a sauce pan and heat over medium heat, until it just begins to boil around the edges. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. For a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender, or allow to cool and transfer to a blender. For the best results, allow it to sit overnight in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Serve at the table, allowing your guests to add to a smoked meat for a tangy counterpunch.

Featured photo: Kevin Anctil, owner and pitmaster of Smokin’ Spank’s Barbecue. Courtesy photo.

The legacy continues

New ownership but familiar dishes at Campo Enoteca

Three months after Campo Enoteca founders Edward Aloise and Claudia Rippee announced their retirement, a new owner has stepped in to carry on the pioneering couple’s legacy. Nashua native Eric Maxwell acquired the downtown farm-to-table Italian restaurant earlier this year, reopening its doors on March 16 and retaining much of its original staff.

For guests, especially loyal fans of Campo who have frequented the restaurant since its 2014 opening, the new ownership is welcome news. That’s because Maxwell said he plans to keep the menus the same, while also expanding the options and even adding a separate lunch menu soon.

“I come from an Italian family with a lot of restaurants in the Ohio and western Pennsylvania areas, so it’s always been sort of my dream to have an Italian spot locally,” Maxwell said.

Aloise and Rippee originally opened Campo Enoteca on the heels of closing the Milltowne Grille — the latter enjoyed a highly successful 20-year run at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. At the time of its opening, Campo was just a two-minute walk south of Republic Cafe, which opened four years earlier and would soon achieve recognition as the first New Hampshire eatery to receive “certified local” status by the New Hampshire Farm to Restaurant Connection.

Then came the pandemic, ultimately prompting Aloise and Rippee to make the decision to move all of Republic’s operations under the same roof as Campo. For more than two years thereafter, they operated as the “Republic of Campo,” offering two separate menus under one roof.

In December, the couple announced that, after a career spanning more than three decades in Manchester eateries, they would be stepping away from the kitchen. They put the restaurant up for sale, and Maxwell, who has a background in food manufacturing, decided to “jump on it.”

“I had been to Campo probably half a dozen times … and that concept really fit who I was,” he said. “When it went up for sale, the writing was kind of on the wall. … I had wanted to mirror something like that, but I couldn’t believe that it was that — one of the restaurants that I absolutely loved.”

Maxwell recruited his sister, Erin Convery, who has front end experience at local restaurants, to run Campo’s day-to-day operations as general manager. All of the eatery’s bartenders and waitstaff have returned, he added, as have a few members of the kitchen staff.

“Peter [Macone], the old GM, has actually been working with my sister, basically making the introductions to all the farms and the vendors, so [the ownership transition] has definitely been very smooth,” Maxwell said. “We’ll expand with some personal family touches, but we won’t get rid of anything that was on the menu before. The Republic recipes will also be on the menu.”

Instead of removing any staple items, Maxwell plans to only add to the existing menu, perhaps most notably when it comes to Campo’s house-made pastas.

“Lunch will be kind of a new concept,” he said. “It will be pick your stuffed pasta, pick your sauce, pick your salad or whatever, so you can come in and get cheese ravioli [or] beef ravioli and whatever sauce you want to try with it. That will cater toward the lunch menu side of things.”

Lunch is available on Fridays and Saturdays for now, but Maxwell said the plan is to also be open on Sundays in the coming weeks. As they were under Campo’s previous ownership, dine-in reservations are available, as well as online ordering and curbside pickup.

Campo Enoteca
Where: 969 Elm St., Manchester
Hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 4 to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, noon to 9 p.m. Expanded hours likely coming soon and will include Sundays
More info: Visit campoenoteca.com, find them on Facebook and Instagram @campoenoteca or call 625-0256

Featured photo: Photos courtesy of Campo Enoteca.

Any way you slice it

Fresh pies and good times at South Manchester pizzeria

A South Manchester pizzeria is proving that good vibes don’t have to stop with freshly baked pies. It’s also a place where you can pick up and play the electric guitar, sing tunes from a jukebox connected to your phone, flex your mental muscles during trivia night and sip cocktails reminiscent of Capri Sun, Bomb Pops and other nostalgic childhood favorites.

It’s all part of a unique experience Gregg Joseph aims to bring to his customers at Clemento’s Pizzeria & Brew. He took over ownership of the eatery last year after previously working in the corporate world. He operates it with his wife, Estella, along with help from the couple’s children.

Joseph was born and raised in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and came to the United States as a teenager. He first lived in Miami for a time before coming up to Massachusetts and later New Hampshire.

Pizza pies are baked fresh to order every day, with thin crusts and hand-rolled doughs Joseph said are characteristic of a traditional New York-style.

black man wearing suit jacket posing with light skinned black woman in their restaurant — Clemento’s of Manchester’s owner-operator Gregg Joseph and his wife, Estella. Courtesy photo.

“We have the open kitchen concept, so you see your pizza being made right in front of you,” he said. “You’re seeing your dough getting stretched, [and] you’re seeing the onions getting chopped to be put on your pizza right then and there.”

Since assuming ownership, Joseph has incorporated some of the flavors he enjoyed back home on some of his specialty pizza toppings. Gregg’s Caribbean Jerk Special, for instance, is a pie topped with jerk sauce, chicken, green and banana peppers, onions, jalapenos and mushrooms. Almost any pie can also be baked using a gluten-free crust.

Rounding out the food menu are calzones, hot and cold subs — Joseph recommends the meatball sub, featuring handmade meatballs from his wife — appetizers, like deep-fried chicken wings, cheesy garlic bread and fried pickle chips; and scratch-made desserts, from fried dough to fried brownie and cheesecake bites.

Clemento’s boasts a lineup of nearly two dozen domestic and local craft brews, in addition to an extensive offering of craft cocktails Joseph said his wife will often experiment with.

“People know what a cosmo is, and what a Manhattan is, so we like to have a little twist on some things,” he said.

The Twisted Capri Sun, for example, features a dark rum, shaken with banana liqueur, peach schnapps, pineapple juice and a splash of strawberry puree. Blueberry vodka, lemonade, blue Curaçao and Razzmatazz liqueur make up the Bomb Pop cocktail, named after the popular treat you commonly see off of an ice cream truck’s menu.

The eatery’s interior dining space is small, but Joseph still manages to offer entertainment every night throughout the week. Monday nights feature open mic comedy with a rotating group of regional comedians. On Tuesdays it’s all about the karaoke — the pizzeria has a TouchTunes jukebox you can use directly from your phone. Wednesdays are trivia nights with Clemento’s regular Benji Day; Thursdays are game nights and Fridays are open mic music nights.

“If you open a restaurant in Haiti, people … are coming for the different activities that you’re offering, and that’s sort of the same model that I’m trying to bring here,” he said. “Sometimes people don’t even come in for the food. They’re coming because there’s a smile. … If you like open mic comedy, I got you. You want to play guitar, I have one I can plug in for you right now. Sooner or later, I’ll find something that you’ll like and you’ll just keep coming back.”

Clemento’s Pizzeria & Brew
Where: 1875 S. Willow St., Manchester
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Closed on Sundays.
More info: Visit clementospizzeriabrew.com, find them on Facebook @clementosmanchester or call 782-8450
Takeout and delivery services are also available through GrubHub, DoorDash and UberEats.

Featured photo: Photos courtesy of Clemento’s Pizzeria & Brew in Manchester.

The Weekly Dish 23/04/06

News from the local food scene

• Easter sweets: Join Assumption Greek Orthodox Church (111 Island Pond Road, Manchester) for a walk-in Easter bake sale organized by the Ladies Philoptochos Society that’s scheduled for Saturday, April 8, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. inside its church hall. Spinach and cheese petas, Easter bread and Greek cookies and pastries like baklava, kourambiethes and koulourakia will all be available. For more ideas on how to celebrate Easter Sunday this weekend, check out our annual listings that ran in the March 30 issue; they begin on page 34. Go to hippopress.com to read the e-edition of the March 30 issue.

• Cheers to seven years: Lithermans Limited Brewery (126B Hall St., Concord) is celebrating its seventh anniversary in business on Saturday, April 8, from noon to 8 p.m. The day will include special menu offerings from Up Street Food Truck, known for its “upscale street food” concept, as well as Let’s Get Cupcaked, a Henniker-based pop-up business specializing in hand-crafted cupcakes in a variety of flavors. Since opening in the spring of 2016, Lithermans has grown to become a leading New Hampshire brewery, known for its music-themed brews and regular schedule of local food trucks. Visit lithermans.beer or find them on Facebook @lithermans.beer for details on their upcoming anniversary party.

• Here we go! Chunky’s Cinema Pub in Pelham (150 Bridge St.) is partnering with Ya Mas Greek Taverna & Bar in town for a family-friendly five-course dinner party alongside a screening of The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Join them on Thursday, April 13, at 6:30 p.m. — the meal will feature separate Mario-themed menus for adults and for kids. Before the start of the movie, the chef at Ya Mas will speak about the featured menu items. The cost is $75 for adults and $25 for kids and includes all five courses as well as the movie screening. Vegetarian and VIP wine pairing options are also available for the adult menu. A special 21+ only screening of the movie is also happening on Thursday, April 6, at 8 p.m., across all three of Chunky’s locations. That event is being sponsored by Crown Royal Regal Apple and will feature their “Power-Up Punch” (a cocktail featuring Crown Royal Regal Apple, peach schnapps, cranberry juice, sour mix and grenadine). Visit chunkys.com.

• Chili cook-off results: More than 175 chili lovers attended this year’s Amherst Fire & Ice cook-off and ice cream social on March 10, according to a press release. The Amherst Lions Club organizes the competition as a fundraiser for local charity organizations. “[It] is always a fun community event, bringing family and friends together during [the] dreary winter,” Amherst Lion Shirley Flowers said in the release. The crowd selected Bruce Manchester as the People’s Choice best chili, while participating judges selected Hooksett Lion David Hutchinson’s smoked brisket chili as the Best Lions Club chili and Moulton’s Kitchen & Market’s red and white bean chili as Best Restaurant chili. Each winner received an engraved traveling trophy and bragging rights for one year.

In the kitchen with Kassandra Santana

Kassandra Santana is the executive chef of Tuscan Kitchen (67 Main St., Salem, 952-4875, tuscanbrands.com), a regionally renowned restaurant known for its artisan Italian cuisine. A native of Lawrence, Mass., Santana joined the company in early 2011 as a busser before ultimately working her way up the ranks at both the Salem restaurant and its accompanying market. She is the first — and, to date, the only — female executive chef of Tuscan Brands, which also has restaurants in downtown Portsmouth and in Burlington and Newburyport, Mass., as well as in Boston’s Seaport District.

What is your must-have kitchen item?

A spoon, because I’m constantly tasting everything.

What would you have for your last meal?

My go-to would be some miso ramen soup.

What is your favorite local restaurant?

That would be Grand India. It’s pretty new in Salem. I love their mango shrimp curry — it’s outstanding.

What celebrity would you like to see trying something on your menu?

I would say Zendaya, the actress. I’ve always loved her, and she seems like a very kind-hearted person, for sure.

What is your favorite thing on your menu?

That would be the tortelli brasato [braised short rib stuffed pasta]. That was the first dish I actually walked to a table when I first got my chef jacket. … I’ve always loved it, and I think it’s because that sauce is the most time-consuming sauce to make. It takes about six hours just to cook the demi to create that sauce, so we put a lot of time and effort into that dish.

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

When it comes to trends in New Hampshire, I feel like it’s comfort food [and] cheesy dishes — the type of food that you take your time cooking all day. … Our wild boar ragu with truffled gnocchi is a good example and checks all of those boxes.

What is your favorite thing to cook at home?

I can’t go wrong with something from my own culture. I like to cook a true traditional Hispanic meal — it would be different types of rice and just a nice braised steak or an oven-roasted chicken.

Oat banana bread
From the kitchen of Kassandra Santana, executive chef of Tuscan Kitchen in Salem

2 large bananas
1 large egg
1 cup rolled oats
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
Walnuts or chocolate chunks (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl or blender. Whisk or blend on high until the texture is smooth. Add chocolate chunks or walnuts to your liking. Pour batter onto a greased loaf pan. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes. Slice and enjoy.

Featured photo: Kassandra Santana, executive chef of Tuscan Kitchen in Salem. Courtesy photo.

Eat on Easter

Brunch buffets, special meals and sweet treats for Easter Sunday

With Easter Sunday right on our doorstep (Sunday, April 9), now is the time to make your plans. Whether you’re looking to reserve your spot to enjoy a brunch buffet, or you want to bring your Easter meals or desserts home this year, check out this list of local restaurants, function halls, bakeries and churches offering specialty items. Be sure to contact each establishment directly for the most up-to-date details on reservation availability. We’ve also included candy and chocolate shops on this list that have you covered for those Easter baskets and other sweet treats. Did we miss anyone that’s serving an Easter brunch or specials menu? Tell us about them at food@hippopress.com.

• 110 Grill (875 Elm St., Manchester, 836-1150; 27 Trafalgar Square, Nashua, 943-7443; 110grill.com) will serve special brunch menu features for Easter on Sunday, April 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., in addition to its regular menus. Options will include steak and eggs Benedict, chicken and waffles, crab cakes Benedict and several assorted brunch cocktails.

• 603 Charcuterie (603charcuterie.com) is taking orders for a variety of charcuterie specials for Easter, including pink (serves 4 to 5) or purple (serves 6 to 8) charcuterie boxes filled with local cheeses, meats and other accoutrements, as well as large (serves 16 to 20) and extra-large (serves 25 to 30) charcuterie platters; charcuterie “bouquets” (serves 5 to 6) and specialty painted cookie sleeves, courtesy of Zeezee Cookies. Order for pickup at The Factory on Willow (252 Willow St., Manchester) on Saturday, April 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. All charcuterie items are best if consumed within 24 hours of pickup.

• Airport Diner (2280 Brown Ave., Manchester, 623-5040, thecman.com) will be open during its regular business hours on Easter Sunday (from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.), serving its daily menus with specials.

• Alan’s of Boscawen (133 N. Main St., Boscawen, 753-6631, alansofboscawen.com) will serve a special Easter brunch buffet on Sunday, April 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., which will include fresh fruit, assorted cheeses and crackers, Danishes and breads, and carving stations featuring roast leg of lamb, sliced tenderloin and Virginia baked ham. Other options will include chicken piccata, tortellini alfredo, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables and assorted desserts. The cost is $34.99 for adults, and complete Easter dinners are also available to order for takeout.

• All Real Meal (87 Elm St., Manchester, 782-3014, allrealmeal.com) is taking orders for special Easter feasts, with multiple sizes serving two, four or six people. Meals include marinated baked turkey, glazed baked ham, homestyle buttery mashed potatoes, cranberry apple stuffing, almond green beans, homestyle cornbread and mixed berry cheesecake for dessert. Order online for curbside pickup or delivery on Saturday, April 8.

• Alpine Grove Banquet Facility (19 S. Depot Road, Hollis, 882-9051, alpinegrove.com) will serve a special Easter brunch buffet on Sunday, April 9 — three time slots are available to choose from: 9 to 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and 1 to 2:30 p.m. Featured breakfast menu items will include assorted mini pastries and gourmet doughnuts, a local fruit and cheese display, Belgian waffles with maple syrup and seasonal compote, crepes, scrambled eggs and applewood bacon and sausage. For lunch options there will be grilled chicken breast with a honey glazed lavender sauce, baked Virginia ham with a rum sauce, slow roasted prime rib, baked macaroni and cheese, seasonal vegetable medley and more. The cost is $35 for adults, $30 for seniors, $15 for kids ages 3 to 12 and free for kids under 3. Reservations are being accepted online.

• Angela’s Pasta & Cheese Shop (815 Chestnut St., Manchester, 625-9544, angelaspastaandcheese.com) is taking orders for a variety of dessert pies courtesy of Slightly Crooked Pies of Bedford (cherry, black and blue crumble, and triple berry or blueberry lavender hand pies); dinner rolls and loaves from Iggy’s Bakery; quiches, pies and cakes in assorted flavors from The Crust & Crumb Baking Co.; and house pastries like seasonally-themed whoopie pies, shortbread cookies and more. Order by March 31. Pickups will be on Saturday, April 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Assumption Greek Orthodox Church (111 Island Pond Road, Manchester, 623-2045, assumptionnh.org) will host a walk-in Easter bake sale on Saturday, April 8, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. inside its church hall. Spinach peta, cheese peta, Greek cookie and pastry platters and tsoureki (Easter bread) will be available for sale in limited quantities while supplies last.

• Atkinson Resort & Country Club (85 Country Club Drive, Atkinson, 362-8700, atkinsonresort.com) will serve a special Easter brunch buffet on Sunday, April 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. inside its Legacy Ballroom. The menu will include chef-attended omelet and waffle stations, hand-carved prime rib, a smoked ham carving station, and breakfast options, like scrambled eggs, bacon, cinnamon swirl French toast and more. The cost is $80 for adults, $30 for kids ages 3 to 10 and free for kids under 3. Reservations are required. Merrill’s Tavern and Stagecoach Grille, meanwhile, will each be serving a special Easter menu from noon to 4 p.m. that day.

• Back Bay Boathouse (51 Mill St., Wolfeboro, 515-1002, backbayboathouse.com) will serve a special Easter brunch buffet on Sunday, April 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring an omelet and waffle station, prime rib and honey ham, fresh fruit, pastries, desserts, mimosas, mocktails and more. The cost is $25 for adults and $15 for kids ages 12 and under. The restaurant will also serve dinner from 4 to 8 p.m.

• The Bakeshop on Kelley Street (171 Kelley St., Manchester, 624-3500, thebakeshoponkelleystreet.com) is taking orders for a variety of specialty sweets and treats for Easter, including an Easter egg bread (sweet bread with colored cooked Easter eggs on top) and bottom layer carrot cake with a top layer cheesecake and cream cheese frosting. Also available to order are assorted flavors of pies, cakes, cookies, rolls, Danishes, tea and coffee cakes. Order by April 5. Pickups will be available through Saturday, April 8 (the shop will be closed on Easter Sunday).

• Bearded Baking Co. (819 Union St., Manchester, 647-7150, beardedbaking.com) is taking orders for eight-inch cakes (carrot or lemon poppy), lemon dream cheesecakes (serves eight to 12 people), chocolate flourless Parisian slices, blueberry lemon or carrot cake vegan doughnuts, and Easter candy cupcake boxes, featuring assorted cupcakes topped with Cadbury egg pieces, Reese’s peanut butter cups and cookies and cream pieces. Order by April 2. Pickups will be on Saturday, April 8.

• Bedford Village Inn (2 Olde Bedford Way, Bedford, 472-2001, bedfordvillageinn.com) will serve a special three-course prix fixe Easter Dinner on Sunday, April 9, with reservations available from 2 to 7 p.m. Meals will include your choice of a first course (Heron Pond Farm carrot bisque, New England clam chowder with chives, poached Nellie’s Farm egg or prosciutto and fruit salad); an entree (grilled tournedos of beef, pistachio and matcha crusted Icelandic cod loin, braised lamb shank, smoked North Country ham, boneless Cornish game hen, or herb roasted cauliflower “steak”); and a dessert (mixed berry Napoleon, matcha crème brûlée, chocolate mousse dome, “blackout” tiramisu, or blueberry crisp with cinnamon ice cream). The cost is $75 for adults and $39.98 for kids ages 10 and under.

• Belmont Hall & Restaurant (718 Grove St., Manchester, 625-8540, belmonthall.net) will serve an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet on Easter Sunday, with seatings at 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. The cost is $18.99 per person. Additionally, the restaurant will be open for walk-ins only that day — no reservations required.

• Birch Wood Vineyards (199 Rockingham Road, Derry, 965-4359, birchwoodvineyards.com) will serve a special Easter Sunday brunch on Sunday, April 9, with seatings at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. All meals will be served from a prix fixe menu — no substitutions. Entree options will include French toast, chicken and waffles, eggplant Napoleon, frittata, brown sugar maple glazed ham, baked haddock Newburg, braised lamb shank or slow roasted prime rib. All breakfast and lunch entrees will each be served with a salad (fruit salad with breakfasts), a variety of fresh baked breads, milk, juice or coffee, and a dessert buffet. The cost ranges from $55 to $70 per adult entree and $35 per kids’ entree. Reservations are required by April 2.

• The Black Forest Cafe & Bakery (212 Route 101, Amherst, 672-0500, blackforestcafeandbakery.com) is taking orders for pies (apple, Dutch apple, strawberry rhubarb, cherry, gluten-free chocolate cream and gluten-free grasshopper); cakes (carrot, lemon daisy, old-fashioned coconut, limoncello and chocolate mousse); and assorted shortbread cookies and Easter pastries. Order by April 5. Pickups will be on Friday, April 7, and Saturday, April 8 (the shop will be closed on Easter Sunday).

• Buckley’s Great Steaks (438 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 424-0995, buckleysgreatsteaks.com) will be open on Sunday, April 9, from noon to 5 p.m., serving its regular menu in addition to some chef specials, like carrot and ginger bisque, smoked spiral ham and baked stuffed haddock. Call or visit the website to make a reservation.

• Buckley’s Bakery & Cafe (436 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 262-5929, buckleysbakerycafe.com) and Buckley’s Market & Cafe (9 Market Place, Hollis, 465-5522) are taking orders for cakes (carrot, hummingbird, double chocolate caramel and gluten-free lemon blueberry); eight-inch pies (chocolate cream, Key lime, mixed berry crumble and lemon meringue); assorted breakfast and dessert pastry trays, Parker House rolls, cinnamon raisin bread and raspberry almond crumb cake. Order by April 5.

• The Cake Fairy (114 Londonderry Turnpike, Hooksett, 518-8733, cakefairynh.com) is taking orders for nine-inch pies (lemon cream, eclair and peach); four-inch cheesecakes (strawberry, lemon and blueberry); traditional whoopie pies, nine-inch blueberry cobbler, assorted Danish boxes and Easter bunny hut cupcake kits, featuring two vanilla cupcakes, two bags of frosting, two rings and three assorted toppings. Order by April 1. Pickups will be on Saturday, April 8, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Carina’s Cakes (14B E. Broadway, Derry, 425-9620, find them on Facebook @carinas.cakes) is taking orders for a variety of specialty cupcake flavors for Easter, like Peeps marshmallow, Andes mint, chocolate chip cookie dough, Oreo, Reese’s peanut butter cup, Funfetti, toasted coconut, carrot cake and more. Orders will be accepted through April 6 or until the shop reaches capacity.

• Caroline’s Fine Food (132 Bedford Center Road, Bedford, 637-1615, carolinesfood.com) is taking orders for Easter dinners serving four or eight people, featuring your choice of maple glazed pork loin, pan seared lemon rosemary chicken breast or garlic and rosemary roasted leg of lamb. All entrees are additionally served with shallot whipped potatoes, lemon honey caramelized carrots and sauteed asparagus. Several items are also available a la carte, like prosciutto-wrapped asparagus, charcuterie platters, roasted summer vegetables with dip, baby greens salad with a red wine vinaigrette, ham, Swiss and spinach or caprese quiches, and blueberry or lemon poppyseed scones. Order by April 3 at 2 p.m. Pickups will be Friday, April 7, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Castleton Waterfront Dining on Cobbetts (58 Enterprise Drive, Windham, 898-6300, castletonbcc.com) is taking orders for a variety of to-go items for Easter, including dinner packages of spiral glazed ham or roast leg of lamb with herbs — each comes with its own sides, like vegetables, dinner rolls or carrot cake. You can also customize your Easter dinner with a la carte items, like main courses (tenderloin of beef, spiral glazed ham with pineapple raisin sauce, roast leg of lamb with herbs and roast pork loin with cranberry apple stuffing); sides by the quart (honey glazed carrots, green beans almondine, tender spring peas with pancetta, au gratin potatoes, garlic and chive whipped potatoes, roasted rosemary red bliss potatoes, merlot sauce, mushroom demi glace, lamb gravy and pineapple raisin sauce); hors d’oeuvres by the dozen (scallop and bacon skewers, crabmeat stuffed mushrooms, asparagus and asiago wraps, smoked gouda macaroni and cheese bites, petite arancini, almond raspberry brie tarts and spanakopita); and baked goods (dinner rolls by the dozen, 10-inch carrot cake and 10-inch New York-style cheesecake). Order by March 31 at noon. Pickups will be on Saturday, April 8, from 9 a.m. to noon.

• The Coach Stop Restaurant & Tavern (176 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, 437-2022, coachstopnh.com) will serve a special a la carte menu for Easter on Sunday, April 9, with seatings at noon and 3 p.m., featuring items like spinach and artichoke dip, French onion soup, bacon-wrapped scallops, roast prime rib of beef, veal Oscar, lobster macaroni and cheese, baked lamb or ham dinners, baked haddock and more. Reservations are being accepted via phone.

• Colby Hill Inn (33 The Oaks, Henniker, 428-3281, colbyhillinn.com) will serve a special three-course prix fixe menu for Easter on Sunday, April 9, with seatings from noon to 5 p.m. and patio and lawn seating also available, weather permitting. The meal will include your choice of a first course (lemon chicken noodle soup, mushroom and buttermilk soup, spring greens and Easter radish salad, baby mizuna salad or red beet deviled eggs); a main course (Greek-style roast leg of lamb in oregano and garlic, maple and cider mustard glazed ham, prime rib smoked with pink peppercorn and rosemary, day boat scallops, rabbit pot pie or carrot spaetzle); and a dessert (Meyer lemon and raspberry chambord sorbet duo, lavender crème brûlée, strawberry rhubarb pie with ginger ice cream, maple walnut carrot cake, or an Easter chocolate trio featuring Belgian chocolate mousse, white chocolate Easter bark and a chocolate peanut butter egg). The cost is $70 per person and reservations are required.

• The Common Man (25 Water St., Concord, 228-3463; 304 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 429-3463; 88 Range Road, Windham, 898-0088; 10 Pollard Road, Lincoln, 745-3463; 21 Water St., Claremont, 542-6171; 60 Main St., Ashland, 968-7030; thecman.com) will be open on Sunday, April 9, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at each of its locations, serving their regular menus with Easter specials.

• Copper Kettle To Go (39 Main St., Wilton, 654-2631, copperkettletogo.com) is taking orders for Easter dinners featuring your choice of lamb shank, ham or braised short rib, in addition to three-layer carrot cake by the slice and traditional sweet Easter pie (featuring a layered phyllo dough shell and a ricotta-orange filling). Orders will be ready for pickup on Saturday, April 8.

• Crosby Bakery (51 E. Pearl St., Nashua, 882-1851, crosbybakerynh.com) is taking orders for eight-inch or 10-inch sized pies (apple, apple crumb, blueberry, banana cream, cherry, chocolate cream, coconut cream, lemon meringue and pecan); eight-inch Bird’s Nest or limoncello cakes, seven-inch layered carrot cakes, assorted pastry and cookie platters, and savory items, like gorton (Canadian pork spread), meat pie, salmon pie, Parker House rolls, Boston baked beans and more. Order by April 5.

• The Crust & Crumb Baking Co. (126 N. Main St., Concord, 219-0763, thecrustandcrumb.com) is taking orders for a variety of specialty items for Easter, including Shaker squash or butter rolls, vanilla glazed cinnamon buns, pecan sticky buns, sour cream or raspberry lemon coffee cakes, hot cross buns, choreg (seeded Armenian Easter bread), quiches (ham and Swiss, asparagus and goat cheese, or bacon, broccoli and cheddar); French Canadian tourtiere; pork pie with apple, rosemary and sweet potato); sweet cakes (blueberry lemon mousse, raspberry coconut layer cake, flourless chocolate torte and others); and six-inch or nine-inch pies (apple streusel, forest berry crumb, maple bourbon pecan, lemon meringue, blueberry crumb, Key lime, chocolate cream, maple cream or coconut cream; the latter four can be ordered with graham crusts or gluten-free almond oat crusts). Order by April 1. Pickups will be on Saturday, April 8.

• The Derryfield Restaurant (625 Mammoth Road, Manchester, 623-2880, thederryfield.com) will serve a special Easter brunch on Sunday, April 9, with seatings starting at 10 a.m. The meal will feature an omelet station, a carving station with slow roast prime rib and oven-baked ham, a bread station with items like muffins, croissants and rolls, a salad station and a dessert station. On the main buffet table, there will be French toast, scrambled eggs, corned beef hash, bacon, sausage, fresh seasonal fruit, pancakes, baked beans, seafood Newburg and more. The cost is $34.95 for adults, $32.95 for seniors over 65 and $19.95 for kids under 12. Reservations are being accepted via phone.

• Foster’s Boiler Room (231 Main St., Plymouth, 536-2764, thecman.com) will be open on Sunday, April 9, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., serving its regular dinner menu with Easter specials. Reservations are being accepted via phone.

• Fratello’s Italian Grille (155 Dow St., Manchester, 641-6776, fratellos.com) will serve a special Easter buffet on Sunday, April 9, with seatings at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., featuring an egg and omelet station, a carving station with slow roasted prime rib au jus and apricot-glazed pork loin roast, and assorted parfaits, cakes and other treats. On the main buffet table there will be breakfast pastries, seasonal fruit, Belgian waffles, bacon and sausage, homestyle potatoes, chicken piccata, dill herb salmon, baked ham with a brown sugar glaze, wild rice pilaf, roasted sweet vegetable medley and more. The cost is $39 for adults, $18.95 for kids ages 4 to 11 and free for kids ages 3 and under. Reservations are required.

• Frederick’s Pastries (109 Route 101A, Amherst, 882-7725; 25 S. River Road, Bedford, 647-2253; pastry.net) is taking orders for an array of specialty sweets and treats for Easter, like bunny cookie kits, speckled robin cakes, sheep cakes, baby chick or Easter basket-shaped cupcakes, carrot cake cheesecake cups, carrot cake cupcakes and more. Advance online ordering is recommended.

• Friendly Red’s Tavern (22 Haverhill Road, Windham, 437-7251, friendlyredstavern.net) will be open on Sunday, April 9, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., for breakfast only.

• Gauchos Churrascaria Brazilian Steak House (62 Lowell St., Manchester, 669-9460, gauchosbraziliansteakhouse.com) will serve a special Easter brunch buffet on Sunday, April 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring rodizio meats carved tableside, along with an all-you-can-eat selection of pastries and fresh fruit, and the restaurant’s famous chocolate fountain. The cost is $39.99 for adults, $14.99 for kids ages 6 to 10 and free for kids ages 5 and under.

• Giorgio’s Ristorante & Bar (270 Granite St., Manchester, 232-3323; 707 Milford Road, Merrimack, 883-7333; 524 Nashua St., Milford, 673-3939; giorgios.com) will be open on Sunday, April 9, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., serving its regular menu with chef-inspired specials. Reservations are being accepted via phone.

• Granite Restaurant & Bar (The Centennial Hotel, 96 Pleasant St., Concord, 227-9005, graniterestaurant.com) will serve a special Easter brunch menu on Sunday, April 9, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Items will include peaches and cream Belgian waffles, steak and eggs Benedict, shrimp and grits, red quinoa and farro bowls, “Amish-style” baked oatmeal with Greek yogurt, seasonal fruit and local honey, asparagus and mushroom toast, the house Centennial burger, a grilled breakfast burrito and more.

• Granite State Candy Shoppe (13 Warren St., Concord, 225-2591; 832 Elm St., Manchester, 218-3885; granitestatecandyshoppe.com) is offering a wide variety of pre-arranged Easter baskets available in three sizes each, featuring white, dark or milk chocolate selections. Other available items include milk chocolate peanut butter or marshmallow eggs, foiled chocolate eggs, chocolate-dipped marshmallow Peeps, pastel malted milk eggs, caramel quail eggs and more.

• The Hills Restaurant (Hampshire Hills Athletic Club, 50 Emerson Road, Milford, 673-7123, hampshirehills.com/the-hills-restaurant) will serve a special Easter brunch buffet on Sunday, April 9, from 8 a.m. to noon, featuring French toast, waffles, muffins, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, yogurt, brown sugar Easter ham and more. The cost is $25 for adults and $12 for kids, and reservations are being accepted online.

• The Homestead Tavern & Restaurant (641 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 429-2022, homesteadnh.com) will serve a special a la carte menu for Easter on Sunday, April 9, accepting reservations from 11 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Items will include spinach and artichoke dip, French onion soup, roast prime rib of beef, chicken and broccoli alfredo, baked stuffed haddock, shrimp and scallop risotto, New York sirloin, veal Oscar, roasted rack of lamb, barbecue baby back ribs, chicken Marsala and broiled salmon.

• Italian Farmhouse (337 Daniel Webster Hwy., Plymouth, 536-4536, thecman.com) will be open on Sunday, April 9, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., serving its regular dinner menu with Easter specials. Reservations are being accepted via phone.

• Jamison’s Restaurant (472 Route 111, Hampstead, 489-1565, jamisonsrestaurant.com) will serve a special Easter brunch on Sunday, April 9, with items that include slow roasted prime rib au jus, oven-roasted turkey breast, pesto crusted lamb leg, stuffed haddock and glazed spiral ham. Reservations are being accepted via phone.

• KC’s Rib Shack (837 Second St., Manchester, 627-7427, ribshack.net) will serve its annual all-you-can-eat Easter buffet on Sunday, April 9, from noon to 6 p.m., featuring starters like bacon Sriracha deviled eggs and fruit salad; meats, like smoked pit ham, beef brisket, pulled pork, spare ribs and smoked chicken; sides, like green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, corn casserole, cole slaw, applesauce and cornbread; and a variety of desserts. The cost is $30 for adults, $14 for kids ages 5 to 10 and free for kids under 5. The buffet is by reservation only, and the regular menu will not be available that day. The last reservations of the day will be taken at 4 p.m. Call to book parties of more than six people.

• LaBelle Winery (345 Route 101, Amherst; 14 Route 111, Derry; 672-9898, labellewinery.com) will serve a special Easter brunch buffet at both of its locations on Sunday, April 9 — seatings are at 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. at each. The buffet will feature a mimosa bar, an interactive doughnut designing station, fruit and bread display, a Belgian waffle station, an omelet station, and assorted breakfast items, like bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs and home fries. Also included will be carving stations with ham and prime rib, salad stations, and lunch items like chicken, baked haddock, vegetable pasta primavera, roasted potatoes and more. A full bar will be available throughout brunch, featuring wine, beer, cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages, while desserts will include chocolate cake, cheesecake, carrot cake, pot de creme, mini cannolis and chocolate-covered strawberries. The cost is $85 for adults, $35 for kids ages 3 to 12 and free for kids ages 2 and under. Reserve your table online with a $50 deposit, which will be applied toward your total brunch cost (only one reservation per party is needed).

• Lago (The Inn at Bay Point, 1 Route 25, Meredith, 279-2253, thecman.com) will be open on Sunday, April 9, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., serving its regular dinner menu with Easter specials. Reservations are being accepted via phone.

• Lakehouse Grille (Church Landing at Mill Falls, 281 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith, 279-5221, thecman.com) will be open on Sunday, April 9, serving breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m., followed by its dinner menu with Easter specials from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations are being accepted via phone.

• Makris Lobster & Steak House (354 Sheep Davis Road, Concord, 225-7665, eatalobster.com) will serve a special family-style Easter brunch buffet on Sunday, April 9, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring items like fresh fruits and cheeses, a salad bar, a carving station with prime rib and applewood smoked ham, and other main course dishes, like maple Dijon glazed salmon, lamb souvlaki and pasta primavera with a garlic wine sauce. The cost is $34.99 for adults, $31.99 for seniors and $14.99 for kids ages 12 and under.

• Mile Away Restaurant (52 Federal Hill Road, Milford, 673-3904, mileawayrestaurantnh.com) is taking reservations now for Easter, offering special meals that include your choice of one appetizer, salad, entree and dessert. Menu staples include appetizers like corn chowder, Swedish meatballs, fresh fruit plates with sorbet; Caesar salad or garden salad with blue cheese, house ranch, raspberry vinaigrette or balsamic dressing; entrees, like roast leg of lamb, honey-glazed ham, pork Provencal, piccata Milanese, maple salmon, vegetarian baked eggplant Parmesan, or grilled duck breast with an orange berry sauce; and desserts, like carrot cake, sorbet, cheesecake, chocolate ganache cake, lemon mascarpone cake or chocolate mousse cake.

• Morrisseys’ Porch & Pub (286 S. Main St., Wolfeboro, 569-3662, morrisseysfrontporch.com) will serve a special a la carte menu for Easter on Sunday, April 9, featuring items like shrimp cocktail, spring leeks with artichoke dip, prime rib, baked country ham with pineapple chutney and homemade carrot cake. Reservations are recommended.

• Mr. Mac’s Macaroni & Cheese (497 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 606-1760, mr-macs.com) accepts orders for both hot-and-ready and take-and-bake trays of macaroni and cheese, as well as macaroni salads, assorted green salads, desserts and more. Placing orders at least 24 hours in advance is appreciated.

• MT’s Local Kitchen & Wine Bar (212 Main St., Nashua, 595-9334, mtslocal.com) will be open on Sunday, April 9, from noon to 5 p.m., serving its regular menu in addition to some chef specials. Call or visit the website to make a reservation.

• Nelson’s Candy & Music (65 Main St., Wilton, 654-5030, nelsonscandymusic.com) is offering all kinds of specialty sweets and treats for Easter, like hand-poured chocolate mold bunnies, chocolate bunny pops and family-sized bunny boxes, which include assorted themed chocolates, jelly beans, molasses peanut butter zippers, chocolate-dipped Peeps, foiled chocolate eggs, fruit slices and caramel- or chocolate-covered popcorn.

• Presto Craft Kitchen (168 Amory St., Manchester, 606-1252, prestocraftkitchen.com) is taking orders for a variety of specialty items for Easter, including appetizers, like pizzagaina (quiche-like ricotta pie with Italian meats), charcuterie platters, assorted devil’s egg platters (with classic, dill pickle and bacon and chive flavors). Also on the menu are family-sized entrees feeding four to six people (classic three-cheese lasagna, chicken or eggplant Parmesan with pasta and glazed ham with creamy mashed potatoes and carrots); and desserts (macaroons by the dozen, giant breakable chocolate Easter eggs, fresh filled cannolis and “carrot patches,” featuring a dozen strawberries dipped in orange chocolate and buried in a “dirt” of Oreo cookie crumbles). Order by April 1. Pickups will be on Friday, April 7, from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• The Puritan Backroom Restaurant (245 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 669-6890, puritanbackroom.com) will be open on Sunday, April 9, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., serving its regular menu in addition to some Easter specials, like baked ham, roast turkey and roast lamb. Reservations for parties of six or more are being accepted. Walk-ins are welcome, but between noon and 4 p.m. there will not be room for any large parties without a reservation.

• The Red Arrow Diner (61 Lowell St., Manchester, 626-1118; 137 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, 552-3091; 112 Loudon Road, Concord, 415-0444; 149 Daniel Webster Hwy., Nashua, 204-5088; redarrowdiner.com) will be open during its normal business hours on Easter Sunday at all four of its locations, serving a special pit ham dinner with mashed potatoes and carrots for $15.99.

• Rig A Tony’s Italian Takeout & Catering (38 W. Broadway, Derry, 425-6116; 13 Rockingham Road, Windham, 685-8122; 254 Wallace Road, Bedford, 488-2877; rigatonysitalian.com) is taking orders for family-sized Easter dinners, serving six to eight people and including your choice of stuffed pork loin, braised short ribs or spiral ham — each dinner also comes with mashed potatoes, roasted carrots, string beans and Rig a Tony’s house pasta and sauce. Other traditional a la carte Italian Easter specialties available to order include chicken or eggplant Parmesan, stuffed shells or manicotti, lasagna, Italian wedding soup, shrimp scampi, cannolis, homemade Italian cookies, chocolate cream pie and Maine blueberry pie.

• Route 104 Diner (752 Route 104, New Hampton, 744-0120, thecman.com) will be open during its regular business hours on Easter Sunday (from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.), serving its daily menus with specials.

• Ruby Cakes (Milford, ruby-cakes.com) is taking orders for specialty flavors of cakesicles, including lemon cake with lemon buttercream frosting and carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. Each order consists of three cakesicles in a box. Pre-order online for pickup between Thursday, April 6, and Saturday, April 8.

• Sky Meadow Country Club (6 Mountain Laurels Drive, Nashua, 888-9000, skymeadow.com) will serve a special Easter brunch on Sunday, April 9, with seatings at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. There will be assorted breakfast pastries and breads, local quiches and freshly sliced fruits, plus an artisan salad station with assorted vegetables and dressings. Lunch items will include maple brown sugar glazed ham, roasted beef tenderloin, braised leg of lamb ragu, potato-crusted haddock, honey garlic spring chicken breast, crispy eggplant cutlets with herb-whipped ricotta and Parmesan potato gratin, while there will also be assorted cakes, pastries and gluten-free desserts. The cost is $60 for adults, $19.95 for kids under 12 and $10 for kids under 5 ($10 for non-member kids under 5). Additionally, Sky Meadow will hold a bring-your-own-basket Easter egg hunt at 10:30 a.m. for kids ages 8 and under.

• St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church (1160 Bridge St., Manchester, stnicholasgreekchurch.com) is taking orders for Greek Easter dessert platters, which include six pieces each of baklava, kourambiethes (powdered sugar cookies) and koulourakia (butter cookies). Order by April 7, for pickup at the church on Friday, April 14 (Greek Easter is observed on Sunday, April 16, this year). Contact parishioner Barb George at 925-330-9966 or email stnicksgochurch@gmail.com to place your order.

• Stonebridge Country Club (161 Gorham Pond Road, Goffstown, 497-8633, ext. 2, golfstonebridgecc.com) will serve a special Easter brunch on Sunday, April 9, with seatings at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Menu options will include Danishes, scrambled eggs, maple sausage, crispy home fries, cinnamon raisin French toast casseroles, roasted chicken breast in a herb cream sauce, baked haddock with a lemon cream and cracker crust, tortellini tomato pesto, mixed spring vegetables and a mini pastry table, as well as mimosa and bloody mary specials. The cost is $27 for adults, $12 for kids ages 2 to 10 and free for kids under 2. Reservations are being accepted via phone.

• Tilt’n Diner (61 Laconia Road, Tilton, 286-2204, thecman.com) will be open during its regular business hours on Easter Sunday (from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.), serving its daily menus with specials.

• Tuscan Market (9 Via Toscana, Salem, 912-5467, tuscanbrands.com) is taking orders for a variety of items for Easter, including family-sized dinner packages, each serving six to eight people and featuring your choice of bone-in spiral ham, carved roasted turkey breast or boneless roast leg of lamb. A variety of specialty options are also available a la carte, like half trays of scratch-cooked lasagna, pizzagaina (quiche-like ricotta pie with Italian meats), pecorino-stuffed artichokes, risotto and sausage-stuffed bell peppers, chocolate chip ricotta pie, eight-inch carrot, chocolate or strawberry cakes, tiramisu squares and Italian Easter breads with two or three eggs. At least a two-day advance ordering notice is preferred. Pickups will be on Saturday, April 8, from 10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.

• Van Otis Chocolates (341 Elm St., Manchester, 627-1611, vanotis.com) is offering pre-arranged gourmet Easter baskets available in small or large sizes and featuring items like chocolate bunnies, Evangeline’s caramel corn, chocolate-dipped Peeps, foiled Oreos, jelly beans and Easter egg foils. Most of those items are also available to order a la carte, in addition to other Easter-themed goodies, like milk or dark chocolate Swiss fudge eggs with or without pecans, dark chocolate coconut cream fudge eggs, Easter-decorated chocolate-covered Oreos, and edible baskets made with milk, dark or white chocolate and filled with foiled candies.

• Ya Mas Greek Taverna & Bar (125 Bridge St., Pelham, 635-4230, yamasgreektaverna.com) will serve a special Easter brunch buffet on Sunday, April 9, starting at 11 a.m. and featuring a create-your-own omelet station, a Belgian waffle station, breakfast meats like bacon, sausage and kielbasa, and assorted cheeses, fruits, quiches, cupcakes and cookies. The cost is $29.99 for adults and $19.99 for kids. The restaurant will also hold an Easter dinner at 4 p.m., serving seasonal specials in addition to its full menu, and even has a Greek Easter celebration planned for Sunday, April 16, featuring a family-style menu of items like lemon roasted lamb, spanakopita and tiropita, Greek leek loukaniko (sausage), chicken kabobs and tsoureki (Greek Easter bread). Seatings for the April 16 celebration are available every two hours from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The cost is $83 for adults and $45 for kids.

• Yankee Farmer’s Market (360 Route 103 E, Warner, 456-2833, yankeefarmersmarket.com) is taking orders for holiday meats while supplies last, including pastured pork tenderloin roast, boneless leg of lamb and smoked ham roast. Order online for pickup the week of Easter Sunday.

• Wolfe’s Tavern (Wolfeboro Inn, 90 N. Main St., Wolfeboro, 569-3016, wolfestavern.com) will serve a special Easter brunch buffet on Sunday, April 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring a farmers market salad bar, a bread and pastry station, a fruit and artisanal cheese display, and carving stations with black Angus prime rib and smoked pit ham with assorted mustards. On the main buffet table will be scrambled eggs, home fries, applewood smoked bacon, sausage links, waffles with fresh berries and Vermont maple syrup, grilled chicken florentine and crab-stuffed flounder with a maltese sauce. The cost is $45 for adults and $20 for kids. Reservations are being accepted via phone.

• Woodstock Inn Brewery (135 Main St., North Woodstock, 745-3951, woodstockinnbrewery.com) will serve a special Easter brunch buffet on Sunday, April 9, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring an omelet bar, a waffle bar, a carving station with ham and prime rib and a wide selection of desserts. The cost is $32.99 for adults and $18.99 for kids ages 12 and under. Reservations are being accepted via phone.

Looking for Easter brunches a little farther away? Go to hippopress.com to see some additional eateries in the Lakes Region and beyond that have Easter plans of their own.

The Weekly Dish 23/03/30

News from the local food scene

• Celebration of brews: Join the New Hampshire Brewers Association in celebrating New Hampshire Craft Beer Week — the 10-day campaign returns from Thursday, April 6, through Saturday, April 15. Organized to coincide each year with National Craft Beer Day (April 7), New Hampshire Craft Beer Week features more than 120 events statewide. Among this year’s happenings is the inaugural downtown Nashua craft beer tour — participants are encouraged to visit each of the Gate City’s six downtown craft breweries during the week for access to special food and beverage deals, available with a special stamp book. Tickets are $30 per person and also include commemorative pint glasses. See downtownnashua.org/beertour for more details, and be sure to follow New Hampshire Craft Beer Week’s Facebook page @nhcraftbeerweek for updates on more ongoing events and campaigns as they become available.

• And speaking of beer: The Rodgers Memorial Library (194 Derry Road, Hudson) will host “Brewing in New Hampshire: An Informal History of Beer in the Granite State from Colonial Times to the Present,” a program scheduled for Wednesday, April 5, at 7 p.m., in partnership with New Hampshire Humanities. Presenter and author Glenn Knoblock will explore the history of the state’s beer and ale brewing industry from its colonial days to today’s modern breweries and brew pubs. Admission is free, but registration is required. Knoblock is also scheduled to hold similar lectures at the Campton Public Library (1110 Route 175, Campton) on Monday, April 17, at 6 p.m., and the Epsom Public Library (1606 Dover Road, Epsom) on Monday, April 24, at 6:30 p.m.. Visit nhhumanities.org.

• Grow your knowledge: The Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Hampshire recently announced the rollout of its “Feeding the Family” organic gardening series. According to a press release, the series comprises four online workshops, to be held Thursday evenings from March 30 through April 20, and one in-person workshop on Saturday, April 29. Each installment in the series offers instruction for home growers “seeking to build skills to feed themselves and their families,” according to the release. Topics include The Science and Art of Tomato Culture (online, on Thursday, March 30); Protecting Edible Crops from Deer Damage (online, on Thursday, April 6); Understanding Forest and Garden Impacts of the Invasive “Jumping” Earthworm (online, on Thursday, April 13); Integrating Nitrogen Fixing Plants into Diverse Settings (online, on Thursday, April 20); and Truly No-Till Beds with Sheet Mulching (in person, at Dandelion Forest Farm in Nottingham, on Saturday, April 29). Register for each of the workshops online at nofanh.org/gardeningseries.

• Spirit of the environment: The New Hampshire Liquor Commission, in partnership with Jack Daniel’s whiskey, is celebrating Earth Month with the launch of “Bring Back Jack,” a new program that encourages customers to return and recycle glass bottles at select Liquor & Wine Outlet locations, according to a press release. Each Saturday from April 1 through May 20, customers can bring empty glass wine and spirits bottles to participating stores statewide to be recycled and receive special perks, including $25 coupons off a purchase of $150 or more for every 12 glasses, and $5 discounts off single Jack Daniel’s products for every branded bottle. Additionally, the release said, all New Hampshire on-premises licensees who bring at least 107 empty glass bottles (an ode to Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7) will receive 10 percent off an in-store purchase up to $10,000. See liquorandwineoutlets.com/bringbackjack for a full list of participating stores.

Author: Matt Ingersoll

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