Powder Keg Beer & Chili Festival: The 11th annual Powder Keg Beer & Chili Festival happens at Swasey Parkway (316 Water St.) in downtown Exeter on Saturday, Oct. 7. VIP admission is at noon and costs $60, and general admission is at 1 p.m. for $45, when purchased in advance. Visit powderkegfest.com.
Craft beer and food trucks on the coast: The first annual Smuttynose Food Truck and Craft Beer festival will be on Saturday, Oct. 7, at Smuttynose Brewing Co. (105 Towle Farm Road, Hampton) from noon to 5 p.m. Enjoy food from 25 food trucks, craft beer from Smuttynose Brewing Co., lawn games and music. Tickets are $5 for general admission or $20 for VIP. Visit foodtruckfestivalsofamerica.com.
Apple pie baking contest: Don’t miss the second annual apple pie baking contest at Stone Mountain Farm (522 Laconia Road, Belmont) on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 11 a.m. Rules and details can be found on the Facebook event page.
All things chocolate: Save the date for the 2023 New Hampshire Chocolate Expo on Sunday, Oct. 15, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Doubletree by Hilton Expo Center (700 Elm St., Manchester). Chocolate, baked goods, cheeses, specialty food and craft beverages will be available to taste and purchase, with vendors like To The Queen’s Taste, Adirondack Winery, Chocolate Moonshine Fudge, Debbie’s Doggie Delights and Empanada Lady Food Truck. Tickets range from $10 to $40 and children under 5 years old are free. Visit thechocolatexpo.com.
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities
Just keep swimming: The Community Players of Concord will present their Children’s Theatre Project’s Finding Nemo Jr., with a cast of actors ages 7 to 16, on Friday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 21, at 2 p.m. at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St. in Concord). Tickets cost $15 to the show that runs about an hour, according to communityplayersofconcord.org, where tickets are on sale now.
Book shopping: The Hudson Friends of the Library hold a book sale on the second Sunday of each month at the Hills Memorial Library building (18 Library St. in Hudson; 886-6030, rodgerslibrary.org). Do a little browsing Sunday, Oct. 8, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Book raffling: The Friends of the Bedford Library will hold their annual Books, Baskets and Beyond raffle. Buy 10 tickets for $10 or 25 for $20 and then select the baskets — featuring books, book-lover items and sweet treats — you hope to win. The raffle runs online through Friday, Oct. 6, at 5 p.m. Find the link to the online form on the Friends’ Facebook page. There is also a raffle of a signed Tom Brady Patriots jersey, with tickets for that raffle selling for $10 per ticket.
Open studios, part 1: Get a peek inside artist studios in Peterborough, Dublin, Jaffrey and other Monadnock-region towns in the Monadnock Art Open Studios Art Tour this Saturday, Oct. 7, through Monday, Oct. 9, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. A map to the 65 participating locations is available at monadnockart.org.
Season preview: The New London Barn Playhouse (84 Main St. in New London; nlbarn.org) will host a preview of the 2023-2024 Northern Stage Season’s productions with scenes from Selling Kabul, Constellations, The Play that Goes Wrong and a new adaptation of A Christmas Carol, on Friday, Oct. 6, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The Northern Stage is located in White River Junction, Vermont; see northernstage.org for more. The event is free and open to the public, seecenterfortheartsnh.org.
Theater insider: Kurt Steelman, founder of Steelman Productions in Keene, will be the “Stories to Share” speaker at the Jaffrey Civic Center (40 Main St. in Jaffrey; jaffreyciviccenter.com) on Friday, Oct. 6, at 5 p.m. Steelman worked as a stagehand at his father Barry Steelman’s theater Cinema 93 in Concord; today his Steelman Productions provides management and labor for live events of every scale, according to a press release. The event is free; register to attend at bit.ly/3E35bsA. Or attend virtually via www.youtube.com/channel/UCvvRObxjqvVsgZ8iOP1UOEw/live.
Open studios, part 2: The Center for the Arts will hold a Lake Sunapee Region Open Studios Saturday, Oct. 7, and Sunday, Oct. 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, according to a press release. The studios of 17 local artists will be open throughout New London, South Sutton, Warner, Andover, Bradford, Springfield, North Sutton and Sunapee, featuring paintings, jewelry, photography, mixed media, printmaking and sculpture. There will be a kickoff event at Prospect Hill in Lake Sunapee Harbor on Friday, Oct. 6, from 4 to 8 p.m. featuring new art by current artists. “Open Studios brochures including the list of participating artists, locations, and contact information, as well as a map of the studios, are available to pick up at The New London Inn, Morgan Hill Bookstore, Tatewell Gallery, in New London, and at all artists studios. Visit the Center for the Arts website to view the interactive map to use during Open Studios weekend.centerfortheartsnh.org/open-studios,” the release said.
Artist reception: The exhibit “Seen and Heard” featuring works from the Women’s Caucus for Art Northeast Regional Juried Exhibition (nationalwca.org; see wcanh.org for more on the New Hampshire chapter) is currently on display at the Art Center (1 Washington St., Suite 1177, in Dover; 978-6702, theartcenterdover.com). An artist reception for the exhibit will be held Saturday, Oct. 7, from 6 to 9 p.m. The gallery is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and you can see the online gallery at theartcenteronlinegallery.com.
It takes more than a few great songs to make it as a professional musician, though having a repertoire helps. Without knowledge of business ins and outs — where to play, how to get paid, who wants to hear originals and not Tom Petty covers — even the best players can get lost.
It takes more than a few great songs to make it as a professional musician, though having a repertoire helps. Without knowledge of business ins and outs — where to play, how to get paid, who wants to hear originals and not Tom Petty covers — even the best players can get lost.
Kimayo. Courtesy photo.
How it started When Brad Myrick came back to New Hampshire in early 2011, he’d spent close to a decade chasing his dream of being a professional musician, studying in Los Angeles at USC’s Thornton School of Music, then traveling between the West Coast and Europe, playing shows, making records and learning the ropes.
Myrick was happy to be back home. He fixated on finding a way to continue as a performer in his home state.
“I like the quality of life, and I think this is probably where I want to settle down,” Myrick recalled thinking. “How can I still get that full music business experience while living in a place that is so small and doesn’t have a huge music industry?”
As he dove into getting gigs and building his name, Myrick got caught off guard.
“I was thinking, boy, there’s a lot more going on in New Hampshire than I could have ever imagined; it’s actually a great place to be a musician,” he said. “There’s a lot of live music, there’s a ton of talent … wonderful people doing really great things.”
What was missing was something resembling a centralized scene.
“There’s a cool thing happening in Portsmouth, good stuff in Manchester, and the North Country has got its thing, but people seem to be a little more regional and localized,” he said. “There were a lot of gigs, but not what I was used to seeing in Los Angeles or in some of the cities in Europe.”
“There’s a cool thing happening in Portsmouth, good stuff in Manchester, and the North Country has got its thing, but people seem to be a little more regional and localized,” he said. “There were a lot of gigs, but not what I was used to seeing in Los Angeles or in some of the cities in Europe.”
There was a little bit of self-interest in Myrick’s musical field of dreams but, to mix a metaphor, reaching his goals was going to take a village.
“If this is going to be my home and I want to be a professional musician for the rest of my life, how do we invite people in?” he was thinking. “How do we get everyone connected as much as possible, and then have resources that may exist in bigger places?”
He aimed for the yet-to-be-created indie record label, the singer-songwriter stringing together bar gigs and wondering what to do next, but he was thinking bigger than that.
“What if we had access to local health care for musicians — doctors and chiropractors and naturopaths,” he mused. “Massage therapists that understand musicians because we have different problems than other folks do; what if we had any resource that a musician might need?”
With a brand designed and a Facebook page created, Myrick began obsessively filling notebooks. “I’d be on a plane going to Italy and I’d make bullet points of my ideal scenario if I had infinite money and resources to offer to myself and to musicians in New Hampshire,” he said.
Senie Hunt. Courtesy photo.
NH Music Collective’s first foray into business turned out to be more down to earth than Myrick’s lofty dreams. He booked a midweek gig at the Stark House Tavern in Weare. It was his first time there, and the managers told him they were pleased with his performance. Moreover, they wondered if he knew anyone else who might play there?
Why, yes, he did.
“Booking is essentially creating jobs for performing musicians,” he said. “I did it for myself and I realized there was an opportunity to get more people involved in that. Suddenly it went from a show for me to like eight shows a month, twice a week or whatever, and other people are getting work from that. That basically told me this thing happened that you’re thinking about, this NH Music Collective idea.”
This was in 2013, and it stayed a one-man side hustle, albeit a growing one. “I’ll make a few bucks off it, it’ll create a bunch of gigs for people,” he said. “I started just doing that casually while I was working as a full-time performer, that was the catalyst of the whole thing.”
It took finding a partner — two of them — for Myrick’s NH Music Collective vision to fully flower.
John McArthur and his wife, Reva Tankle, moved from Massachusetts in 2018 to help their son run The Greenhouse, a Gilford recording studio he’d opened a year before. McArthur quickly met Concord musician Mike Gallant, and Mikey G — everyone calls him that — put McArthur and Myrick together.
The two hung out at Strings and Things, a musical instrument store in Concord, and Myrick ended up bringing a couple of projects to the studio, including the Eric Lindberg Trio, which he played in at the time, and his duo with fellow guitarist Nicola Cipriani. They also talked a lot about Myrick’s idea for NH Music Collective.
McArthur’s path to the music business has a familiar beginning and an atypical middle.
“I dropped out of a Ph.D. program in clinical psychology to play music full-time, which I did while my wife, Reva Tankle, finished her Ph.D. and did a postdoc,” he said by phone from Portland, Maine, where they now live. McArthur gave up music when they moved to Texas. “I didn’t play country at the time, so I stopped playing.”
After that, “I kind of fell into tech for 35 years, then I dropped out of tech to go back into music full-time, thanks in part to my son and thanks in part to Brad,” he said. “I play a few times a month but not at the level that Brad does — those years are behind me.”
Myrick and McArthur’s conversations got more serious in 2020, and during the depths of the pandemic they formed a three-way partnership.
“A downturn is a great time to start, because everything looks like growth from there,” said McArthur with a chuckle. “I’m just loving spending all my time in music now, trying to help emerging artists and help venues create better experiences.
Myrick books shows, McArthur does artist development, and Rankle handles the nuts and bolts. “Contracts, finance, communication with the artists to make sure they know where they’re supposed to be, what they’re supposed to get, that they get there on time and everything’s ready for them when they get there,” McArthur said.
“We kept the brand because I’d already built it for many years and had some success,” Myrick said. “Then we have a small record label and a publishing company underneath this parent company, using them for one-off projects. We haven’t really promoted it, but the infrastructure is there and we’re working on that as a future goal.”
Home is where it’s at One thing they’re trying to dispel is the belief that the region’s musicians are bound to leave for a bigger market.
“I encourage people from here to get out and explore, have an experience, particularly if it’s in a place that’s got some industry where you can go and, frankly, get your ass kicked.” Myrick said. “It’s good to have that experience and get pushed and learn what it’s really like in a larger scale.”
While going to a city like Nashville to work with a big-name producer can be exciting, it’s not necessary.
“We have world-class musicians, recording studios, business folks, promoters, all the things that you need to be a successful professional musician,” he said “It’s helpful to get insight and see what the big world has to offer, and I encourage everyone to do that. But you don’t have to.”
Mikey G. Courtesy photo.
That said, there are trade-offs. NHMC has a growing roster of talent performing seven days a week all over New England. While some shows are listening-room affairs (where original music is the primary focus for the audience), more are at venues where music is one item on a big menu. Myrick, however, believes doing original songs and covering the hits both build the same muscle.
That said, there are trade-offs. NHMC has a growing roster of talent performing seven days a week all over New England. While some shows are listening-room affairs (where original music is the primary focus for the audience), more are at venues where music is one item on a big menu. Myrick, however, believes doing original songs and covering the hits both build the same muscle.
A few NHMC acts talk about their experiences.
Justin Cohn is a singer, songwriter and guitarist who was recently featured on the Rocking Horse Music Club rock opera Circus of Wire Dolls.
“As for my own music, I always have trouble describing it,” Cohn said. “I guess it’s a mix of indie folk, pop, Americana, and rock, with maybe a little bit of soul thrown in…. I like to see where the creative process leads me.”
Cohn contacted Myrick after seeing NHMC’s name at venues he played; the two met for coffee. “Brad described the philosophy and intention as much more than just another booking agency,” he recalled. “Their goal was to empower musicians who also want to make original music … cover gigs are a means to an end. The pitch hooked me immediately, because that’s the direction I wanted to go, but I didn’t really know how to get there.”
He’s been pleased with the results.
“The shows I’ve been fortunate to book through them have been some of the best I’ve ever regularly played, especially in the restaurant and bar scene,” Cohn said. “Depending on the venue, this means I’m able to play some of my original music with more frequency. This seems like a small thing, but it’s dramatically expanded my self-confidence and it’s ultimately led to more creativity.”
Rebecca Turmel. Courtesy photo.
Rebecca Turmel put out her first single a little over a year ago. Her latest is a poignant tribute to touring life called “The Road.” She’s among several NHMC artists nominated for the upcoming New England Music Awards.
“I feel honored to be a part of their roster as they work with some of the most dedicated and talented musicians that I know,” she said. “They have connected me with high-quality venues that I thought I could only dream of performing in. For example, I just had the privilege to perform at the Bank of NH Stage … my first true listening room experience as an original artist.”
“It’s hard to put my sound into a box right now since I still have a lot of growth ahead of me as a songwriter, but what I’ve released so far seems to fall into the country genre,” Turmel said. “I am still discovering who I am, and with that comes finding my sound as an original artist as well. It’s all a learning game.” Turmel has been working with NHMC for around a year.
“I feel honored to be a part of their roster as they work with some of the most dedicated and talented musicians that I know,” she said. “They have connected me with high-quality venues that I thought I could only dream of performing in. For example, I just had the privilege to perform at the Bank of NH Stage … my first true listening room experience as an original artist.”
Ryan Williamson is a past NEMA nominee who uses looping and multiple instruments in his shows.
“I’m a self-taught musician who writes music that covers pop, rock, and Americana,” Williamson said. “ I play a bunch of gigs around New Hampshire and love to play songs you wouldn’t expect to hear from a solo artist with a guitar.”
He knew Myrick before he established NHMC, and got involved early.
“I wanted to do anything I could to help with his efforts to create the local scene he envisioned; there is not a single musician on the planet that I respect more than Brad Myrick,” he said. “He is absurdly talented in his own right … and more committed to creating a thriving local music scene than any person I know.”
His involvement has led to many opportunities, Williamson continued.
“Aside from opening my musical reach to more accepting listening rooms, Brad has joined me on stage and made me a better musician … coordinated events with groups of local musicians, which helps engage the musical community with each other as well as showcasing the brilliant talent of these artists to the public in the spaces that crave entertainment.”
Some of the past and present listening room efforts include a monthly event at Sap House Meadery in Ossipee that mixes music, themed dining and mead tasting. “People really want unique experiences,” McArthur said. “One of the first bands we had was Brazilian, so we had Brazilian food. We had a performer from the Ukraine who sang songs in Russian … he’s a Soviet refusenik, just a beautiful concert. We had traditional Eastern European Jewish food to pair with that.”
Eric Lindberg. Courtesy photo.
The upstairs lounge at Bank of NH Stage hosts regular Sunday afternoon shows, while The Livery in Sunapee had a well-attended summer series with artists including April Cushman playing in a duo with Myrick, Cecil Abels and the New England Bluegrass Band, Eric Lindberg, Ari Hest, Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki Trio, Charlie Chronopoulos, Jud Caswell, Hot Skillet Club, Squeezebox Stompers and Peter Mulvey. In November, Senie Hunt will perform there.
Backyard Brewing in Manchester is a long-time customer, and venue manager Marcus Doucet couldn’t be happier.
“Having live music instantly brings a buzz to any space, it engages our customers in their surroundings and makes the experience of dining out feel more personal and inviting,” Doucet said, adding that NHMC performers “are all extremely talented and kind, they are all individuals with a passion for what they do…. We love when musicians will play cover songs that everyone knows, but also love when they perform songs they have written.”
The future The NH Music Collective website lists a range of services available to musicians, including an artist development component that offers coaching services. “Regardless of where you are today and your ultimate music goal,” they “will be by your side providing informed, direct, and specific guidance on steps to take to reach your goals.”
It’s key to McArthur’s role. “My vision is to continue to enhance the level of the musicianship that we provide,” he said. “I want to spend more time working more closely with a handful of artists to really move the needle for people who want to make this their life career. This is a tough business … we want to help those that are serious about it.”
To make it all work — for musicians, listeners and venue owners alike — requires alchemy as much as art.
“Maybe the most important thing as we move forward is we’re really trying to create experiences, if we’re going to have an impact on the music scene and on the community at large,” Myrick said. “We have a chance to really make an experience where people show and know they’re getting live, preferably original music. It can be more than just come and go — that really becomes special.”
Find the music See the musicians of New Hampshire Music Collective. Here are some upcoming shows, according to nhmusiccollective.com.
Thursday, Oct. 5
Ariel Strasser at Contoocook First Thursdays (in Hopkinton), 5 to 7 p.m.
Paul Driscoll at The Foundry in Manchester, 5 to 8 p.m.
Justin Cohn at Lithermans Limited Brewery in Concord, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 6
Kimayo at The Foundry in Manchester, 6 to 9 p.m.
Paul Gormley at Backyard Brewery in Manchester, 6 to 9 p.m.
The Sweetbloods at Twin Barns Brewing Co. Meredith, 6 to 9 p.m.
Chase Campbell at Tower Hill Tavern in Laconia, 8 p.m. to midnight
Saturday, Oct. 7
Doug Farrell at the Contoocook Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to noon
Colin Hart with The hArt of Sound at Contoocook Cider Company in Contoocook, 1 to 4 p.m.
Freddie Catalfo at Beans and Greens in Gilford, 1 to 4 p.m.
Ian Archibold at Twin Barns Brewing Co. in Meredith, 3 to 6 p.m.
Dakota Smart at Backyard Brewery in Manchester, 6 to 9 p.m.
Karen Grenier at The Foundry in Manchester, 6 to 9 p.m.
Scott King at San Francisco Kitchen in Nashua, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Ken Budka at Chen Yang Li in Bow, 7 to 10 p.m.
Chris Lester at Foster’s Tavern in Alton Bay, 7 to 10 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 8
Ariel Strasser at Contoocook Cider Company in Contoocook, 1 to 4 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 9
Open Mic with John McArthur at Patrick’s Pub in Gilford, 6 to 8 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 11
Brad Myrick at the Courtyard Marriott in Concord, 5 to 7 p.m.
Chris Lester at Uno Pizzeria & Grill in Concord, 6 to 9 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 12
April Cushman at The Foundry in Manchester, 5 to 8 p.m.
Dwayne Haggins Duo at Lithermans Limited Brewery in Concord, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 13
Willy Chase at Beans and Greens in Gilford, 5 to 8 p.m.
Brad Myrick at Backyard Brewery in Manchester, 6 to 9 p.m.
Garrett Smith at Lochmere in Tilton, 6 to 8 p.m.
Justin Cohen at The Foundry in Manchester, 6 to 9 p.m.
Kimayo at Twin Barns Brewing in Meredith, 6 to 9 p.m.
Dakota Smart at Foster’s Tavern in Alton Bay, 7 to 10 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 14
Brad Myrick at Contoocook Cider Company in Contoocook, 1 to 4 p.m.
Garrett Smith at Beans and Greens in Gilford, 1 to 4 p.m.
Dave Clark at Twin Barns Brewing Co. in Meredith, 3 to 6 p.m.
Brad Myrick at Colby Hill Inn in Henniker, 6 to 9 p.m.
Ryan Williamson at Backyard Brewery in Manchester, 6 to 9 p.m.
Tyler Levs at The Foundry in Manchester, 6 to 9 p.m.
Dusty Gray at Foster’s Tavern in Alton Bay, 7 to 10 p.m.
Mikey G at Chen Yang Li in Bow, 7 to 10 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 15
Ken Budka at Contoocook Cider Company in Contoocook, 1 to 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 18
Clint Lapointe at Uno Pizzeria & Grill in Concord, 6 to 9 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 19
Eyes of Age at The Foundry in Manchester, 5 to 8 p.m.
Charlie Chronopoulos at Lithermans Limited Brewery in Concord, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Cover Photo: April Cushman and Brad Myrick. Courtesy photo.
Friday, Oct. 6 Learn about eclipses tonight as part of the Super Stellar Friday program at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive in Concord; starhop.com, 271-7827). The doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the presentation by Dave McDonald, New Hampshire Astronomical Society Director and the center’s senior educator, begins at 7 p.m. He will discuss both the partial eclipse in October and the total eclipse on April 8, the website said. Admission costs $12 for adults, $11 for 62+ and ages 13 through college, $9 for ages 3 to 12 and free for children under 2, the website said.
Saturday, Oct. 7 Comedian Juston McKinney offers two opportunities to get some laughs today at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588). McKinney will perform at 5 and 8 p.m. Tickets to either show cost $32.50. Find more funny in the Comedy This Week listing on page 37.
Saturday, Oct. 7 The 39th Annual Apple Harvest Day will take place in downtown Dover today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will feature more than 300 vendors including a variety of food vendors as well as live music. The 15th Annual Apple Harvest Day 5K Road Race will be held at 8:30 a.m. at 25 St. Thomas St. in Dover. Registration is $30 for adults age 21 and over, $20 for runners under the age of 21. After the race stick around for some North County Apple Cider. See dovernh.org/apple-harvest-day-5k-road-race. Looking for more races to get you out and running? Find our listing of Fall 5Ks in the Sept. 21 issue (the story starts on page 10); go to hippopress.com.
Saturday, Oct. 7 The New Hampshire Wool Arts Tour takes place today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with happenings on five farms (Spinner Farm in Deering; Glory Be Farm in Bennington; Brimstone Hollow in Hancock; Ten Talents at La Bergerie Dumas in Greenfield, and Maple Lane Farm in Lyndeborough) including demonstrations of creating yarn, hay rides, music, live animals, food, an opportunity to meet fiber artists and fiber from a variety of animals for sale, according to woolartstournh.com.
Saturday, Oct. 7 Lucas Gallo opens for the Adam Ezra Group tonight at 8 p.m. at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com). Doors open at 7 p.m.; tickets in advance cost $35.75 for general admission, $48.75 on the balcony ($5 more purchased at the door). Find more concerts this week and beyond on our concert listings on page 38.
Monday, Oct. 9 If today is a day off for you, take a rare Monday visit to the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org, 669-6144), which is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. Admission costs $20 for adults, $15 for students and 65+, $5 for ages 13 to 17 and free for kids under 13. Exhibits currently on display include “Fabricating Modernism: Prints From the School of Paris,” “Celebrating the Art and Life of Tomie DePaola” and “Distant Conversations: Ella Walker and Betty Woodman.”
Save the Date! Wednesday, Oct. 12, through Oct. 15 The New Hampshire Film Festival takes place Thursday, Oct. 12, through Sunday, Oct. 15, at screening spaces throughout Portsmouth. The lineup will feature more than 100 feature films, documentaries and shorts — including the documentary Everything to Entertain You: The Story of Video Headquarters about a Keene video store. See nhfilmfestival.com.
During a routine shift on a Sunday morning, Sept. 17, NHTI Paramedic Emergency Medicine student Timothy St. Germain and his paramedic partner, NHTI PEM alumna Brittany Lamontagne, found themselves in an unexpected situation. According to a press release, they were responding to a call in Concord for a woman in labor needing transport to a local hospital and they soon realized that the baby couldn’t wait. St. Germain and Lamontagne’s training kicked in, and they delivered the baby without complications, the release said. What makes this timing remarkable is that the NHTI Paramedic Emergency Medicine program had been studying obstetrics with simulated childbirth scenarios for the past two weeks, making it almost feel like a planned “final exam,” the release said.
QOL score: +1 Comment: Both mom and baby girl are healthy, and St. Germain credits the program’s training for making the situation feel almost like second nature.
Food for families
The New Hampshire Food Bank, a program of Catholic Charities New Hampshire, is partnering with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to launch a joint initiative aimed at increasing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enrollment across the state. According to a press release, this collaborative effort seeks to raise awareness of SNAP, a federal program designed to combat food insecurity by providing funds to lower-income families and households for food purchases. While nearly 40,000 New Hampshire households are already enrolled in SNAP, the New Hampshire Food Bank estimates that around seven percent of the state’s residents still experience food insecurity, highlighting the need for increased participation.
QOL score: +1 Comment:The partnership also aims to dispel common misconceptions about SNAP eligibility, such as the belief that it’s only available to families or individuals who are not employed.
Millions and billions
The New Hampshire Lottery billboard visible as you’re heading south on Interstate 293 through Manchester got an upgrade recently. The new billboard was updated with, among other things, LED lighting, which is brighter and more efficient, and the ability to note whether a current Powerball and Mega Millions jackpot is in millions or in billions (such as with the projected $1.2 billion Powerball jackpot for the Oct. 4 drawing), according to a New Hampshire Lottery spokesperson. The billion-plus jackpots were said to have “busted” the old billboard, with the amount stuck at $999 million even when the jackpot climbed over a billion, the spokesperson reported. Now, we can fantasize with numerical specificity.
QOL score: +1 Comments:Meanwhile, WMUR reported that someone who purchased a Powerball ticket at a Price Chopper in Keene for the Sept. 30 drawing won a $50,000 prize.
QOL score: 87 Net change: +3 QOL this week: 90
What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire? Let us know at news@hippopress.com.
According to a recent poll conducted by the Saint Anselm College Survey Center, former President Donald Trump maintains a significant lead among likely voters in the New Hampshire Republican presidential primary, with 45 percent expressing their preference for Trump on the ballot test. This represents a 30-point lead over his closest challenger, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, who has surged into second place with 15 percent support following the first Republican presidential candidate debate, according to the Sept 25. press release. Haley is now the leading alternative to Trump and outpaces former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie among respondents with an unfavorable impression of Trump, the release said. Meanwhile, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has seen his support decline by 18 points since March and now trails Haley with 11 percent. The poll also highlights the polarization within the primary electorate between supporters and detractors of Trump, with implications for the eventual nominee’s ability to challenge President Joe Biden in a general election matchup.
Rising star
Michael Newell, RN, a home care nurse at Granite VNA, has been named “Young Person of the Year” by Stay Work Play in its 14th Annual Rising Stars Awards. According to a press release, Newell joined Granite VNA in 2020 and participated in their Home Health Nurse Residency Program, where he learned the intricacies of home care nursing and later became a mentor for the program, guiding and supporting new nurses. In addition to his role as a mentor, Newell provides in-home care to a diverse patient population, demonstrating a commitment to compassionate care and support for every patient. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of New Hampshire and aspires to become a nurse educator in the future.
Maternal health
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has officially launched the Task Force on Maternal Mental Health, an initiative co-led by the Office on Women’s Health and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and established following the bipartisan TRIUMPH for New Moms Act, a law co-sponsored by New Hampshire’s Sen. Maggie Hassan and Sen. Tom Tillis of North Carolina. The goal is to address and support new mothers grappling with postpartum depression and other mental health challenges, ensuring they receive the necessary assistance, according to a press release from Hassan’s office. “New moms struggling with postpartum depression or other mental health challenges need to know that help is out there — and how to get it,” Sen. Hassan said in the release. “I am glad that following our bipartisan law, the administration today launched the Task Force on Maternal Mental Health, and I look forward to seeing how it works to get more new moms the support that they critically need.”
Commission member
Suzanne Brunelle, a shareholder at Devine Millimet, has been appointed as the attorney-appointed member of the State of New Hampshire Real Estate Commission by Gov. Sununu, according to a press release. In her new role, Brunelle will contribute to the commission’s efforts to establish safeguards and regulations within the licensing process for real estate salespersons and brokers in New Hampshire. With over 30 years of experience in the legal profession, Brunelle has provided legal counsel on various aspects of real estate matters, including land development, commercial and residential property financing, acquisition, sale, leasing, permitting and more.
Rural maternity
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon has been awarded a federal grant totaling $991,467 as part of the Health Resources & Services Administration’s Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies (RMOMS) Program. The grant, spanning four years, will support the North Country Maternity Network, a collaborative effort involving hospitals, community-based services, and state agency partners aimed at bolstering maternal health infrastructure in New Hampshire’s North Country region. RMOMS addresses the challenges faced by women in rural communities when accessing adequate obstetric care. The grant will be used to fund various initiatives, including standardizing prenatal screening, implementing evidence-based obstetrics pathways and improving site-based telehealth for comprehensive community care.
More Medicaid
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services has reinstated Medicaid for more than 3,100 individuals, including around 1,350 children, aligning with new federal eligibility guidance, NHPR reported. This reinstatement was prompted by a directive from the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services to review and rectify any inadvertent terminations and align state processes with federal guidelines. This initiative will cover any eligible medical bills incurred during the period of disenrollment and will also help individuals understand if they can retain their coverage without going through a complex eligibility redetermination process. The state is launching further efforts to ensure access to Medicaid services and is exploring more opportunities to expand access to Medicaid-funded health services in schools, according to the article.
The Dover Public Library will host a presentation titled “Hope for Shantytown: A History of Dover Housing Authority” on Wednesday, Oct. 11, at 6:30 p.m. Local historian Mark Leno will use historical photos to showcase the Dover Housing Authority’s impact on the city’s development over the past 70 years. The presentation will cover the organization’s evolution, its role in downtown Dover’s urban renewal efforts and milestones in providing housing for Dover residents. The event will be available for in-person and virtual attendance, with sign-up required for online access. It is free and open to the public. Visit library.dover.nh.gov.
The Upper Room, a family resource center in Derry (36 Tsienneto Road, is hosting the Crossroads Co-Parenting course on Oct. 14, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., for parents and caregivers raising children together. This course offers insights into maintaining children’s love for parents, avoiding involving children in conflicts, navigating personal challenges and fostering effective communication. Interested participants can register for classes online at urteachers.org.
The Nashua Transit System, along with other transit systems in New Hampshire, is observing Community Transportation Month throughout October to raise awareness about various transportation options, including Nashua’s city bus system, paratransit services and alternatives like biking and walking. This initiative includes a collaboration with Commute Smart NH, an organization offering ride-sharing services and challenges for riders in October. The celebration aligns with CommuteSmart NH’s Buses, Bikes and Brooms Commuter Challenge and the National Week Without Driving Challenge, aiming to spotlight essential but often overlooked services.
If you’re getting tired of the same go-to recipes, John Fladd shows you how to bring new flavors to your meal planning by checking out some of the area international food markets, where you can buy items such as ingredients for these vegetarian Crystal Summer Rolls (pictured above and on the cover, photo by John Fladd).
Also on the cover: Get more Greek deliciousness at the Taste of Greece Festival this Saturday at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Concord (page 27). Enjoy a weekend (and beyond) of live performances at area breweries and restaurants — find them in the Music This Week listing, which starts on page 34. Or, if you’d prefer some laughs, check out the Comedy This Week listings on page 37.
Summer of Manchester! The City of Manchester celebrated an exceptionally active summer this year, reporting unprecedented levels of participation in ...
Wine bar reopened in Bedford: Corks, the wine bar in the Bedford Village Inn (2 Olde Bedford Way, Bedford), had its grand reopening on Sept. 7. Their hours are Thursday through Saturday from 4:30 to 10 p.m. with social hour from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Harvest weekend: Black Bear Vineyard (289 New Road, Salisbury) hosts Harvest Weekend from Saturday, Sept. 30, to Sunday, Oct. 1. This outdoor event includes live music, wine sold by the glass or bottle, the opportunity to learn about the wine-making process and 603 Food Truck. Tickets are $18, free for those under 21 years old. Purchase tickets at eventbrite.com.
Apple Fest: Ring in fall with The Salvation Army’s Applefest at Sullivan Farm (70 Coburn Ave., Nashua) on Saturday, Sept. 30, and Sunday, Oct. 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with hay rides, crafts and games, apple picking, pony rides and more. There will be apple pies, ice cream, hot dogs, hamburgers and more food to enjoy. Each activity and food item costs a certain number of tickets and each ticket is $1.
Medium reading and wine tasting: Averill House Vineyard (21 Averill Road, Brookline) hosts a wine tasting with intuitive medium Jessica Moseley, who will hold a group medium reading on Saturday, Oct. 7, from 6 to 8 p.m. Guests 21 and older will be offered a complimentary wine tasting flight of four vintages or a single glass of wine. Tickets are $45 and can be purchased on exploretock.com.
The Joppa Hill Educational Farm (174 Joppa Hill Road in Bedford; theeducationalfarm.org, 472-4724) will hold a Fall Fair on Saturday, Sept. 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets cost $30 for a family admission. The day will feature artisan booths, food trucks, vendors, tractor rides, apples, pumpkin decorating, live music, kids’ activities, farm fun and more, according to the website.
Charmingfare Farm (774 High St. in Candia; visitthefarm.com, 483-5623) holds its Pumpkin Festival Saturday, Sept. 30, and Sunday, Oct. 1, as well as Saturday, Oct. 7, through Monday, Oct. 9. Admission costs $29 per person (23 months and younger get in free). Pick a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch, take a tractor or horse-drawn wagon ride, enjoy live music and more. The festival also features a cow milking contest (not involving a real cow), pumpkin art, costumed characters and a visit with the farm’s animals.
Movies!
It’s the final “Movies in the Park” for the season at Wasserman Park (116 Naticook Road in Merrimack) this Saturday, Sept. 30. At 6:30 p.m., catch 2022’s Puss In Boots: The Last Wish (PG), the third movie in the animated series (a spin-off of the Shrek movies) that always knew how to make excellent use of the vocal talents of Antonio Banderas. See merrimackparksandrec.org.
If you’ve got a kid of the right age (roughly pre-preschool through early elementary) you’ve probably been counting down the days to the Sept. 29 release of Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie (PG), the second big-screen outing of the popular Nickelodeon cartoon series. Tickets for the movie are already on sale at some area theaters — O’neil Cinemas at Brickyard Square (24 Calef Hwy., Epping, 679-3529, oneilcinemas.com), Regal Concord (282 Loudon Road, Concord, regmovies.com) and area Chunky’s (707 Huse Road, Manchester; 151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua; 150 Bridge St., Pelham, chunkys.com). If your younger movie-goers prefer a sensory-friendly screening (when house lights aren’t turned completely off and the sound is turned down), there are a few on the horizon: Saturday, Oct. 7, at 10 a.m. at the O’neil in Epping and Friday, Oct. 20, at 3 p.m. at the three area Chunky’s.
On stage
American Girl Live stops at the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord) on Thursday, Sept. 28, at 7 p.m. The show brings American Girl characters from various decades to life with music and dance, emphasizing friendship and empowerment, according to the website. Tickets range from $43.75 to $75.75. Visit ccanh.com.
The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra’s “Family Matinees” Chamber series returns Saturday, Sept. 30, at 3 p.m. at St. John’s Episocopal Church (101 Chapel St. in Portsmouth) with the orchestra’s principal winds performing “Carnival of the Animals.” Admission is a suggested $15 per family donation at the door. See portsmouthsymphony.org.
Catch a mid-week show with the Palace Theatre’s (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) youth company presentation of Big Bad on Tuesday, Oct. 3, and Wednesday, Oct. 4, at 7 p.m. Actors from grades 2 through 12 will present the story of the Big Bad Wolf as he is taken to court by the fairy tale characters he has wronged, according to the company’s Facebook post. Tickets cost $12 to $15.
Music, science and general fun will come together for “Mr. C: World of Motion,” part of the Education Series, at the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord on Wednesday, Oct. 4, at 10 a.m Tickets cost $8. Visit ccanh.com.
Shopping for your new favorite flavors at local international food markets
OK, this looked easy enough on TV…
“Heat a saucepan over medium heat” — That seems pretty straightforward; a saucepan actually means a pot — I won’t make THAT mistake again — and medium heat means, um, turn the knob halfway between 2 and 9?
“Heat oil until it shimmers.” I think I’ve got that; I’ll remember to pour it out of the bottle this time. Aaaaand — Hey! It IS shimmering! I might be able to do this.
“Add mustard seeds to the hot oil, and wait for them to pop like popcorn.” There are seeds that do that other than popcorn? And what ARE mustard seeds, anyway?
“HONEY? DO WE HAVE ANY MUSTARD SEEDS?!”
“I DON’T KNOW! WHAT ARE THEY!?”
“I DON’T KNOW!”
“THEN PROBABLY NOT!”
Ugh, that shimmering oil is starting to smoke; I’d better take it off the heat. I don’t want a repeat of Arlene’s baby shower.
Mustard seeds? I really should have read through these ingredients before I started.
Salt — we’ve got that. White pepper — wow! We’ve actually got that. Fenugreek leaves — I thought fenugreek was a seed! And what the heck are cardamom pods?
“What are cardamom pods, please?”
“HERE’S WHAT I FOUND ON WHATTHEHECKISTHISSPICE.COM: Cardamom is a spice made from the seed pods of the cardamom plant, a close relative to ginger and turmeric, that is native to South India—”
“OK, stop. Thank you.”
“IT IS ALWAYS MY PLEASURE TO TELL YOU WHAT YOU COULD EASILY LOOK UP YOURSELF.”
Rude.
OK, what am I supposed to do now? I could probably order this stuff online, but I need this for the Piñata Festival tomorrow, and I’m not paying for overnight shipping. Where would somebody even go to find this stuff?
I’m glad you asked.
According to the 2020 Federal Census on census.gov, 3,600 of the people living in Concord were born outside of the United States. Nashua is home to another 13,000, and in Manchester, 16,000 people — about 14 percent of the population — are immigrants.
What does that have to do with cardamom pods?
It’s foolish to say “all” of any group of people, but the vast majority of those 32,800, while happy to call this area home, want to eat the food they grew up with. (I lived overseas for a couple of years in my youth, and I cannot describe the sheer sense of elation I felt when I stumbled across a six-pack of root beer one time.)
There are a surprising number of small international grocery stores in the area, catering to people from all over the world. You’ve seen them, but not noticed them. Thirty-seven percent of urban shopping centers in the state — a figure I just made up — have small, inconspicuous markets in them that specialize in West African or Mexican or Pakistani foods. If you need cardamom pods, you’ll be able to find them in most of these stores. Or fermented tofu. Or dried West African river fish.
Obviously, some of this can be a bit overwhelming. Even if you are from another country — India, for example — it doesn’t naturally follow that you will necessarily know anything about Mexican food.
So here’s what we’ll do: Let’s take a look at a few international markets, and pick an ingredient — something with a low barrier to appreciation by a beginner. Let’s figure out what you can do with that ingredient, and then look at a cookbook to help you learn more about cooking the sorts of groceries you might find at that store.
Spice Center
245 Maple St. in Manchester (across from Yankee Lanes on Valley Street), 626-7290. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
So where would you go to find cardamom pods?
The Spice Center on Maple Street would be a good bet.
This is a small, family-owned, Middle Eastern market. If you are cooking something Mediterranean, this is a good place to find ingredients — olives, flatbreads, Lebanese pickles and of course spices. If you want to grind whole spices yourself — which you should try; it will change how you feel about them — this is the place to find them. The staff is extremely nice and likes to help you find what you’re looking for. They also like to talk about cooking.
This is the one place I can reliably find Turkish delight — a shockingly good hybrid of gummi bears, fudge and a bouquet of roses.
“I’m trusting you on this. I’m nervous about trying new foods. What should I buy here?” you say.
Let’s ease into this. Aside from Turkish delight, I’d recommend picking up the ingredients for a hummus plate: fresh flatbread, pickled turnips and a couple types of olives.
Homemade Hummus 2 15.5-ounce cans of chickpeas, sometimes labeled as garbanzo beans 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 clove fresh garlic ½ cup (117 grams) tahini, sort of like a peanut butter made from sesame seeds 1 lemon, squeezed olive oil and paprika to garnish (optional) Using a colander, drain and rinse the chickpeas to wash away any metallic taste from the cans. In a blender or food processor, combine the chickpeas, salt, garlic and a generous cup of water. Blend or process on low speed for two minutes or so. The mixture will be a tan color and look a little grainy. Add the tahini and lemon juice, then blend or process again for three to four minutes. Pour into a serving dish. Garnish with a splash of olive oil and a sprinkling of paprika, then surround the bowl with olives, pickled turnips and torn or sliced pieces of flatbread.
Homemade hummus. Photo by John Fladd.
We’ve all had hummus before. It generally ranges from “meh” to “pretty good.” Making it yourself is a bit of a revelation; it is nutty and rich and slightly warm from the blender. It goes surprisingly well with salty, oily things like olives or pickled turnips. Pickled turnips come in a jar. They are about the size and shape of thick-cut french fries, and they are an electric pink color. They are crunchy and salty and can be your adventure of the week, your doorway into a new type of eating.
“Is there a cookbook that would teach me more about Middle Eastern food?” you ask.
The Cooking of the Eastern Mediterranean: 215 Healthy, Vibrant, and Inspired Recipes by Paula Wolfert (Ecco, 1994) is an excellent overview of some of the key ingredients that are used in the area we loosely call the “Middle East,” from Georgia and Armenia through to Lebanon and Israel. Paula Wolfert is a veteran food writer, and her recipes are extremely reliable.
Two Guys Food Market
414 Union St. in Manchester, 627-7099. Open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
So you’re a big fan of Mexican food. Your delivery guy knows to expect your taco order every Friday. Your dream job in high school was working the counter at Taco Bell.
But for years you’ve heard whispers that most “Mexican” food doesn’t actually have a lot to do with food that actual Mexicans eat. A Spanish-speaking friend took you to a little out-of-the-way place that her family likes, and the food blew your mind. You decide to look up some more authentic Central American recipes, but you’re confused by some of the ingredients.
What’s the difference between Mexican oregano and regular oregano? Isn’t hibiscus a flower? What the heck is Achiote?
One of the best places to start to figure all this out is Two Guys Market on Union Street in Manchester. It is a classic bodega; it specializes in fast, spur-of-the-moment purchases — suitcases of beer, cold soda, lottery tickets, that sort of thing. Think of it as a superette with better music. But what Two Guys has that a random convenience store doesn’t is a wall display of dozens of Central American specialty spices, the ones that will give you confidence in your cooking and open your mind to trying new foods that aren’t covered with neon-orange queso.
Salsa de Chipotle. Photo by John Fladd.
“What should I buy?” you ask.
Spices and canned chipotle peppers.
You: “I like the idea of learning more about this, but my eyes glaze over when I try to read a cookbook.”
Try Food from My Heart: Cuisines of Mexico Remembered and Reimagined by Zarela Martinez (CreateSpace Independent Publishing, 368 pages). Zarela Martinez is a well-known chef and restaurateur — and mother of celebrity chef Aarón Sánchez — who was born and lived in several different regions of Mexico and the Southwest U.S. Food from My Heart is half memoir and half cookbook. She describes what it was like to live in each of these areas, what the food culture is like in each, and how each place changed her life. By the time she gets to recipes from an area, a reader can wrap their head around a dish and not be intimidated by it.
“OK, can you recommend a super-easy recipe from this book that won’t scare me?” you ask.
Yes, I can.
Salsa de Chipotle 2 Tablespoons melted lard or vegetable oil. If you are the type of person that saves it, bacon grease would work very well, too. 2 large garlic cloves, minced 1 medium-sized onion, chopped, about 1 cup 3 pounds very ripe tomatoes, chopped 2-3 canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce — These are spicy smoked jalapeños. Use these to adjust the heat level to your taste. 1½ teaspoons Mexican oregano ½ teaspoon kosher salt Sauté the garlic and onion in oil until they are soft and translucent. Add the other ingredients, stir to combine and simmer uncovered over low heat for 15-20 minutes, stirring often. Use your blender or an immersion blender to puree the sauce. Strain through a fine-meshed strainer.
Although a lot of Americans use the word “salsa” to refer to a particular scoopable condiment, it actually means “sauce” in Spanish. You can definitely use this sauce for chips, but it is an outstanding cooking sauce. It is smoky, spicy and slightly sweet. As you become more confident in your cooking, this will become your standby base for a large number of dishes.
Saigon Asian Market
476 Union St. in Manchester, 935-9597. Open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Union Street in Manchester is a really good food street; in addition to multiple bodegas and small restaurants, it also has one of the best Asian markets in the state.
As its name suggests, Saigon is a Vietnamese market, but it also carries a large stock of Chinese ingredients as well. It is an excellent place to find fresh Asian produce and cuts of meat that you won’t find in a regular supermarket, and rumor has it that a lot of local chefs buy their seafood here to cook on their days off. It has a really impressive amount of dried and canned East Asian ingredients.
“What should I buy here?” you ask.
Vegetarian Crystal Summer Rolls (Cuðn Chay Viét Nam). Photo by John Fladd.
So very many things, but the number of bottled Asian sauces, especially hot sauces, is a little mind-numbing.
“I was starting to feel more confident, but now I’m a little intimidated. Is there a book that will help me sort all these ingredients out?”
Two of them, actually. The Asian Grocery Store Demystified by Linda Bladholm (Renaissance Books, 240 pages) is a pocket-sized reference book to carry around with you when you are trying to get a handle on the thousands of bewildering and intriguing foods around you. Vietnamese Cooking by Paulette Do Van (Quantum Books) is a well-indexed cookbook with a good description of ingredients and techniques in the first few chapters. The recipes are clear and to the point.
“I’m not saying I will, but if I decided to cook something a little bit fancier — something that doesn’t involve my blender — what would you recommend?” you ask.
Vegetarian Crystal Summer Rolls (Cuðn Chay Viét Nam) From Vietnamese Cooking, by Paulette Do Van
Do not be intimidated by the number of ingredients. The secret to most Asian cooking — and cooking in general — is to measure and prepare all the ingredients ahead of time.
1 8-ounce (225-gram) box of rice vermicelli, often labeled as “rice sticks.” These are very thin rice noodles, about the thickness of angel hair pasta. 4-5 dried Chinese mushrooms. I use sliced dried shiitakes. 2 large dried black wood ear fungus. Don’t panic; these are just another type of dried mushroom. 1 packet dried Vietnamese rice paper. These look like plastic tortillas. They will soften up in warm water. ½ jar pickled red onions 2-3 crispy dill pickles, cut into matchsticks ½ can sliced bamboo shoots 1 medium carrot, grated ½ can pineapple rings, drained and sliced 1 small bunch cilantro, rinsed and chopped
Dipping Sauce 4 ounces (100 ml) Maggi Liquid Seasoning 1 Tablespoon lemon juice 1 clove garlic, crushed ½ serrano pepper, seeded and finely minced
Whisk the dipping sauce ingredients together, then set aside. Soak the dried mushrooms in very hot water for half an hour or so, or until they have softened. Drain them, then slice them thinly. Soak the rice noodles until soft, then drain them. Prepare all the other ingredients and lay them out in separate bowls. Don’t let yourself get intimidated by all the ingredients; you’ve already done the hard work. In a large bowl, or the bottom of a frying pan, soak one of the rice paper rounds until it is soft, but not falling apart, about 45 seconds. Lay the rice paper out on a piece of parchment paper or a silicon mat, then place some of each of the ingredients in the center of the rice paper. You will have to experiment, but you will use less of each ingredient than you anticipate — 1 to 2 tablespoons of each. Fold the sides of the rice paper in ¼ of the way toward the center, then roll up your ingredients, starting from the bottom. Repeat this until you have run out of one or more of the ingredients. Your first couple of summer rolls will be a little wonky, but you will quickly get very good at this.
These summer rolls are delicious and refreshing, simultaneously soft and crunchy, sweet and savory. The rice noodles have a different crunchy texture than the vegetables. The rice paper wrapper is tender but chewy.
I have a friend who swears by making extra summer rolls, then crisping up leftovers in his air fryer.
Indian cuisine
If you are interested in learning about Indian cooking, there several South Asian markets in the area, but two stand out:
Himalayas General Store
359 Elm St. in Manchester (next to Van Otis Chocolates, across the street from the downtown Market Basket), 222-2366. Open daily, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
This is a small family-owned store specializing in Indian and Nepalese staples — lentils, grains, flours, cooking oils, and spices. The staff is extremely friendly and will cheerfully answer any questions you have, or make suggestions about what to cook.
Patel Brothers
Willow Springs Plaza, 292 Daniel Webster Hwy. in Nashua (next to the Home Depot, near the mall), 888-8009. Open daily 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
This is an Indian supermarket, easily as big as any supermarket you care to name. Patel Brothers carries an almost unimaginable variety of staples, fresh produce and Indian baked goods made in-house. Because India has dozens of languages and hundreds of cultures, even Indian shoppers are frequently surprised by unfamiliar foods. This is where most South Asian families in the area do their weekly or monthly shopping.
“This sounds intimidating. Can you suggest something to help me figure out Indian cooking?” you ask.
There really isn’t one type of Indian cooking. The food in most American Indian restaurants is dishes from one area of the country, but there are many other cooking traditions. Here are two cookbooks that are good starting places: 660 Curries (Kindle Edition) by Raghavan Iyer (Workman Publishing Company, 832 pages) and Dakshin: Vegetarian Cuisine from South India by Chandra Padmanabhan (Periplus Editions, 176 pages).
I judge a cookbook by how beaten up it is. If it has stains, notes in the margins, dog-eared pages and a broken binding, I find that a very good sign — it means that a cook has really used it. That’s what my copy of 660 Curries looks like. 660 Curries is currently out of print in hardcover or paperback, so your best bet is to buy it used, or as an eBook.
The phrase “curry” can be deceiving. For someone who doesn’t eat much Indian food, it means the smell and taste of dry curry powder from the spice section of a supermarket. When it’s used to describe actual South Asian food, it means a huge variety of dishes, usually with the consistency of a stew, but almost never tasting like commercial curry powder. The recipes are solid, and varied enough that almost any cook will be able to find a dish they love.
Uthappams with Coconut Chutney. Photo by John Fladd.
There are dozens of different Indian cuisines, but they break down into two main categories — Northern and Southern dishes. The vast majority of Indian restaurants in the U.S. serve Northern Indian foods. Dakshin is a collection of Southern recipes. The dishes are solid, and this book is worth buying for the photographs alone.
You ask: “What should I buy?”
Fresh curry leaves. These are not what curry powder is made of; they are leaves that are often used to make a curry. Smell them — take a deep whiff — and your eyes will open very wide.
“What should I cook?”
Uthappams with Coconut Chutney (Southern Indian Rice Pancakes with Coconut Relish)
Coconut Chutney 1 cup (115 grams) grated unsweetened coconut ½ cup (85 grams) finely chopped onion 1 teaspoon minced ginger ½ serrano pepper, seeded and minced ¼ cup (60 ml) plain yogurt ½ teaspoon fresh squeezed lemon juice ¾ teaspoon kosher salt ½ cup (120 ml) water – more if necessary to thin out the mixture ½ teaspoon black or yellow mustard seeds 2 small dried chiles – arbol chiles are good for this. 8-10 curry leaves 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil Blitz the first eight ingredients in a food processor or blender to make a thick paste. Heat the oil in a large frying pan or skillet, and have a lid ready. Add the dried chilies, curry leaves and mustard seeds to the hot oil, stir once, then cover the pan. In a few seconds the mustard seeds will pop against the lid like popcorn. After a few seconds, add the coconut paste to the pan, and stir to combine. Cook for 20-30 seconds, then remove from heat, and transfer to a serving bowl.
Uthappams Uthappams — delicious, savory rice pancakes — are an easy and painless introduction to South Indian cooking. Unfortunately, every uthappam recipe I have looked at involves very complicated instructions for making the batter. I was almost ready to give up and find another dish to make, when I was struck by a thought: “I wonder….” And yes, Patel Brothers does carry premade uthappam batter. 1 quart container pre-made uthappam batter 1 onion, finely chopped (about 200 grams) 1 tomato, finely chopped (about 150 grams) 1-2 serrano chiles, seeded and finely chopped 1 small bunch cilantro (about 45 grams), finely chopped vegetable oil for shallow frying Heat oil in a deep frying pan. Use a little more than you would for regular pancakes. Pour a ladleful of batter into the hot oil to make an 8-inch pancake. Sprinkle the other ingredients on top of the batter. Cook until it is crispy around the edges and some bubbles have made little holes in the top. Because this batter is so thick, you can carefully lift up an edge with a spatula and look underneath to see if it is ready to flip yet or not. Flip, and cook for another minute or two. Remove to a warm plate, then make more, until you run out of batter. Eat with coconut chutney.
This is delicious and savory. The outside of each uthappam is crispy, with a toasted rice flavor, but it’s moist and chewy inside. One of the great things about Indian cooking is that it will constantly surprise you. In this case, the flavor is very nice, but it is the texture that will make you want to make this frequently.
Siberia Food Market
50 S. Willow St. in Manchester, 621-0017. Open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Выпей чайку – забудешь тоску. Have a cup of tea and you will forget longing. —Russian proverb
Afternoon tea. Photo by John Fladd.
Siberia, on South Willow Street in Manchester, carries Russian, Polish and Eastern European groceries, from Russian candies to frozen pierogis to many, many types of sausage. There is a deli case with a generous variety of meats and cheeses. The most interesting aisle displays several types of Russian teas, and the honey to sweeten them. Americans often think of Tea with a capital “T” as a Chinese or British staple, but there is a long, deep tea tradition in Eastern Europe. This is an excellent place to get everything you need for a proper Russian High Tea.
“What should I buy here?” you ask.
Tea, jam and cookies for a Russian High Tea.
“That sounds really good. What should I serve?”
Several sources describe the Russian spirit of hospitality, and mention sandwiches, cakes, blinis with caviar, and several types of flavored vodka as part of a traditional Russian Tea. On its website, the Russian Tea Room in New York City says: “Afternoon Tea is traditionally composed of sandwiches (usually cut delicately into ‘fingers’), scones with clotted cream and jam, sweet pastries and cakes.” — which sounds really good but also costs $95 a person, plus $30 for a glass of champagne.
I think most of us would be fine with tea, cookies, sweets and maybe toast with jam, so long as it was offered with an open heart. While optional, very cold vodka would make a very good impression.
“What if I’d like to cook something?” you ask.
The cookbook I always fall back on for Eastern European cooking in spite of its intimidatingly long title is Russian, German & Polish Food & Cooking: With Over 185 Traditional Recipes From The Baltic To The Black Sea, Shown Step By Step In Over 750 Clear And Tempting Photographs, by Lesley Chamberlain (Hermes House, 256 pages). While not exhaustive in any way, this is a good introduction to three styles of European cooking. The recipes go step by step and are easy to follow. Most include photos of one of the steps and of the final dish. Very few of them call for exotic ingredients, and — very gratifying to me, personally — they are listed in cups, ounces and grams.
Maddy’s African Market
121 Loudon Road, Unit 1, in Concord, 545-9478. Open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
While most of us have thought about learning more about French or Chinese cooking, unless we have a personal connection with Africa it rarely occurs to us what a rich cooking tradition sub-Saharan Africa — particularly Western Africa — has. Maddy’s is small, but stuffed with ingredients for African cooking. The staff is very friendly and happy to answer questions, even ones like, “What is this and what do you do with it?” I’m glad I asked that particular question, because it turns out that the strips of tree bark that I was about to buy to use in a stew would have tasted terrible, but would have helped if I was running a fever.
You ask, “What should I buy?”
It might be easy to be intimidated by some of the less familiar foods at Maddy’s, but my recommendation is to buy a strip of jollof rice spice packets.
Jollof rice is a spicy rice dish that everyone in West Africa grows up eating. Somewhat as with Southern biscuits, each country, village or even household has its own take on it that they argue endlessly over. It can range from very spicy but not too hot to incandescent. This particular spice mix doesn’t pack any heat but helps provide a spice base to build from.
Plantain-Coconut Stew 1 medium Spanish onion, roughly chopped 2 Fresno peppers, seeded and finely chopped 1 cup coconut milk juice of 2 limes, about 3 ounces or 1/3 cup ½ cup vegetable oil 2 yellow plantains (about 1 lb.), peeled, quartered, and cut into 1-inch pieces. Plantains, which look like very large bananas, are next to the bananas in the produce section at most supermarkets. They are in the same family of bananas, but while bananas are sweet, plantains are starchy. They are very much like tropical potatoes. Do not fear them. Small handful of cilantro, rinsed and chopped ½ teaspoon ground ginger ½ teaspoon kosher salt black pepper to taste 1 teaspoon Jollof Rice Spice (see above) Simmer the onion, peppers, coconut milk, and lime juice in a medium saucepan for ten minutes, then remove from heat and set aside. Heat the oil in a deep frying pan, and shallow-fry the plantain pieces until they are golden brown on all sides, like home fries. Add the cooked plantains to the stew base, and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and serve.
Plantain-Coconut Stew. Photo by John Fladd.
This is a classic sweet-sour dish. The sweetness of the coconut milk is set off by the acidity of the lime juice. The Fresno peppers carry a little heat, but more flavor. The Jollof Rice Spice deepens the flavor and gives a gentle red color to the stew. In West Africa, you would probably eat this with fufu (steamed cassava paste) or ugali (cornmeal porridge). I would serve it with couscous and a cold beer.
“I think I could cook that! Where did you get the recipe?”
The Soul of a New Cuisine: A Discovery of the Foods and Flavors of Africa by Marcus Samuelsson (Harvest Publishers, 368 pages). Many cookbooks written by celebrity chefs don’t work well for home cooks. Used to working behind the line in restaurants, the chefs don’t always think about what ingredients and equipment are available to the rest of us. Samuelsson has written a very thoughtful book that describes the food traditions of different regions of Africa and gives the dishes some context. He is aware of which ingredients most Americans can easily get their hands on, and has adapted the recipes to make them more accessible to people who haven’t grown up eating these dishes. It is beautifully illustrated; it’s as much a coffee table book as a cookbook.
