Author: The Hippo Press

News from the local food scene

• Gate City Brewfest: Gate City Brewfest is this Saturday, Aug. 26, from 1 to 5 p.m. (entry for VIP is at noon) at Holman Stadium (67 Amherst St., Nashua). Over 100 brews and vendors will be in attendance, such as 603 brewery, Citizen Cider, Canteen Spirits, Seacoast Pretzel Company and the Rotary Club of Nashua. There will be live music by Bradley Copper Kettle & Friends, Phall Roots and Frank Viele in addition to bounce houses, games and other activities. Tickets range from $15 to $70 and can be purchased at nashuapal.com or via eventbrite. See gatecitybrewfestnh.com for details including information about parking and shuttle buses.

• Stretch and Sip: Stop by Averill House Vineyard (21 Averill Road, Brookline) from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 26 for yoga and wine tasting. A tasting of four samples of wine will follow an hour-long yoga class led by Happy Body Yoga instructor Leah. Tickets are $30 per person and an additional charcuterie board is available for $20. Tickets can be purchased online at exploretock.com.

• Bottle Your Own Experience Sundays: Tour the vineyard, winery and wine cellar, learn about the history of Brookline’s Ice District and enjoy four wine flights and a charcuterie board at Averill House Vineyard (21 Averill Road) in Brookline on Sunday, Aug. 27. The vintner will choose a wine for you to bottle (one bottle is included and additional bottles can be purchased) and you’ll take home an Averill House Vineyard Wine glass. The first session will be held at noon and the second session will be at 2 p.m. Attendees are advised to arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled time. Tickets are $59 and can be purchased at exploretock.com.

• Bottle signing with celebrity chef Robert Irvine: Sign up now to reserve your spot for a meet and greet and bottle signing and tasting with celebrity chef Robert Irvine at the NH Liquor & Wine Outlet in Bedford (9 Leavy Drive) on Monday, Aug. 28, from noon to 3 p.m. held by the NH Liquor & Wine Outlet and Stone Fence Beverage. Customers who purchase a bottle of Irvine’s Vodka ($15.99 to $21.99) or Gin ($19.99 to $25.99) during this time frame will be able to participate. Reserve your spot online via eventbrite.

• Save the date: Glendi, the 44th annual celebration of Greek food and culture at St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral (650 Hanover St. in Manchester; stgeorgenh.org/activities/glendi, 622-9113), will take place Friday, Sept. 15, through Sunday, Sept. 17. Admission is free but bring money for the dinner or gyros and coffee, pastries and other Greek eats. The festival is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

• Get a taste: The 18th annual Taste of New Hampshire will take place Tuesday, Oct. 3, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Dr. in Concord). Tickets cost $40. The event features sweet and savory eats from area restaurants as well as live music and a silent auction — all to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Central New Hampshire. See tasteofnh.com.

Cultural fest brings food, music and dance

By Jill Lessard
food@hippopress.com

African/Caribbean and Latino cultures come together for a multi-sensory celebration featuring mouth-watering food, vibrant music and engaging entertainment at the 2023 We Are One Festival Saturday, Aug. 19, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Manchester.

“It’s great seeing everyone in the park getting an opportunity to participate in this event,” said Sudi Lett, co-chair of the We Are One Committee and a Chicago native who has lived in Manchester for most of his life. “It’s one of few opportunities to directly engage with Afro-Latino culture and people and an example of what we want Manchester to be about — people helping people, people learning from each other, and celebrating everything that makes us human.”

This year’s We Are One Festival will have acclaimed entertainers including drummer, dancer and New Hampshire Artist Laureate Theo Martey, founder and leader of the Akwaaba Ensemble; Boston singer-songwriter Ruby Shabazz; Zambia’s JohnLu & The Band; and Ariel y Grupo Letales, among other performers. The event will also include the talents of DJ 4eign (pronounced foreign), who has worked for some of the industry greats such as French Montana, Young MA, Fabolous and Usher. Born in Kenya, “The African kid” has become a local success as an acclaimed disc jockey on Boston radio station Jam’n 94.5.

A variety of sweet and savory treats will be offered at the fair.

“For food, we are anchored by Don Quijote Restaurant, whose chicken and beef empanadas are always popular,” said Lett, the Youth and Education Director with Young Organizers United (Y.O.U.), host of the event. “From Maya’s Kitchen, the oxtail and rice offers tender beef, flavored beautifully,” he said. “And Tokoss offers samoussas, an African dish similar to empanadas but served as a triangle with beef or chicken and veggies inside.” Cold treats will be served by Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream, as well as a few new community vendors offering different versions of flavored ice.

The We Are One Festival combines the former Latinos Unidos and Ujima Collective, out of a need to create a local community with culturally appropriate offerings.

“It started out as the African Caribbean Festival and the Latino Festival, and about 10 years ago it was decided to combine efforts in a show of solidarity,” Lett said. “The success of this event goes to everyone involved, whether through attending, marketing or being a vendor.” Lett, who serves as boys basketball varsity coach at Manchester Central High School, has been attending the festival since he was a teenager and, as a legacy to his parents, Brenda and Woullard Lett, is committed to “keeping the continuity of bringing our community together.”

The We Are One legacy continues as the next generation takes up the mantle for producing the event. Sixteen-year-old Mia Rose Taylor serves on the Civic Engagement Committee for the summer program of festival host Y.O.U. Taylor became involved because she’s passionate about bettering her community — and, also, “festivals are just fun!” she said.

Considerable work is involved in mounting such a multi-faceted production, an effort that is currently shared among the Granite State Organizing Project, Young Organizers United, Centro Latino, and SDW Communications. Lett is responsible for logistics, marketing and staffing. Taylor’s job involves contacting community figures and groups to help advertise the event.

“The We Are One Festival can be just as informative as it is entertaining. There’s bound to be something to draw you in,” said Taylor, a student at Manchester Central High School. “It’s perfect for people who are looking for something fun to do with their family and friends before summer vacation is over.”

What are Lett’s favorite aspects of the event? “I’d say the food and the community.” And what does he hope folks will get from the experience? “A full belly and a great time!” 

“Immersing yourself in all these different vibrant cultures is something you don’t want to miss out on,” said Taylor. “It’s going to be a blast!”

2023 We Are One Festival
When: Saturday, Aug. 19, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (rain or shine)
Where: Veterans Memorial Park, 723 Elm St., Manchester
More info: email waofest@gmail.com

Featured photo: Theo Martey. Courtesy photo.