Where do you find the food with the heat that makes your eyes water and makes you crave another serving? “Restaurant that Brings the Heat” was a category we asked readers about in the Best of 2024 Readers’ Poll, the results of which ran in the March 28 issue. In this week’s cover story, we expand that original list of six winners to look at the top 11 restaurants, as voted on by readers, that Bring the Heat with recommendations for dishes to try.
Also on the cover Hark, a faire! The New Hampshire Renaissance Faire runs this weekend and next (see page 16). Looking for other family fun events? Check out the Kiddie Pool (page 18). And enjoy the music of Joni Mitchell at a tribute concert on Friday (page 29).
New Hampshire is nurse-friendly In recognition of National Nurses Week, WalletHub (wallethub.com), an online finance management company has released the ...
I own and operate Dragon’s Den Candles [DragonsDenCandles.com]. I make fantasy, tabletop gaming themed candles that are all designed with a certain sense in mind to give ambiance when you’re playing a game, or reading a book, watching a movie, that kind of thing.
How long have you had this job?
It’s what I’ve been doing for the last couple years now, about 2 1/2 years now.
What led you to this career field and your current job?
I worked in retail for 20 years and I finally got myself out of that…. Trying to come up with something new on a random Sunday my wife and I started making candles just for fun and we both really enjoyed it and it just kind of snowballed from there. I’m a big nerd so I took it in the nerdy direction with the candles I make.
What kind of education or training did you need?
I was mostly all self-taught. Did a lot of research online. We got some candle-making starter kits that had like the basic instructions and just looked up all the different ways people do them and figured out from there, as we narrowed it down and honed our method.
What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?
Just my usual casual everyday wear. We do all this right out of our house so … just khakis and a T-shirt.
What is the most challenging thing about your work, and how do you deal with it?
We have two different candle lines we mainly sell at conventions and craft fairs and ren faires…. We’re constantly traveling up and all over New England selling at different places. It’s a lot of maintaining the proper amount of stock…
What do you wish you had known at the beginning of your career?
Any kind of knowledge into all these different kinds of shows and events that we sell at would have helped tremendously, and just the general knowledge of how much of my house doing this was going to absorb.
What do you wish other people knew about your job?
Probably the amount of time that goes into it. It is a long process making all the candles that we make.
What was your first job?
My very first job ever, I worked at when I was 16 years old, Whalom park down in … Mass. It was a little amusement park. It’s no longer there. I did puppet shows, marionette shows and [was one of] the big costume guys that walked around the park.
What is the best piece of work-related advice you’ve ever received?
At the start of anything you do, it’s always going to look messy. You just need to keep pushing through. It will eventually get to what it needs to be. —Zachary Lewis
Explain your job and what it entails.
I own and operate Dragon’s Den Candles [DragonsDenCandles.com]. I make fantasy, tabletop gaming themed candles that are all designed with a certain sense in mind to give ambiance when you’re playing a game, or reading a book, watching a movie, that kind of thing.
How long have you had this job?
It’s what I’ve been doing for the last couple years now, about 2 1/2 years now.
What led you to this career field and your current job?
I worked in retail for 20 years and I finally got myself out of that…. Trying to come up with something new on a random Sunday my wife and I started making candles just for fun and we both really enjoyed it and it just kind of snowballed from there. I’m a big nerd so I took it in the nerdy direction with the candles I make.
What kind of education or training did you need?
I was mostly all self-taught. Did a lot of research online. We got some candle-making starter kits that had like the basic instructions and just looked up all the different ways people do them and figured out from there, as we narrowed it down and honed our method.
What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?
Just my usual casual everyday wear. We do all this right out of our house so … just khakis and a T-shirt.
What is the most challenging thing about your work, and how do you deal with it?
We have two different candle lines we mainly sell at conventions and craft fairs and ren faires…. We’re constantly traveling up and all over New England selling at different places. It’s a lot of maintaining the proper amount of stock…
What do you wish you had known at the beginning of your career?
Any kind of knowledge into all these different kinds of shows and events that we sell at would have helped tremendously, and just the general knowledge of how much of my house doing this was going to absorb.
What do you wish other people knew about your job?
Probably the amount of time that goes into it. It is a long process making all the candles that we make.
What was your first job?
My very first job ever, I worked at when I was 16 years old, Whalom park down in … Mass. It was a little amusement park. It’s no longer there. I did puppet shows, marionette shows and [was one of] the big costume guys that walked around the park.
What is the best piece of work-related advice you’ve ever received?
At the start of anything you do, it’s always going to look messy. You just need to keep pushing through. It will eventually get to what it needs to be. —Zachary Lewis
Five favorites Favorite book: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Favorite movie: Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Favorite music: lo-fi ambient music that I can have going on while I’m doing other stuff Favorite food: pizza with bacon on top Favorite thing about NH: I like the environment. It’s hilly, there’s trees, there’s rivers, I like that general atmosphere, that kind of outdoorsy air that it has here.
• The children get a comic convention of their own at Kids Con New England, which will take place Saturday, May 11, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Everett Arena, 15 Loudon Road in Concord. The event features artists, illustrators and authors; performers such as Sages Entertainment magic and musical guests Clemenzi Crusaders; cosplayers as princesses, superheroes, Star Wars characters and more; game makers and gaming; vendors of comics, collectables and more, and activities such as Jedi training, according to kidsconne.com, where you can see a list of scheduled participants and purchase tickets. Tickets cost $15 per person, $12 for seniors and military and $55 for a family-of-four bundle; under 5 get in for free but all children must be accompanied by an adult, according to the website.
More books
• Nashua Public Library will be hosting children’s author Meg Medina, the Library of Congress’ current National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, for a special afternoon of food, books and lively conversation with on Sunday, May 12, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. where a complimentary lunch is provided and kids and teens will receive a free Meg Medina book and a flower they can give to a caregiver, courtesy of the Friends of the Nashua Public Library, according to their website. NPL is one of four public libraries selected this year for Medina’s national tour to introduce her new platform, ¡Cuéntame! Let’s Talk Books!, according to the same website. She’ll also talk about Evelyn Del Rey is Moving Away and Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass. Medina will sign your books and copies of her books will be available for purchase from Balin Books, according to the same website. Visit nashualibrary.libcal.com/event/12307515.
Fun with foxes
• On Monday, May 13, Concord Public Library (45 Green St.) will host Fabulous Foxes from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., recommended for families with children of all ages. Registration is required. Participants will explore the curiously cat-like member of the dog family before learning how to mimic a few of their fascinating features. Visit concordnh.gov for more information.
Kids on stage
• The Majestic Academy of Dramatic Arts Teens will present Les Miserables, School Editionon Friday, May 10, at 7 p.m., Saturday, May 11, at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, May 12, at 2 p.m. at the Derry Opera House (29 West Broadway in Derry, majestictheatre.net, 669-7469). The school edition features updated orchestrations based on the Tony-nominated 2014 Broadway revival; this approved edition has been abridged to a running time of just over two hours while maintaining the integrity of this musical masterpiece, according to a press release. Tickets range from $15 to $20.
• The Peacock Players will present Godspell as their spring teen mainstage production at the 14 Court St. theater in Nashua on Friday, May 10, at 7 p.m., Saturday, May 11, at 2 p.m., and Sunday, May 12, at 2 p.m. and will run through Sunday, May 19, according to their website. Godspell was the first major musical theater offering from Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, Children of Eden), and it took the world by storm with an eclectic parade of beloved songs, in which a small group of people help Jesus Christ tell different parables by using a wide variety of games, storytelling techniques and a hefty dose of comic timing, according to the same website. Admission is free. See peacockplayers.org.
• The Flying Gravity Circus (222 Isaac Frye Hwy. in Wilton, 413-313-1778, flyinggravitycircus.org) presents its Big Show at the Amato Center for the Performing Arts (56 Mont Vernon St. in Milford, 672-1002, amatocenter.org) Friday, May 10, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, May 11, at 2 and 7 p.m. The Flying Gravity Circus is a nonprofit youth organization promoting positive development in children and teens through comprehensive circus arts education, according to the website. The Big Show will feature 45 troupers, ages 10 through 18. Tickets cost $25 for adults, $15 for children 3-12 and seniors 65+.
Cheer your team
• The New Hampshire Fisher Cats continue a string of games this week against the Harrisburg Senators. Games start at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 9, (which is Wizards & Wands Night) and Friday, May 10 (which will feature Atlas Fireworks). On Saturday, May 11, gametime is at 4:05 p.m. and the team will play as the Manchester Chicken Tenders. On Sunday, May 12, take mom to a 1:35 p.m. game, where the first 1,000 fans through the gates can get a Fisher Cats sun hat, according to milb.com/new-hampshire, where you can purchase tickets, Manchester Chicken Tenders merch and more.
• New Hampshire Roller Derby opens its season Saturday, May 11, with a mixed public scrimmage from 5 to 9 p.m. at JFK Memorial Stadium (303 Beech St. in Manchester, 624-6444). For more information, visit NH Roller Derby’s website, nhrollerderby.com.
Fun with mom
• Celebrate Mother’s Day at Charmingfare Farm (774 High St. in Candia), where they are offering free admission to moms when accompanied by their children who are 12 years and under on Sunday, May 12, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., making it the perfect family outing, according to their website. Explore their scenic farm, see firsthand how animal mothers care for their young, enter into a raffle with the possibility of winning a unique birdhouse, and even take rides on a pony, tractor, or a horse-drawn carriage, according to the same website. Moms will also enjoy a 10 percent discount in the gift barn and children under 23 months are free, regardless. Tickets range between $22 and $29 and moms with up to five children are free. Find out more at visitthefarm.com.
• Guess who has meals for kids that Mom doesn’t have to cook? Many area restaurants! Find a listing of spots offering special meals for brunch or dinner on Sunday, May 12, in the May 2 issue of the Hippo. Find the e-edition at hippopress.com; the story starts on page 24.
Gather up some medieval garb and a sense of wonder to journey to the 20th annual New Hampshire Renaissance Faire on Saturday, May 11, Sunday, May 12, Saturday, May 18, and Sunday, May 19. Galavant with fair maidens, heroic knights, mystical fae creatures and maniacal wizards, and feel free to rearrange those adjectives in any manner because the New Hampshire Renaissance Faire is the place where each traveler gets to decide how to express their inner sorcerer, faery or salty pirate spirit.
If your wardrobe is light on tunics and gowns, one of the many clothing vendors, such as MeadHall Outfitters or MoonDragon Designs, can get you properly dressed for your stint in the land of dragons. There will be an ample bounty of wares such as jewelry, potions, lotions, puzzles, books, games, art, and just a seemingly endless amount of supplies for your trials or relaxation in the realm.
This realm would not exist without the dedication of a team of volunteers and board of directors of the nonprofit that puts it all together for fun, friends and charity. Their main charities are the New Hampshire Food Bank and Rockingham Meals on Wheels, and they have donated more than $350,000 to local charities.
Photo courtesy of Angela Cook.
Andrew Jefferson, the current president of the board of directors of the 3 Maples Renaissance Corporation nonprofit organization, the guild in charge of the Faire, said, “We staff the Faire with volunteers…. We’re always are trying to let our volunteers know how much we appreciate them … without them it probably wouldn’t go off.”
Andrew Jefferson is also a member of the Corr Thieves, an action/comedy group, as well as the Brotherhood of the Arrow and Sword, a group whose focus is on medieval fighting reenactment. The Brotherhood “have a whole encampment where they make it as close to medieval life as they can and they teach people about medieval life,” he said, along with unchoreographed sparring between medieval knights and soldiers. There will also be craft demonstrations from select vendors, an archery range, and a children’s glen with drawing and other fun activities, but children need to be accompanied in the glen for there be ogres and dragons about.
The entertainers and reenactors are a huge draw to the Faire with many stages for their performances. The Brotherhood of the Arrow and Sword performs at the Battle Arena at noon and 2:30 p.m. both weekends. No jousting this year, but there is a new treat for participants inside The Aerial Artistry realm, which will host the High Flying Fools and Taliesin Phoenix. The Phoenix Ring will hold the Sisters Pendragon, another action/comedy team, as well as Phoenix Swords.
Other performers and bards will grace the Queen’s Stage, where you can enjoy Tea with the Queen or a story from the Duchess of Yorkshire Pudding; the Pub Stage; Sultana Stage, which will showcase The Magic of Flow with LaLoopnaHoops and the storytelling of The Longshanks; and the Minstrel Stagewill host Brother Sylvan and Kate the Storyteller, among others, at various times throughout the day. A full schedule of performances can be found on their website
Groups like The Penniless Jacks focus on sea shanties and pub music.
“The largest group of performers are usually musicians,” Andrew Jefferson said. This is just the tip of the sword hilt on the number of musical performers, which include the The Ladies of Integrity, Aristocracy, Repute, & Society (The LIARS), the Dirge Queen, the Foxy Bard, Gibbon the Troubadour, Kristen Rebecca, and the Harlot Queens. The Harper and the Minstrel and the Shank Painters will be at the Faire for the second weekend.
A magician named Michael OJ as well as belly dancers in the group Shimmynanigans will enchant their audiences too. “They’re really fun for people to watch. They have a really dynamic and exciting show,” Jefferson said of Shimmynanigans.
Betty Jefferson, a member of Shimmynanigans and Andrew’s wife (they originally met at the Faire), spoke a bit on the belly dance art form.
“It’s still a fairly new dance form as we know it, belly dance, but it comes from influences from different folkloric dances … and then it got sorta glitzed up a bit, and you started seeing it in old movies and it eventually became what we now think of as belly dance,” Betty said. “It’s really fun. I think that is kind of what a lot of people go to Faire for, is to just let loose and have a little bit of fun, so we fit in pretty nicely because we are very silly … hence the name, Shimmynanigans.” The group will also be offering free belly dance lessons.
Photos courtesy of Angela Cook.
If slaying trolls is more important to your quest, there will be plenty of vendors to supply the campaign, such as Made by Hand Leather, which is perfect for Live Action Role Play (LARP). “He’ll be selling LARP-ing weapons, so like foam weapons but they look pretty real from far away or even up close, they’re pretty well done,” Andrew said, and Hickory Arms will be supplying hickory wasters, which are “wooden swords or tools used for training.” Knights or maidens whose wineskin is still filled with apple juice can be properly outfitted to defeat any foe. “He [Hickory Arms] sells these little tiny shields and little tiny wooden swords and stuff like that which are really cute,” Andrew said. Other leather and chainmaille vendors will be at the Faire too.
Unless the party had a quick nibble of Lembas bread from Lady Galadriel before arriving (not sure what that means? just ask an elf at the Faire), make sure to grab the leg of some wild beast to sup upon.
“The most popular Renaissance Faire food are turkey legs, which is funny because that wasn’t even a thing, but it’s a thing at faires,” Andrew said. There are also non-wild beast options.
“We try to hit the different types of diets, so there’ll be people that have vegetarian options, vegan options, and anything in between,” he said. Tacos, shaved ice, kettle corn, pastries, coffee and more will be available for a feast. A full list of all vendors, from food to fantasy authors, can be found at nhrenfaire.com.
Throughout the Faire, it is possible to encounter the wandering harpist Guy Todd, a ferocious ogre, and even fae folk.
“There is a faery at our Faire who’s really good with kids and working with them and taking pictures, being silly, and making them feel like it’s a magical little experience,” Andrew said. Thornlily Thistle the Faery, performed by Rina Fay-London, is that faery and she will be at the Faire the first weekend to shower Faire-goers with mystical wonder.
“The magic of faery to me was something that I think people really need … that either connects them back to their inner child or helps them to believe in magic again,” Fay-London said.
Whether you’re ensorceled by faeries, on the hunt for a specific potion, or just satiating a hankering for turkey leg, magic will definitely fuel the fire of New Hampshire Renaissance Faire fun. Each day will follow a loose theme, which can be helpful for those who travel to the Faire every day, just as an option for what garb to grab as a ‘playtron.’ Vestments or cargo shorts, come one and come all, there is something for everyone.
“We try to have an environment that is good for people of all ages and try to hit wherever we can on different interests but still stay as a family faire,” Andrew said.
“We’re so hands-on in helping each other,” he continued. “A lot of people who either volunteer, perform, or vend, or work in any way, they’ll tell you that the New Hampshire Renaissance Faire is a great faire and it’s their home faire and that’s how they feel … very at home there.”
New Hampshire Renaissance Where: 80 Martin Road in Fremont When: Saturday, May 11, Sunday, May 12, Saturday, May 18, and Sunday, May 19, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Theme Days: May 11 Pirates vs. Ninja; May 12 Celtic & Norse; May 18 Faery & Fae; May 19 Dungeons and Dragons Admission: $20 adults, $15 ages 6-12, free for ages 5 and under More info: nhrenfaire.com
Thornlily Thistle the Faery
A faery from the realm of fae shares her magic with humans at Renaissance faires. Find Thornlily @thornlilythistleofficial on Facebook and Instagram. Thornlily is The High Faery Queen Regional of the 11 Northeastern United States Chapter of the Guild of the Fae, a worldwide guild of fae performers.
What is your origin story?
Thornlily Thistle the Faery. Photo by Petit Images.
I come from the realm of the Flower Fae. I decided to visit the land of humans through a bouquet of roses, actually, that was brought to someone by true love. I thought it would be fun to leave that flower realm when that bouquet was given and visit the land of humans and find out what it was all about. I found myself at a renaissance faire. It was almost like being in the faerie realm yet it was a celebration that the humans were putting on. It was the most magical place in the human world to be, so I decided I would come back to visit every single year.
Can you explain where your name came from and how big is the faery world and what is it like?
My name, Thornlily Thistle, was given to me by my faery mother and my faery grandmother. Because I am a Flower Fae I don’t just have rose faeries in my lineage, I have many different flowers in my lineage, and my name was given to me because Thorn is from a rose, Lily is a water flower fae, and Thistle is a prickly little herb which has the same effect as a thorn, so I am just a little bit sassy but also very sweet and that is why I was given the name Thornlily Thistle.
The faerie realm is so big … just as big as the human realm of Earth, maybe even bigger. There are many different types of fae of many different elements. There are fae who are light and dark and sassy and fun; the possibilities are so endless when it comes to the world of fae. It is a great big world and I am blessed to be a part of it and to be able to have the humans become aware of it through what I do.
What is a typical day in the life of a faery, such as yourself?
It’s funny that you ask that because a lot of humans, since I’ve been visiting faires, have misconceptions about the things that I do and they often like to put labels on the things that I do. For instance, if I’m making bubbles, they believe that I’m a bubble faery, when I am dancing they believe I am a dancing faery, or when I am doing flower magic they call me a flower faery. Even though I am a flower faery, back in the faery realm we learn all sorts of different trades. Doing things like singing and playing instruments and dancing and making bubbles are all very common trades that the fae must learn and they naturally do it very well. Most of my days are spent doing these and perfecting these things so that I can perform them for the humans at Faire when I visit.
What’s a piece of advice that you wish humans would take to heart?
My biggest piece of advice that I wish humans would take to heart is to allow their heart to drive them and allow it to let them experience magic and believe in magic. In the faerie realm, that’s very normal for us. It seems to be difficult for humans to hold to as they grow older.
What can travelers to the Renaissance Faire expect if they encounter you on their journey?
Travelers coming to see me at the Renaissance Faire can expect, first of all, to believe in faeries because it is my job to bring that true magic of the realm to life for the land of humans and they can also expect to receive a piece of love and happiness they did not come in the gates with. Many people who travel to Faire are seeking these things in times of darkness and I feel that I’m able to give that to them when they leave the gates.
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities
• In French: The New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra performs French Fantasies, including Berlioz’s “Roman Carnival Overture” and Saint Saëns’ Organ Symphony, at Ste. Marie Roman Catholic Church (378 Notre Dame Ave. in Manchester, 622-4615, enterthenarrowgate.org) Saturday, May 11, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 12, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $35, $30 for seniors and $10 for students, and can be purchased through the Phil’s website, nhphil.org.
• Going outdoors: The Londonderry Arts Council, in collaboration with the New Hampshire Art Association, has announced a plein air painting event to take place in Londonderry on Wednesday, May 15, from 8 a.m. to noon, according to a press release. Plein air painting is a practice of painting landscapes outdoors to capture the natural world’s beauty directly. Artists of all skill levels, from established to aspiring, are invited to participate, according to the release. The painting session will be followed by a communal potluck picnic on the town common. To register for this free event, visit the New Hampshire Art Association Special Interest Groups website at nhartassociation.org/special-interest-groups-copy, scroll down to the Plein Air section and select “Click Here” to access the sign-up form, according to the release. Visit londonderryartscouncil.org.
CATCH THIS Catch Me If You Can: The Musical will be presented by the Actorsingers on Friday, May 10, and Saturday, May 11, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 12, at 2 p.m. at the Keefe Center for the Arts (117 Elm St. in Nashua). Based on the hit film and the incredible true story, Catch Me If You Can is the high-flying musical comedy about chasing your dreams and not getting caught. Tickets cost $20, $18 for seniors and students. See actorsingers.org.
• Art & flowers: Mosaic Art Collective (66 Hanover St., Suite 201, Manchester) holds an opening night on May 11, from 4 to 8 p.m. for their upcoming exhibition “Resurgence: Art of the Botanical,” which is on display now and will run through Friday, May 31. At the opening night guests can meet the artists, explore their creative processes, and enjoy the company of fellow art enthusiasts, according to a press release. Additionally, Mosaic’s high school open studio program has prepared a special installation; three local florists will be creating unique arrangements for auction to benefit Planned Parenthood of New Hampshire, and the exhibition offers a perfect setting to engage with the community and experience the connection between art and nature, according to the same release.
• Call for art: Twiggs Gallery (254 King St. in Boscawen) invites New Hampshire artists to enter artwork inspired by the impossible, the surreal and the fantastical for its summer juried exhibition “When Pigs Fly,” which is inspired by the idiom suggesting that something is utterly improbable. Twiggs encourages participants to explore the limits of imagination and break free from the constraints of reality whether the result is silly, serious, mystical or magical, truth, fiction, political, personal, or even pigs since Twiggs Gallery invites broad interpretations based on the theme, according to a press release. The deadline to enter is Sunday, May 19, and local artist Donna Catanzaro will serve as the exhibit’s juror, according to the same release. Catanzaro, who has exhibited her work nationally, is an interdisciplinary artist with an MFA from Goddard College who through mixed media sculpts from household items and delves into memory and body image, infusing each creation with her distinctive wit, according to the same release. Learn more about Donna at donnacat.com or visit twiggsgallery.org.
• New exhibit: The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester), as part of a series of exhibitions and commissions looking at the relationship between fine art and crafts conceived for the museum’s Welcome Gallery, has announced a new collaboration with New York-based artist Elisabeth Kley titled “Cymodocea” starting on Thursday, May 16, which will run until Sunday, Aug. 25, according to the press release. Cymodocea is the scientific name of a sea grass that lives in warm water. Kley’s new installation will combine her signature ceramic sculptures with wall paintings, effectively creating an environment rich with references that span from classical times to the history of modernism. The exhibit is supported by Outer Space Arts in Concord. Visit currier.org.
CELEBRATE POETRY All are invited to the State Poet Laureate Celebration at the State Library (20 Park St. in Concord) on Saturday, May 11, from 2 to 4 p.m. The event will show gratitude to outgoing New Hampshire Poet Laureate Alexandria Peary and welcome Jennifer Militello of Goffstown as the next New Hampshire Poet Laureate, according to a press release. Militello will serve a five-year term that began in April. The state’s Poet Laureate serves as an ambassador for all poets in New Hampshire and works to heighten the visibility and value of poetry in the state, according to the same release.
• Learn watercolors: The Currier is also offering a five-week in-person watercolors class that will run Thursday, May 16, through June 20 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. In Watercolors for Beginners and Beyond students can explore the possibilities of watercolor with instructor Peter Clive, according to a press release. Participants will use landscape and still life as subject matter and have fun experimenting with various painting techniques, creating washes and using color layering to create dynamic works each week, according to the same release. All materials are provided for use during class time. There will be no class on Thursday, May 30. Enrollment costs $247.50 for members and $275 for non-members with tuition discounts available while registering. Visit currier.org.
• On Frost: The Stockbridge Theatre (44 N. Main St. in Derry) will host a performance of Robert Frost: This Verse Business on Sunday, May 12, at 2 p.m. The poet and former Pinkerton Academy teacher charmed audiences with his celebrated verse and rascally sense of humor, according to a press release. Frost will be played by Emmy-winning actor Gordon Clapp, known for his role on NYPD Blue as Det. Medavoy, among other roles. In Clapp’s performance the poet shares his verse from memory along with his “wild surmises” on art, religion, science, “radicals” and “conservatives,” as the material is gathered from recordings and writings of Robert Frost, according to the same release. A.M. Dolan’s Robert Frost: This Verse Business won Best New Play (the Kaplan Award) at the Eventide Arts Festival in 2010, and Best Production at the United Solo Play Festival in New York City in 2013. Tickets cost $25 to $30 and are available at stockbridgetheatre.showare.com or by calling the box office at 437-5210. Read an interview with Gordon Clapp on page 16 of the April 4 issue of the Hippo; find the e-edition at hippopress.com.
In Hippo’s Best of 2024 readers’ poll, we asked readers to vote for the “Restaurant That Brings The Heat.” Looking to spice up your dining routine? Here are the top 11 winners in that category.
Destination India Restaurant and Bar
14 E. Broadway, Unit A, in Derry, destinationindianh.com, 552-3469
Destination India won “best of the best” in the heat category. Indian food has a reputation for being hotter than most New Englanders are used to. Destination India, for instance, has three levels of spiciness on the menu: “Mild,” “Medium” and “Indian.”
According to Destination India Chef and owner Navi Avhad, there is a nuance to spiciness that many don’t appreciate; it’s not so much a matter of being “hot” or “mild.” One of the critical factors in how good a spicy dish is, he said, has to do with the flavors the chiles bring along with the heat.
“We never use powdered chiles,” Avhad said. “We only use fresh, organic green chiles. It’s more expensive for us, but it means we can serve a higher-quality food.” He said that the most dependably high-quality chiles that he can get from his distributor are small “Thai” chiles, which he feels are healthier to eat than powdered red ones.
“Some people complain that hot food makes their stomachs hurt; that doesn’t happen with good-quality, fresh chiles,” he said.
Hottest dish: Vindaloo (chicken, lamb, goat or shrimp), $16. Vindaloos come from Goa, on India’s west coast. They are curries made with a vinegar-based sauce, which complements the green chiles with its sharpness. Chef Avhad said that regulars usually start with a “mild” level of heat. “It’s a spice level that lets customers appreciate the actual flavor. Later on they can build up the spiciness,” Avhad said.
Daw Kun Thai
93 S. Maple St., No. 4, in Manchester, dawkunthai.com, 232-0699
Desmond Holman, the co-owner of Daw Kun Thai, agrees that spiciness isn’t binary — either hot or mild.
“Thai food isn’t just hot,” he said. “It allows you to taste all other flavors as well.” With that said, there’s no denying that Thai cuisine can be extremely spicy. “Spicy food usually comes from tropical parts of the world,” he said, “and Thailand is tropical.”
Pad Ped Kai. Photo courtesy of Daw Kun Thai.
Holman said that getting customers used to Thai levels of spice was challenging initially. “People who grew up in New England like me are very cautious at first,” he said. “They don’t have a lot of experience with spices, but they’re learning.”
Hottest dish: Pad Ped Kai (spicy chicken stir-fry), $17.75
Holman said this dish — a stir-fry of curry paste (a version sometimes called “Thai Jungle Sauce”) with chicken, eggplant and bamboo shoots — is far and away the spiciest dish Daw Kun Thai makes; nothing else is even close.
“It’s two times as hot as anything else we have on our menu,” he said with enthusiasm. “It’s the only item that has two stars. And that’s its mild version. We have maybe five or six people who can order it ‘Thai Hot’ — that’s eight times as hot as the mild version. It’s so hot that I have to caution people who’ve never been in the restaurant before. It’s really too hot for some people, even at its mildest.”
Curry Leaf
6 Pleasant St. in Concord, 715-5746, curryleafus.com
Inder Saini, the Chef and owner of Curry Leaf, is pretty sure most of his customers come into his restaurant looking for a little heat.
Curries and karahis can be made with different levels of heat. Photo courtesy of Curry Leaf.
“I believe,” he said, “that it’s because of the spices. American food is good but a little bland. During cold weather, spicy food opens up your body.”
Hottest dish: Karahi (chicken, lamb or goat), $19.95
Karahi — which is named after the wok-like pan it is cooked in — is a South Asian curry that is an important part of North Indian, Afghan and Pakistani cuisine. According to Chef Saini, the chicken version is made with all dark meat, onions and peppers. “The customer can pick any meat,” he said, but the sauce is the same. Like dishes at many of the restaurants on this list, the heat comes from fresh green chiles.
A Lot of Thai
360 Daniel Webster Hwy., Unit 121, Merrimack, 429-8888, alotofthainh.com
According to the staff at A Lot of Thai, there are several spicy dishes on their menu — Drunken Noodles and Curry Chicken Basil, for instance — but their recommendation is for the spicy dipping sauce that comes with many of the dishes and allows each customer to adjust their level of heat.
Kashmir Indian Cuisine
396 S. Broadway in Salem, 898-3455, kashmirindianfood.com
Kashmir doesn’t fool around when it comes to spice. According to server/host Khem, even some of the Indian staff often order their food “medium.” Like many of the restaurants on this list, Kashmir depends on green Thai chiles for much of its heat.
Hottest dish: Vindaloo, $16.95 (chicken or lamb), $17.95 (shrimp)
Unlike most of the dishes at most of these restaurants, the vindaloo at Kashmir only comes in one level of heat: “hot.” It is cooked in a traditional style, with a paste made of dried red chiles, fresh herbs and vinegar.
Kathmandu Spice
379 S. Willow St. in Manchester, ktmspice.com, 782-3911
Kaji Maharjan, the manager of Kathmandu Spice, said that Nepalese food isn’t actually very spicy. “Well, it is,” he said, “but not Indian-spicy.” Kathmandu Spice clearly isn’t afraid of serving spicy food but Maharjan said there is a different framework of flavors behind the Indian food the restaurant makes and the Nepalese.
Rayo Ko Saag. Photo courtesy of Kathmandu Spice.
“Indian cooking uses a lot of spices and chiles,” he said. “Nepalese food is much lighter. We don’t use nearly as much dairy or chilies.”
He gives the example of Saag, which is on both sides of the menu. “Our Indian Saag is made with spinach,” he said, “but we make our Nepalese Rayo Ko Saag with mustard greens.” It’s also made with mustard seeds and fried in mustard seed oil, each of which carries a different level of horseradish-like heat that is felt in the nose and sinuses as much as it is in the mouth. “We also put some chile seeds in it,” he said with a grin.
Hottest dish: Indian Curry (chicken or lamb), $17.95
Like every restaurant on this list, Kathmandu Spice will make any dish at any level of spice, but even its “Medium” level is on the hot side. Maharjan said one of the reasons the food at Kathmandu has such a vibrant flavor is how the staff processes the ingredients. “We grind all our spices here,” he said. “We don’t buy anything pre-ground.”
Hermanos Cocina Mexicana
11 Hills Ave. in Concord, 224-5669, hermanosmexican.com
A margarita with house-infused pineapple/habañero tequila. Photo courtesy of Hermanos Cocina Mexicana.
Every dish at Hermanos Cocina can be customized for different tastes, but according to General Manager Melissa Thompson one of the restaurant’s spiciest offerings is a surprising one.
Hottest dish: house infused pineapple/habañero tequila, $11
“We’re a scratch kitchen,” Thompson said, “so any of our dishes can be spicy, especially our enchiladas or our pastor de avocado, but our house infused tequilas are something special.” Hermanos infuses Lunazul blanco tequila with either jalapeños or pineapple and habañeros.
“It depends on what is available and seasonal,” Thompson said, adding that most customers have it in a margarita.
Puerto Vallarta Mexican Grill
865 Second St. in Manchester, 935-9182, vallartamexiannh.com
Puerto Vallarta is another restaurant that prides itself on its heat flexibility. Many of the dishes on its menu are fairly mild even by New England standards, but according to bartender and manager Christobal that is easily remedied.
“Customers come in all the time and ask us to make one of our regular dishes extra spicy,” he said.
Hottest item: Hot Tomatillo Salsa, $2.99
There are several dishes at Puerto Vallarta that are spicy to begin with — Camarones Endiablados (Shrimp Diablo), Aguachile, and Burritos Caliente (literally “hot burritos”) — but none of them packs the punch of its house-made tomatillo salsa. Unlike many tomatillo salsas, it isn’t green, but a red color. It is pureed, but not so finely that there aren’t tiny bits of chiles and vegetables. It is extremely hot, but with a lovely, fresh herbal flavor that puts in a quick appearance before the heat comes crashing down.
“A lot of our customers who want their food extra spicy get a side of this, and mix it into whatever they’ve ordered,” Christobal said, “so they can customize it just the way they like it.”
Smoke Shack Cafe
226 Rockingham Road in Londonderry, 404-2178, smokeshackcafe.com
Habañero Melt. Photo courtesy of Smoke Shack Cafe.
The key to the Smoke Shack’s spiciest food, said owner and manager Melissa Lafontaine, is in its sauces. “It’s the real deal,” she said. “We are a scratch kitchen, so we reduce habañeros [one of the spiciest chiles in the world], then run them through the mill and use it in our sauces. For instance, our cornflake fried chicken isn’t very spicy on its own, but our sauces are, like our Habañero Honey.” She said that even she has trouble with her restaurant’s hottest sauces. “Me personally?” she said, “I can’t handle it. I’m good with heat up to the jalapeňo level, but the habañero is too much for me. But people love it.”
Hottest dish: Habañero Melt, $11.99
The Smoke Shack’s menu describes this as “Smoked brisket on grilled Texas toast with mayo, habañero bbq sauce, sautéed peppers and onion, and smoked Gouda cheese.” “It’s our No. 1 selling sandwich,” Melissa Lafontaine said.
Bangkok Thai Food
44 Nashua Road in Londonderry, 426-5162, bangkokthaifood.biz
The staff at Bangkok Thai Food wants to make it very clear that not all Thai food is hot.
“We have many things on our menu that aren’t hot at all,” said spokesperson An, translating for her mother, the owner and chef. “Most Thai dishes are a mixture of hot, sweet, salty and sour.” With that said, many of the dishes at Bangkok are hot, and can be made even hotter at a customer’s request.
“We use green Thai chiles,” An said. “That’s the authentic Bangkok style.” Her favorite dish to have extra-spicy is Noodle Coconut Tom Yum, a creamy coconut soup with noodles, shrimp paste and scallions.
Hottest dish: Green Curry, $15
Described on Bangkok Thai’s menu as a “choice of meat, eggplants, bamboo shoot, bell peppers and basil leaves in green curry with coconut milk,” the Green Curry comes with 15 choices of meat, including crispy pork, shrimp, duck, seafood, and ground chicken, and comes in “medium,” “hot” or “very hot” levels of intensity. “Mild” is not an option.
Thai Food Connection
1069 Elm St. in Manchester, 935-7257, thaifoodconnection.com
Reige, a server and bartender at Thai Food Connection, said they have customers along the entire spectrum of heat-tolerance.
“I don’t feel like we have any spice seekers,” she said, “just everyday people who want something different, then they keep coming back.” She said that she has noticed a change in recent years of area diners’ attitudes toward foods and cuisines that might have been intimidating even a few years ago.
Krapow. Photo courtesy of Thai Food Connection.
“I think it has to do with changing demographics,” she said. “The Manchester area has become a real melting pot. As this part of the state becomes more of a suburb of Boston, there’s been an uptick of different cultures. I think that being a college town helps, too.”
Reige says it’s hard to pick out one particular spiciest dish at her restaurant.
“Everything can be made spiciest,” she said. “Probably, the hottest everyday dish that we make is krapow.” Thai Food Connection’s menu describes this as “stir-fried choice of ground chicken or tofu (substitute beef +$2, shrimp +$3 , crispy chicken +$3) with garlic, fresh chili, onion, bell pepper and Thai basil seasoned with hot basil sauce (fried egg on top +$2).” The base cost of the dish is $13.99. But the run-away hottest dish that the restaurant serves is Kua Gling, a dry southern Thai dish made with ground chicken, aromatics like lemon grass and lots of chiles.
