News from the local food scene
• Wine & chocolate: Join Appolo Vineyards (49 Lawrence Road, Derry) for its next chocolate and wine weekend, featuring Kevin Miller of KRM Chocolates in Salem. From Friday, Nov. 6, through Sunday, Nov. 8, reservations are available to taste up to five Appolo wines along with a box of KRM Chocolates. The socially distanced tastings will be held outdoors. Pairings are $15 per person and advance registration is required — visit appolovineyards.com/book-online to book your designated time.
• Turkey talk: The Hollis Social Library will present a virtual demonstration on Zoom on Monday, Nov. 9, at 6 p.m. featuring Chef Liz Barbour of The Creative Feast. Barbour will lead a discussion about the many types of turkeys available and the ways to prepare them for a Thanksgiving dinner, and then demonstrate two of her favorite side dishes. Visit hollislibrary.libcal.com to pre-register the event for free. Virtual attendees will receive a confirmation email with a link to the live webinar. Zoom accounts are not required to access the event.
• Meet The Kitchen Witch: Sweet Hill Farm (82 Newton Road, Plaistow) will host a socially distanced book signing on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., featuring Dawn Hunt, a.k.a. “The Kitchen Witch,” of Cucina Aurora in Salem. Hunt will be presenting her new cookbook, A Kitchen Witch’s Guide to Recipes for Love & Romance, which explores food’s roles in self-love and interpersonal relationships with personal anecdotes, spiritual techniques and more than 50 original recipes and illustrations. Featured foods include cinnamon crumb pound cake, avocado chocolate mousse, pomegranate mimosas with muddled raspberries, stuffed zucchini pinwheels, pork loin roast with cherries and red wine and much more. Admission to the signing is free, but masks are required for attendees. Visit cucinaaurora.com.
• NHLC recognized: The New Hampshire Liquor Commission was recently named one of the top 10 retailers in the country by Beverage Dynamics magazine, according to a press release. The magazine recognizes off-premise retailers, such as liquor stores or supermarket chains, that demonstrate innovation and superior beverage alcohol industry knowledge. The state Liquor Commission was featured alongside the other top winners in the July/August issue of the magazine. The Top 100 Retailer Awards were also presented to winners at the fourth annual Beverage Alcohol Retailers Conference, which was held virtually this year, on Sept. 15.
• Playa Bowls comes to Manchester: Playa Bowls, a New Jersey-based chain offering açaí bowls, poke bowls, smoothies and juices, opened its first location in New Hampshire on Oct. 31 at the North End Shops at Livingston Park (555 Hooksett Road, Manchester), according to a press release. Its 99th store location overall, Playa Bowls is open for indoor dining and takeout, as well as curbside pickup through DoorDash, Postmates and Grubhub. Visit playabowls.com.