Category: Food

• Breaking bread: Chef Chris Viaud of Greenleaf in Milford has opened a new sandwich shop less than half a mile down the road. Culture Bread & Sandwich opened Aug. 11 in the former space of The Good Loaf at 75 Mont Vernon Road, and it offers homemade artisan-style breads for all of its sandwiches, which source meats, vegetables and other ingredients from local farms. Culture also features a menu of seasonal homemade soups and salads, as well as coffees and teas from Union Coffee Co. and cookies, scones, brownies, cupcakes and other fresh baked goods that are overseen by Viaud’s wife Emilee. According to Viaud, he became inspired to open Culture after visits to bakeries and pastry shops in Europe and Canada. Visit culturebreadandsandwich.com.

• Eclectic eats: Bistro 603, a new eatery offering all types of appetizers, entrees and weekend brunch items out of a scratch kitchen, opened at 345 Amherst St. in Nashua on Aug. 13. Owner Jeff Abellard and chef Jason Duffy are part of a close-knit restaurant team that has run Bistro 781 on Moody Street in downtown Waltham, Mass., for the past five years. Abellard told the Hippo last month that Bistro 603 is nearly double the size of its Massachusetts counterpart, with bar seating, table dining, an outdoor patio and space for two private rooms. The menu, while similar to that of Bistro 781, remains diverse, ranging from small shareable plates to larger meals with optional wine pairings. Visit bistro603nashua.com.

• T-Bones to open in Concord: T-Bones Great American Eatery will open its sixth location in Concord in mid-September, after delaying its scheduled May opening, according to a press release from Great New Hampshire Restaurants. Located at 404 S. Main St. in the Capital City, the new restaurant is the largest T-Bones location yet, with an occupancy of 307 people, including more than 250 seats in the dining room and bar, a private dining room and an outdoor dining terrace. The restaurant will have many of the same options its other locations are known for, like burgers, salads, steaks, appetizers, salads and mixed cocktails. Visit greatnhrestaurants.com.

• Farewell to The Arbor: After initially ceasing operations “until further notice” back in March, The Arbor Restaurant & Function Facility in Nashua has now closed its doors for good. The restaurant, which had been born out of the Hudson-based White Birch Catering and Banquet Hall, announced its permanent closure in an Aug. 7 statement. “The pandemic is pushing most businesses to the brink,” the statement reads. “While we will continue to operate White Birch Catering and build our way back from this, it is not financially feasible for us to continue on at The Arbor.”

• Assumption’s Greekfest canceled: Greekfest, a popular two-day Greek food festival normally held in late August at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Manchester, has been canceled for this year, event chairman Costas Georgopoulos confirmed. “We plan on the event to take place next year at the end of August,” Georgopoulos told the Hippo in an email. Greekfest has been around for nearly three decades, usually featuring authentic homemade dishes a la carte or as dinners, in addition to music and dancing.

• Sushi and more: A new eatery offering various Chinese, Thai and Japanese items, including dozens of sushi options, is now open in Manchester. Golden Karma Asian Fusion & Bar opened late last month at 6 Willow St. in the Queen City, in the former space of the Brothers Restaurant and Lounge, and now has dine-in and takeout service available. The menu features more than two dozen maki plates to choose from, in addition to specialty sushi entrees, fried rice dishes and noodle options like stir-fried udon, pad Thai and lo mein with chicken, pork, beef, shrimp or vegetables. There are also hot appetizers like peking dumplings, duck bao buns, edamame with sea salt or chili sauce, and shrimp and vegetable tempura; cold appetizers like citrus-marinated salmon ceviche; several soups and salads; hibachi or teriyaki chicken, sirloin steak, shrimp or filet mignon; and authentic Szechuan-style hot platters, like chicken, beef, seafood or tofu with a spicy chili sauce and white rice. Golden Karma is open Monday through Thursday, from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, from 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; and Sunday, from noon to 10 p.m. Call 206-5780.

• Umami to close: Umami Farm Fresh Cafe in Northwood will close its doors on Aug. 22. “Although the pandemic has presented its challenges, this is not a Covid-19-related closing,” read an Aug. 4 post on Umami’s Facebook page, which goes on to cite “other ongoing issues in the background” that weren’t able to be resolved. “We welcome your suggestions if you know of a potential location for Umami’s new home.” Two members of Umami’s culinary team, meanwhile, have recently launched a food truck known as The Food Abides. Patrick Harris and Max G. Dowling have taken the truck to several locations across the state, but you’ll next be able to find them at Henniker Brewing Co. (129 Centervale Road) on Saturday, Aug. 15, from 1 to 6 p.m. Find them on Facebook @thefoodabidestruck.

• Golden Corral to open in Manchester: New Hampshire’s first Golden Corral Buffet & Grill will hold its grand opening on Aug. 17, at 655 S. Willow St. in Manchester, according to a press release from M&M Construction Services of Bedford. The new cafeteria-style eatery is one of around 500 in the country, offering a variety of menu items like USDA sirloin steaks, pork, seafood and shrimp, along with traditional favorites like pot roast and fried chicken. The location will also have its own butchers, a salad bar and fresh baked goods and desserts prepared daily. Visit goldencorral.com or call 232-4896.

• Barbecue and bluegrass: The Concord Coalition to End Homelessness will hold a socially distanced bluegrass barbecue on Sunday, Aug. 9, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. outside the Douglas N. Everett Arena (15 Loudon Road, Concord). Attendees must purchase their $70 “meal-for-two” tickets in advance online and pick a designated hour for pickup. Your meal includes brisket, pulled pork, sausages, baked beans, coleslaw, buns, pickled red onions, assorted sauces and your choice of water or iced tea to drink. You can also purchase a vegan meal for $20, which includes tuna-less vegan “tuna” salad, chili, a roll and a drink. Bring chairs or a blanket and set up your picnic along the river, where live local bluegrass acts will be performing. To purchase tickets, visit concordhomeless.org.

• Virtual diversity: Welcoming NH, in collaboration with the Concord Multicultural Festival committee, is creating a virtual cookbook as an opportunity for people to share recipes and cultures in lieu of a traditional festival, according to a press release. Now through Aug. 31, recipe submissions are being accepted by emailing welcomingnh@gmail.com, or, you can fill out a short form at welcomingnh.org. The free online cookbook will be published on welcomingnh.org during Welcoming Week (Sept. 12 to Sept. 20), according to the release.

• New pop-up market: Celebrations Catering (1017 Second St., Manchester) hosts a tented pop-up farm stand every Wednesday from 2 to 6 p.m., when local farms, crafters and other small businesses will sell their products. There are also weekly farm-to-table specials available for purchase from the stand as single or family-sized meals, featuring in-season produce, cooking demonstrations and more (24-hour notice is requested). Visit celebrationsmenu.com.

• Restaurant roommates: Downtown farm-to-table eatery Republic Cafe is moving its operations down the street to its sister restaurant, Campo Enoteca (969 Elm St., Manchester), beginning on Aug. 12. According to Republic’s website, the two restaurants will be co-operating under one roof because Republic’s current location “has been deemed Covid incompatible.” The message says full menus from each restaurant and cocktails from each location’s bar will all be available. Visit republiccafe.com.