Category: Q&A

In the kitchen with Dylan Richardson

Dylan Richardson of Henniker is the owner of Let’s Get Cupcaked (letsgetcupcaked.com, and on Facebook and Instagram), a home business specializing in hand-crafted cupcakes in a variety of flavors, in addition to some special-order cakes and other desserts. Cupcake flavors have included everything from carrot cake and chocolate peanut butter to Oreo, German chocolate, maple bacon and more. Gluten-free and dairy-free cupcakes are also available upon request. Earlier this year Richardson began holding cupcake pop-ups at Henniker Brewing Co. (129 Centervale Road), where he’ll usually offer a rotating menu of homemade cupcake flavors. He also recently participated in a beer flight and cupcake pairing at Rockingham Brewing Co. in Derry. Future pop-ups and other appearances are regularly posted to the Let’s Get Cupcaked Facebook page.

What is your must-have kitchen item?

In-hand, it’s my rubber spatula. Those are the most versatile and useful things. … I always feel that a good music playlist is a must-have. I just feel like if you’re a happy baker, then you have happy cakes.

What would you have for your last meal?

A Buffalo chicken mac and cheese pizza. It hits every spot that you can think of. … If we’re talking dessert, it would be a slice of cherry pie and a cup of black coffee.

What is your favorite local restaurant?

Every Friday my fiancee and I have date night and we always like to go to Strange Brew [Tavern] in Manchester. … Great food and live music, and it’s just a fun place to hang out and soak in the atmosphere.

What celebrity would you like to see trying one of your cupcakes?

That’s a no-brainer. Paul Hollywood, for sure. The Great British Bake Off is one of my favorite shows. It really kind of sparks my interest in trying new things, and just gets me out of my comfort zone with baking.

What is your favorite cupcake flavor that you offer?

Oddly enough, my carrot cake is really well-received. I don’t know why. … I actually wasn’t a big fan of carrot cake when I was younger, but I’ve really fallen in love with my carrot cake recipe, and everyone seems to really enjoy it too.

What is the biggest food trend in New Hampshire right now?

I mean, it’s definitely been around as a trend for a couple of years now, but I’d say that food trucks are still going strong. You see them at breweries, at craft fairs and local food marts and all that kind of stuff.

What is your favorite thing to make at home?

When I was a kid, my grandmother would always make cherry cheesecakes in these little muffin tins. Every time we would go over to her house, those were there. … And so, I’ve adapted that recipe, and it’s a nice easy little snack that lasts for a week in the fridge.

Chocolate peanut butter cupcakes
From the kitchen of Dylan Richardson of Let’s Get Cupcaked

¾ cup all purpose flour
½ cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder
¾ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
2 large room-temperature eggs
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup packed light brown sugar
⅓ cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ cup room temperature buttermilk

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. While the oven is preheating, mix the wet ingredients and dry ingredients in separate bowls. Pour your dry ingredients into your wet ingredients and mix on a low to medium speed (do not over mix, or your cakes will be light and fluffy). Fill cupcake liners about two-thirds full with cupcake mixture and place in the oven. Bake for 15 minutes, or until you can pull a toothpick out of the cake without residue on it. Cool, using a cooling rack for the best results, and so they don’t over bake in the warm tray. Frost only when cool.

For the peanut butter buttercream:
1 cup unsalted butter (soft)
3 ½ cups confectioners sugar
3 Tablespoons heavy cream
¼ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
⅓ cup peanut butter

Place butter into a mixing bowl and mix until creamy (no lumps). Adding one cup at a time, place confectioners sugar into the bowl and mix thoroughly. Mix in the heavy cream, salt, vanilla extract and peanut butter, on high speed until fluffy. (Optional: add extra peanut butter or confectioners sugar to the mixture to achieve desired flavor and consistency). Top buttercream onto the cupcake. For extra flavor and aesthetic, finish with shavings of Baker’s chocolate bar.

Featured photo: Dylan Richardson of Let’s Get Cupcaked. Courtesy photo.

On The Job – Timothy Streeter

Founder and CEO of NH Discounts

Timothy Streeter is the founder and CEO of NH Discounts, an e-commerce company based in Salem.

Explain your job and what it entails.

We are an e-commerce company that specializes in bringing products to market through direct-to-consumer marketing. We specialize in finding items that are unique and have certain appeals to them that you may not be able to find in traditional marketplaces, and we create unique websites for each product.

How long have you had this job?

Since 2017.

What led you to this career field and your current job?

I began selling online when I was 14 years old, just selling little items here and there, going to yard sales, and slowly over the years built the business to where it is today, allowing me to hire employees and grow the business.

What kind of education or training did you need?

I believe that [entrepreneurs] are born to be an entrepreneur, and I have found my calling. I have a formal business degree which helps in certain areas of the business, but most of the knowledge has come from working in the business and growing it over the years [to the point] where now I can spend my time working on the business rather than working in it every day.

What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?

The huge benefit of being a business where we don’t interact face-to-face customers ever is that every day I can dress casually, or I can dress in business attire if I feel like doing so.

How has your job changed over the course of the pandemic?

Up until earlier this year I juggled working a full-time job while running the business. I spent many nights working all night to ensure both were taken care of, while also raising a family. Covid has allowed the e-commerce industry to grow even more than where it was pre-pandemic, which forced me to leave my full-time career in order to focus more on running this business.

What do you wish you had known at the beginning of your career?

How to delegate tasks. It has taken a while to know when to step away and let the process take over, but once you have a clean-cut process in place, you can spend time focusing on bigger-picture issues or ideas.

What do you wish other people knew about your job?

It’s never easy. There’s always something going. Customers are shopping online 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, and they all need something. It takes a whole team to run this business.

What was the first job you ever had?

Grocery bagger at Market Basket.

What is the best piece of work-related advice you have ever received?

Work smarter, not harder.

Five favorites

Favorite book: The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
Favorite movie: Goodfellas
Favorite music: Country
Favorite food: Everything
Favorite thing about NH: No sales tax, and the small-town feel

Featured photo: Timothy Streeter. Courtesy photo.

Finding buddies

Helping people with disabilities make new connections

Sarra Dennehy Lynch is the founder of the New Hampshire chapter of Best Buddies, a worldwide nonprofit dedicated to ending physical and social isolation of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through friendship, leadership, employment and inclusive living opportunities.

What does Best Buddies do for people living with disabilities?

In New Hampshire right now, we have our school friendship programs and adult friendship programs where we match people with disabilities with a typical peer in their community or school. It’s not a mentoring program; it’s peer to peer, to build a friendship. We have our leadership programs … where we do day-long trainings, teaching people how to feel comfortable speaking in public and sharing their stories, advocate for themselves, and eventually network and write a resume and … feel comfortable getting a job. … The jobs program, which we don’t have in New Hampshire yet, places people with disabilities in jobs they really want. We’re not saying, ‘OK, you have Down syndrome, I’m sure you can bag groceries.’ We’re saying, ‘What are your dreams and hopes? What do you want to do with your life?’ … and we offer support to help them make it happen. … Our inclusive living program is designed for [living on] college campuses or near a college campus. We only have two of those [established] right now in the United States. If they’re not attending college classes for whatever reason, then they’re auditing classes or they’re working on campus. They’re able to have that kind of college experience even if they’re not able to go to college.

How did you get involved?

I started in political fundraising. After college, I worked in Washington, D.C., for my congressman, then for one of the national parties, and then for John McCain. Then, in 2001, I gave birth to my first child, a baby boy, and he was born with Down syndrome. My world was shaken to the core. I felt scared and lost and ill-equipped to have a child with, I thought, a disability, and was realizing how ill-equipped the environment that surrounded me was to prepare me. The doctors weren’t what you would think they should be. It was an ‘I’m sorry’ thing; there was no ‘Congratulations.’ There was no happiness around me at all that I had given birth to this beautiful kid. That joy and happiness had to come from me researching and learning. … We moved to New Hampshire in 2022, and eventually, when Liam — that’s his name — turned about 8 or 9, I started seeing that the world wasn’t fair for him. Even in tee-ball, if you don’t move fast enough, you’re not good enough to play with the typical kids. I knew I wanted to find something that celebrated people with differences. … I found Best Buddies, and somebody got me involved in the Hyannis Port Challenge, which is a 100-mile bike ride from Boston to Hyannis Port. That was the first time I had ever seen people with disabilities thriving the way that they were, and I was hooked. I said, ‘We need this in New Hampshire,’ and a bunch of us decided to help bring [Best Buddies] to New Hampshire.

What is Liam doing now?

He just turned 21 and just left me — he’s in college in Wisconsin, and he’s doing great. He’ll be home at Thanksgiving.

How has Best Buddies helped you and Liam personally?

Liam was involved in Best Buddies all throughout school. … When I first started doing Best Buddies, I was doing it because I wanted Liam to have a great experience in school. Then, I slowly realized that he was going to have a great experience, and I started to realize that Best Buddies is just as important for the neurotypical kids, because it shares with them the magic of learning about people with disabilities. These are the kids that are going to be our senators, congressmen, teachers, business leaders, parents; if they grow up around people with disabilities, maybe someday it will become more normal.

What is next for Best Buddies in New Hampshire?

We’re working really hard on bringing the jobs program here. We’re shooting for 2025. It’s a pretty substantial financial investment, and we have to raise the money … but I think it’s going to be really wonderful for people. They will each have a job coach … who will make sure their jobs are what they want and that they’re getting what they need.

How can people get involved?

We have all kinds of opportunities. They can be board members, sponsors or on event committees. … We’re always looking for people to serve as what we call ‘speech coaches’ for our leadership training. They help our participants get their thoughts down on paper and prepare and practice their speeches. … If you want to be matched in our [friendship] program … we send a questionnaire to learn a little bit about you, and then we find the best match for you, like someone who lives close to you and has similar interests. We would do a Zoom introduction, and if it’s a good match, you’ll see each other one to two times a month and talk or text weekly. It’s not a huge time commitment, and usually it turns into a normal, natural friendship where you don’t have to monitor how many times you see each other.

Featured photo: Sarra Dennehy Lynch with her son Liam. Courtesy photo.

In the kitchen with Sergio Metes

Sergio Metes is the executive chef of Luna Bistro (254 N. Broadway, Salem, 458-2162, luna-bistro.com), a tapas and wine bar that opened in Salem’s Breckenridge Plaza on North Broadway in June. A New Hampshire native, Metes got his start in the restaurant industry working in southern Florida under acclaimed chef Mennan Tekeli. Much of his practice combines Central and South American cuisine with some American or Spanish influences. Prior to joining the team at Luna Bistro, Metes worked at several local restaurants as a chef or consultant, including the former Unum’s in Nashua, which was known for its eclectic New American cuisine. He has also had culinary stints all over the Seacoast of New Hampshire and in southern Maine. Best-selling items at Luna Bistro include the cola-braised short rib tacos, the truffle fries, the crab cakes and the artichoke dip. The eatery is also a popular spot in town for its lounge seating, live music and comedy shows.

What is your must-have kitchen item?

I have to have very sharp knives. … It makes everything fast and accurate, and you’re able to really maximize your time-efficiency.

What would you have for your last meal?

I would have some really nice traditional Peruvian-style ceviche. It’s just a beautiful, tasty and wonderful thing to have … and for me, there are some memories associated with it as well.

What is your favorite local restaurant?

I really enjoy The Birch on Elm [in Manchester]. … They’re under construction right now, but I’m looking forward to when they’ll reopen soon.

What celebrity would you like to see eating at Luna Bistro?

You know who I really enjoy is Bradley Cooper. Something about him just says to me that this would be a really funny guy to talk to and socialize with. … He reminds me in a way of a brother-in-law, just [because of] his mannerisms, and my brother-in-law is a fun guy.

What is your favorite thing on your menu?

The one that I enjoy the most, I would say, is the cioppino. It’s basically a dish that consists of a little seafood broth, and then I add some arrabbiata sauce, which is a spicy tomato-based sauce, and some shrimp and mussels, and then just basically let them do their magic in the broth. … We serve it with a grilled lemon and a couple of grilled crostinis and some scallions, and it’s just a very comfortable, enjoyable dish to have.

What is the biggest food trend in New Hampshire right now?

I’ve noticed a lot of places … [that are] bringing that rustic feeling into restaurants, and then just more local flavors … from farms in the area.

What is your favorite thing to cook at home?

I like to make coq au vin. … It’s basically chicken that has been braised and cooked in red wine with some aromatics in there. I like making that because the chicken gets really tender and it has this really nice flavor from the wine. I’ll have it normally with either some risotto or rice, or some roasted or boiled potatoes.

Cioppino (seafood stew)
From the kitchen of Sergio Metes of Luna Bistro in Salem

2 cups seafood broth
Mussels
Scallops
Shrimp
¼ cup white wine
1 Tablespoon basil chiffonade
3 cloves garlic, sliced thin
2 roma tomatoes, cut into quarters
¼ cup to ½ cup olive oil
Salt and pepper as needed

Cook the garlic on medium heat for two minutes. Add the mussels, scallops, shrimp, wine and tomatoes. Allow to simmer for two to four minutes. Add seafood broth and basil. Cover for about four to five minutes, until the mussels are open and the shrimp is fully cooked (scallops can be added as preferred to achieve the desired level of doneness). A touch of fresh-squeezed lemon and crusty bread for dipping are recommended.

Featured photo: Sergio Metes of Luna Bistro in Salem. Courtesy photo.

On The Job – Sally Pendleton

Physical therapist specializing in dry needling

Sally Pendleton is a Physical Therapist certified and specializing in dry needling, a technique used to treat muscle pain and improve muscle function. She serves patients in southern New Hampshire through her privately owned mobile practice, Dry Needling Delivered.

Explain your job and what it entails.

My job is treating people for muscle pain with dry needling in the comfort of their own homes. Dry needling is an effective technique that uses very small needles without any medication to help relieve pain such as muscle spasms, strains, repetitive injuries and headaches, among other injuries. Dry needling offers an alternative treatment option for pain relief and improved muscle movement. Unlike acupuncture, dry needling focuses on releasing trigger points in the muscle.

How long have you had this job?

I have been the owner of Dry Needling Delivered since April of 2021.

What led you to this career field and your current job?

I had been a physical therapist for 28 years working in outpatient clinics. I had seen how well dry needling worked for patients, so I wanted to take the course to be able to offer this service to help relieve pain for my patients.

What kind of education or training did you need?

The course is offered to medical professionals who already have a background in anatomy. It was an extensive three-day course to be able to perform dry needling as a physical therapist.

What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?

Typically I will wear business casual attire as I want to look professional but also be comfortable carrying my treatment table into people’s homes and performing the dry needling treatment.

How has your job changed over the course of the pandemic?

I started Dry Needling Delivered after I got laid off from my job as an outpatient physical therapist due to the pandemic. I had considered doing dry needling as a business before that, and getting laid off made me want to take more control of my situation. It also gave me time to plan and implement my business model.

What do you wish you had known at the beginning of your career?

At the beginning of my career as a physical therapist, I wish I had known that I had the fortitude to create my own business with confidence to be able to offer this service.

What do you wish other people knew about your job?

I would like other people to know how great the benefits of dry needling are so I can help as many people as possible.

What was the first job you ever had?

My first job was at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center back when it was Memorial Hospital in 1994.

What is the best piece of work-related advice you have ever received?

The best work-related advice that I have received is to look at the patient as a whole person — spirit, mind and body — rather than just focusing on the injury itself.

Five favorites

Favorite book: I don’t have any particular favorite — anything I can read while sitting on the beach.
Favorite movie: The Shawshank Redemption
Favorite music: Anything by James Taylor and Van Morrison
Favorite food: Who can pick just one? I do love savory foods for sure.
Favorite thing about NH: The friendly people, beaches and fall foliage

Featured photo: Sally Pendleton. Courtesy photo.

Giving back with overstock

New retail store plans to help local nonprofits

Adam Daley is the founder and owner of Granite State Discounts, a new discount retail store in Amherst that claims to sell name-brand household and essential products at the lowest price in the state while also partnering with local nonprofits to give back to the community.

metal shelving racks holding rows of household products
Granite State Discounts

What is Granite State Discounts?

It’s almost like a combination of a thrift store and a regular retail store. We sell everyday essential household items, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, diapers, hair care products, health care products, feminine care products, adult diapers. We’re offering them at the lowest price in the entire state of New Hampshire. If you can find it at another retailer, we’ll beat the price. Even when Walmart has a certain item that’s on sale, if we have that item we’ll beat the price. We also have a very large selection of new and secondhand clothing for men and women, children and babies. We have toys, games, novelties, books, vinyl records, a little bit of everything.

How are you able to pull off a retail concept like this?

I’m licensed to buy overstock. There’s also been some personal investment and saving up, and we also make money in other ways, like doing consignments.

What gave you the idea for this store?

My entire life, I always had a love for small discount stores. As a kid, I used to love places like Building #19, flea markets, things like that. I’ve always been interested in advertising and the way stores look and display their products. Having my own place one day was always in the back of my mind. I wanted to have a place that could possibly create memories for kids, the way I have memories of going to certain stores when I was a kid. … My goal is to be able to earn a living to contribute to my family while also helping to make it easier for others to contribute to theirs. I wanted to leave a legacy of kindness and set a good example for my kids.

What kind of shopping experience would you like to create for your customers?

I want this to be a place that doesn’t feel like a regular store. I want it to be a place people can go to when they don’t have much money but need to provide for their family. I want it to feel different than a typical dollar store or big corporation. I want it to have that old-school feeling of a mom-and-pop shop where people can come in and engage in conversation.

How is Granite State Discounts giving back to the community?

In a few different ways. The second Wednesday of every month is Heroes Day, where we take an additional 20 percent off the total purchase amount of $40 or more for veterans, active military, first responders, nurses and school teachers. We’re planning to do in-store fundraisers every other month for local nonprofits and organizations. Our first one is going to be in December for 603 Sober Living out of Manchester. It’s going to be an in-store shopping event where I’m going to print out certificates for the owner of 603 Sober Living to hand out to whoever she chooses, and for anyone who comes in to shop with a certificate, 603 Sober Living will receive 30 percent of that total sale. If business picks up a little more, we might do those kinds of events every month. We partner with New Hampshire Artists for Autism; we have some of their T-shirts and decals in the store, and money from those sales goes to their organization. We’re also planning to start doing shopping by appointment only on Tuesdays for individuals who have sensory issues or need physical accommodations. We’ll set up the shop in whatever way they need, with lower lighting or lowered noise, things like that. That way, people will have a sensory-friendly place to do their shopping.

What are your future plans for the store?

I’m hoping that we can get a larger location eventually so that we can hold more stuff and have a little more space to move around. We’d possibly have more than one location. I’ve also been thinking about trying to find some spaces to do some pop-up shops in the meantime.

Featured photo: Adam Daley. Courtesy photo.

In the kitchen with Ashley Tardugno

Ashley Tardugno of Derry is the owner of Whisk Chick (whisknchick@gmail.com, and on Facebook and Instagram @whiskchickbakes), specializing in charcuterie-style sweet boards and boxes consisting of freshly baked goods, chocolate-dipped items, candies, fresh flowers and seasonal fruits, as well as some pies and cream- or mousse-based cakes. A graduate of New England Culinary Institute, Tardugno oversaw all of the bakery items and sweet treats at Roundabout Diner & Lounge in Portsmouth for around a decade prior to launching Whisk Chick about six months ago. She works out of Creative Chef Kitchens (35 Manchester Road, Derry), a shared commercial kitchen space — a one-week advance notice is recommended for all orders, which include multiple sizes depending on the number of people being served. In addition to owning Whisk Chick, Tardugno also runs the New Hampshire chapter of For Goodness Cakes, a national nonprofit providing underprivileged youth with a birthday or graduation cake.

What is your must-have kitchen item?

For me, I feel like a rubber spatula is so important. I can’t do anything without that thing. It’s multi-purpose — you stir with it, you scrape with it, you do everything with it.

What would you have for your last meal?

Fried chicken. … Other than that, it would be my mom’s soups.

What is your favorite local restaurant?

I’m going to go with Jocelyn’s in Salem. It’s Mediterranean … and everything at that place tastes amazing. I love the kafta and the hummus.

What celebrity would you like to see trying something that you’ve made?

Jack Black, because he’s awesome and he makes me laugh, and maybe he’d write an awesome song about it or something.

What is your personal favorite order you’ve fulfilled?

I love doing them all — they are all so individual. But I’m probably going to go with the first one that I did for a customer. … It was just basic stuff, like chocolate chip cookies, brownies, blondies and fruit and all that stuff … [but] I had had this idea for so long, and it was just really nice for me to see it finally come together.

What is the biggest food trend in New Hampshire right now?

Definitely charcuterie, grazing tables and those kinds of things. They are popping up everywhere.

What is your favorite thing to cook at home?

Anything having to do with breakfast. It’s my favorite meal.

Homemade shiny cookie icing
From the kitchen of Ashley Tardugno of Whisk Chick in Derry (makes enough to cover 30 medium-sized cookies)

1½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
1½ to 2 Tablespoons milk
1 Tablespoon light corn syrup
½ teaspoon vanilla

Mix all of the ingredients until combined, using only the 1½ tablespoons of milk. If the icing is too thick, add the remaining ½ tablespoon. Proper consistency will make it drizzle thinly off the back of the spoon. Drizzle icing on the cookies. Allow at least two hours to set before stacking or storing them.

Featured photo: Ashley Tardugno of Whisk Chick, based in Derry. Courtesy photo.

On The Job – Levi Maxwell

Violin seller

Levi Maxwell is a violin seller and owner of Levi Maxwell Violins (400-7149, facebook.com/levimaxwellsviolins), based in Mason.

Explain your job and what it entails.

I buy new violins at a discount by buying them in bulk. I put the strings and bridges on and tune them up. I then sell them to aspiring musicians of all ages. I advertise mostly via Facebook and good old word of mouth.

How long have you had this job?

I have been selling violins on and off for a few years now but have been putting more effort into this growing business in the past few months.

What led you to this career field and your current job?

I would have to say that when the musician in me met the entrepreneur in me, this business was born.

What kind of education or training did you need?

Humbly, having a good ear comes in handy when tuning a violin as violins are one of the trickiest instruments to tune. I am also learning some basic violin repairs as I go, which I find to be an exciting challenge.

What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?

I am naturally laid back, so the fact that I own my own business is nice when it comes to work attire. I am able to dress comfortably and casually.

What was it like starting a business during the pandemic?

Levi Maxwell’s Violins didn’t really get much momentum until after the pandemic, so I was mostly able to avoid the trouble of a startup business when the world was stopping.

What do you wish you had known at the beginning of your career?

I think if I had known in the beginning that the violin business was going to catch traction the way it has, I probably would not have put as much time, effort and money into other ventures. But, hey, learning is part of the whole process, right?

What do you wish other people knew about your job?

One thing I wish people knew about what I do is how fragile a violin is and how delicate you must be with one. Although, when a repair is needed, the challenge helps me grow.

What was the first job you ever had?

The first job I had was working at Dunkin’ Donuts. I definitely have a sweet tooth, but I have to say I prefer handling violins over doughnuts as the temptation is just too strong for me.

What is the best piece of work-related advice you have ever received?

I would have to say that the advice that encourages me the most about my business is simply seeing a satisfied customer.

Five favorites

Favorite book: The Bible
Favorite movie: Ice Age
Favorite music: Christian worship music
Favorite food: Mexican
Favorite thing about NH: The weather is never boring.

Featured photo: Levi Maxwell. Courtesy photo.

Ensuring you’re insured

Meet the navigators of NH’s Health Market Connect

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently renewed the Covid public health emergency for another 90 days. For those currently enrolled in Medicaid, the extension secures uninterrupted health care coverage through at least Jan. 11. When the emergency declaration ends, however, some may discover that they no longer meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid. Health Market Connect is a community-based organization that oversees a federally funded program created to provide no-cost health insurance assistance to New Hampshire residents. HMC president Keith Ballingal talked about how HMC is working to ensure that residents are prepared for how their health care coverage may change once Covid emergency waivers and flexibilities are no longer in effect.

What is Health Market Connect?

We’re a solely New Hampshire-based organization that helps citizens of the state enroll in the Marketplace and Medicaid insurances. We’re funded by a grant from the federal government. We have 11 people on the team — we’re known as Navigators — and our goal is to do outreach and to do those enrollments. The team is situated in the unique areas of the state of New Hampshire — so, like, North Country and Monadnock and Seacoast regions — to make sure they understand the unique pieces of those communities.

What does the health insurance assistance that HMC provides look like?

We get an understanding of who they are. If they qualify [for Medicaid or Marketplace], we’ll help them to apply … and to understand the insurance companies they’ll be placed with and how they work. Sometimes there’s also [a need for a] follow-up when the system can’t quite confirm a person’s income — maybe there was a change in the household — and anytime there’s follow-up documentation, we can help the consumer with that as well, for both Medicaid and Marketplace.

Why is it important that HMC is community-based?

In one sense, my team does what healthcare.gov does over the computer or over the phone — we put somebody into insurance — but the team is also community-focused, which means they’ll be in a library or in a local store; they’ll be in those places so that, if somebody really wants to have that face-to-face interaction, they can have that. It’s also our job to know how different places here in New Hampshire work together.

How will the end of the public health emergency affect health coverage, and who will be affected?

A good majority of people on Medicaid. Because of the public health emergency, no one can lose Medicaid, so [people haven’t made] as much of an effort to make sure their information is up to date with Medicaid. … The state has sent out what they call “pink letters” — pink letters in the mail to get the attention of everybody who needs to make sure their information is up to date. … [Qualifying for] Medicaid and Marketplace depends on the number of people in the household and the income. [Consumers with] lower incomes will [qualify for] Medicaid. … Anybody who truly should have Medicaid, who qualifies, needs to make sure their information is up to date so they don’t lose it.

What concerns or confusion have people expressed about that?

The concern from a number of people is that, because they got the pink letter, maybe they’re going to lose their coverage very soon. We need to alleviate that [concern] and say, ‘Listen, we’ll help you get your information in, but because the public health emergency is continuing, you are not, under any circumstances, going to lose coverage yet.’ … I also want to make sure it’s known that there’s an insurance program for everybody. A lot of times, we have people say, ‘Oh, I won’t qualify for [Medicaid or the Marketplace],’ but the reality is there’s an answer for everyone. If somebody gets stuck, it’s just a matter of reaching out, and we’ll be glad to give [their case] a second look to make sure they understand that if they didn’t qualify for one thing, that just means there’s a different solution for them.

Will changes in health coverage brought about by the end of the public health emergency result in people having to change doctors or medications?

Potentially. If there’s a household that’s making a little more income [and wouldn’t] qualify for Medicaid, they’re going to go from Medicaid into the Marketplace. Medicaid has three particular insurance companies, and the Marketplace has three different insurance companies, so in those cases, we want to make sure that as they make that change … they’ll be placed for coverage that will work for them depending on the doctors they need to see … and that the medications they need to take are still covered, hopefully at a reasonable cost.

Are we any closer to knowing when the public health emergency will end?

We always know when it’s going to end — until they move [the end date] again. … We’ve been getting ready in earnest since the summer … to try to make sure we’re ready for those people who have Medicaid but no longer qualify for it.

Featured photo: Keith Ballingal. Courtesy photo.

In the kitchen with Danilo and Amanda Portillo

Danilo Portillo and his wife, Amanda, of Plaistow are the owners of Rico’s Burritos (ricosburritosfoodtruck.com, and on Facebook and Instagram @ricosburritosfoodtruck), a food truck specializing in street tacos, burritos, burrito bowls and other authentic Mexican options with a Central American twist. The truck launched this past June, but both Danilo and Amanda Portillo have worked in the restaurant industry since they were teenagers. They met at a local Mexican restaurant just over a decade ago and, according to Amanda Portillo, had talked about launching a food truck for a few years before jumping in. Rico’s Burritos gets its name both in inspiration from the couple’s son, Ricardo, and for the Spanish word meaning “tasty” or “delicious.” The truck has a regular presence at venues across northern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire, including at Griffin Park (101 Range Road, Windham) and Peters’ Farm (3 Cross St., Salem). The Portillos will also be at Plaistow’s annual Pumpkin Lighting Festival on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 2 to 6 p.m. on the Town Green.

What is your must-have kitchen item?
Danilo: A knife … because I cut everything — the meat, the parsley, the lettuce, the onions and cilantro.
Amanda: He mostly works on the flat top and I help put together all the burritos and bowls and everything, so I guess a must-have for me would be a pen to take down the orders. If I didn’t have a pen, that would be really bad.

What would you have for your last meal?
Danilo: A sushi boat … loaded with everything, pretty much.
Amanda: I think I would have to go with chicken tikka masala.

What is your favorite local restaurant?
Amanda: I guess I’m just going to roll right with my chicken tikka masala and go with Kashmir [Indian Cuisine in Salem], because that’s where I’d get it.
Danilo: The Common Man. I do love the fresh bread that they have with butter, and the steak is good, with baked potatoes and veggies.

What celebrity would you like to see ordering from your food truck?
Danilo: John Cena.
Amanda: I’m going to go with Adam Sandler, just because he’s a New Hampshire native and he’s always been one of my favorite actors. … I wouldn’t be super intimidated with him because he seems like he’s just so low-key.

What is your favorite thing on your menu?
Amanda: I’m definitely going with the pork carnitas street tacos. … It’s [on] our grilled corn tortillas, with melted cheese, diced onion, fresh cilantro and our house sauce. They’re so good.
Danilo: I like the California burrito that we did as a special [with] mango pico [de gallo], avocado, cheese, rice and beans.

What is the biggest food trend in New Hampshire right now?
Amanda: I feel like food trucks are trending in New Hampshire, more than they were before. When we first started talking about it a couple of years ago, there weren’t even half as many food trucks around, I feel like, as there are now.

What is your favorite thing to cook at home?
Danilo: I like when we do baked haddock with fresh salad, and some veggies and some rice.
Amanda: I’m going to go with a steak dinner with salad and broccoli, and rice pilaf as well.

Shrimp ceviche
From the kitchen of Danilo and Amanda Portillo of Rico’s Burritos

1 pound extra-large shrimp
½ of a large red onion
1 bunch of cilantro
1 cucumber
1 large tomato
2 jalapenos
1 avocado
5 limes
½ cup ketchup
1½ cup Clamato juice
2 teaspoons Tapatio hot sauce
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Boil the shrimp for three minutes and season with salt. Place in an ice bath for about five minutes. Dice up all of the vegetables and place in a large mixing bowl. Squeeze in the juice from all five of the limes. Add the ketchup, Clamato juice, Tapatio hot sauce, garlic powder and onion powder. Cut each shrimp into three pieces and add to the bowl. Mix everything together and chill for 30 minutes or more. Enjoy with fresh tortilla chips.

Featured photo: Danilo Portillo (left) and his wife, Amanda, of Rico’s Burritos.

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