Local flavors

Tasty eats, drinks at annual Made in New Hampshire Expo

Artisan chocolates, scratch-baked goods and craft barbecue and hot sauces are just a few examples of the many types of local goods foodies can discover during the annual Made in New Hampshire Expo. Now in its 26th year, the three-day “try it and buy it” event returns to the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown from Friday, April 14, through Sunday, April 16.

Dozens of vendors from across New Hampshire will be showcasing their products and services, which will also include personal care products, artwork and an onsite “libation station.”

Organized by Granite Media Group, which produces Business NH magazine and runs EventsNH, this is the first Made in New Hampshire Expo to take place since the company’s acquisitions from Millyard Communications in September. Two of Granite Media Group’s three co-founders were longtime employees of the magazine, including Christine Carignan, a 16-year veteran.

“We’ve been with the expo for a very long time … so we’re very familiar with the show,” Carignan said. “So it is under new management this year, but it will still be what people know.”

Admittance to the expo had previously only been at the door via cash or checks. But this year, tickets are also available in advance online. Credit cards will also now be accepted.

Last year’s expo marked the first time it took place since the onset of the pandemic — as it followed two years of cancellations, this meant a greater number than normal of new vendors. A majority of the event’s food and beverage vendors will be offering samples of their products.

“I do feel like this year I am seeing new ones that I don’t recall from previous years, so it’s nice to see some new folks coming in,” Carignan said of this year’s expo. “We always have our people that come in year after year, too, which we love to see, because people will come to the show just to see them.”

Maggie’s Munchies is among this year’s newcomers — Carignan said they’ll be at the show offering whoopie pies, cookies and other baked goodies. The Big Dog Sauce Co., a producer of all-natural barbecue sauces that launched earlier this spring, will also be there. The company offers a product lineup of green chile, maple, blackberry and mango habanero barbecue sauces, and plans to roll out a new offering, its Dog House seasoning blend.

A designated area in the last aisle near the back of the expo center is devoted to the libation station. Those ages 21 and over with photo identification will get to sample locally produced beer, wine, mead and, for the first time this year, distilled spirits. Each attendee is given a bracelet upon entry to the libation station, as well as a set number of tickets per sample.

“That’s one of the new elements this year, is that spirits get to come into the libation station,” Carignan said. “So we’re very excited about that. We have a handful of distilleries signed up for that this year.”

In addition to specialty foods and drinks, companies will be selling everything from jewelry, perfume and candles to wildlife photography, various home decor and services. Live entertainment is also planned for all three days.

Carignan said the expo is a great opportunity for attendees to support local businesses and discover what they might not have realized was in their backyard.

26th annual Made in New Hampshire Expo
When: Friday, April 14, 1 to 7 p.m.; Saturday, April 15, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, April 16, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown (Expo Center), 700 Elm St., Manchester
Cost: $10 for adults, $9 for seniors ages 65 and over, $3 for kids ages 2 to 12 and free for kids under 2. Tickets are available online or at the door. Cash, checks and credit cards are all accepted. Foods, drinks and other featured goods are priced per item.
More info: Visit madeinnhexpo.com or follow them on Facebook @madeinnhexpo

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

Spring into deliciousness

Great New England specialty food and artisan show returns

More than 150 exhibitors will gather inside the Hampshire Dome in Milford for the Great New England Spring Specialty Food & Artisan Show — now in its sixth year, the two-day event is a prime destination for food lovers, with all kinds of products available for sale and sampling. It’s happening on Saturday, April 15, and Sunday, April 16, and will also feature live music, food trucks outside, children’s activities, door prize-winning opportunities and more.

A wide variety of sweet and savory items will be available for attendees to try, from honeys, maple products, jams and drink infusions to hot sauces, chocolates, toffees, spice blends, seasonings, salad dressings and much more.
“We really do try to stick to our model of ‘Never the same show twice, but always just as nice,’ and it’s the truth,” show organizer Jody Donohue of GNE Events said. “We’re always changing it up for people, so that every time they come, there’s a variety of different items.”

With Donohue’s recent expansion of the company’s annual events to the Seacoast, she said she has been able to reach a wider range of participating exhibitors. As a result, many of those area artisans and specialty food makers will be coming to Milford for the first time.

“It will be really nice for them to get a new audience, as well as those that attend to see new exhibitors,” she said.

Queen of Whoopies, a multiple first-prize award winner at the annual Maine Whoopie Pie Festival, is expected to attend.

“Her recipe is like how the old Devil Dogs were,” Donohue said. “They are huge whoopie pies, bigger than the palm of your hand.”

The Chocolate Butcher, meanwhile, will be there with its chopped chocolates and truffles.

“They sell more chunks or pieces of chocolate, so you can melt them down for baking purposes as well as just eating them right from the bag,” Donohue said. “We also have the Mill Fudge Factory coming, and then we have Seacoast Pretzel Co., so you can get boxed pretzel nuggets or you can get the regular braided soft pretzel, which is also larger than life.”

This is also the first year 603 Charcuterie will be participating; Donohue said their team will be there offering samples of New Hampshire products as seen on their featured boards, and will provide a demonstration on how to put a board together.

Craft beer and wine will be available for sampling in addition to the food, and a number of other booths will be there, selling home decor, soaps, candles, personal care products and more.

While most of the vendors will be indoors, Donohue said a couple of food trucks and other purveyors will be parked outside the Hampshire Dome, including a coffee truck and a barbecue truck. Live local music will also be featured, both inside and outside.

Attendees will have a chance to win a $100 cash door prize, while $200 worth of scratch tickets — two packages of $100 each — will also be raffled off.

New to this year’s show will be a coloring crayon station for kids, while Donohue said there will also be face painting and cookie decorating.

“We’re keeping it fun, giving the artisans new audiences and giving everybody something to do to get out of the house,” Donohue said.

Sixth annual Great New England Spring Specialty Food & Artisan Show
When: Saturday, April 15, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, April 16, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: The Hampshire Dome, 34 Emerson Road, Milford
Cost: General admission tickets are $5 per person, valid for both days. Tickets are available in advance online or at the door (free for attendees ages 14 and under). Foods are priced per item.
Visit: gnecraftartisanshows.com/april-spring-show to purchase tickets

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

The Weekly Dish 23/04/13

News from the local food scene

• Cheers! The final days of this year’s New Hampshire Craft Beer Week are ahead, as the state’s Brewers Association’s campaign wraps up on Saturday, April 15. There’s still time to participate in several Association-sponsored events, like the inaugural downtown Nashua craft beer tour. Participants can visit each of the Gate City’s six downtown craft breweries through Sunday, April 16, for access to special food and beverage deals, available with a special stamp book. Tickets are $30 per person and also include commemorative pint glasses — see downtownnashua.org/beertour. Visit nhbrewers.org for more Craft Beer Week details, and be sure to save the date for the Brewers Association’s annual Keep NH Brewing Fest, which returns to the Everett Arena Waterfront Park in Concord on Saturday, July 8.

• Cooking for a cause: Join the Nashua Center for its 20th annual Taste of the Towns, a food and wine tasting and benefit auction happening on Thursday, April 20, at 6 p.m. at LaBelle Winery Derry (14 Route 111). The evening will feature options from a variety of local restaurants coming together for a good cause, as well as several special items to be auctioned off. Single tickets start at $75 per person, with proceeds benefiting the Nashua Center, now in its 50th year of providing services to local children and adults with disabilities or acquired brain disorders. Purchase tickets online at nashuacenter.org.

• Get on board: Saturday, April 15, is the last day the 603 Charcuterie shop inside The Factory on Willow (252 Willow St., Manchester) will be open, as the company undergoes a transfer of ownership. A 75 percent off “everything must go” sale applies to all remaining in-store products from Thursday, April 13, through Saturday, April 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., which include many of the local cheeses, meats and other accoutrements commonly seen at the company’s charcuterie board-building classes at area breweries and wineries. On March 22, 603 Charcuterie announced in a social media post that the business will be taken over by Leah and Tom Bellemore, who own Vine 32 Wine + Graze Bar in Bedford. Classes, according to the post, will resume at the end of May under the new ownership, with future available dates to be posted within the next couple of weeks. See 603charcuterie.com or follow them on Facebook and Instagram for updates.

• From Nashua to Africa: Save the date for the next Taste of Africa event happening at Mola Foods (9 Simon St., Nashua) on Friday, April 21, at 6:30 p.m. Guests will be taken on a culinary tour of African nations like Cameroon, Somalia and Senegal, and featured dishes will be paired with wine from Brookline’s Averill House Vineyard. Vegan and gluten-free options are also available to those with dietary restrictions upon request, and there will be live music from singer-songwriter Ruby Shabazz. A native of Cameroon, Mola Foods owner and founder LaFortune Jeannette Djabea debuted her Taste of Africa lunch and dinner series last year to consistent success, with events continuously selling out at her Nashua shop. Tickets are $60 per person and there is a semi-formal dress code. Purchase them online at molafoods.com.

• Wine and a show: Head to Lake Park at Tuscan Village (9 Via Toscana, Salem) for an outdoor spring wine fest on Friday, April 21, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The event will feature more than 30 different types of wine available to taste, alongside appetizer samples from Tuscan Market, live music and more. Tickets are $45 per person (event is 21+ only) — purchase them online at tuscanbrands.com.

On The Job – Kim Shimer

Maternity and newborn photographer

Kim Shimer (kimshimer.com) is a newborn baby and maternity photographer. Sessions are done at her studio in Deerfield.

Explain your job and what it entails.

I primarily photograph maternity through [the child’s] first birthday. My main focus is on maternity and newborn sessions. I have a client closet full of gowns and everything needed to style my newborn session so it helps make a stress-free experience for my clients.

How long have you had this job?

I have been specializing in maternity and newborn photography for 11 years.

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

Being a mother of five, I absolutely cherished that stage of my life, and I feel so many women don’t realize just how beautiful they are while pregnant. They may see a different version of themselves in the mirror, and I am able to show them how the world sees them. Newborns are photographed in the first two to three weeks of life, and their newness and smallness is so fleeting that I am genuinely honored to be able to preserve this for families.

What kind of education or training did you need?

My love for photography started in high school, but in the digital age we live in and with the online training available to us, I am always learning. I actually have a dual screen so that I can watch trainings while I edit my galleries. As much as I love to learn online, I have taken several in-person mentorship workshops and have gone on retreats where I learned from the best in the newborn-and-maternity niche. I am also a strong believer of ‘community over competition’ and grew tremendously through forming genuine friendships with fellow photographers.

What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?

During a session I wear comfy stretchy pants and a Kim Shimer Photography T-shirt and cute socks. I actually find it fun to match my socks to a client’s nursery theme to see if they notice.

What is the most challenging thing about your work, and how do you deal with it?

The most challenging thing about my job is probably the business side of things. I am, like most creatives, not a fan of the numbers or administrative stuff, so I avoid it, which causes me stress.

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

As I said, I embrace community over competition, but that was not always the case. I think I caused myself too much stress comparing myself to peers in the beginning. My true growth [occurred] when I started using my network to learn and gain guidance from.

What do you wish other people knew about your job?

I am being entrusted with newborn babies, so I am invested in making sure your baby’s safety is a priority. They may look like cute little props being posed, but behind the scenes, there is a reason for every movement I make with these precious babies, and I am honored to be entrusted with them at that stage in their lives.

What was the first job you ever had?

I worked at Kmart in the women’s department.

What’s the best piece of work-related advice you’ve ever received?

Stop comparing yourself.

Five favorites

Favorite book: The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Favorite movie: Grease
Favorite music: Noah Kahan
Favorite food: Apples and peanut butter
Favorite thing about NH: Fall foliage

Featured photo: Kim Shimer. Courtesy photo

Treasure Hunt 23/04/13

Hi, Donna.

I have this Huckleberry Finn clock made by Century. The clock tells time, and the fishing pole bobs up and down and the fish area lights up as the fish move around. The case is cast metal and I think my grandfather told me it was from 1940. It’s in perfect condition. What would something like this be worth?

Thank you.

Janice

Dear Janice,

How fun is that! Your clock is from the mid-century and produced by the Century Works company of New York. There are a couple different designs and styles. The style you have, Janice, in good working condition brings around $200+. Animated clocks are tough to find in good running condition. So the ones that are hold their value.

Sweet piece, Janice. Thanks for sharing with us.

Donna

Kiddie Pool 23/04/13

Family fun for the weekend

Get outdoors

• Check out the offerings at the New Hampshire Audubon’s Massabesic Center summer camps at Summer Camp Open House on Friday, April 14, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Massabesic Center (26 Audubon Way in Auburn; nhaudubon.org, 668-2045). RSVP online to get a spot at this event, which includes a mini nature walk and an animal meet-and-greet.

Return of the F-cats

• The New Hampshire Fisher Cats continue their first run of home games (which started April 11) this season with games through Sunday, April 16, against the Portland Sea Dogs at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in downtown Manchester. Games Thursday, April 13, and Friday, April 14, begin at 6:35 p.m. The game on Saturday, April 15, starts at 4 :05 p.m. and Sunday’s game starts at 1:35 p.m. Sunday’s game will also feature a hat giveaway to the first 1,000 kids, according to milb.com/new-hampshire. Tickets start at $12. The next round of home games starts Tuesday, April 25, when the Fisher Cats will play the Hartford Yard Goats.

Book fun

• Meet Curious George this Friday, April 14, and Saturday, April 15, at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org, 742-2002). George will be at the museum for photos and high fives at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on both days (during the morning and afternoon play sessions), according to the website. Kids can also check out the Curious George-inspired activities, and museum educators will read Curious George books, the website said. Play sessions run from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m.; reserve spots and pay admission online in advance. Admission costs $12.50 for everyone over 12 months of age, $10.50 for 65+ and free for children under 12 months, the website said.

Lasers!

The Super Stellar Friday program at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive in Concord; starhop.com, 271-7827) on Friday, April 14, features a live, family-friendly Tesla Coil and laser show with Xploration ALC, according to the website. “See electricity dance and lasers light up the night. XPloration ALC is a fun action-packed STEM organization that makes science fun for kids. Following the presentation, presenters will answer audience questions in a Q & A session, leaving time to explore the museum,” the website said. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the presentation begins at 7 p.m., the website said. Admission costs $12 for adults, $9 for ages 3 to 12, $11 for ages 62+ and $11 for ages 13 through college; kids under 2 get in for free, the website said.

Movie fun for everyone

• All three New Hampshire Chunky’s Cinema Pubs (707 Huse Road, Manchester; 151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua; 150 Bridge St., Pelham, chunkys.com) will feature sensory-friendly screenings of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which came out last Friday and is rated PG, on Friday, April 14, at 4 p.m. The theater lights will be up, the sound will be down and there will be no 3D, according to the website. Tickets cost $5.99 per seat (plus a fee).

• O’neil Cinemas Brickyard Square 12 (24 Calef Highway in Epping; oneilcinemas.com) will also offer a sensory-friendly screening of The Super Mario Bros. Moviethis weekend. Catch the adventures of Mario and Luigi at O’neil on Saturday, April 15, at 10 a.m.

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