Chocolate, cheese and more

Loon Chocolate and 603 Charcuterie join forces for new retail shop

Scott Watson was perusing Netflix one day in the winter of 2017 when he came across a documentary about a Southeast Asian coffeehouse. He tuned in to learn the shop also produced its own chocolate onsite — a catalyst for what would end up becoming his newest venture.

“It just triggered something in me and got me thinking, ‘How come I don’t know how chocolate is made?’” said Watson, who worked as a craft brewer during the mid to late 1990s at the now closed Nutfield Brewing Co. in Derry. “I started diving into it … and it brought me back to my brewing days. It fascinated me that there was fermentation involved, and that there seemed to be so many parallels to craft brewing. … It intrigued me enough to start making it at my house.”

Courtesy photo.

That was how Loon Chocolate, based in Manchester, was born — Watson sold his first chocolate bar in the spring of 2018. On Feb. 5, he opened his first retail shop, teaming up with Theresa Zwart of 603 Charcuterie to also feature New Hampshire-made specialty foods like cheeses, jams, hot sauces, crackers and mustards.

Watson and Zwart are the first commercial tenants of The Factory on Willow, a former Queen City shoe factory turned apartment and business complex. The new shop also has an adjoining chocolate production facility that is double the size of Watson’s former manufacturing space.

Loon’s chocolates are handcrafted in small batches from bean to bar, its cacao beans sourced from multiple growers across Bolivia, Belize, Uganda, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

“We get beans in and we’re roasting and doing every single step from bean to bar,” Watson said. “There’s no curtain hiding people in the back room that are opening up pallets of pre-made chocolate and melting them down into an Easter Bunny for you.”

In addition to offering a lineup of 12 flavored bars, Watson has since expanded his product line to include bagged cacao nibs, dark chocolate cocoa bombs and a do-it-yourself chocolate-infused elixir kit. All of these items are now available for sale out of his new storefront.

Courtesy photo.

Zwart, meanwhile, is utilizing the space as a one-stop shop for all of the New Hampshire-made products featured on her charcuterie boards, like cheeses from Bell & Goose Cheese Co. of South Hampton and Abbot Hill Creamery of Wilton, cured meats from Short Creek Farm of Northwood, and mustards from the Blackwater Mustard Co. of Contoocook. Even the boards themselves, built by Souhegan Wood Designs of Amherst, are sold in various shapes and sizes.

Since launching 603 Charcuterie in late 2020 as a small takeout ordering business, Zwart has gone on to teach charcuterie board-building classes at local breweries and wineries, and has also expanded into catering larger boards and grazing tables for weddings. She and Watson first developed a business relationship last year when she started purchasing Loon’s chocolates for use on her boards. They’re also commonly served samples at her classes.

“We’re going to have charcuterie boxes to go, so premade charcuterie boards that people can just pick up,” Zwart said. “I want to bring in some other stuff in the next few weeks too, so things like honeys, maple syrups, and maybe an olive oil for dipping bread.”

Other items in the store include loose leaf teas from 27 Teas of Candia, cooking salts from the Maine Sea Salt Co., and craft marshmallows from Nomadic Kitchen of Vermont.

Events are already being planned for the space, starting with a multi-course tasting menu centered around Loon’s chocolate by Dahlia Restaurant, a series of farm-to-table pop-up dinners across New Hampshire. They’ll be hosting limited seatings on Friday, Feb. 11, and Saturday, Feb. 12 — one at 6 p.m. on Friday and two at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.

“We’re also planning on doing some sort of chocolate and wine tasting … just to take advantage of the space that we have and to give the wineries a chance to talk about their products and pair them up with some chocolate,” Watson said.

Loon Chocolate & 603 Charcuterie

Where: The Factory on Willow, 252 Willow St., Manchester
Hours: Friday, Feb. 11, noon to 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 12, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 13, 8 to 11 a.m.; hours for future dates TBA
More info: Visit loonchocolate.com or 603charcuterie.com, or find them on Facebook and Instagram

Featured photo: Courtesy photos.

The Weekly Dish 22/02/10

News from the local food scene

• Romantic meals: Still haven’t made plans yet for Valentine’s Day? There may still be time depending on where you go. Check out our listings that ran in the Feb. 3 issue; they begin on page 22. You’ll find dozens of special menus and dinners at local eateries, as well as sweet gift-giving ideas at chocolate and candy shops and bakeries with their own special offerings. Since Feb. 14 falls on a Monday this year, some businesses are opening their doors on the weekday when they would normally be closed, while others are choosing to celebrate all throughout the preceding weekend. Go to issuu.com/hippopress and click on the Feb. 3 issue to read the e-edition for free — and be sure to contact each establishment directly for the most up-to-date availability on reservations and takeout items.

• More drive-thru Greek eats: Join Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church (68 N. State St., Concord) for its next boxed Greek dinner to go, a drive-thru takeout event, on Sunday, Feb. 20, from noon to 1 p.m. Now through Wednesday, Feb. 16, orders are being accepted for boxed meals featuring dinners of Greek meatballs, rice pilaf, Greek salad and a roll for $15 per person. The event is drive-thru and takeout only — email ordermygreekfood@gmail.com or call 953-3051 to place your order. The church is also planning a similar takeout and pickup meal featuring chicken and orzo, scheduled for March 13. Visit holytrinitynh.org.

• Get into the spirit: The New Hampshire Liquor Commission has a couple of special virtual events planned for this week. On Friday, Feb. 11, from 6 to 7 p.m., they’ll be helping you gear up for the Big Game — brand representatives from Crown Royal, Smirnoff and Captain Morgan will be tuning in for some game day cocktail recipes and ideas, which you can also access by visiting liquorandwineoutlets.com/diageosuperbowl. Then on Thursday, Feb. 17, from 5 to 6 p.m., the NHLC will hold a behind-the-scenes tour of Fabrizia Spirits in Salem, which has grown into one of the leading purveyors of limoncello in the United States. After the tour, co-founder Phil Mastroianni will be sharing a cocktail recipe using Fabrizia’s crema di pistacchio, the newest addition to his product lineup. Both events are free to sign up via Zoom, or you can watch them live on Facebook @nhliquorwine (click the “live” tab to access the videos).

• Make way for Mardi Gras: Save the date for A Mardi Gras Wine Festival, an event presented by St. Thomas Aquinas Church that’s happening at the Aquinas Center (26 Crystal Ave., Derry) on Saturday, Feb. 26, from 6 to 9 p.m. The evening will include samplings of several New Hampshire-made wines, along with live music, raffles, games, a door prize, food and more. Tickets are $40 per person or $70 per couple. Visit stthomasderry.org for more details, or call the church office at 432-5000 to purchase tickets.

On The Job – Jesse Doucette

Jesse Doucette

Chimney sweep

Jesse Doucette is a certified Master Chimney Sweep and owner of Crown Chimney in Hooksett.

Explain your job and what it entails.

I oversee all day-to-day operations … and deal with the customers. … I still do site previews here and there as well. When I go on site, one of the first things I do is find out from the customer what they’re having an issue with or what they would ultimately like to achieve with their chimney. Every job is different. … I educate them on what their options are, and we … [determine] what the best solution is for them and their home and their lifestyle, and we try to formulate a plan together.

How long have you had this job?

A little over 16 years.

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

I used to be an electrician, and I loved it … but the company I was with was starting to go down the wrong road, so I decided to get out. [Crown Chimney] offered me a position. I started out not knowing anything about the job; I knew that Santa goes down the chimney, but that’s about it.

What kind of education or training did you need?

CSIA, which is the Chimney Safety Institute of America, was the first place I started getting an education. It’s out in Indiana. They [offer] different levels of education. I’ve now become Master Chimney Sweep[-certified] through the NFI, which is the National Fireplace Institute, which is another place where I’ve done a lot of schooling.

What’s your typical at-work uniform or attire?

It depends if I’m out on the road or in the office. Our company has uniform shirts, hoodies, jackets and that type of thing. If we’re out in the field, it’s jeans or shorts, depending on the weather, and if I’m in the office, I typically wear a polo or something like that.

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

Many people have been able to work remotely during this whole thing, but our job isn’t like that; the chimneys are on the houses, so we have to go to the people’s houses. … We’ve had to be cautious around people as far as navigating how they feel about us being in their home … and really make sure that we’re taking any measures necessary for them to feel comfortable with us being there.

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

On my first day [working at Crown Chimney], I … was handed a map of the homes I had to go to. I didn’t know how to read a map. The owner of the company had just gotten in an accident and wasn’t able to go out with me on the road. I had to travel all over the state to the homes of these customers without knowing how to read the map. That was definitely a challenge for me, so I wish I had known that I would need to know how to read a map.

What do you wish other people knew about your job?

How much I love my job. I love gaining new insights and knowledge about the industry, and I love educating my customers, which is a very crucial part of what we do, so that they can get what they’re looking for with their chimney.

What was the first job you ever had?

Being a paperboy for the Concord Monitor. My job was to deliver papers every day except for Christmas and try to not get attacked by dogs.

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

To treat each customer as if they were our only customer.

Five favorites

Favorite book: The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth by John C. Maxwell
Favorite movie: Kingdom of Heaven
Favorite music: ’80s rock
Favorite food: Mexican, specifically burritos
Favorite thing about NH: Hunting, fishing, mountain biking — anything outdoors

Featured photo: Jesse Doucette. Courtesy photo.

Kiddie Pool 22/02/10

Family fun for the weekend

One bird, two bird

• This Saturday, Feb. 12, and Sunday, Feb. 13, is the Backyard Winter Bird Survey — an excuse to do a little winter bird watching and enjoy both birds and math out in the wilds of your own backyard. Go to the New Hampshire Audubon’s nhbirdrecords.org to download the forms and read the rules for counting birds, which can be done for as long or short a time as you and your fellow bird watchers would like. Along with more than two dozen bird species, the form also asks for the number of red and gray squirrels spotted.

Wildcats basketball

• For those looking for some in-person college basketball, the University of New Hampshire is allowing masked spectators to Wildcats games this season, according to unhwildcats.com. This Saturday, Feb. 12, at noon you can catch the women’s team play the Binghamton University Bearcats at noon at Lundholm Gymnasium at UNH in Durham. On Monday, Feb. 14, catch the men’s team in their game against UMBC at 4 p.m. (the game is a reschedule of the Jan. 2 game and tickets to that game will be honored). Tickets cost $10, $8 for seniors and 12 and under.

Free day

• As with every second Saturday, New Hampshire residents who go to the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org, 669-6144) on Saturday, Feb. 12, will get in for free. See the website for the museum’s Covid policies. The museum is open on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Current exhibits include “As Precious As Gold: Carpets from the Islamic World,” “WPA in NH: Philip Guston and Musa McKim” and “Tomie DePaola at the Currier.”

Also scheduled for the Currier on Saturday: The state’s mobile vaccination van will be on site from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Register to get a shot at currier.org/event/vaccine-van.

Science Friday

• Little scientists can head to Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St., Dover; 742-2002, childrens-museum.org) on Friday, Feb. 11, for another installment of Science Friday. The Friday sessions (which run through the end of April) feature “messy experiments and activities that focus on sensory fun,” according to the website. The events take place at 10 a.m. during the morning session (which runs from 9 a.m. to noon) or at 2 p.m. during the afternoon (from 1 to 4 p.m.). The activities are geared to ages 3 and up with the help of a grownup. To visit the museum, pay for admission ($11 for everyone over 1 year old, $9 for 65+) and reserve a time slot in advance.

Save the date: for JoJo Siwa

The JoJo Siwa D.R.E.A.M. The Tour will come to the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St. in Manchester; snhuarena.com) on Tuesday, Feb. 22, at 7 p.m. The tour is rescheduled from May 2020 (tickets for that show are valid here) but new tickets are available.

Treasure Hunt 22/02/10

Dear Donna,

We use this pitcher every Christmas, as my mother did as well while I was growing up. I’m wondering if you could tell me anything about it. I’m not looking to sell because of family memories, but it’s always good to know more information.

Diane

Dear Diane,

I have a smile on my face reading your note. Glad to see your pitcher still being used and creating more memories.

Your pitcher has a very interesting history — good reading if you want to pursue it. What your mother has passed down is a piece of Heisey glass. It’s been around since the early 1900s and as I said has a long and interesting story.

Diane, Heisey glass has several patterns and even colors. Yours is called the Greek key pattern. You should be able to flip it over and on the bottom in the center you will see the trademark. It’s a diamond with an H in the center.

As long as it is in good condition with no damage, chips, cracks, fogging in the glass, etc., the value would be in the range of $50. The real value, though, is that you still use and cherish it.

Diane, I do think you would enjoy the history of Heisey if you get the time.

Show time (kind of)

Some flower shows will go on

Usually at this time of year I am planning my travel to the various flower shows around New England: Boston, Connecticut or Vermont. Perhaps Maine. Not this year. Most of the shows have been put off due to Covid, including the Boston Show, which was canceled recently.

The Connecticut Flower Show website says it will be the only major flower show in New England, and it will take place Feb. 24 to Feb. 27 at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford. Tickets cost $20 for adults on the day of the event, or $16 if purchased in advance (which will avoid the wait in line). Children ages 5 to 12 are $5, and children under 5 are free. The Convention Center has been upgraded to minimize risk of Covid transmission and state and local regulations will be followed.

The show is always known for having lots of educational workshops. This year is no exception: There are some 80 presentations, including organic lawn care, container gardening, floral arranging and pollinator gardens, among others.

One talk that caught my eye is by a friend of mine, Len Giddix: “It’s Rain Gutter Gardening: Sprouts, Herbs and Greens without Draining Your Wallet.” I called Len, who explained that he uses 4-inch pots in a 10-foot section of gutter partially filled with potting mix. It’s tidy and can produce a lot of greens. And no, the gutter is not up high; it’s along the edge of a walkway. Sounds slick! He’ll repeat his demo every day.

The show will have all the usual vendors selling seeds, plants, cut flowers, air plants, tick protection products, beekeeping supplies, garden tools and more. Organizations like the Rose Society will be there, and other nonprofits.

Next there is the Chelsea Flower Show in London from May 24 to May 28. This show has always been held outdoors and is known for the lavish gardens built by world-famous designers, often using mature trees and shrubs. There are, of course, tents, one of which would easily accommodate Barnum and Bailey at its heyday. My wife and I attended in 2017.

The magnificence of the show is startling: hundreds of fresh blossoms in perfect form in many of the booths. New introductions of named varieties are on display. Actress Judi Dench got a lovely apricot-colored rose named after her by David Austin the year I attended, and as press, I got to see her accept the honor. The chief executive of Burpee Seeds, George Ball, was in the Burpee booth, greeting us and answering questions. There was even a cute little robot cutting the lawn in one booth. The show covers many acres.

If you decide to go, I recommend joining the Royal Horticultural Society for 50 pounds ($67.50 at current exchange rate). The membership gets you admission to the show for two days before it opens to all, a 10-percent discount on all tickets, and other benefits including their quarterly magazine. I went on the first membership day and it was quite crowded, so I can’t imagine what it is like when the show is open to the public. I recommend attending at least two days to see it all, which is what we did.

Daily tickets for adults cost about $55, with Saturday at about $116. But if you can afford it, go! It’s a once in a lifetime experience. And women: Bring your most colorful garden hat and a flowered dress as the British women love to dress up for the show — and you don’t want to appear like the poor “country cousin.”

Then there is the Philadelphia Flower Show, which will be held outdoors from June 11 to June 19 at South Philadelphia’s Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park. The show, which was first organized by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society in 1829, will include 15 acres of this large park with majestic trees and views of the waterfront. By holding the show outdoors in early summer, exhibitors will be able to include larger landscape material than an indoor event, much as the Chelsea Flower Show does.

I have attended the Philly show in the past, and always was thoroughly “wowed.” One aspect of the show that I love is the competitions that allow ordinary gardeners to strut their stuff, competing for ribbons for best house plants, flower arrangements, specialty plants and more. Then of course there are the displays made by professional landscapers, stone workers and designers. And more garden geegaws than you can imagine are for sale.

Bring an umbrella or raincoat, just in case of a shower. There are tents, but much is outdoors. The large outdoor venue should keep attendees well socially distanced.

Admission is $45 for adults, $30 for young adults (18 to 29), and $20 for kids 5 to 17. Go to the website to read more about gala events and early morning tours: phsonline.org/the-flower-show

Covid has limited what we can do and see, but there are still a few places to go if you hanker for a good garden show. And maybe next year they will all be back to normal.

Featured photo: Calla lillies at the Chelsea Flower Show. Photo courtesy of Henry Homeyer.

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