Tag: 230622

In the kitchen with Ben Normandeau

Ben Normandeau of Concord is the owner of 603 Bar-B-Q ([email protected], find them on Facebook and Instagram @603bbq), a food trailer specializing in Central Texas-style barbecue that launched Memorial Day weekend. A Concord native and electrician by trade, Normandeau became interested in barbecue while working at Zavala’s, a renowned spot in the Dallas-Fort Worth-area city of Grand Prairie, Texas. Find him next at Lithermans Limited Brewery (126B Hall St., Concord) on Sunday, June 25, from 1 p.m. until he sells out — offerings include brisket, turkey breast, pulled pork sandwiches, St. Louis-cut ribs, potato salad, coleslaw, macaroni and cheese and banana pudding.

What is your must-have kitchen item?

I think, for me, it would definitely be my smoker. It’s a 500-gallon oil tank that a company down in Georgia made for me.

What would you have for your last meal?

A turkey dinner is definitely my favorite meal by far. We don’t eat it often enough at all.

What is your favorite local restaurant?

If it’s southern New Hampshire, it’s The Red Blazer, which is right next to me here in Concord. I go there all the time. … Up north, it’s the Italian Farmhouse.

What celebrity would you like to see ordering from your trailer?

I’m a big Dead Head, so Jerry Garcia would have been awesome.

What is your favorite thing on your menu?

Honestly, it would probably have to be the brisket. … You can get it as a sandwich, but traditionally, with Central Texas-style, it’s a meat marketing ordering system, so you would just get it on a tray. We serve it on a tray with butcher paper and it comes with bread or a sandwich, whatever you’d like, and then pickled onions and pickles on the side.

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

Outdoor dining, I feel like, is a big thing right now, and also [having that] family-friendly atmosphere. … I mean, it was obviously a thing before Covid, but I think a lot more people just want to sit outside more now.

What is your favorite thing to cook at home?

I like mac and cheese. It’s definitely my favorite dish to make. … Homemade mac and cheese is awesome, but it can be Kraft in a box too.

603 Bar-B-Q basic bird brine
From the kitchen of Ben Normandeau of 603 Bar-B-Q (makes about two quarts)

8 cups water
⅓ cup kosher salt
⅓ cup sugar
4 garlic cloves, smashed
1 Tablespoon dried thyme
1 Tablespoon ground black pepper
2 Tablespoons honey

Whisk salt and sugar with water until dissolved. Combine all of the other ingredients. Submerge poultry in brine and cover, refrigerated, for a minimum of four hours and a maximum of 24 hours (overnight is best).


Featured photo: Ben Normandeau, owner of 603 Bar-B-Q. Courtesy photo.

Scrumptious strawberries

Hollis Strawberry Festival returns for 76th year

By Maya Puma

[email protected]

A celebration of strawberry crops and farming in New Hampshire more than 75 years strong, the Hollis Strawberry Festival is back, taking place on Sunday, June 25, on the Hollis Town Common. Traditionally held on the last Sunday in June, the festival attracts hundreds of people who will come together to enjoy homemade strawberry shortcakes featuring local strawberries, with added choices of local ice cream and hand-whipped cream. The event had a successful comeback year in 2022, the first festival to be held since the pandemic hit.

“It is hugely popular and people come from Mass. and southern New Hampshire. Strawberry lovers from all around come,” said Cathy Gast, publicity chairwoman of the Hollis Woman’s Club.

According to Gast, the festival began in 1946 as a fundraiser for the Town Band, which would perform its spring concert. The Woman’s Club, she said, joined in on the festivities in the ’60s to sell strawberries and strawberry desserts. Today the festival is a joint fundraiser for both the band and the Woman’s Club, which gives out three scholarships per year, two of which — each for $1,000 — are awarded to graduating seniors of Hollis-Brookline High School.

“Last year we grossed over $12,000, so that’s a lot of strawberry shortcakes,” Gast said.

The strawberries themselves, she said, come from local farms in town. Two days before the festival, community volunteers will pick up the berries and hull, wash and prepare them by slicing and putting them into bowls to be sugared. In total, there are 250 quarts of strawberries to go through. The ice cream is homemade and is from Dr. Davis Ice Cream in Pepperell, Mass.

On the day of the festival, the Woman’s Club organizes an assembly line to build shortcakes. People have the opportunity to build their shortcake with a combination of any of the ingredients.

“Everything is homemade — the ice cream, the shortcake, the whipping cream — and they give a really generous portion.” Gast said. “We have a row of people whipping through this whole process and our shortcake is a special secret recipe.”

The family-friendly event will also feature local craft vendors, face-painting, a live performance by the Hollis Town Band, and children’s games, including a Midwestern tradition known as “pocket lady,” in which a lady will be wearing an apron of pockets filled with toys and trinkets. In exchange for 25 cents kids can pull a toy out of one of the pockets at random.

Hollis Strawberry Festival
When: Sunday, June 25, 2 to 4 p.m.
Where: Hollis Town Common, Monument Square, Hollis (in the event of rain, the festival will be held inside Hollis-Brookline Middle School, at 25 Main St. in Hollis)
Cost: Free admission and parking; all strawberry treats are priced per item
Visit: holliswomansclub.org

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

The Weekly Dish 23/06/22

News from the local food scene

• Farm-a-Q to return: A family-friendly event featuring local food, drinks and entertainment, Farm-a-Q returns to Tuckaway Farm (36 Captain Smith Emerson Road, Lee) on Sunday, June 25, from noon to 5 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person, $15 for adult drink bracelets, $25 for students and seniors and free for kids under the age of 5. Proceeds support the Heritage Harvest Project, whose mission is to promote regional heritage foods and agricultural diversity among farmers, chefs and local communities. See “Farm-a-Q” on Eventbrite to purchase tickets.

• Brews in Kingston: The Kingston Fire Association’s fourth annual Brewfest takes place on Saturday, June 24, from 2 to 6 p.m. on the Plains in downtown Kingston (148 Main St.). More than 60 different beers, ciders and hard lemonade from at least 30 pourers will be available to sample at the festival, which will also include food trucks and music. Tickets are $40 per person for full access (event is 21+ only) and $10 for designated drivers, and are available online now. Donations are also being accepted to the Kingston Fire Association. See “Kingston Brew Fest” on Facebook.

• Coolers: LaBelle Winery will hold a special release party at its Amherst facility (345 Route 101) on Wednesday, June 28, at 6 p.m., for its new limited-edition Mel & Ayme’s Premium Wine Coolers. According to a press release, the low-alcohol coolers are 8 percent ABV and are available in four flavors: chardonnay with blueberry, moscato with raspberry, riesling with pear and seyval blanc with citrus and were ceated by LaBelle winemaker and co-owner Amy LaBelle and assistant winemaker Melaney Shepard Tickets cost $35 per person. The coolers are available for purchase exclusively at LaBelle’s wine and gift shops in Amherst and Derry. Visit labellewinery.com.

• Eat sustainably: A report from the New England State Food System Planners Partnership, a collaboration among the New Hampshire Food Alliance, five other state-level organizations and Food Solutions New England, says that, by the year 2030, 30 percent of the food consumed in New England can be regionally produced. The report, A Regional Approach to Food System Resilience, was released June 5 (see it at nefoodsystemplanners.org), according to a press release, and outlines all the roles New Englanders can play in making the region’s food system stronger and more self-reliant.

On The Job – Carol Ellis

Metalsmith

Carol Ellis is an artist, specializing in metalsmithing, and owns Laborata Studio in Penacook, where she teaches a variety of art classes and workshops.

Explain your job and what it entails.

I’m a metalsmith, art instructor and artist creating and instructing workshops and classes in metalsmithing and art. … I spend time in my studio, sketching new designs, creating prototypes, exploring ideas and, when I feel the design is ready, I begin to fabricate … I offer classes and workshops in silversmithing, stone setting, creating spoon rings and silverware bracelets, creating a set of bangles, making a set of stackable rings and making a spinner ring. I also offer a variety of art classes and workshops for stress reduction…

How long have you had this job?

I’ve been metalsmithing and teaching for more than 22 years, and I’ve been an artist all my life.

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

After retiring from teaching fine arts … at Kearsarge Regional High School for 21 years, I began to explore this world of opportunities in front of me. I found myself back in the studio painting, drawing and metalsmithing. I began sharing my love of metalsmithing at Exeter Fine Crafts, teaching weekly metalsmithing classes and workshops. I still teach there today. … I longed for a studio of my own … I opened Laborata Studio in February 2023.

What kind of education or training did you need?

I earned a bachelor of arts degree in design, master of arts in integrated arts, and certifications as a registered yoga teacher (RYT) 800 for yoga and meditation instruction, as well as a 300-hour qigong instructor. … My business background knowledge came from being raised in a family with multiple businesses…

What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?

Casual — jeans, T-shirts and my trusty Opti-Visor.

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

Scheduling and keeping up with social media are important aspects of my daily routine. I dedicate time each day to using a variety of apps and social media sites.

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

Just how many possibilities there were for an artist to explore.

What do you wish other people knew about your job?

…That I am able to spend my time creating, exploring and sharing my passion for the arts, and just how fun that is.

What was the first job you ever had?

I ran a small produce stand out front of one of my father’s grocery stores.

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

Share what you love. Ask questions. Continue to explore. Check in with your students’ level of understanding and support frequently.

Five favorites

Favorite book: At this moment, Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Favorite movie: Avatar
Favorite music: Rock ’n’ roll, alternative and opera
Favorite food: Fine chocolate
Favorite thing about NH: All four seasons and the seasons in between

Featured photo: Carol Ellis. Courtesy photo.

Kiddie Pool 23/06/22

Family fun for the weekend

Festival time

• The Nest Family Café (20 Orchard View Drive, Londonderry) is hosting Nest Fest! on Saturday, June 24, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be live music, games and crafts for the kids, a variety of vendors, a picnic area and a fire truck visit. The event is free to attend with any purchase at the café. For more information, visit the café’s website at thenestfamilycafe.com.

• Summerfest by the Wilton Main Street Association is back on Saturday, June 24, at 10 a.m. There will be an arts market, live music, food, street vendors, and fireworks in the evening. In the morning there will be a pancake breakfast. The rain date is Sunday, June 25. For more information visit visitwilton.com/summerfest.

• Independence Day is coming early to Pelham for its annual Independence Day celebration on Saturday, June 24, starting at 6 p.m. There will be fair food like hot dogs, hamburgers, kettle corn, fried dough, strawberry shortcake and more. There will also be plenty of entertainment in the form of games, live music, face painting and, of course, fireworks. For more information about this event, visit pelhamcommunityspirit.org.

Movie night

• Regal Cinemas (282 Loudon Road, Concord) is starting its Summer Movie Express series this week. There will be discounted movie screenings on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from now until Sept. 6. The next movies in the lineup are Sonic the Hedgehog (2020, PG) and Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019, PG), will both screen on June 27 and June 28 at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $2 per person. Purchase at regmovies.com.

Outdoor fun

• Monday, June 26, is the first day of Greater Derry Track Club’s Kids Summer Fun Runs. These fun runs will be held behind the Londonderry High School (295 Mammoth Road), with start time at 6:30 p.m. The series will continue every Monday through July 31. Registration deadline is Saturday, June 24, and it is free to register. Bib pickup will be earlier in the evening on the night of the first race. Kids 3 and younger run 50 yards, ages 4 to 6 run 200 meters, ages 7 and 8 run 300 meters, ages 9 and 10 run 600 meters, and ages 11 to 13 run the cross-country mile. Runners 14 and older do not need to register but can run the open mile after the younger runners are done. To register, visit runsignup.com/Race/NH/Londonderry/GDTCkids.

• Construct a palace fit for royalty at the Sandcastle Building Contest at Max Cohen Memorial Grove (3 Mason Road, Brookline) on Tuesday, June 27. Builders can begin construction whenever they choose, but must have finished their castles by 1 p.m. Winners will be announced at 1:30 p.m. For more information, visit brooklinenh.us.

Treasure Hunt 23/06/22

Dear Donna,

I have a question about this tiny chicken plastic charm. My mom always had it in a jewelry box. It was special to her. Would you know why? Thanks, Donna,

Tina

Dear Tina,

The special part of this Cracker Jack prize charm. Hmmm. Has to be the situation at the time she acquired it.

Is there anyone who doesn’t know Cracker Jacks? The sweet popcorn treat has been around since the late 1800’s. Inside the box was that special treat toy charm you couldn’t wait to unwrap. Your chicken charm is from the 1940’s, Tina.

Prizes and charms are still in the boxes of sweet popcorn. Older ones like yours vary in price but all are collectible. I would say yours is in the $20 range. Some can bring a lot more, depending on the rarity. Common ones can bring a lot less as well. The idea was to collect lots of them and buy more Cracker Jack.

A fun collection to have with a history behind them. I hope this was helpful, Tina. Thanks for sharing.

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