Tag: 230713

In the kitchen with Chris Davis

Chris Davis has been a cook at Red Arrow Diner for the past six months. Originally from Arizona, Chris moved to New Hampshire to be closer to family, with no prior cooking experience. A self-proclaimed “jack of all trades,” Davis has worked as a mechanic, in contractor work and construction and was ready to try something new.

What is your must-have kitchen item?

Spatulas, because if you don’t have a good spatula it affects how you make your egg … affects how you cook.

What would you have for your last meal?

My last meal would probably be steak and lobster.

What is your favorite local eatery?

Definitely would be here.

Name a celebrity you would like to see eating in your restaurant?

I would probably like to meet Mark Wahlberg.

What is your favorite thing on your menu?

I would have to say the Trump Burger. [The Trump Tower Burger is two grilled cheese sandwiches replacing the bun with a handcrafted beef burger topped with fried mac and cheese and cheese sauce, served with fries, according to the Red Arrow’s menu.]

What is the biggest food trend in NH right now?

Flatbread would probably be the most trending thing going on up here.

What is your favorite thing to cook at home?

Chicken enchiladas.

–Mya Blanchard

Grilled Cajun Shrimp
From the kitchen of Red Arrow Diner

Fresh shrimp sautéed with diced red onion and diced tomatoes sprinkled with Cajun seasoning. Served over a bed of rice pilaf and sautéed baby spinach.


Featured photo: Chris Davis. Courtesy photo.

Putting down roots

Couple establishes new farm in Hollis

By Mya Blanchard

[email protected]

Life has been busy for Jack and Audrey Hertenstein Perez. They moved from Chicago to New Hampshire about a year ago, have a new 2-month-old baby and opened Singing Pond Farm, in Hollis, in January. They are attending both the Nashua and Derry farmers markets this season, where they sell their farm’s produce, such as romaine lettuce, kohlrabi, beets and radishes, as well as cut flowers and handmade pottery.

Originally from Pennsylvania, Jack Hertenstein Perez grew up around dairy farms and was influenced by his mother, who was an avid gardener.

“Growing up as a child, I loved gardening with my mom and felt how special it was having fresh, local food,” he said. “As I got older, I saw how valuable that was.”

Audrey had a similar upbringing, on a farm in central Illinois. The two met in Boston while in college, both pursuing degrees in health-related fields, Jack earning a master’s degree in public health; Audrey went on to become a family medicine doctor.

“[I] saw the connection between how important food is to your health [and] food access, and having access to nutritious food is kind of the baseline for your well-being,” Jack said. “That was also a connection [to] seeing food and food production as a way to promote the health of our communities.”

As a doctor, this was something Audrey saw firsthand.

“A lot of illnesses just come back to having access to healthy, fresh food, which was hard to come by for the population I was working with,” she said.

The two wanted to start something of their own somewhere out of the Midwest. They bought a house on a field in New Hampshire to put down new roots.

They plowed the land to turn the soil and bury dead grass, and implemented organic practices. According to Jack, this means working with handmade pesticides and fertilizers, like blended seaweed and fish, and covering crops with nets to keep away insects. It was also important to the pair to help those dealing with food insecurity, so they made the decision to donate a portion of each harvest to local organizations addressing this issue.

“Another motivation for moving to this career is the environmental impact,” Audrey said. “Especially having kids we’ve become more concerned about that … [having] a new life who’s going to be living through the more severe changes of climate change really motivated us to want to be part of the solution.”

She added that the fuel emission needed to transport food is one of the biggest contributors to the issue. Getting your food from local sources is a great way to help cut back on emissions while also supporting local farmers.

“Coming out to farmers markets is a great way. There’s a lot of local farmers you can connect with there,” Audrey said. “We live in a great area here in New Hampshire. I know there are a lot of bigger farm stands and local grocery stores that will actually source produce from local farmers … so we live in a really supportive area, which is something that hopefully the rest of the country can model from.”

Singing Pond Farm
Find them: singingpondfarm.com and at the Nashua Farmers Market (Nashua Public Library parking lot, 2 Court St. in Nashua, Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and Derry Homegrown Farmers and Artisan Market (1 West Broadway in Derry, Wednesdays from 3 to 7 p.m.).

Featured photo: Photos courtesy of Singing Pond Farm.

Relax and Unwined

New wine bar to open in Milford

By Mya Blanchard

[email protected]

For English sommelier Emma Round, wine is more than just a drink. It stirs up memories, adding depth to life’s moments. In 2021 she had the idea to open Unwined, a wine bar and restaurant, to bring this experience to others. In addition to wine it will also offer cocktails and a diverse range of food served small-plate and sharing style. It is projected to open its doors in late August or early September.

“I was like, ‘You know, it’s after Covid, I’m going to open a restaurant and wine bar in southern New Hampshire,” Round said. “‘I don’t even live in America, but I’m going to do it and it’s going to be great … why not?’ Yeah, I think I temporarily lost my mind.”

With a love for wine and a background in business management in the United Kingdom, Round started looking for locations. She noticed that while the wine industry was growing in America, people were moving out of cities after the pandemic.

“You shouldn’t need to travel to Portsmouth or Portland or Boston to go to a really great place,” Round said. “There are so many places in southern New Hampshire right now that are opening up and creating experiences that you would have expected in these large cities. … I’m hoping we can add a new layer to that.”

In England, Round grew up in a culture and family in which wine was a staple. Wine bars were plentiful, and the beverage was key at family dinners. On the contrary, Round felt that Americans often associated wine with older, wealthier populations. It was important to Round to eliminate this misconception, as well as to educate people in a welcoming environment.

“For us it’s really about taking away that pretentiousness [and] making an inclusive environment that is accessible to everyone,” she said. “We’re hoping to be able to educate people in a fun and approachable way.”

Prior to the establishment of Unwined, Round had never been to New Hampshire but had worked in hotels in Boston. She discovered that she loved New England, finding small-town America to be particularly charming. When looking for a location, she knew she wanted to find somewhere that was easily accessible and central to other locations. She researched areas near the border of New Hampshire and Massachusetts, eventually deciding on Milford.

“I felt there was a really nice space for us there with the wine just to kind of [add to] the Milford food and beverage scene as a whole,” she said.

According to Round, the process of opening Unwined has been intense but incredible. While she had experience in the U.K., she had to learn how to manage a business in the U.S. She feels her European background will allow her to include unique and unusual wines not stocked at other wine bars.

“We’ve managed to source lots of fantastic products locally, and the entire community has been great,” Round said. “Milford town is chomping at the bit for us to open, and everyone has been so generous and open with me. … People have been incredible and so helpful, which I really appreciate.”

Unwined
Where: 1 Nashua St. in Milford
Opening: late August or early September
More info: unwinednh.com

Featured photo: Unwined. Courtey photos.

The Weekly Dish 23/07/13

News from the local food scene

• Art of wine blending: Create your idea of the perfect wine at LaBelle Winery in Derry (14 Route 111) on Saturday, July 15, from 6 to 7 p.m. Once you arrive, you will be given all the necessary materials to create your own unique blend in a personalized bottle. Winemakers Amy LaBelle and Melaney Shepard will guide you, teaching you the fundamentals of wine blending and how to balance flavor and aroma varieties. Ages 21 and up are welcome. Seats are limited, so purchase your ticket now for $70 at labellewinery.com.

• Rosé Tasting – Sip and Savor: Visit Vine Thirty Two, a self-pour wine bar in Bedford (25 S. River Road) on Wednesday, July 19, at 6 p.m. to learn about rosé while sipping four different blends from all around the world that will be paired with cheese. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online via Eventbrite.

• Wine Down workshop: Sit and sip while creating your own custom bracelet with Caitlin and Emily of Seaside & Sunflower during a beading workshop at Vine Thirty Two, a self-serve wine and graze bar in Bedford (25 S. River Road) on Tuesday, July 18, at 6:30 p.m. All materials will be provided. Tickets include one custom bracelet and a $10 credit for wine tasting. Additional bracelets can be purchased during the event and the food menu will be available for additional purchase. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased via Eventbrite.

• Murder mystery dinner party: Find out who dunnit at LaBelle Winery’s Murder Mystery Dinner Party (Amherst 345 Route 101, Amherst) on Saturday, July 22, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Enjoy a three-course dinner while professional actors take you back in time to the turn of the century in Britain, where a shocking crime takes place. It is up to you to be the detective and analyze, interrogate and solve the mystery. A wine pour is included when you arrive and a full bar will be available throughout the event. Tickets are $95.20 including tax and gratuity. Visit labellewinery.com to purchase tickets.

• Great American Ribfest: Save the date for the Great American Ribfest & Food Truck Festival at The Biergarten (221 Daniel Webster Hwy.) in Merrimack. The event will run on Friday, July 21, from 4 to 9 p.m.; Saturday July 22, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (free entry after 6:30 p.m.) and Sunday, July 23, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (free entry after 5:50 p.m.). Food trucks and vendors will be serving barbecue in addition to a variety of other options, including ice cream, bacon and gourmet food. Live music will also be featured.

On The Job – Renee and Jamie King

CPR instructors

Renee King, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, of Merrimack is a CPR instructor and runs her own business, JandRteachCPR, with help from her 8-year-old daughter, Jamie.

Renee King

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

I’ve always wanted to be a nurse. I absolutely love my career and all the people I’ve met along the way. I’m required to recertify my CPR certification every two years. My uncle has his own CPR business, and he is the one who encouraged me to stop taking the classes and start teaching them.

What kind of education or training did you need?

I have a Family Nurse Practitioner master’s degree. To be an instructor with the American Heart Association, you need to be certified with the AHA and take an additional instructor course.

What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?

Clothes that are easy to move in. Most of the time we end up on the floor.

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

Where to store all of my supplies. I have mannequins all over my living room; it’s not the decor I want to go with!

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

That my son would want to be part of the business. He showed zero interest when I was thinking about launching but quickly changed his mind when he saw how much fun my daughter and I were having. If I could go back, I would have included his initials in the name of my company.

What do you wish other people knew about your job?

I offer other training, too, not just CPR.

What was the first job you ever had?

A convenience store.

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

To always help and teach my coworkers, because one day they may actually be my nurse.

Five favorites

Favorite book: Verity by Colleen Hoover
Favorite movie: Thrillers
Favorite music: country
Favorite food: olives and feta
Favorite thing about NH: how beautiful it is

Jamie

Explain your job and what it entails.

I help [my mom] when she forgets things, because that happens a lot. I help show the baby and the adult. Actually, I help with everything.

How long have you had this job?

It’s been four months.

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

Because my mom impressed me.

What kind of education or training did you need?

I needed to know how to do CPR and how to use epipens.

What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?

Fancy clothes and something flexible.

What is the most challenging thing about your work?

I’m not strong enough to do the adult CPR mannequin.

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

Everything.

What do you wish other people knew about your job?

That we want to help them all.

What was the first job you ever had?

This.

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

To always carry around my business cards.

Five favorites

Favorite book: Harry Potter
Favorite movie: Avatar
Favorite music: Taylor Swift
Favorite food: Steak and cheese sub
Favorite thing about NH: The Old Man of the Mountain viewing spot

Featured photo: Renee King and her daughter Jamie. Courtesy photo.

Kiddie Pool 23/07/13

Family fun for the weekend

Farm fun

• New Hampshire’s 4-H youth will show their animals at the Stratham 4-H Summerfest on Saturday, July 15, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Stratham Hill Park Fairgrounds (270 Portsmouth Ave. in Stratham). Animal shows include dairy, beef, sheep, goats, dogs, rabbits and working steer, according to extension.unh.edu/event/2023/07/stratham-4-h-summerfest. There will also be displays of projects by Strafford and Rockingham county 4-H youth as well as forestry and tractor driving contests and other presentations, the website said.

• Pick your own lavender is slated to continue at the Pumpkin Blossom Farm (393 Pumpkin Hill Road in Warner; pumpkinblossomfarm.com) daily through July 23, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (check with the website before you head out to see if weather has changed the schedule). Walk through the lavender fields and on a shaded trail, take photos and bring a picnic lunch to enjoy. Lavender plants and other lavender items will be available for purchase, according to the website. Lavender bundles cost $20 on weekends and $15 during the week.

Theater stuff

• The 2023 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series continues at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.og, 668-5588) withBeauty and the Beaston Thursday, July 13, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and Friday, July 14, at 10 a.m. The next week, the production is Rapunzel, which runs Tuesday, July 18, through Thursday, July 20, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and Friday, July 21, at 10 p.m.

The Palace Youth Theatre camp will present its production of Peter Pan at the Palace on Friday, July 14, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults, $12 for kids.

• Kid-friendly productions are coming to Capitol Theatre for the Arts (ccanh.com) stages. RB Productions presents Mary Poppins Jr.at the Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St. in Concord) on Friday, July 14, and Saturday, July 15, at 7 p.m. RB Productions will also bring Into the Woodsto the Chubb Theatre on Friday, July 21, and Saturday, July 22, at 7 p.m. Tickets for the show cost $18.75 for adults, $15.75 for seniors and students.

• The Franklin Footlight Theatre will present Beauty and the Beast at the Franklin Opera House (316 Central St. in Franklin; franklinoperahouse.org) from Friday, July 14, through Sunday, July 16; and from Thursday, July 20, through Saturday, July 22 — showtimes are at 2 p.m. on Sunday and at 7:30 p.m. for the rest of the nights. Tickets cost $18 for adults and $16 for seniors, students and children.

Movie stuff

• It’s a “Pic in the Park” as part of Nashua’s SummerFun with a screening ofE.T. The Extra-Terrestrial(1982) on Friday, July 14, with a screening at dusk at the bandshell at Greeley Park (100 Concord St. in Nashua).

• At O’neil Cinemas at Brickyard Square (24 Calef Hwy., Epping, 679-3529, oneilcinemas.com) the Summer Kids Series screening for Monday, July 17, and Wednesday, July 19, is Croods 2(PG, 2020). The movies start at 10 a.m. and tickets cost $3; get a popcorn and drink combo for $8.

• If you’re at Hampton Beach Monday night, check out Movie Night Mondays next to the playground starting at dusk. On Monday, July 17, the film is Vivo(PG, 2021). See hamptonbeach.org.

• Regal Concord (282 Loudon Road, Concord, regmovies.com) will feature The Bad Guys(PG, 2022) and Playing with Fire(PG, 2019) on Tuesday, July 18, and Wednesday, July 19, at 2 p.m. both days for its Summer Movie Express Series.

Game time!

• The New Hampshire Fisher Cats (milb.com/new-hampshire) will play a series of games against the Altoona Curve at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in downtown Manchester starting Friday, July 14, at 7:05 p.m. On Saturday, July 15, at 7:05 p.m. the Fisher Cats become the Gatos Feroces for a night as part of “Copa de la Diversion” with postgame fireworks from Atlas Fireworks. On Sunday, July 16, the game starts at 1:35 p.m.; kids can run the bases after the game.

• The Nashua Silver Knights have their next home game at Holman Stadium (67 Amherst St. in Nashua) on Monday, July 17, at 6 p.m. vs. the Norwich Sea Unicorns. Single game tickets cost $10; see nashuasilverknights.com.

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