Tag: 230810

In the kitchen with Triet Le

Triet Le is the owner of Holy Moly Snacks, a beef chip company. All products are made from scratch and prepackaged at their commercial site in Manchester. Their beef chips are similar to beef jerky, but are thin and crispy and come in a variety of flavors, such as teriyaki and cracked pepper. Find them at the Bedford, Derry and Salem famers markets.

What is your must-have kitchen item?

Chili pepper since I love spicy [food].

What would you have for your last meal?

Spicy food like spicy noodle soups and snacks.

What is your favorite local eatery?

It varies depending on my mood… Masa Japanese Restaurant and Thai Connection.

What is your favorite thing on your menu?

Spicy Teriyaki beef chips because they’re savory, sweet and spicy.

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

Boba tea

What is your favorite thing to cook at home?

Spicy soup.


Featured photo: Triet Le, owner of the Holy Moly Snacks. Courtesy photo.

Tacos, boba, grilled cheese

Find a variety of flavor at the BBQ & Food Truck Fest

Great New England Craft & Artisan Shows is throwing a party with its seventh annual Great New England BBQ & Food Truck Festival, which will take place at the Hampshire Dome in Milford on Saturday, Aug. 12.

GNE Events director Jody Donohue started the event in the summer of 2016. Her goals were simple: “to support the food truck owners,” she said, and “provide them with a venue to offer their products!”

In the years since that first food truck festival, GNE has hosted similar events across the New England area, from the wholesale outlets in Kittery, Maine, to the Big E fairgrounds in West Springfield, Mass. The Food Truck Festival at the Hampshire Dome is one of the larger events that GNE hosts, with capacity for 3,000 attendees.

While the event is playing host to more than 50 food trucks, there are plenty of other attractions to keep attendees and their families occupied. The Food Truck Fest will feature live music from local bands, ax throwing, a craft fair, caricature artists and a Kidz Zone with face painting, chalk drawings and a bouncy castle.

Food trucks are the main focus at the festival. There will be offerings for every palate, from vegetarians and gluten-free offerings to award-winning barbecue and what Donovan describes as “more than one bite burgers.” Among the offerings:

• The Lobster Roller, based in Gloucester, Mass. This food truck makes fresh lobster rolls with mayonnaise or drawn butter, as well as lobster grilled cheese and clam chowder.

• The Bubble Bee Tea Truck, serving boba, the sweet, fruit-flavored milk tea with marble-sized tapioca balls, as well as dumplings.

• Sweeties Candy Shuttle, which offers an array of penny candies, saltwater taffy and jelly beans that will make you nostalgic for seaside vacations and quaint general stores.

• Prime Time Grilled Cheese, the Manchester-based grilled cheese truck that offers new variations on grilled cheese sandwiches, such as the tomato and cucumber pepper jack sandwich.

• La Chula Truck, a truck offering fast tacos, burritos, quesadillas, empanadas and other Mexican and Central American treats.

• Uncle Joey’s Cannoli, which sells fresh and pre-filled cannoli.

• Carla’s Coffee, the Seacoast-area coffee truck that offers locally roasted coffee beans as well as cold brew, smoothies and ice cream drinks.

• NOBL Beverages, which offers canned cold brew and fresh coffee and tea.

• The “gourmet on the go” food truck Roaming Eats, with sandwiches, burgers, steak and mac and cheese bowls.

Beer and cocktail enthusiasts can check out the biergarten, which offers cold craft brews and cocktails from a variety of New Hampshire-based breweries and distilleries.

Donovan has stated that she wants attendees to enjoy the “fun, family, community and small businesses” at this year’s festival.

Great New England BBQ & Food Truck Festival
When: Saturday, Aug. 12, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Hampshire Dome, 34 Emerson Road, Milford
Admission: $5; see gnefoodtruckfest.com

Gyro to go

Assumption holds its Greekfest Express

By Grace Clark
[email protected]

On Saturday, Aug. 26, Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Manchester will serve up pastichio, lamb kebab meals and more during Greekfest Express.

A twist on the church’s Greekfest event, Greekfest Express is a pandemic innovation, giving those hungry for Greekfest eats a chance to order the food in advance via the church’s website and then pick up via a drive-thru on the last Saturday in August between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. — with a more specific window agreed on when the order is placed.

“Unfortunately, during the Covid period, we weren’t able to do our traditional Greekfest event, which we would typically do with an outdoor venue,” said Costas Georgopoulos, Parish Council President and Greekfest Chairperson. “Hopefully next year we will go back to our traditional Greekfest event.”

The express format is also an adaptation to having fewer volunteers for the festival.

“The hardest thing for us is volunteers,” Georgopoulos said.

Every dish is made fresh and the food is prepared by the Ladies of the Philoptochos (the official philanthropic organization of the Greek Orthodox Church), according to Georgopoulos. The Ladies of the Philoptochos have also created the recipes for the Popular Greek Recipes cookbook that is available to order on the church website along with Greekfest eats.

Some of the most popular dishes at Greekfest include barbecue lamb (the lamb kebab dinner is served over rice with Greek-style green beans and bread), gyros (served with French fries), Greek lasagna (the pastichio dinner is also served with rice, Greek-style green beans and bread), spanakopita, baklava, and loukoumades (the fried dough balls served with a honey syrup and sprinkled with cinnamon). Pastry offerings also include kourambiedes (Greek butter cookies with powdered sugar), finikia (honey walnut cookies), koulourakia (braided butter cookies) and a pastry sampler featuring a few of four different pastries. There is also a Greek rice pudding on the menu.

Other savory options include a chicken kebab dinner, a meatballs and rice dinner, a vegetarian combo dinner (with spanakopita, rice, Greek-style green beans and bread), a Greek salad with gyro or grilled chicken and a feta cheese peta.

This year’s Greekfest will also feature a 50/50 raffle, which customers can enter online. The winner is announced at the Greekfest festival and half of the proceeds go to the church.

Ordering is open now through Sunday, Aug. 20.

In addition to celebrating Greek food and culture, the event celebrates the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, which is the Feast Day of the parish.

“We celebrate our culture, and people are able to experience Greek food that you may not be able to get at a restaurant, so they are able to experience that and our specialty dishes,”Georgopoulos said. “You also get to look at our church, and so forth, and experience Greek culture.”

Assumption Greekfest Express
Pickup day: Saturday, Aug. 26, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Pickup location: 111 Island Pond Road in Manchester
Order by: Sunday, Aug. 20
Menu: foodfest.assumptionnh.org
Pickup day: Saturday, Aug. 26, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Featured photo: Courtesy photos.

The Weekly Dish 23/08/10

News from the local food scene

• Food truck fest and car show: The town of Windham hosts a food truck fest and car show on Sunday, Aug. 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Windham High School (64 London Bridge Road). Stop by for food, cars and cornhole.

• Vodka mixology: In the Spirits of Spirits holds pouring or mixology classes every other month. The next mixology event, on Sunday, Aug. 13, at CodeX B.A.R. in Nashua (1 Elm St.), will explore three vintage cocktails using the vodka from July’s tasting. Tickets can be purchased via eventbrite.

• Table for 10 at Bistro 603: Matchmaker Elaine Saunders of New England Singles Network Group hosts Table for 10 at Bistro 603 (345 Amherst St., Nashua) on Wednesday, Aug. 16, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event is limited to five men and five women ages 45 years old and up. Buy your own food and drinks and pay $15 to reserve your spot. Tickets can be purchased via eventbrite.

• International Food Festival: Don’t miss the International Food Festival at Brookford Farm (250 West Road) in Canterbury on Thursday, Aug. 17, from 6 to 8 p.m. Recipes from nationalities represented by the staff at Brookford Farm will be highlighted, such as Sudanese, Ethiopian, German, Ugandan, Russian, Polish, Turkmen and more. The event will also feature live music performed by The Velvet Dirtmunchers. Tickets, which include access to sunflower fields and a barnyard, are $60 for adults, $30 for children ages 3 to 12 and free for children under 3 years old and must be purchased ahead of time. Visit eventbrite.com to get your tickets.

• Burgers at the farm: Burger Night returns to Brookford Farm (250 West Road, Canterbury) on Saturday, Aug. 19, from 8 to 5 p.m. Sit among the sunflowers and enjoy local food, see barn animals and The Artty Francoeur Band perform live. It is $40 for an adult plate, $20 for kids ages 3 to 12 and free for children under 3 years old. Tickets must be purchased ahead of time and can be bought through eventbrite.

• Cigar dinner: The Bedford Village Inn’s (2 Olde Bedford Way in Bedford; bedfordvillageinn.com, 472-2001) annual 12th Cigar Dinner will take place Thursday, Aug. 17, beginning with a cocktail reception at 6 p.m. featuring cocktails, beer and bourbon tastings as well as hors d’oeuvres from the grill, according to the website. Once seated, guests will have a three-course plated dinner paired with cigars, cocktails and wine, the website said Find the evening’s menu online. Tickets to this 21+ event cost $135 per person.

On The Job – Adrienne Austin

Esthetician

Adrienne Austin is an esthetician and owner of Moonlight Magic Esthetics in Bedford (moonlightmagicesthetics.com).

Explain your job and what it entails.

As an esthetician, I act as a skin therapist, helping people address and treat their skin concerns. I also provide waxing and lash services.

How long have you had this job?

I’ve been a licensed esthetician for over five years now. I’ve been at my current location for only about three months, but so far I’m really enjoying it.

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

I wanted to become an esthetician to help people feel more confident in themselves and their skin. Skin can be a big point of self-consciousness and I love being able to provide people with results-driven skin care…

What kind of education or training did you need?

In order to become a licensed esthetician in New Hampshire, you’re required to take a 600-hour course focusing on safety, cleanliness, skin care, waxing and so much more. I have also taken three makeup certification courses including airbrush makeup, bridal makeup and general makeup application.

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

I would say the most challenging thing about my work is when a client comes to me with a concern I’ve not encountered yet. I’ve gone through a lot of education and learned about many different skin concerns and conditions, but it can be different encountering something new in the treatment room and finding the best treatment for it.

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

Something I wish I knew when I became an esthetician is the idea that at some point I wouldn’t need to work for someone else while also not owning an entire spa. Having my own space that’s not too big is the perfect fit for me. It’s just me and my room and I never feel overwhelmed.

What do you wish other people knew about your job?

Something I wish more people knew about being an esthetician is that we are not the same as dermatologists. I love helping people treat their skin concerns, but as an esthetician I cannot prescribe medications or issue a diagnosis.

What was the first job you ever had?

The first job I ever had was babysitting. My first job in esthetics was as a freelance makeup artist.

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

The best work advice I’ve ever received as a beauty industry professional is to always be learning. In the beauty industry, things are constantly changing, and it’s so important for us to continue our education throughout our careers to ensure we can offer the best treatments to our clients.

Five favorites

Favorite book: The Great Gatsby
Favorite movie: Clueless
Favorite music: Taylor Swift and Sara Bareilles
Favorite food: Anything Italian
Favorite thing about NH: I love fall in New Hampshire — apple picking, foliage and the crisp autumn air.

Featured photo: Adrienne Austin. Courtesy photo.

Kiddie Pool 23/08/10

Family fun for the weekend

Try-athalon

• The 11th Annual Friends of Aine Kids’ Try-athlon will be held Sunday, Aug. 13, in the morning at the Bedford Town Pool (County Road near the intersection with Nashua Road). The race features three events — swimming (25 or 50 yards, depending on age), running (½ mile or 1 mile) and biking (1 or 2 miles) — and is a fundraiser for the Friends of Aine Center for Grieving Children & Families (friendsofaine.com). Registration costs $40 per child. Race day registration starts at 6:30 a.m., Nashua and County roads close at 7:30 a.m. and all bikes must be in the swim-to-bike transition area by 7:45 p.m. A pre-race meeting is at 7:45 a.m. and then the older group (ages 11 to 15) begin the Try-Athlon at 8 a.m., adaptive athletes start at 8:25 a.m., ages 8 to 10 start at 8:30 a.m. and ages 4 to 7 start at 8:45 a.m., according to the schedule at friendsofaine.com, which also explains course details, where to park and what to bring.

Baseball & wizards

• The New Hampshire Fisher Cats were slated to begin a six-day stretch of games against the Fightin Phils (Reading, Pennsylvania.) on Tuesday, Aug. 8. Games on Thursday, Aug. 10, and Saturday, Aug. 12, (both beginning at 7:05 p.m.) will feature post-game Atlas Fireworks. Saturday is also “Wizards & Wands” night. The game on Friday, Aug. 11, at 7:05 p.m. celebrates UNH Men’s Soccer; on Sunday, Aug. 13, at 1:35 p.m. the first 1,000 fans receive a cooler courtesy of Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast.

Movies!

• 2004’s Shark Tale(PG) will screen at all three area Chunky’s Cinema Pubs (707 Huse Road, Manchester; 151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua; 150 Bridge St., Pelham, chunkys.com) on Monday, Aug. 14, at 11:30 a.m. as part of the theater’s Little Lunch Date series, when the lights will be slightly dimmed. Reserve a seat with a $5 per person food voucher.

• O’neil Cinemas (Brickyard Square 24 Calef Hwy., Epping, 679-3529, oneilcinemas.com)will screen the final movie of its Summer Kids Series on Monday, Aug. 14, and Wednesday, Aug. 16, at 10 a.m. Catch 2016’sThe Secret Life of Pets (PG), which features the voices of Kevin Hart, Jenny Slate and Lake Bell. Tickets cost $3 and the theater also has an $8 popcorn-and-drink combo as well.

Registration is open!

• …for so many fall events but specifically for Girls on the Run, which opened its registration for the fall on Aug. 7. Find a location to register for the program (which puts you in a lottery for available slots) at girlsontherunnh.org. The after-school running program is open to 3rd through 5th graders and 6th through 8th graders, the website said. Registration is open through Aug. 17 with the season beginning Sept. 11. A culminating 5K takes place on Nov. 18. Girls age 16 to 18 can also register for a junior coach program.

• Looking for more afters-chool excitement for your kids? Check out next week’s issue, which will feature our annual guide to extracurriculars. If you know of a program featuring art, dance, sports or stop-motion animation (really!), let us know at [email protected] for possible inclusion in the listing.

Stay in the loop!

Get FREE weekly briefs on local food, music,

arts, and more across southern New Hampshire!