Tag: 241212

Putting your faith in cheeses

The art of designing a good charcuterie board

The twin secrets to a successful charcuterie board, according to Tom Bellemore, are putting a variety of contrasting flavors and textures on a board, and making it pretty.

Bellemore, who with his wife, Leah, owns Vine 32 (Bedford Square, 25 S. River Road, Bedford, 935-8464, vinethirtytwo.com), a wine and small-bites bar, loves the way wine tastes completely different when it’s paired with different foods. Which is why charcuterie boards are such a natural way of serving food in a wine bar. Each bite of food on the board brings out different notes in a wine, which make contrast so important.

“We include a spread of cured meats, cheeses, crackers, peak fruit, some jams and tapas,” he said.

“This,” Bellemore said, indicating a cold cut on one of his charcuterie boards, “is a peppered salami. Normally we’re going to have [a variety]. We get some chorizo in there; we have prosciutto, cheeses — we’ve got truffle cheddar and sweet onion cheddar. We kind of mix and match everything.”

“This is a soppressata [a type of dried Calabrian salami from southwestern Italy],” he said, “and this is wild boar sausage. It’s one of our favorites, that’s always selling out. We like to slice it super-thin, one or one and a half [millimeters thick]. The weight’s the same, but it looks really good on a board.”

Fatty, spicy meats will bring out one set of flavors from a wine. Sharp, acidic flavors will bring out completely different characteristics. “We always have pickled vegetables,” Bellemore said. “That’s a must for me. Have you ever had caper berries? I found out about caper berries when we opened this place. They look appealing and they taste amazing! I don’t understand why people don’t use them in a dirty martini.”

Dried fruits and nuts are good choices for a board too, Bellemore said. The fruits bring sweetness, tang and a little chewiness, and nuts bring a crunchy element, salt and some fat. But the stars of a charcuterie board, he said, are the cheeses.

“Here is some manchego [a slightly sweet sheep’s milk cheese from Spain], he said, handing over a small triangle of cheese, “and this is smoked Gouda; it’s a huge favorite. This one has black truffles in it.”

Regardless of what foods go on a charcuterie board, Bellemore said, it has to be visually appealing. “It’s important to stay creative,” he said. “During the Christmas and Thanksgiving months, my wife will put rosemary [on a board] and some cranberries. She puts together some festive blends to give it a feeling that’s almost like an art piece”

Charcuterie boards are extremely flexible, Bellemore said; they can be adapted to almost any size for a given group.

“We have a big 6-foot plank that’s from the same, our same board vendor,” he said, “but for a party of 60 people. It takes us two hours to put it together. So picture a regular [charcuterie] board on steroids. We’ll bring it out for a private event, so the guests are always grazing. We offer a variety of sizes.”

Especially around the holidays, when people are feeling stressed, a charcuterie board is a thoughtful gift, Bellemore said.

“At the end of a day, you get home and you’re hungry, you don’t want to think too hard. Maybe there’s leftovers, maybe there’s not — whatever. You can have a drink with your wife or your partner or whatever. It’d be nice if there was a small little thing all prepped. And then while you’re talking and decompressing, you can have some snacks.”

Vine 32
Vine 32 Wine and Graze Bar (Bedford Square, 25 S. River Road, Bedford, 935-8464, vinethirtytwo.com) serves charcuterie boards to dine-in customers or will prepare custom boards for delivery. A fully loaded board runs anywhere from $85, which feeds six to nine people, to $125, which serves 10 to 12.
It also hosts regular charcuterie board workshops to teach participants how to put together their own. Visit vinethirtytwo.com/charcuterieclasses.

The Weekly Dish 24/12/12

News from the local food scene

• New Greek food spot: A new branch of The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill (946 S. Willow St., Manchester, 932-2181, thegreatgreekgrill.com) will have its official ribbon-cutting at 4 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 12. It will feature traditional Greek and Mediterranean dishes, some of which will be vegetarian and/or gluten-free.

• Special cupcakes: Queen City Cupcakes (816 Elm St, Manchester, 624-4999, qccupcakes.com) has released its menu of Special Holiday Cupcakes. All cupcakes will be festively decorated and “dressed in their holiday best,” according to the bakery’s website. Holiday flavors will include eggnog, gingerbread snickerdoodle, sugarplum fairy, and chocolate-peppermint. Pre-order your holiday cupcakes by Dec.21 for pickup on Dec. 24 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Meet chocolate book writer: Rowan Jacobsen, James Beard award winner and the author of nine books, will sign copies of his new book Wild Chocolate: Across the Americas in Search of Cacao’s Soul on Friday, Dec. 13, from 4 to 5 p.m. at Dancing Lion Chocolate in Manchester (917 Elm St., 625-4043, dancinglion.us). Walk-ins are welcome for the book-signing and copies will be available to purchase. A chocolate tasting following the book signing is sold out.

• Cookie tour: The Currier and Ives Cookie Tour will take place Saturday, Dec. 14, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and feature 16 stops at inns, restaurants, galleries and more in the Monadnock region. Cookie Tour tickets may be purchased at The Inn at East Hill Farm (460 Monadnock St., Troy, 242-6495, east-hill-farm.com) and Frogg Brewing (580 Sawyers Crossing Road, Swanzey, 547-7639, froggbrewing.com). Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased with cash only. Visit currierandivescookietour.com. See the story in the Dec. 5 issue of the Hippo in the digital library at hippopress.com; the story is on page 22.

• Save the date: Chef Marcus Samuelsson will return to host the Steel Chef Challenge on Saturday, March 15, at 6 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown Manchester. The event benefits the New Hampshire Food Bank. Tickets cost $150 general admission, $250 VIP. See nhfoodbank.org/steelchef.

Treasure Hunt 24/12/12

Dear Donna,

This bowl belonged to my mother’s mom. Inside was a paper saying ‘brilliant cut glass bowl.’ Also a brief story of how she got it passed down. I remember every holiday using it at the table for vegetables. Wondering what you might know about cut glass.

Earl

Dear Earl,

Your mom did a great thing by putting information in the bowl for you to have. Along with the memories you have, it’s nice to share even more with younger family members.

American brilliant cut glass bowls have a long interesting history. They’ve been around since the 1800s in several different patterns. I have never been in an estate that didn’t have an assortment of cut glass. It’s that sparkle that was loved. The sad part is today they are not so sought after, though there are always exceptions for harder to find pieces in mint condition or by specific makers. Finding pieces with no chips or flaking around the top is tough. Remember they were used and loved for many years.

The value of a bowl like this one would be in the range of $40 with no damage. To find chipping or flakes on your bowl, rub a cotton ball lightly across the top and raised edges along the pattern. It should not get stuck on any area. If it does you have some damage.

Kiddie Pool 24/12/12

Family fun for whenever

Santa at the farm

• Charmingfare Farm (774 High St., Candia, visitthefarm.com) will hold Santa’s Christmas runs Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 22, plus Christmas Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 24. Pick a time when you buy tickets for either a four-person or a 10-person sleigh ride or an express option. The event includes a stop at the North Pole, Mrs. Claus’ Bakery, a visit to the barnyard, an opportunity to shop for Christmas trees, a campfire, a special mailbox for letters to Santa and the big man himself, according to the website.

Santa on the air

• Londonderry Access Center TV (281 Mammoth Road) will host Santa Live 2024 on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 1 to 3 p.m. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be present in the studio and the event will be broadcast live on television. The event is free of charge and operates on a first come, first served basis. Refreshments and coloring activities are provided for children while they wait to meet the magical elf. Each child will receive a gift and candy cane. Parents are allowed to take pictures during the visit. Visit facebook.com/LondonderryAccessTV.

Santa in the air

• Santa Claus will helicopter in to make a stop at the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road, Londonderry, aviationmuseumofnh.org) on Saturday, Dec. 14, according to the Museum’s website. Santa is slated for touchdown at 11 a.m. and is scheduled to stay for two hours and leave by fire truck at 1 p.m. The event will feature hot chocolate, coffee, doughnuts and other fun holiday treats. Those coming by to catch Santa at the Aviation Museum are asked to arrive at the museum by 10:45 a.m. The museum will be open and free to visitors from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. although admission will be charged from 1 to 4 p.m.

Santa from space

• Meet and get a photo with Astronaut Santa at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive in Concord; starhop.com) on Sunday, Dec. 15, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The center is open that day from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $13 for adults, $12 for ages 13 through college and 62+, $10 for ages 3 to 12 (general admission tickets do not include planetarium shows).

Holiday shows

• Get ready for the Mr. Aaron Holiday special. A holiday party from the local family entertainer will take place on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 11 a.m. at the BNH stage (16 S. Main St., Concord). This will be an interactive family concert great for kids ages 1 through 10. Songs will include holiday classics and Mr. Aaron originals, and participants will be able to “dance off some of that December-candy-canes-and-presents energy,” according to the event’s website. Tickets are $16 online, including fees. Visit mraaronmusic.com or ccanh.com.

• Safe Haven Ballet presents The Grinch as a ballet, choreographed by Miranda Bailey, at the Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com) on Sunday, Dec. 15, at 4:30 p.m. Ticket prices range from $31 to $44. The Grinch is a unique interactive experience for audience members of all ages. In addition to the performance component of the production, according to the event’s website, audiences can look forward to a demonstration on different dance forms and theater etiquette. Visit ccanh.com or call 225-1111.

Meet the dancers

• Kimball Jenkins (266 N. Main St., Concord; kimballjenkins.com) will hold two Holiday Tea Meet and Greet events on Saturday, Dec. 14, and Sunday, Dec. 15, at 2 p.m. featuring a light lunch and tea, holiday crafts and dancers from Safe Haven Ballet holiday productions. On Dec. 14, meet The Nutcracker’s Sugar Plum Fairy and friends. And on Dec. 15, meet The Grinch, as well as Cindy Lou Who and friends. Tickets cost $40 for ages 13+ and $30 for ages 2 to 12, and can be purchased via the Kimball Jenkins website under “events.”

Save the date for princesses

• The Derryfield Restaurant (625 Mammoth Road in Manchester; thederryfield.com) will hold a Royal Princess Breakfast on Saturday, March 1, at 9 a.m. Tickets cost $55 for adults and $40 for children; a $65 VIP ticket for kids will get early admission, a group photo opportunity with all of the princesses and their own tiara. See the website for a link to tickets.

Give the gift of fun

Give memberships to local museums

Compiled by Zachary Lewis
[email protected]

Give a year of experiences with membership to an area museum. Many of the museums listed here are geared to families or have family-fun activites, making membership a yearlong gift for families looking for something to do (and to maybe sneak in a little learning). Up the fun factor by adding a gift from the gift shop.

• SEE Science Center (see-sciencecenter.org, 669-0400, 200 Bedford St., Manchester) Memberships are available as gifts and gift cards are available too. Membership plans range from $30 to $150 per year. All membership levels include priority admission and discounts to SEE special programs and summer camp; $50 discount on a child’s birthday party at SEE; 10 percent off purchases at the SEE gift shop over $10; and reciprocal membership with the Millyard Museum, which is in the same building. Membership also includes occasional special benefits; for example, in January 2025 SEE members may save on admission fees at the Seacoast Science Center in Rye, and in May SEE members can receive free admission for up to four people one time at the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness.

The SEE Science Center is open from Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with last admission 3 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m with last admission at 4 p.m. SEE will be closed on Tuesday, Dec. 24, and Wednesday, Dec. 25, but will be open on select Mondays and holidays/school vacations including Mondays, Dec. 23 and Dec. 30. The SEE Gift Shop has science souvenirs, books, science kids and other toys.

• McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive, Concord, starhop.com, 271-7827) Membership packages range from $35 a year to $300 a year depending on the level; a family membership, for example, admits a member and four guests and costs $120 per year. All member levels are 10 percent off until Saturday, Dec. 14. They will have special shopping hours from Monday, Dec. 16, through Friday, Dec. 20, and the Science Store gift shop will be open from 10:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day (the exhibits and planetarium will be closed on those days).

According to their website, all membership levels include free admission to the Discovery Center exhibit halls, the Science Playground, and regularly scheduled planetarium shows; free admission to their monthly Super Stellar Fridays series; and free or reduced admission to more than 300 science centers that are part of the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) reciprocal program. Membership also includes discounts on Discovery Center workshops and programs, and discounts at the Science Store. For more information contact Kelly Thompson at [email protected] or call 415-1657.

At the Science Store, find a variety of space- and science-themed toys and items including stuffed spacecraft and space-themed socks.

• The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road, Londonderry, 669-4820, aviationmuseumofnh.org) This museum dedicated to the science, technology, history and culture of aviation features interactive exhibits and educational programs. Youth programs include the ‘Flights of Discovery’ Summer Camp as well as the high school student plane-building project.

Membership is open to anyone, and membership benefits include free admission to the Aviation Museum; a subscription to the quarterly Aeronaut publication; borrowing privileges in the Slusser Aviation Lending Library; regular email updates about museum activities and events; and a 20 percent discount at the Aviation Museum store, according to the Museum’s website.

Individual memberships are $50 and a membership for two is $100. Three premium levels of membership range from $250 to $1000.

The Aviation Museum is open Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. It is open to appointments or private group tours as well. Admission costs $10 for adults, $5 for seniors age 65 and over, veterans, active duty and kids ages 6 through 12, and is free for kids age 5 and under, with a $30 maximum for families.

The gift shop will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily Monday, Dec. 16, through Sunday, Dec. 22. The shop features airplane and aeronautical themed toys and stuffed animals as well as museum merch.

The museum also sells Heritage Trail passports which cost $30 and offer one free admission each to 21 New Hampshire museums (see nhmuseumtrail.org).

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St., Dover, 742-2002, childrens-museum.org) This family museum features unique interactive exhibits with a focus on art, science and culture.

The Children’s Museum has various membership levels, according to their website. A family membership is $125 and allows unlimited visits to CMNH for one year for two parents and their dependent children under 18 living in the same household; 10 percent off museum shop purchases, classes, camps, and museum rentals; and pre-sale access and invitations to special events. Guest options can be added to a membership. You can also gift one-time passes for $12.50 each.

The museum offers a variety of special programs throughout the year. Coming up: Jingle Bell Extravaganza will take place on Sunday, Dec. 22, at 1 and 3 p.m. Participants will meet Santa for a photo opportunity and receive a special gift, and there will be hands-on holiday craft activities and a magical science experiment. Tickets are $18 for members, $22 for nonmembers, and free for kids under 12 months.

On Tuesday, Dec. 31, parents, children and extended families can “ring in 2025 together while the sun is shining” at the Museum’s Family New Year’s Eve Celebration. The countdown to midnight will be held at 10:30 a.m. during the morning play session and at 2 p.m. during the afternoon play session. Tickets are $6.50 for members, $13 for nonmembers, and free for kids under the age of 12 months.

Museum hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to noon, with an additional session from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. The gift shop features games, toys, a variety of kinds of putty, stuffed animals and more.

• Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester, 669-6144, currier.org) The Currier is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Children 12 and under always have free gallery admission.

The second Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. is designated for special art-making activities whole family designed to relate to an exhibition or the collection, complemented by a 20- to 30-minute interactive family tour devoted to the month’s theme.

Currier Museum membership grants special access to exhibitions, invitations to special events, and a behind-the-scenes look at art. Individual membership costs $65 and includes unlimited free admission; invitations to member-only openings and events; 10 percent discount at the Museum Shop, café, and art classes; a special price for Frank Lloyd Wright tours; and one free admission pass for a friend. College students with a valid ID and seniors 65+ save $5 on an individual membership.

Dual membership costs $100 and applies to two adult cardholders. Seniors 65+ save $10 on a dual membership.

Household membership costs $120 and includes unlimited free admission for two adult cardholders and all family members under 18; two additional free general admissions for accompanying guests for each visit; invitations to member-only openings and events for the two cardholders; a special price for Frank Lloyd Wright tours; a 10 percent discount at the Museum Shop, café, and art classes; and two free admission passes for friends. Other membership levels range from $300 to $900. The museum shop offers gifts for all ages.

• The Millyard Museum (200 Bedford St., Manchester, manchesterhistoric.org, 622-7531 ) The Museum has two games that can be printed off or picked up at the museum: the Millyard Museum Fun Book, which has word searches, drawing, and more, and Mystery Objects, which is an I Spy-type scavenger hunt.

Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and college students, $5 for children between the ages of 12 to 18, and free for children under 12; Manchester Historic Association members are admitted at no charge. The Millyard Museum is generally open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Membership categories range from $40 to $1,000. A family/duel membership (covering a household) costs $75. Membership benefits according to the website include unlimited visits to the Millyard Museum and MHA Research Center; notice of exhibits, lectures, walking tours, concerts and special events; free or discounted admissions to MHA programs and events; special invitations to exhibit previews and special members-only events; 10 percent or greater discount on research services, photocopies and photograph orders and on purchases in the Museum Shop, and more. The museum shop sells a variety of items including Manchester and New Hampshire history-related books and souvenirs, old-fashioned kids’ toys and the Association’s 2025 calendar (which costs $18).

Henry can be reached at [email protected]. His column appears here monthly.

Holiday gifts for the gardener

Books, seeds and tools for digging in the dirt

I am a bit embarrassed to admit this, but I believed in Santa Claus longer than anyone I have ever met. Fifth grade, maybe sixth. To this day, some 70 years later, I still believe in the mystery and joy of giving wonderful gifts that suit the receiver, things that will surprise and delight the recipient — just as Santa always did for me. Let’s look at some great gifts you might consider for your loved ones this holiday season.

Books are always wonderful gifts. My favorite new book is by Barbara Damrosch, author of the fabulous The Garden Primer. It is called A Life in the Garden: Tales and Tips for Growing Food in Every Season. It imparts lots of information from a lifetime of gardening and farming in Maine alongside her husband, author Eliot Coleman. Along with good information, it has delightful snippets about her life and views. I learned that I can plant rows of carrots just 2 or 3 inches apart — each carrot needs just 4 square inches. I’ve been wasting space! Reading it is like sitting down with a knowledgeable Auntie and listening to stories and tips. Unlike most gardening books, it made me laugh out loud, too. Hardback $40.

Another favorite this year is Plants for the Winter Garden: Perennials, Grasses, Shrubs, and Trees to Add Interest in the Cold and Snowby Warren Leach. Since we have five months or more of cold, this book is very useful. Leach is a prize-winning garden designer, and his book is nicely illustrated with lots of photos and useful information. Hardback $40.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that I have re-printed my book Organic Gardening (not just) in the Northeast: A Hands-On Month-by-Month Guide. It is a collection of my articles gleaned from 10 years of this column. Each of the 12 chapters has eight articles relevant to a month in the garden. Get a signed copy by sending $24 to Henry Homeyer, PO Box 364, Cornish Flat, NH 03746.

It’s not just regular visits to the garden that make a good gardener: It’s also tools. Good tools make gardening more efficient, less work and more fun. Every year I mention my favorite weeding tool: the CobraHead weeder (www.CobraHead.com). It is a curved single-tine weeder that easily gets under weeds and allows you to tease out all the roots. Mine is a steel extension of my hand, and I use it for planting, weeding and more.

New to me this year is the 10-tine bedding fork. The one I use is made by Ames and comes with a sturdy wooden handle (which is better than fiberglass, I believe). Originally made for cleaning manure out of stalls, it is perfect for moving mulch, wood chips, straw and compost. It can also be used to smooth out the mulch after spreading it.

Watering cans are often a disappointment. I no longer will buy plastic ones — the material often breaks down in the sun after just a few years. But good galvanized metal watering cans can be expensive and are not often sold at your local garden center or hardware store. Here’s what to look for: Get one with a handle that runs from the front to the back of the can. This allows you to easily carry it and to water with one hand. Handles going from side to side require two hands. Size is important. I like big: 2.5 gallons. Smaller people may want smaller cans. Water weighs 8 pounds per gallon. Make sure the rose (nozzle) is removable for cleaning out leaves. Mine is antique, and you might find a good one in a second-hand store.

Seeds are good stocking stuffers and offer friends new varieties to try. I started cardoon seeds indoors under lights this year, starting in early February. At maturity the plants stood up to 3 feet tall with handsome gray-green leaves. Best of all, the ribs of the leaves, when cooked properly, taste just like their relative, artichoke, and provide much more food. Got a favorite winter squash? Give a packet of seeds. Kohlrabi is another lesser-known veggie with seeds you might give to a friend to try.

Heirloom, self-harvested tomato seeds you saved can also be shared if your recipient is willing to start seedlings indoors. Or give seeds from your favorite annual poppies or morning glories.

canvas bag with wheat design on bottom and word Bread across the front, laying flat on table, ties at top for closing.
This bread bag is an alternative to plastic for home made bread.

My wife Cindy and I are committed to minimizing our use of plastic, both for the environment and for our health. Plastic is a petroleum product and has been found to exude micro-particles of plastic that we ingest. If you agree, think about buying glass containers for leftovers and store purchases. I get all my deli meats wrapped in paper and transfer them to glass containers when I get home. I recently solved the problem of how to keep bread fresh from the bakery without using a plastic bag for storage: King Arthur Flour makes cloth bags with an inner bag of waxed fabric. It really works!

Fend Off: Deer and Rabbit Repellent is another good gift. A package contains 25 small cylinders with a close pin attachment. They contain garlic oil and last all winter! These really work for me.

A gift certificate to your local, family-run gardening center is another great choice. It helps them make it through the winter, and it provides choice for your loved one.

Henry can be reached at [email protected]. His column appears here monthly.

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