134 Cool Things About New Hampshire 2020 - The Hippo Press

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Let’s celebrate the cool things O

ur section of New Hampshire has a lot of cool things going on, from our farmers markets to our live music to our selection of craveable cookies — the one on the cover is a peanut butter cookie from Union Street Takeout in Manchester.

Hippo readers gave us their favorites in these categories and more and we tallied the votes and gave you the recommendations for where to go on a first date or where to get the best fish and chips. (We listed all the winners of Hippo’s Best of 2020 in our Aug. 13 issue.)

In this magazine, we wanted to take a deeper look at some of the categories and offer more reader suggestions for great new

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Hippo Magazine 2020

restaurants or places to pick your own pumpkin. We applaud every farm, restaurant and market on this list; being picked as the 10th or 15th favorite is a big deal.

So plan your fall and beyond with a little help from these recommendations from Hippo readers. The information about the places listed here comes from the locations’ websites and social media and, especially this year, things can change, so call ahead to make sure the cookies or nachos you’re looking for are still on the menu.

Yes, it’s been a weird year. But there are still cool things worth getting out for and (safely) celebrating. Looking for something cool to do? Here are some ideas...

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In This Issue 16 New eateries 20 Live music 22 Fish & chips 24 Farmers markets 26 New Hampshire breweries 30 Shop for art 32 Achievement in nachos 36 Baklava 38 The perfect cup of coffee 40 Cookies you crave 42 Your own harvest

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Hippo Magazine 2020

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Contributors Cool things about NH in 2020 A publication of the Hippo

Published by QOL Publications 195 McGregor St., Manchester, NH, 03101 603-625-1855 (The first copy is free; additional copies can be purchased for $5 each)

Publisher Jody Reese jreese@hippopress.com

Executive editor Amy Diaz adiaz@hippopress.com

Managing editor Meghan Siegler

Copy edited by Lisa Parsons

Editorial Design Tristan Collins

Production Tristan Collins Alex Kusnarowis

Reported by Matt Ingersoll Angie Sykeny

Advertising Manager Charlene Nichols

Account Executives Roxanne Macaig Alyse Savage

Support Staff Tammie Boucher

Photography Sid Ceaser ceasarphotography.com Matt Ingersoll mattingersoll.com

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Hippo Magazine 2020

Manchester Craft Market

The Best of the Best Spa is close to home!

HIPPO BEST OF 2020

• Most fun Shopping Experience in an Indie Shop • Best Retail Store with Standout Service During the Shutdown (Runner Up)

• Best Artists Market (Honorable Mention) • Best Place to buy a Unique Gift (Manchester area 2019)

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Hippo Magazine 2020

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BEST BAR EVENT

Winner, winner

Local musician Matt Jackson tries his hand at the Famous Friday Rubber Chicken Toss at The River Casino & Sports Bar in Nashua, which readers picked as the Best Regular Event at a Bar. It’s held every Friday at 7 p.m. Players get three rubber chickens: sink one rubber chicken into the pot and win a six-piece chicken tenders dinner; sink two, win a 12-piece chicken tenders dinner; sink all three, win $200.

Photo by Sid Ceaser.

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Hippo Magazine 2020

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OFF-LEASH FUN

Dog day

The Benson Park at 19 Kimball Hill Road in Hudson was readers’ pick for Best Place to Let Your Dog Off Leash. The fenced-in public dog park includes two separate areas for large and small dogs.

Photo by Sid Ceaser.

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Hippo Magazine 2020

T hank You! Best of Nashua

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Clothing | Jewelry | Accessories | Gifts

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FIRST DATE SPOT

Dinner for two Readers picked Mint Bistro in Manchester as the Best of Manchester in the Best First Date Spot category.

Photo by Matt Ingersoll.

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Hippo Magazine 2020

BEST HIPPO

OF 2020

12 YEARS IN A ROW!

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NEW EATERY

The foodie freshmen

Troy’s Fresh Kitchen & Juice Bar in Londonderry won Best of the Best in the Best New Eatery category.

Photo by Sid Ceaser. ►See more in Best New Eatery on page 18

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Hippo Magazine 2020

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NEW EATERY

The foodie freshmen I

n the past year, New Hampshire once again welcomed a very diverse group of new faces to the culinary scene, including those specializing in barbecue, Thai, Italian, Mexican and more. Here are 11 new restaurants readers recommended.

like carne asada fries, Dos Equis-infused fish tacos, and pupusas, or traditional Salvadoran dishes that feature cheese, refried beans and chicharrón (pork) filled inside a thick handmade corn tortilla. Other locations include one in Hudson and two in Nashua.

1. TROY’S FRESH KITCHEN & JUICE BAR BEST OF THE BEST 4 Orchard View Dr., Unit 6, Londonderry, 965-3411, troysfreshkitchen.com Londonderry native Troy Ward Jr. and his family opened this health-focused eatery in June 2019 in the town’s Apple Tree Mall shopping plaza. Troy’s offers smoothies, fresh-pressed juices, grain bowls, grilled wraps, breakfast scrambles and other items with fresh, all-natural and plant-based ingredients in a quickservice environment. Many of the ingredients, including the pico de gallo, vegan mayonnaise, vegan cream cheese, vegan butter and hummus, are made in house. Troy’s is 100 percent dairy-free and, as of earlier this year, became completely gluten-free.

6. THE HOP KNOT 1000 Elm St., Manchester, 232-3731, thehopknot.com Specializing in gourmet pretzels, cocktails and a rotating selection of craft beers, The Hop Knot menu features a variety of pretzels freshly baked to order with your choice of dipping sauce, in addition to stuffed pretzels, pretzel sandwiches and “knot dogs,” or hot dogs and sausages served inside a twisted pretzel.

2. GREENLEAF BEST OF NASHUA 54 Nashua St., Milford, 213-5447, greenleafmilford.com Greenleaf is a casual farm-to-table restaurant that arrived in Milford in early May 2019. Greenleaf ’s menu changes all the time, and that’s because it’s based on what the chefs can get for product from the farms they partner with. But you’ll always find some type of beef, chicken, pork or vegetarian option, like the risotto or the grass-fed burgers. In May of this year, the staff introduced Greenleaf Grille, an outdoor dining concept offering several backyard barbecue options under a tented space at the rear of the restaurant.

3. TUCKER’S 360 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 413-6477, tuckersnh.com Tucker’s opened its fifth location in May 2019 in the Merrimack 360 shopping plaza. The local diner chain, which also has restaurants in Hooksett, Dover, New London and Concord, is known for its breakfast items like omelets and scramblers, as well as lunch items like sandwiches and bowls, plus a rotating selection of specials.

4. GEORGIA’S NORTHSIDE BEST OF CONCORD 394 N. State St., Concord, 715-9189, georgiasnorthside.com A takeout-only Southern kitchen and craft beer market, Georgia’s Northside opened its doors in late June 2019. Owner and chef Alan Natkiel posts an ever-changing menu daily, which often includes meats from buttermilk fried chicken to barbecue ribs, smoked brisket and pulled pork, plus fresh market sides like Texas caviar, potato salad, tomato cucumber salad, grilled corn on the cob or green beans with bacon and blue cheese.

5. CALIFORNIA BURRITOS MEXICAN GRILL BEST OF MANCHESTER 655 S. Willow St., No. 103, Manchester, 722-2084, californiaburritosnh.com This fast casual Mexican eatery arrived in the Queen City this past February, its fourth location in the state. Each location serves authentic Mexican options like tacos, burritos, burrito bowls and quesadillas, plus a few specialty items,

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7. A LOT OF THAI 360 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 429-8888, alotofthainh.com A Lot of Thai opened in October 2019 and quickly became a local favorite for traditional and modern Thai cuisine. Signature meals include fried rice dishes, soups, appetizers like grilled squid, ground pork rolls and Maine crabmeat rangoons, and curries, like khao soi salmon (northern Thai curry over egg noodles).

8. UNION STREET TAKEOUT 90 Union St., Manchester, 260-7663 You can’t miss the bright pink flamingo colors of this takeout-only eatery on the corner of Union and Plummer streets, which opened its doors in January 2020. Union Street Takeout offers a menu of burgers, hot dogs, chili dogs, subs and sweet treats.

9. SHOPPER’S PUB + EATERY AT INDIAN HEAD 18 Lake Ave., Manchester, 232-5252, shoppersmht.com Shopper’s Pub + Eatery held its grand opening in early July 2019. It features a menu of scratch-made items like appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, pizzas and salads, in addition to a rotating selection of local and regional beers on tap.

10. PRESTO CRAFT KITCHEN 168 Amory St., Manchester, 606-1252, prestocraftkitchen.com Presto Craft Kitchen is a carry-out restaurant that opened on Manchester’s West Side in July 2019, specializing in Italian pasta dinners and made-to-order subs known as “sticks.” Owner and chef Joe Grella has incorporated all kinds of unique sweet treats out of a refrigerated case at the restaurant, from his wildly popular Oreo cheesecake truffles to other desserts like cheesecake and pudding cups, cookies, cannolis and tiramisu. In January 2020 Grella began introducing a rotating menu of specials each month, featuring his own spins on jumbo arancini, pasta and “stick” sandwiches.

11. 603 BREWERY’S BEER HALL 42 Main St., Londonderry, 404-6123, 603brewery.com In 2019, 603 Brewery relocated all its operations from Liberty Drive to a new space in Londonderry’s Woodmont Commons development, about four miles away. The new location has seating available in a private function room and an outdoor beer garden, and features a full locally sourced food menu in addition to the beers on tap.

Breakfast Place

Dylan, aka “dilly dally� was 3 years old when he lost his right eye to Retinoblastoma, a rare eye Cancer.

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BARS WITH LIVE MUSIC

Live and local

A Saturday afternoon jam session at Area 23 in Concord, the Best of Concord pick for Best Bar for Live Music. Pictured are Becca Myari and Pete Gustafson.

Photo by Sid Ceaser.

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I

t’s been a tough year for live music everywhere, but when we contacted these local bars and restaurants in September, they had no intention of giving it up. Some have found ways to continue offering live music, either by holding it outside or inside at a reduced capacity. Others have had to put live music on hold for now but look forward to bringing it back as soon as they can.

7. MURPHY’S TAPROOM 494 Elm St., Manchester, 644-3535, murphystaproom.com Murphy’s features contemporary and classic rock and pop cover acts in a designated entertainment space separated from the rest of the restaurant. Live music is suspended for now but will resume on at least Friday and Saturday nights when restrictions are loosened.

1. THE SHASKEEN PUB AND RESTAURANT BEST OF THE BEST 909 Elm St., Manchester, 625-0246, theshaskeenpub.com For years the Shaskeen has been a hub for live music in Manchester, featuring local and international acts from all genres, a popular hip-hop night and Irish sessions every weekend. Its regular schedule of nightly entertainment has been suspended, but balladeer Marty Quirk performs every other Sunday on the patio.

8. BONFIRE RESTAURANT & COUNTRY BAR 950 Elm St., Manchester, 217-5600, bonfire.country The country-themed bar and restaurant has been bringing live country music to downtown Manchester since 2017. At present Bonfire has live music outside on the patio every Friday and Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m., and it will continue to do so as long as weather permits.

2. STRANGE BREW TAVERN BEST OF MANCHESTER 88 Market St., Manchester, 666-4292, strangebrewtavern.net Strange Brew has been a mainstay for many local and regional blues, country, folk and roots rock acts, and is home to the state’s longest-running blues jam night. Live entertainment has been discontinued for now but is slated to return at least three nights a week once regulations are lifted.

3. AREA 23 BEST OF CONCORD 254 N. State St., Concord, 552-0137, thearea23.com Area 23 features local and regional music acts playing rock, blues, folk and more, as well as cover bands and tribute acts. The entertainment schedule at present includes live music on Friday and Saturday starting at 6:30 p.m.; open mic on Wednesday starting at 5:30 p.m.; and open jam on Saturday afternoon from 2 to 5 p.m. All events are held outside.

4. THE DERRYFIELD RESTAURANT 625 Mammoth Road, Manchester, 623-2880, thederryfield.com During the warmer months, The Derryfield presents live music four nights a week on its outdoor deck, overlooking the scenic grounds of Derryfield Country Club. Through the winter, live music is held indoors on the weekends, but that will be suspended until restrictions on indoor entertainment are loosened. The restaurant features primarily local rock and acoustic acts and cover bands.

5. THE PASTA LOFT RESTAURANT & BREWING CO. BEST OF NASHUA 241 Union Square, Milford, 672-2270, pastaloft.com The Pasta Loft is the place to be for live music on the Milford Oval. It has a number of tribute bands on rotation, with original and cover acts featured in between. Most shows are held in The Brickhouse, a separate performance room with its own bar, but acoustic music is sometimes held on the Rooftop Deck during the summer. The restaurant, which recently opened an onsite micro brewery, has put all live entertainment on hold for now but will bring it back as soon as permitted.

6. THE PEDDLER’S DAUGHTER 48 Main St., Nashua, 821-7535, thepeddlersdaughter.com The Irish pub welcomes local cover and original acts as well as Irish balladeers on rotation. Currently, live music is held outdoors on the weekends, Friday and Saturday from 8 to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m.

9. THE STUMBLE INN BAR & GRILL 20 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, 432-3210, stumbleinnnh.com Stumble Inn’s live music includes mainly contemporary and classic rock covers and original music by local solo and duo acts. It will continue at least through October, outside on the patio on Thursdays from 7 to 10 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 8 p.m. to midnight.

10. HERMANOS COCINA MEXICANA 11 Hills Ave., Concord, 224-5669, hermanosmexican.com Hermanos’ live music, performed in the restaurant’s lounge, normally consists of local jazz musicians on rotation five days a week and rock and folk acts on the weekends. While there is no set schedule at this time, live music is being held in the lounge with a limited capacity at least three days a week most weeks. The traditional schedule will resume as soon as possible.

11. PENUCHE’S MUSIC HALL 1087 Elm St., Manchester, 932-2868, penuchesmusichall.com The restaurant and bar has been a hot spot for live music in downtown Manchester, with a focus on local contemporary and classic cover acts.

Live music is currently being held outdoors seven days a week, Mondays and Tuesdays from 5 to 9 p.m., Wednesdays through Saturdays from 7 to 11 p.m., and Sundays from 2:30 to 7 p.m. Penuche’s will return to its regular schedule of live music, daily from 9 p.m. to close, when indoor entertainment can resume.

12. PENUCHE’S ALE HOUSE 16 Bicentennial Square, Concord, 228-9833, penuchesalehouse.com Penuche’s is continuing live music indoors at a limited capacity, with open mic on Thursdays, starting at 7 p.m., and acoustic duos on Friday and Saturday from 7 or 8 to 10:30 p.m. The bar will expand its live music offerings when it is feasible to do so.

13. FODY’S GREAT AMERICAN TAVERN 9 Clinton St., Nashua, 577-9015, fodystavern.com Fody’s has been a venue for local and regional acts playing jazz, alternative, rock, pop and more, as well as open mic and karaoke nights. All live entertainment has been put on hold for now but will start up again once regulations are lifted.

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Fish & chips at Peddler’s Daughter in Nashua, named Best of the Best in the Best Fish & Chips category.

Photo by Matt Ingersoll.

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Hippo Magazine 2020

FISH & CHIPS

A New England classic A

classic year-round seafood dish, fish & chips is a staple of restaurants, bars and pubs all over the Granite State. Here are readers’ 10 favorite spots to get a plate of fish & chips.

1. THE PEDDLER’S DAUGHTER BEST OF THE BEST 48 Main St., Nashua, 821-7535, thepeddlersdaughter.com A favorite at this downtown Nashua eatery, the beer-battered fish and chips feature fresh haddock loins cut up in house and fried, then served with house cut fries, homemade lemon tartar sauce and ketchup, and malt vinegar.

2. THE LOBSTER BOAT BEST OF NASHUA 453 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 424-5221, lobsterboatrestaurant.com The original Lobster Boat Restaurant opened in Merrimack in 1984 and features golden fried haddock fish and chips on its entree menu, available in small or large sizes with a side of coleslaw.

3. GOLDENROD RESTAURANT BEST OF MANCHESTER 1681 Candia Road, Manchester, 623-9469, goldenrodrestaurant.com Established in 1951, this longtime Queen City year-round seafood and ice cream restaurant offers a haddock plate on its entree menu, served with french fries and coleslaw.

4. THE BEACH PLUM 3 Brickyard Square, Epping, 679-3200, thebeachplum.net With two other locations in the Granite State, including a year-round restaurant in Portsmouth and a seasonal restaurant in North Hampton, The Beach Plum is known for its abundance of fried seafood options. In addition to baskets or larger dinners with fried haddock, you can order them with fried shrimp, fried clam strips or fried scallops.

5. PETEY’S SUMMERTIME SEAFOOD & BAR 1323 Ocean Blvd., Rye, 433-1937, peteys.com This Seacoast favorite has been serving up all kinds of fresh seafood options for more than three decades. Fried seafood dinner options include haddock, sea scallops, oysters, Jumbo shrimp, baby shrimp, lobster tails,

clam strips, crab cakes and more. A children’s sized fish and chips option is also available.

6. JOHNSON’S SEAFOOD & STEAK BEST OF CONCORD 1334 First New Hampshire Turnpike, Northwood, 942-7300, find them on Facebook @johnsonsnorthwood The fish and chips is just one of the many seafood offerings at this eatery on Route 4 in Northwood, featuring hand-battered haddock filet and homemade tartar sauce.

7. THE BARLEY HOUSE RESTAURANT & TAVERN 132 N. Main St., Concord, 228-6363, thebarleyhouse.com A staple of downtown Concord since 2000, The Barley House serves its fish and chips in a curry beer batter with tartar sauce and coleslaw.

8. THE LOBSTER BOAT 273 Derry Road, Litchfield, 882-4988, lobsterboatrestaurant.com After nearly two decades operating in Merrimack, The Lobster Boat opened a second location in Litchfield in 2002, also known as “The Little Lobster Boat.” Like its predecessor, the Litchfield restaurant offers fish and chips in small or large sizes on its menu, featuring golden fried haddock with a side of coleslaw.

9. NEWICK’S LOBSTER HOUSE 317 Loudon Road, Concord, 225-2424, newicks.com Newick’s, which also has a location in Dover, offers fish and chips on its entree menu, in addition to a variety of other fried seafood dishes.

10. SURF RESTAURANT 207 Main St., Nashua, 595-9293, surfseafood.com Part of the Michael Timothy’s Dining Group family, Surf has been serving up fresh seafood in the Gate City since 2002. The fish and chips entree features a haddock filet fried in a crispy tempura batter, served with coleslaw and fries.

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The Concord Farmers Market carried on in 2020. The market, held next to the New Hampshire Statehouse May through October, was picked as Best Farmers Market.

Photo by Sid Ceaser.

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Hippo Magazine 2020

FARMERS MARKETS

Farm fresh each week W

hile farmers markets looked and felt a little different this year — most did not feature live music or special events like they normally do — there were still plenty of spots across New Hampshire to stock up on your favorite local meats, vegetables and more. Here are some of the top farmers markets in the Granite State you voted for.

1. CONCORD FARMERS MARKET BEST Capitol Street, Concord, concordfarmersmarket.com One of the longest-running summer markets in the state, the Concord Farmers Market is held every Saturday starting in May from 8:30 a.m. to noon, and is scheduled to end its season in October. Vendors are set up along a section of Capitol Street near the Statehouse that is closed off to vehicular traffic, selling everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to meats, cheeses and bakery products.

2. NASHUA FARMERS MARKET RUNNER-UP City Hall Plaza, 229 Main St., Nashua, downtownnashua.org/local This market began June 21 in a new location for the 2020 season — due to several lane closures on either side of Main Street to accommodate outdoor dining space for restaurants, the market moved from its normal spot between Temple and Pearl streets down to the area in front of City Hall Plaza. The market is held every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and was scheduled to end on Oct. 18.

3. BEDFORD FARMERS MARKET HONORABLE MENTION 209 Route 101, Bedford, bedfordfarmersmarketnh.org Another market that changed locations for the 2020 season, the Bedford Farmers Market moved from its previous spot at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church to the parking lot of the former Harvest Market on Route 101 in Bedford. About 30 vendors were featured throughout

the season, offering meats, fresh produce, cheeses, honey, maple syrup, baked goods, personal care products and more.

4. DERRY HOMEGROWN FARM & ARTISAN MARKET

derryhomegrown.org Normally held on Wednesday afternoons from June to September in downtown Derry, this was one of the few summer farmers markets in the state that had its entire season canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Speaking to the Hippo earlier this year, market manager and board vice president Neil Wetherbee said its unique location in the center of town, along with its proximity to the rail trail, made set up difficult. The board is already looking ahead to having the market return in June 2021.

5. INTOWN MANCHESTER’S FARMERS MARKET Victory Park, Manchester, intownmanchester.com Rebranded for the 2020 season as “Intown’s Farm Stand,” this market ran from late June through the end of September and was held every Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. at Victory Park. Farmers with Fresh Start Farms, a program of the Manchester-based Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success, offered their own fresh veggies and ethnic crops each week.

6. SALEM FARMERS MARKET salemnhfarmersmarket.org This year-round market, which normally operates indoors from November through about April or May, moved outside several weeks earlier than planned, on March 15. After being in the parking lot of the Mary A. Fisk Elementary School for a few weeks, the market moved back to its normal summer location at Salem Marketplace a few miles away on April 5. Since then the market has been operating at limited hours, on Sundays from 10 a.m. to noon only.

Hippo Magazine 2020

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NH BREWERIES

Brewed local

Readers picked 603 Brewery in Londonderry as Best of the Best in the Best New Hampshire Brewery category.

Photo by Matt Ingersoll.

â–şSee more NH breweries on page 28 26

Hippo Magazine 2020

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Thank Brew very much for...

of the Best 2013

HIPPO BEST OF 2019

OVER 700 SELECTIONS OF BEER, CIDER AND MEAD- BOTTLED, CANNED, AND KEGGED!

Friendly and knowledgeable service.

Beer education and ask about our virtual tastings.

Call for more information!

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545 Hooksett Road, North End Shops at Livingston Park, Manchester, NH 603.413.5992 | BertsBetterBeers.com Hippo Magazine 2020

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NH BREWERIES

Brewed local N

ew Hampshire craft breweries are a huge driving force in the state’s overall economy, contributing more than $450 million in 2018, according to the most recent available data. Whether you like to sit and enjoy a cold glass of beer on draft or you have a favorite spot to get that growler refilled, here are the top dozen breweries in the Granite State you voted for this year.

1. 603 BREWERY BEST OF THE BEST 42 Main St., Londonderry, 404-6123, 603brewery.com Founded in 2012 by three longtime college friends, 603 Brewery came on to the scene at a time when there were only about 20 breweries in the Granite State. The Winni Amber Ale, the first beer the company produced, remains a part of the brewery’s core lineup. In 2019, 603 Brewery relocated all its operations from Liberty Drive to a new space in Londonderry’s Woodmont Commons development, about four miles away, introducing a beer hall with a full locally sourced food menu, a private function room and an outdoor beer garden.

2. LITHERMANS LIMITED BREWERY BEST OF CONCORD 126 Hall St., Unit B, Concord, 219-0784, lithermans.beer Prior to opening Lithermans Limited Brewery in Concord in the spring of 2016, Michael Hauptly-Pierce and Stephen Bradbury were homebrewers who also played in a hip-hop group. Today they continue to feature brews that are music-themed, including IPAs, sours and stouts, and have paired with several local musicians to present special releases. Lithermans Limited also maintains a schedule of food trucks and other local food vendors that regularly visit the brewery.

3. ABLE EBENEZER BREWING CO. BEST OF NASHUA 31 Columbia Circle, Merrimack, 844-223-2253, ableebenezer.com This veteran-owned and -operated brewery arrived in Merrimack in early 2014.

Able Ebenezer’s name is an homage to Ebenezer Mudgett, a New Hampshire native who served in the Revolutionary War. Many of the names of its brews, which include several IPAs, a Mexican-style lager and a coffee porter, are also inspired by historical events or personal metaphor — among the most popular is an IPA brewed with cherry-wood smoked malt known as “Burn the Ships.”

4. PIPE DREAM BREWING BEST OF MANCHESTER 49 Harvey Road, Londonderry, 404-0751, pipedreambrewingnh.com Pipe Dream Brewing, which opened in 2016, features West Coast-inspired brews in a variety of experimental styles. In addition to offering a food menu, Pipe Dream opened an adjoining 1,000-square foot function room in 2019.

5. BACKYARD BREWERY & KITCHEN 1211 S. Mammoth Road, Manchester, 623-3545, backyardbrewerynh.com Backyard Brewery & Kitchen arrived in the summer of 2017. The brewery features craft beers like IPAs and European-style lagers and saisons, plus a scratch-made menu of foods.

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6. CONCORD CRAFT BREWING 117 Storrs St., Concord, 856-7625, concordcraftbrewing.com You can find this craft brewery just steps away from Main Street in downtown Concord. The brewery features a tasting room and retail beer store, offering a variety of styles, like IPAs, sours, stouts and porters.

7. KETTLEHEAD BREWING CO. 407 W. Main St., Tilton, 286-8100, kettleheadbrewing.com The Kettlehead Brewing Co. opened its doors in November 2017, featuring more than a dozen available brews and a menu of scratch-made foods like appetizers, burgers, sandwiches and larger entree-sized meals. Popular beers include The Quest double IPA and the El Dorado Falcon American pale ale.

8. SPYGLASS BREWING CO. 2 Townsend West, Unit 8, Nashua, 546-2965, spyglassbrewing.com Spyglass Brewing Co. arrived in Nashua in October 2018, but co-owner John Wagner has been homebrewing since the 1980s, and he and co-founders Joe Kidder, Jonas Johansson and Subramaniam “A.V.” Aiylam were all working engineers at the time of the nanobrewery’s grand opening. Spyglass specializes in hazy IPAs and saisons, many of which feature tropical fruit or citrus flavors.

9. GREAT NORTH ALEWORKS 1050 Holt Ave., Unit 14, Manchester, 858-5789, greatnorthaleworks.com Prior to opening Great North Aleworks, a 20-barrel production brewery in Manchester, owners and founders Rob and Lisa North were active members of the craft brewery community. Great North Aleworks features many year-round and seasonal releases — one of the most recent being Gratuity for the Granite State, a pale ale with Galaxy, Amarillo and Lemon Drop hops made in collaboration with several other local breweries to raise money for the New Hampshire Hospitality Employee Relief Fund.

10. HENNIKER BREWING CO. 129 Centervale Road, Henniker, 428-3579, hennikerbrewing.com This craft brewery was founded in 2011, tucked away at the end of Centervale Road just outside of downtown Henniker, and features brews from double IPAs to seasonal sours.

11. LONG BLUE CAT BREWING CO. 298 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, 818-8068, longbluecat.com Childhood friends Jason Knight and Shane Sorenson opened this craft nanobrewery together in December 2017. In addition to offering popular craft brews like the Latchkey New England IPA, the London Buzz honey ale and the Cherry C.O.S. chocolate oatmeal stout, Long Blue Cat has a food menu of paninis, flatbreads and small bites.

12. TO SHARE BREWING CO. 720 Union St., Manchester, 836-6947, tosharebrewing.com To Share Brewing Co. is a nanobrewery known for its unassuming residential feel — Aaron and Jenni Share, seasoned homebrewers who both originally come from the Washington, D.C., area, opened the brewery in December 2018. To Share brews New England and West Coast-style IPAs as well as an American stout, an American cream ale, a German Hefeweizen and several experimental and seasonal releases.

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ARTISTS MARKET

Unique find

The Concord Arts Market, which runs Saturdays in downtown Concord during the summers, was named Best Artists Market.

This piece is by Elizabeth L. MacBride a.k.a. Elm Art Studio.

Photo by Sid Ceaser.

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Hippo Magazine 2020

N

ew Hampshire is home to many talented artists, artisans and craftspeople. From unique home decor and stand-out fashion accessories to original artwork and one-of-a-kind gifts, these arts markets — some annual or seasonal and some open year round — have something for everyone.

1. CONCORD ARTS MARKET BEST 1 Bicentennial Square, Concord, concordartsmarket.net The outdoor arts market, held in a downtown Concord courtyard, features a wide variety of fine art and handmade items by local artists and craftspeople.

It runs weekly on Saturday from June through September and returns for a few weeks in December as a holiday market. The Concord Arts Market also presents the Winter Giftopolis, an indoor, late-night holiday shopping event, as part of Intown Concord’s Midnight Merriment, held in downtown Concord in early December.

2. CRAFTSMEN’S FAIR RUNNER-UP Mount Sunapee Resort, Newbury, nhcrafts.org The nine-day craft fair, hosted by the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, is held at Mount Sunapee Resort starting the first week of August and is one of the oldest craft fairs in the nation, attracting tens of thousands of people each year. More than 300 juried artists and craftspeople participate in the fair, exhibiting and selling their work, demonstrating their crafts and leading hands-on workshops for attendees. A variety of contemporary and traditional crafts are featured, including baskets, calligraphy, glassware, pottery, furniture, metal, leather, photography, jewelry and more.

3. MANCHESTER CRAFT MARKET HONORABLE MENTION 1500 S. Willow St., Manchester, 716-5520, manchestercraftmarket.com Manchester Craft Market is a permanent, year-round artisan shop located inside the Mall of New Hampshire. It features handmade gifts, souvenirs, decor, gourmet foods and more from around 200 New England-based artisans and small businesses. Shop hours are Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday from noon to 6 p.m., and extended holiday hours set by the mall.

4. GREELEY PARK ART SHOW Greeley Park, 100 Concord St., Nashua, nashuaarts.org/greeleyparkartshow The two-day outdoor art show, hosted by the Nashua Area Artists’ Association, takes place in Nashua’s spacious Greeley Park in August. It normally features around 60 juried artists from around New England working in a wide variety of media, including oils, acrylics, watercolors, mixed media, glass, jewelry, sculpture, pottery, woodwork, photography and more. The show doubles as an art competition for the artists, with judges naming a best-in-show winner and winners in each medium.

5. THE CRAFTWORKERS’ GUILD 5 Meetinghouse Road, Bedford, 472-8109, thecraftworkersguild.org With more than 60 members, The Craftworkers’ Guild is the oldest organization of crafters in the state. It normally presents three seasonal shops at the historic Oliver Kendall House each year — a harvest shop in late September and

early October, a holiday shop from late November through December before Christmas and a spring shop from late April through early May — plus a shop and craft demonstrations during New Hampshire Open Doors weekend in early November. The shop features a wide variety of handmade items from Guild members, including fiber art, fused glass, jewelry, home decor, quilts, photography, wood crafts and more. In-person shopping has been suspended until further notice, and the Guild is shifting to virtual shops in the meantime.

6. WILD LITTLE ART SHOP Wild Salamander Creative Arts Center, 30 Ash St., Hollis, 465-9453, wildsalamander.com Wild Little Art Shop, located inside the Wild Salamander Creative Arts Center, features handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces from more than 50 local and regional artists and craftspeople. Shoppers will find fine art, fiber art, pottery, jewelry, photography, woodwork, hand-spun and dyed yarn from local sheep farms and more. Shop hours change each season and are posted on Wild Salamander’s website.

7. DERRY HOMEGROWN FARM & ARTISAN MARKET 1 West Broadway, Derry, 548-3935, derryhomegrown.org Derry Homegrown, held at a privately owned donated space in downtown Derry, is a farmers market that emphasizes local art. Vendors have included potters, printmakers, metalsmiths, watercolorists, plein air painters, weavers and other kinds of artists and craftspeople. Each week, one artist is chosen to be featured in the “Artist Spotlight” tent, where they demonstrate their work during the market. The market also features live music by local musicians. Its 2020 season has been canceled, but Derry Homegrown will reopen in 2021, when it will resume its regular schedule, Wednesdays from 3 to 7 p.m., from June through September.

8. NASHUA FARMERS MARKET City Hall Plaza, 229 Main St., Nashua, 883-5700, downtownnashua.org/ nashuafarmersmarket In addition to local farmers and food producers, the Nashua Farmers Market features local artists specializing in watercolor, woodburning, custom signmaking and other media. It’s held in downtown Nashua every Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., from mid-June through mid-October.

9. MARKET DAYS FESTIVAL Downtown Concord, intownconcord.org Market Days, presented by Intown Concord, is a three-day street festival held in downtown Concord every June and is central New Hampshire’s largest free community event, attracting tens of thousands of attendees each year. It normally features live entertainment, pop-up vendors, an arts market, familyfriendly activities and games, demonstrations, a run and more.

10. BROKE: THE AFFORDABLE ARTS FAIR Downtown Peterborough, brokeartsfair.com The Broke Arts Fair was created with the idea that art should be accessible and affordable to everyone. At the fair, juried artists from around New England sell paintings, textiles, jewelry, ceramics and other works, all for less than $50.

It takes place every year during The Thing in the Spring, a multi-day arts and music festival held in downtown Peterborough in June.

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31

NACHOS

Nacho supreme

Hermanos Cocina Mexicana in Concord serves Hippo readers’ favorite nachos, winning Best of the Best in Best Nachos.

Photo by Matt Ingersoll. â–şSee more nachos on page 34

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Hippo Magazine 2020

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F

rom nachos topped with smoked meats to all types of vegetarian versions, there are countless ways to make the classic Tex-Mex comfort dish. Here are 17 of the best places in New Hampshire where you can enjoy your next plate of nachos.

8. EL RODEO MEXICAN RESTAURANT 22 Loudon Road, Concord, 224-9600, el-rodeo-nh.com More than a half-dozen variations of nachos are available at this Concord eatery, including with chorizo, garlic chicken, garlic shrimp or grilled steak.

1. HERMANOS COCINA MEXICANA BEST OF THE BEST 11 Hills Ave., Concord, 224-5669, hermanosmexican.com Nachos are so popular at this downtown Concord favorite that there is a whole section of the menu dedicated to them. The chicken and garlic are among the best-selling, featuring hand-cut chips, jalapenos, a Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese blend, and a house garlic dressing, but other options, named after Hermanos employees, include Betty & Shirl’s (with chicken, avocado, jalapenos, garlic dressing and cilantro) and Rebecca’s (with black beans, avocado slices, tomatoes, jalapenos, scallions and cilantro). You can also build your own nachos with a variety of meats, cheeses, vegetables and dressing, or even purchase a container of oven-ready take-and-bake nachos to enjoy at home.

9. LA CARRETA RESTAURANTE MEXICANO 35 Manchester Road, Suite 5A, Derry, 421-0091, lacarretamex.com Due to sustained water damage, La Carreta’s Derry location remained closed for repairs as of September 2020, with plans to reopen sometime later in the fall. Nacho options include various protein toppings, like grilled chicken, shredded chicken, grilled steak or grilled shrimp.

2. LA CARRETA RESTAURANTE MEXICANO BEST OF MANCHESTER 545 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 628-6899; 1875 S. Willow St., Manchester, 623-7705; lacarretamex.com This local Mexican chain has several eateries across the Granite State, including two on either side of Manchester. Both offer various nacho dishes, including with chicken, beef, beans or grilled steak.

3. THE FARM BAR & GRILLE 1181 Elm St., Manchester, 641-3276, farmbargrille.com The Farm Bar & Grille hand-cuts its tortilla chips and hand-shreds its own Vermont cheddar cheese for its nachos, which feature slow-smoked pulled pork, house pico de gallo and a drizzle of homemade barbecue sauce. You can add guacamole, sour cream or jalapenos, and order them as personal- or family-sized portions.

4. DOS AMIGOS BURRITOS BEST OF CONCORD 26 N. Main St., Concord, 410-4161, dosamigosburritos.com Nachos at this fast casual eatery in downtown Concord feature housemade tortilla chips with Monterey Jack cheese, black or refried pinto beans, tomatoes, green peppers, red onions, sour cream and salsa picante. You can get them with grilled chicken, ground beef or vegetarian with corn salsa.

5. NEW ENGLAND’S TAP HOUSE GRILLE 1292 Hooksett Road, Hooksett, 782-5137, taphousenh.com At New England’s Tap House Grille the nachos are served in a skillet, featuring fresh cut tortilla chips layered with a Cabot cheese sauce, house pico de gallo, lettuce, sour cream, green onions and jalapenos. Add-on options include chicken, pulled pork, brisket or chili, and you get them as personal- or partysized orders.

6. THE PURITAN BACKROOM RESTAURANT 245 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 669-6890, puritanbackroom.com Known as the “Backroom Nachos,” this popular appetizer is available in two sizes, featuring onions, peppers, tomatoes, jalapenos, olives, hamburger and melted cheese.

7. SHORTY’S MEXICAN ROADHOUSE 1050 Bicentennial Dr., Manchester, 625-1730, shortysmex.com Nachos at Shorty’s include refried beans, cheese and vegetables, with the option to add shredded chicken, barbecue pork, taco beef or chili.

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10. LA CARRETA RESTAURANTE MEXICANO BEST OF NASHUA 139 Daniel Webster Hwy., Nashua, 891-0055, lacarretamex.com Like its other locations in the Granite State, La Carreta’s Nashua restaurant offers various nacho options, like with steak, chicken or beef.

11. BILLY’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL 34 Tarrytown Road, Manchester, 622-3644, billys-sports-bar-grill.business.site Billy’s Sports Bar has several nacho dishes to choose from on its appetizer menu, like Buffalo chicken nachos or chili and cheese nachos.

12. CJ’S GREAT WEST GRILL 782 S. Willow St., Manchester, 627-8600, cjsgreatwestgrill.com Part of the Great New Hampshire Restaurants family, CJ’s Great West Grill offers its own specialty nachos with melted cheese, pico de gallo, jalapenos, lettuce and sour cream, plus the option to add ground beef, chicken or both.

13. STRANGE BREW TAVERN 88 Market St., Manchester, 666-4292, strangebrewtavern.net Nachos at this Manchester tavern and bar feature a pile of tortilla chips topped with cheddar jack cheese, tomatoes, jalapenos and sliced black olives. You can get a side of avocado cream or add on chicken chili, spicy grilled chicken or taco beef.

14. TORTILLA FLAT 595 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 424-4479, tortillaflatmexican.com Family-owned and -operated for more than four decades, Tortilla Flat is another local eatery with an entire section of its menu devoted to nachos, all of which are served with ranchero sauce and cheese. The loaded nachos feature onions, peppers, tomatoes, olives, Monterey Jack and your choice of beef, chicken or chili, while the queso trio nachos are baked with queso blanco, cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses. Most of the nacho plates come in either small or large sizes.

15. 603 BREWERY 42 Main St., Londonderry, 404-6123, 603brewery.com Since opening its new beer hall last year, which introduced a full food menu, 603 Brewery has featured a variety of fresh plated nachos, like Korean short rib nachos, and pulled pork nachos with beer cheese and barbecue sauce.

16. MINT BISTRO 1105 Elm St., Manchester, 625-6468, mintbistronh.com This downtown Queen City eatery offers Asian short rib “nachos,” which feature homemade crispy wontons, smoked cheddar cheese, roasted corn, scallions, red onions and other veggies in a spicy sour cream and a sweet soy sauce. You can also substitute tofu for the beef as a vegetarian option.

17. PANTHER PUB & GRILLE 21 Main St., Plymouth, 238-3100, pantherpub.com Various nacho options are available at this Plymouth pub, like the Irish nachos with diced corned beef and Thousand Island dressing for dipping, or the Buffalo nachos with blue cheese crumbles and Colby Jack.

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The baklava from jajabelles in Nashua won Best of Nashua in the Best Baklava category.

Photo by Matt Ingersoll.

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Hippo Magazine 2020

BAKLAVA

Buttery and sweet B

aklava — a sweet and flaky dessert pastry traditionally made with layers of phyllo, filled with chopped nuts and drizzled with honey — is a Greek food favorite in New Hampshire. At these Greek eateries, bakeries and Greek food festivals, you can get not only authentic baklava, but also baklava-inspired treats like baklava cheesecake and baklava ice cream.

1. GLENDI BEST OF THE BEST St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 650 Hanover St., Manchester, 622-9113, stgeorge.nh.goarch.org Baklava is always a favorite at Glendi, a three-day Greek food and culture festival held in Manchester in September. The menu has featured traditional baklava and a number of variations on the treat, such as baklava with chocolate and almonds, chocolate and cherries, and pecans.

7. MAIN STREET GYRO 215 Main St., Nashua, 579-0666, mainstreetgyro.com A dish from this authentic Greek restaurant isn’t complete without a slice of its traditional homemade baklava.

8. ATHENS RESTAURANT 31 Central St., Manchester, 623-9317, athensnh.com Family-owned Athens Restaurant’s traditional baklava is made fresh and in house.

9. CHARLIE’S 566 Mast Road, Goffstown, 621-4288, charliesgoffstown.com Baklava is one of the specialties at Charlie’s, a Greek restaurant, chicken joint, sandwich shop and pizzeria all in one.

2. AMPHORA RESTAURANT BEST OF MANCHESTER 55 Crystal Ave., Derry, 537-0111, amphoranh.com Amphora offers traditional baklava, made from scratch in house, as well as its original layered baklava cheesecake.

10. THE PURITAN BACKROOM RESTAURANT 245 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 669-6890, puritanbackroom.com You can’t go wrong with its traditional baklava, but the Puritan’s real baklava claim to fame is its homemade baklava ice cream: vanilla and cinnamon flavored ice cream with honey, walnuts and baklava pieces.

3. JAJABELLES BEST OF NASHUA 143 Main St., Nashua, 769-1873, jajabelles.com Baklava was the first product jajabelles offered when starting out at farmers markets. In place of honey, it’s covered in a homemade syrup — an original recipe that has been in the baker’s family for four generations.

11. COOKIES AND CAKES HOORAY BEST OF CONCORD 585 Union Ave., Laconia, 528-2253, cookiesandcakeshoo.wixsite.com/ website Cookies and Cakes partners with a Greek baker who comes to the bakery to make the baklava using his own family recipe.

4. THE GYRO SPOT 1073 Elm St., Manchester, 218-3869, thegyrospot.com Nothing goes together better than gyros and traditional baklava at this downtown Manchester Greek eatery.

12. SOUVLAKI PIZZA & SUBS 256 Bridge St., Manchester, 625-9354, souvlakipizza.com Souvlaki’s menu features a wide selection of Greek food, including traditional homemade baklava.

5. ST. PHILIP GREEK FOOD FESTIVAL St. Philip Greek Orthodox Church, 500 W. Hollis St., Nashua, 889-4000, nashuagreekfestival.com Baklava is a staple at this Greek food festival in Nashua, normally held in May. To learn the secret recipe, you have to buy the festival cookbook.

13. CANDIA HOUSE OF PIZZA 3 Main St., Candia, 483-5920, candiahouseofpizza.com The pizzeria’s baklava is fresh and homemade with a special recipe.

6. NASHUA HOUSE OF PIZZA 40 E. Hollis St., Nashua, 883-6177, nashuahouseofpizza.com Whether you go for the Greek food or the Italian food, don’t leave Nashua House of Pizza without a piece of its homemade baklava or baklava cheesecake.

14. CHRYSANTHI’S RESTAURANT 204 Route 13, Brookline, 672-0303, chrysanthisrestaurant.com You can eat or drink your baklava at Chrysanthi’s, which has both traditional baklava and a baklava-inspired coffee cocktail on its dessert menu.

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Revelstoke Coffee in downtown Concord is Where They Make Your Coffee Perfect Every Time, according to Hippo readers, who named them Best of the Best in this category.

Photos by Matt Ingersoll.

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COFFEE HOW YOU LIKE IT

Your perfect cup F

or many of us, a cup of coffee made exactly to our liking is an important part of how we start our day. Here are 13 of the best cafes and coffee shops that get us through our mornings with their fresh cups of joe.

1. REVELSTOKE COFFEE BEST OF THE BEST 100 N. Main St., Concord, revelstokecoffee.com Revelstoke Coffee came to town in December 2018. Owners Alex Stoyle and Lyndsey Cole became inspired to open their own shop following an overnight stay the previous year in the Canadian community of Revelstoke, a small city between Vancouver and Calgary. With a rotating menu of freshly roasted coffees and teas, including featured coffees from around the world, Revelstoke Coffee is a shop based on the themes of travel and discovery. Its signature house blend, known as “Road Trip,” is a Guatemalan coffee with red apple and chocolate tasting notes roasted at Union Coffee Co. in Milford. The shop also offers a small selection of baked goods from other local businesses, like croissants and doughnuts.

2. CAFE LA REINE BEST OF MANCHESTER 915 Elm St., Manchester, 232-0332, cafe-la-reine.square.site St. Anselm College graduate Alexandra Horton became inspired to open this coffee shop in the Queen City in 2013, when she realized there weren’t many downtown community spaces at the time for people to get a cup of coffee. Cafe la Reine, which loosely translates to “the queen’s cafe,” features a wide selection of coffees, teas, espresso drinks, in addition to pastries, breakfast and lunch sandwiches, smoothies, bowls and more.

3. A&E COFFEE & TEA BEST OF NASHUA 135 Route 101A, Amherst, aeroastery.com Founded in 2001, A&E was the first USDA certified organic coffee roaster to come to New Hampshire. The company sources all types of single-origin coffees with an emphasis on sustainability.

4. UNION COFFEE CO. 42 South St., Milford, 277-3181, unioncoffee.co A stone’s throw away from the Milford Oval, Union Coffee Co. has grown into a popular community spot since its 2014 opening. The shop offers a variety of single-origin coffees, as well as a food menu of baked goods and breakfast sandwiches.

5. A&E COFFEE & TEA 1000 Elm St., Manchester, aeroastery.com A&E opened its second cafe location in Manchester in 2014. Like its Amherst cafe, this one features specialty coffee drinks and hand-roasted house bean blends for sale.

6. RIVERWALK CAFE 35 Railroad Square, Nashua, 578-0200, riverwalknashua.com This Railroad Square spot just off Main Street in downtown Nashua offers coffees roasted in house every week, in addition to scratch-made baked goods, pastries and sandwiches.

7. BUCKLEY’S BAKERY & CAFE 436 Daniel Webster Highway, Merrimack, 262-5929, buckleysbakerycafe.com Part of the Michael Timothy’s Dining Group family, Buckley’s Bakery & Cafe opened its first location in Merrimack in 2015. The shop features all kinds of scratch-made baked goods, pastries, sandwiches, wraps and salads, in addition to specialty coffee blends and signature lattes.

8. THE INSIDE SCOOP 260 Wallace Road, Bedford, 471-7009, theinsidescoopnh.com It may be a spot that’s better known for its ice cream, but The Inside Scoop also has a full coffee bar, with hot and iced coffees and espresso drinks sourced from Java Tree Gourmet Coffees in Londonderry, as well as a line of sandwiches, soups and salads and other food offerings.

9. O’SHEA’S CAIFE & TAE 44 Nashua Road, Londonderry, 540-2971, osheasnh.com Londonderry resident Carmel Shea opened this health-focused eatery and coffee shop in the spring of 2018. O’Shea’s offers a variety of fair trade coffees, teas and espresso drinks, in addition to pastries, breakfast sandwiches and bagels with its own homemade butters and whipped cream cheeses. The lunch menu features sandwiches, salads, smoothies, smoothie bowls and other rotating options.

10. THE GRIND RAIL TRAIL CAFE 5 W. Broadway, Derry, thegrindnh.com With a focus on community and sustainability, this downtown cafe and coffee bar offers a locally inspired menu that includes A&E certified organic roasted coffees, in addition to teas, bowls, bagels, sandwiches and more.

11. PRESSED CAFE 108 Spit Brook Road, Nashua, 718-1250; 3 Cotton Road, Nashua (this location is drive-thru only), 402-1003; pressedcafe.com Pressed Cafe, a fast-casual eatery specializing in fresh coffees, sandwiches, bowls, smoothies and other items, now has four locations across New Hampshire and Massachusetts, but the first one came in 2014, on Spit Brook Road in Nashua.

Pressed features hot and iced coffees and espresso drinks, sourced from George Howell Coffee in Massachusetts.

12. WHITE MOUNTAIN GOURMET COFFEE BEST OF CONCORD 15 Pleasant St., Concord, 228-3317, wmgconline.com In addition to wholesaling specialty roasted coffee to cafes, restaurants, inns and stores throughout New Hampshire, White Mountain Gourmet Coffee has a cafe in downtown Concord where you can get fair trade organic coffee, bakery items, gifts and more.

13. BONHOEFFER’S CAFE & ESPRESSO 8 Franklin St., Nashua, 883-6879, bonhoefferscafe.com Just steps away from Main Street in downtown Nashua, Bonhoeffer’s serves its own house-roasted direct trade coffee, plus a food menu of crepes, breakfast sandwiches and burritos, paninis, wraps and salads. Profits from the sale of Bonhoeffer’s roasted coffee go to the cafe’s sister nonprofit organization, Hope and Life for Kids.

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Readers dream of the peanut butter cookie at Union Street Takeout in Manchester, according to their Best of the Best win in the Most Craveable Cookie category.

Photo here and on the cover by Sid Ceaser.

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Hippo Magazine 2020

COOKIES!

You can’t eat just one C

hewy or crunchy, semi-sweet or decadent, sprinkled with chocolate chips or loaded chocolate chunks — no matter what kind of cookie you’re craving, these New Hampshire restaurants and bakeries (plus one ski resort) have you covered.

1. UNION STREET TAKEOUT (PEANUT BUTTER COOKIE) BEST OF THE BEST 90 Union St., Manchester, 260-7663 A peanut butter-lover’s dream, this cookie starts with a creamy batter made with real peanut butter. Throw in some peanut butter chips and caramel chips, bake until crunchy on the outside but still soft on the inside, and you’ve got the No. 1 Most Craveable Cookie.

2. PATS PEAK SKI AREA (M&M COOKIE) BEST OF CONCORD 686 Flanders Road, Henniker, 428-3245, patspeak.com Pats Peak’s M&M cookies have grown in size over the years and are now as big as an adult’s face. They’re made from scratch and kept slightly undercooked, giving them a gooey, chewy texture. Find them in the cafeteria during ski season, where they’re baked fresh daily.

6. THE BLACK FOREST CAFE & BAKERY (PEANUT BUTTER DIPPED COOKIE) 212 Route 101, Amherst, 672-0500, theblackforestcafe.com You get the best of both worlds with this Black Forest favorite, a big peanut butter cookie dipped in chocolate. If you’re looking for something a bit less decadent, the cafe has undipped peanut butter cookies, too.

7. THE CAKE FAIRY (TRIPLE CHIP COOKIE) BEST OF MANCHESTER 114 Londonderry Turnpike, Hooksett, 518-8733, cakefairynh.com With the Cake Fairy’s triple chip cookie, you can have it all. The jumbo-sized cookie is loaded with chocolate chips, peanut butter chips and white chocolate chips. It’s no wonder it’s the bakery’s best-seller.

8. PRESSED CAFE (CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE) 108 Spit Brook Road, Nashua, 718-1250; 3 Cotton Road, Nashua (this location is drive-thru only), 402-1003; pressedcafe.com You can’t go wrong with a classic chocolate chip cookie at Pressed Cafe. Made bakery-style, the cookie has a slight crisp on the outside to hold in all the chewy, gooey goodness on the inside.

3. BUCKLEY’S BAKERY & CAFE (CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE) BEST OF NASHUA 436 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 262-5929, buckleysbakerycafe.com The chocolate chip cookies at Buckley’s are soft and made from scratch with real butter and semisweet chocolate morsels, just like the original chocolate chip cookie from 1938.

9. CITY MOOSE CAFE & CATERING CO. (CHOCOLATE CHUNK COOKIE) 30 Temple St., Nashua, 943-5078, citymoosenh.com When chocolate chips aren’t enough, go for the chocolate chunk cookie at City Moose. It’s made big and thick to fit lots of chocolate chunks, and softbaked so it can easily be split with a friend.

4. CONCORD FOOD CO-OP (CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE) 24 S. Main St., Concord, 225-6840, concordfoodcoop.coop The Co-op’s chocolate chip cookies are made big, with local eggs and lots of bittersweet and semisweet chocolate chips. They’re baked until crisp on the outside while keeping a soft and gooey texture in the middle.

10. THE BLACK FOREST CAFE & BAKERY (LEMON MELTAWAY COOKIE) 212 Route 101, Amherst, 672-0500, theblackforestcafe.com This cookie-fied version of the cafe’s lemon bar is big, tart and buttery and does just what it promises: melts away in your mouth.

5. THE BLACK FOREST CAFE & BAKERY (CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE) 212 Route 101, Amherst, 672-0500, theblackforestcafe.com The Black Forest has three cookies on this Most Craveable Cookie list, the first being its chocolate chip cookie, made big, soft and loaded with chocolate.

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PICK YOUR OWN

Your harvest

Mack’s Apples in Londonderry won Best of Manchester in the Best Farm for Pick Your Own category.

Photo by Sid Ceaser. ►See more pick your own places on page 44

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Hippo Magazine 2020

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Hippo Magazine 2020

43

PICK YOUR OWN

Your harvest N

ew Hampshire farms offer all kinds of PYO opportunities, from berries in the summer to apples in the fall, and even some veggies.

These PYO seasons are estimates and may vary each year depending on weather conditions, so always check with the farm before you go, to confirm that PYO is available.

1. LULL FARM BEST OF THE BEST 65 Broad St., Hollis, 465-7079, livefreeandfarm.com Lull Farm is open year round and offers PYO strawberries in June and July and apples in September and October.

2. MACK’S APPLES BEST OF MANCHESTER 230 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, 434-7619, macksapples.com Mack’s Apples is open from mid-August through spring, with PYO opportunities in the fall, including apples and pumpkins from Labor Day through October.

3. SUNNYCREST FARM 59 High Range Road, Londonderry, 432-7753, sunnycrestfarmnh.com Sunnycrest has a large selection of summer and fall PYO options, starting with strawberries in June. July is the time for blueberries, cherries and raspberries.

Peaches and grapes are available in August, and apples in September. You can also cut your own flowers from July through September.

4. BROOKDALE FRUIT FARM BEST OF NASHUA 41 Broad St., Hollis, 465-2240, brookdalefruitfarm.com Brookdale Fruit Farm is open year round, with PYO strawberries in June; cherries in early July; blueberries, raspberries and blackberries in July and August; and apples in September and October.

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5. CARTER HILL ORCHARD BEST OF CONCORD 73 Carter Hill Road, Concord, 225-2625, carterhillapples.com Carter Hill is usually open July through mid-December, with PYO opportunities including blueberries in July, peaches in August and apples from Labor Day weekend to Columbus Day weekend.

6. MCQUESTEN FARM 330 Charles Bancroft Highway, Litchfield, 424-9268, facebook.com/mcquesten. farm If it’s veggies you’re after, McQuesten Farm is the place. From the end of July through September, they offer PYO squash, tomatoes, beets, cabbage, beans and peppers.

7. APPLE HILL FARM 580 Mountain Road, Concord, 224-8862, applehillfarmnh.com True to its name, Apple Hill Farm has a wide variety of apples for PYO, including McIntosh, Cortland and Gala in September and Red Delicious, Crispin and Fuji in October. You can also pick strawberries in mid-June through mid-July and blueberries and raspberries in July and August.

8. LAVOIES FARM 172 Nartoff Road, Hollis, 882-0072, lavoiesfarm.com PYO at Lavoies Farm includes strawberries in June, blueberries from July through October, and apples and pumpkins in September and October.

9. DUROCHER FARM 157 Charles Bancroft Highway, Litchfield, 494-8364, pickyourownberries.com It’s all about the blueberries at Durocher Farm, and with 2,500 blueberry bushes, there’s plenty to go around. PYO is offered in July and August.

10. J & F FARMS 108 Chester Road, Derry, 437-0535, facebook.com/jffarms At J&F Farms, you can pick your own strawberries, usually during the last couple weeks in June, and veggies including tomatoes, peppers and shell beans from Labor Day through the first frost.

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Hippo Magazine 2020

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DATE NIGHT

Your move

Boards & Brews in Manchester, a board game cafe, won Best of the Best in the Best First Date Spot. Here Kellie Boucher and Chris Goupil play a friendly game.

Photo by Matt Ingersoll.

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Hippo Magazine 2020

Dear Readers, Now more than ever, Hippo depends on your financial support to fund our coverage.

Please consider supporting our local food, music, arts and news coverage by becoming a sustaining member or making a donation online at www.hippopress.com or by mail to 195 McGregor St., Suite 325, Manchester, NH 03102.

Thank you and we are truly grateful for your support!

Sincerely,

Jody Reese Hippo Publisher

Community Supported

GUILTY PLEASURE

Enough to share?

The cheesy bread at Romano’s Pizza in Litchfield won Best of the Best in Best Guilty Pleasure Food.

Photo by Sid Ceaser.

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Coolest — Make That ‘Coldest’ — Thing About living in NH

T

his year, we asked readers, “What is the best thing about living in New Hampshire in the winter?”

The big winner was skiing. “All the skiing!” raved one reader; “skiing is awesome” said another. “Skiing” was often accompanied by other wintertime recreations: cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, ice fishing and snowmobiling. Some of us here at the Hippo strongly identify with the answer “SKIING!!!!! And all the cute cafes!” Perhaps many readers do too; when we asked for the Best Ski Hill Activity, 45 percent answered “skiing” but then the next highest answer, with 26 percent of the vote, was “drinking in the lodge.”

The runner-up was “snow,” which can feel like, to borrow from Homer Simpson, the cause of and solution to all of the wintery-est parts of a New Hampshire winter. “Snow days that turn into fun days” said one reader. Several readers specified snow at Christmas. And, proving even indoorsy types can love the snow, one said “SNOW FIREPLACE WINE.” A reader showed some love for those keeping us on the roads during

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Hippo Magazine 2020

winter: “snow removal management — NH knows how to do it so we can still get out and have fun.”

In third place with the honorable mention and plenty of fans is “snowshoeing,” another way to enjoy the outdoors when the temperature drops. “Snowshoeing and the beauty of outdoors” are the best parts of winter for one reader.

And, as always, Hippo readers can’t help a few wiseguy cracks: “Feeling smug that we can actually drive in the snow” was one reader’s favorite thing.

“Annoying people are mostly elsewhere” got a vote. “Vacation to any warm spot” echoed sentiments shared by a few as did “when it’s over.” And proving that the grass is always greener (especially when it’s not covered by several inches of snow): “Thinking about summer in NH!!!!” was one reader’s favorite winter activity.

Most readers, though, had some appreciation for winter, even if it’s just, as one reader said, a way to keep the bug population in check. As another reader commented, the best part of winter is that it shows off “the beauty of our state and helpfulness of the residents.”

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