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Feed-Eats

Posted by abohan Kamis, 19 Juli 2012 0 komentar

The good news in the Lakes Region today is about food.
Word is that the folks who own the venerable Village Bakery in Laconia are planning to open a new restaurant where the Black Cat Cafe once operated. And here's the hook - Kevin and his crew will be using and serving locally-grown food products as much as possible.
The bakery has long been famous for its lunches so expectations are high for the new place - especially if it's able to make good use of that wonderful old Victorian train station space. (We're betting they do.)

The owners of the famous Squam Lake Inn have bought

the old Holderness General Store building - no doubt,

good news for fans of good food.

In addition, Holderness folks learned recently that the building that where that wonderful place known as the Holderness General Store once live - it closed its doors last fall - was purchased at auction by Rae Andrews and Cindy Foster. The ladies are the owners and operators - including chefs - of the nearby Squam Lake Inn. That establishment - including its fabulous kitchen - has been praised by several prominent publications, including "New York" and "Boston" magazines.
We're not sure yet just what the women want to do with the store space but it's likely to become another local foodie's treasure.

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Good News...?

Posted by abohan Senin, 09 Juli 2012 0 komentar

Can It be?
Just months after we mourned the departure of both the Black Cat Cafe and Awakenings Espresso Cafe from downtown Laconia, it looks like the spot where the Black Cat once prospered is being prepared for a new restaurant. And it will be a "dining spot," we're told.
(Awakenings moved to Gilford; the last owners of the Black Cat closed the business.)

The Laconia train station, built in 1892, was designed by Bradford Gilbert.
Gilbert is best known for designing the world's first steel-framed curtain wall building,
the Tower Building in New York City.

It's hard to imagine a better environment for an eatery. The old Victorian train station is likely the finest example of Romanesque Revival architecture in the state, and converting it into a full-menu restaurant was the dream of the former Black Cat owner, the late Kinney O'Rourke.

The structure was named to the National Register of Historic Places 30 years ago this year, in 1982.

from Wikipedia:

At its dedication in August 1892, the Laconia Democrat described it as follows

The main features of the building are the port-cochere at the entrance and the large general waiting room or rotunda, open to the roof, with clerestory windows on all sides. The floor of this room is of tile, and the wall to a height of ten feet are finished in quartered oak, and above that plastered and tinted in two shades of chrome.^[3]

(See the Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society webpage for more info on this magnificent building.

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Late Night Lake Region Reflections

Posted by abohan Selasa, 01 Mei 2012 0 komentar

Tonight the rain splattered the streets and highways of Plymouth, making the small town strangely quiet for a Spring night.
The university students seemed to have disappeared under the black sky. And seeing that Cicero's Cafe on Main Street is now among the ranks of the recently-closed added to the out-of-season chill.

Still, have you ever noticed- when you come down the hill from the PSU campus, towards the entrance onto Interstate 93, that giant Citgo sign hovering over the gas station?
It's eerily reminiscent of the one that presides over Fenway Park's outfield? And it's right by PSU's fields and its new hockey rink.

... So maybe it's extra-special news to learn tonight about a new coffee shop that is scheduled to open on Main Street in Tilton Friday.
It's called "The Goode News Cafe," and it promises to serve brews (coffees, teas and hot chocolate) that have an extra helping of health benefits. (https://www.facebook.com/GoodeNewsCafe)

Whatever. As long as the coffee is hot and the atmosphere quiet and friendly... We're still mourning the loss of both Awakenings and the Black Cat, the two cafes that left downtown Laconia in recent weeks. (Although a Sunday afternoon meal at Awakenings in its new Gilford location last week was amazingly good. (http://www.awakeningsespressocafe.com)

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Smell of Cafés Fade

Posted by abohan Rabu, 28 Maret 2012 0 komentar

Gone to Gilford.

Just gone.

When Laconia’s Black Cat Café first opened in the early 1990s, it was a big deal.

It began as a "cigar bar"(remember those?) with nice food, a quiet atmosphere, good coffee and drinks.

But it was the cozy, casual style that was unique to the Lakes Region. It looked something like a Starbucks – an "internet café" (remember those?) – with better-than-average coffee, free wifi and a "take-your-time" attitude that stood in stark contrast with the many great Lakes Region diners – or even the Caesar’s Pizza store that was next door at the time.

This was the kind of place you'd see in Boston, or maybe Concord – but not in downtown Laconia, people said. Could such a place survive in a working class northern New England city?

It turned out that it could. The Black Cat developed a small but devoted following. People liked – no, LOVED – this place located in the old Romanesque train station by Veterans Square.

The only problem - for some folks - was the cigar smoke. I can remember sneaking in at times when I thought smokers were less likely to be there, like late mornings or early afternoons.

Finally, the cigar aficionado who’d opened the Black Cat sold it.

The new owners changed the name and emphasized bakery goods. But unfortunately things didn’t work out for them. If memory serves right, they were gone in less than a year.

That’s when Kinney and Jean O'Rourke purchased the place. The couple was already known in the area, and the O’Rourke’s immediately returned to the Black Cat name. But with a few small changes: “The Black Cat has gone smokeless!” they said – and they changed their kitty’s logo cigar into a food platter.

The atmosphere was again friendly and inviting. The coffee and food were even better than before. Most importantly, Kinney was a natural-born restaurateur. His warm, generous nature and quick Irish wit added a friendly spark to the downtown. You’d look for an excuse to stop by the Black Cat.

Then ANOTHER café opened.

"Two?! Downtown? No way. One of them gotta die."

The Awakenings Espresso Cafe moved onto Canal Street, across from the post office. It was operated by folks who had a deep passion and knowledgeable about gourmet coffees. And if their storefront space was not quite as cozy at the Black Cat’s, the atmosphere was friendly and loose here as well. Over the years, lots of people made a stop into Awakenings a regular part of their day.

For several years, the Lake City had two “big city” cafés operating in its downtown, less than two blocks from one another.

In fact, Kinney at the Black Cat was enjoying his new gig so much that he decided to expand. He wanted to take over even more of the beautiful old train station and add a “fine dining” area.

But it didn't happen. Kinney ran into problems getting his expansion idea rolling. Not long afterwards, he finally sold out. (Tragically, not long afterwards, he died when what was supposed to be a simple operation ran into complications… You can read his loving obituary @ http://currentobituary.com/ShowObit.aspx?id=75445&member_id=14)

The next Black Cat owners had, for a long time, operated a popular Mexican eatery in Weirs Beach and probably thought they’d repeat their success here.

Then this past week, we noticed both businesses are gone.

The Black Cat operators closed their doors recently and current Awakenings owner Jane Bergeron decided to move her business to a larger space, out near “McIntyre Circle” (by the supermarkets and Wal-Mart in Gilford).

Of course, you can still get a decent cup of coffee downtown. The Downtown Deli serves a great brew made by the Woodshed Coffee Roasting Co. of Laconia. And the Village Bakery is still very popular among the local on-the-go café drinkers.

Maybe someone will open a new café downtown – but right now, it’s clear something is missing. There's no more of Kinney's sly grin and wonderfully wry sense of humor. There are no more exotic brews to sip while looking out at the post office parking lot crowd, or enjoying a warm day sitting in the outside patio behind Awakenings.

Yes, something is gone from downtown Laconia. And it’s not just about the coffee.

(P.S. “It’s not just about the coffee” is the Awakenings’ slogan… The Lake City’s loss is Gilford’s gain.)

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