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Lakes Region Reflections

Posted by abohan Jumat, 26 Oktober 2012 0 komentar

If there is an upside to an economic downturn, it's the opportunity for something new to emerge.
A young person, a family, or a group of people are willing to share their dreams of a new (or different) approach to things. They have an enduring passion and the hope that local people will find their business irresistible.
That's what's happening in downtown Laconia right now.

***

Do you miss the downtown cafes? Some months ago we wrote a post about the disappearance of two distinctive coffee shops: the Black Cat, the Lakes Region's original 'internet cafe,' closed after new owners weren't able to find the right tone; and Awakenings Espresso Cafe moved to Gilford not long afterwards.
Since then My Coffee Shop by the Belknap County Courthouse has picked up some of the load, adding Wi-Fi to its very nice menu. And the recent coming of the Local Eatery has added a touch of class to the Lake City.
Now there's news that another place is about to open.

The old Colonial Theatre in Laconia

is just down the block from the new

Vintage Cafe, which is opening soon.

The owners of the new Vintage Cafe on Main Street briefly operated the iconic Laconia Spa but things didn't work out there as planned.
But they're not bitter. "At least I found out I like this kind of business," says one.
The restaurant will be more an old-fashioned diner than a Starbucks. "We'll have blue plates specials, breakfasts, that kind of thing."
Coffee choices will be restricted to regular or decaf but it still good to see another young entrepreneur in the city.
The Vintage Cafe is scheduled to open soon, a few days after Election Day. (No sense starting off with a grumpy crowd, I'd say.)

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Fine Eating Out

Posted by abohan Jumat, 12 Oktober 2012 0 komentar

A classic building produces space for a classic establishment.

The old Victorian train station in Laconia once served as the hub of the area’s commercial action and, in the 1990s, was the site of the Black Cat cigar bar, the city’s first up-scale café.

Now it’s the right location for a unique new Lakes Region restaurant named Local Eatery.

Chef-owner Kevin Halligan has an exceptional vision: to use, as much as possible, only locally produced foods. Fruits and vegetables from places like Beans and Greens Farm in Gilford, dairy products from the Meredith Center Dairy, meats from PT Farm in North Haverhill, seafood from the Portsmouth Lobster Co... All are grown, harvested and/or processed in farms and other establishments that are as close as possible and many are organically raised. So the flavors are sharp and fresh.

And Halligan’s dishes are smart and creative, taking full advantage of the "local" flavor.

We began with a basket of fresh bread baked at the nearby Village Bakery, served with a small dish of olive oil sprinkled with Parmesan cheese for dipping. A strong beginning.

Our appetizers were fresh fried pumpkin ravioli served with butternut squash, and pan seared diver scallops wrapped in salty bacon with coconut curry. Both were delightful, imaginative and delicious.

The comfortable, serene atmosphere was perfect for enjoying a petite blue wine from Hermit Woods Winery in Sanbornton: sweet but surprisingly mature.

The salad was a wonderful mix of local greens, cherry tomatoes, onions, sliced apples and spiced pecans.

Local Eatery is the latest star at the old

Victorian train station in Laconia.

My entrée was a sizable and rich New York sirloin strip, cooked perfect - slightly rare - with a complimentary garlic taste, and served with particularly sweet candied carrots and wonderful roasted potatoes.

Super Spouse enjoyed a plate of fried haddock served with a smooth tartar sauce and capers. The fish coating was crisp and flavorful while the homegrown french fried potatoes virtually screamed “home-grown."

Both dishes were hearty, much larger than what's passes for a meal at most fine restaurants these days.

For dessert, a pumpkin creme brulee: the hot sugary coating, the dreamy, cool, smooth custard… Perhaps the best dessert we’ve ever had in the Lakes Region. (And that's saying something, knowing the local affection for sweets.)

We ended with a cup of hot coffee form the Woodshed Roasting Co. of Gilford and a cranberry biscotti from the Village Bakery.

Halligan has done little advertising but on an early weeknight in the fall, his little restaurant was filling up quickly. “We’re getting a good reputation,” he said.

“‘Best food I’ve had in years, best food I’ve ever had,’ people say that.. They’re dying for something like this.”

Not only “dying,” but also living. The New Hampshire Farm to Restaurant Connection recently certified Local Eatery with its highest score ever recorded, he said.

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What Ever Happened To...? (Food Division, Part 2)

Posted by abohan Minggu, 15 Juli 2012 0 komentar

Can you remember biting into a slice of pizza -- and watching, as a long string of hot mozzarella cheese grew longer and longer, attaching your mouth to the slice of pie? You’d try to separate yourself, while at the same time inhaling the warm, wonderful aroma of cooked garlic, tomato sauce and tasty cheese.

It's one of those things that were a regular experience at restaurants years ago but that now seems to be fading away like a pair of bell-bottom jeans.

We first mentioned this back in late May and it's become one of our most popular posts: What ever happened to certain restaurant menu items -- like Red Flannel Hash, Country Fried Chicken and Consommé - that we once enjoyed? They were once dishes you’d expected to find at any decent diner or neighborhood restaurant – like sides of pickled beets or a grapefruit half.

Now they've largely forgotten -- replaced by Lobster Mac & Cheese and Reese's Pieces Ice Cream.

(Below is the original "What Ever Happened To…? Food Division, Part 1).

At a barbecue last night, some friends reminded us of other dishes that were once almost everywhere.

For example, what ever happened to Chicken à la King - diced chicken and vegetables in a cream sauce – and the sauce sometimes was only a can of condensed mushroom soup. (In fact, what ever happened to mushroom soup? Or ANY soup as an appetizer?) It was served over rice, bread or pasta.
(Of course, no one but Italian people called it "pasta". It was just "spaghetti" or 'noodles".)

And where’s the Creamed Chip Beef? It was a popular military dish during World War II and the meal - a salty concoction served on bread - was nicknamed by servicemen "S.O.S" (i.e., "S--t On a Shingle").

And when was the last time you had meat pie?

Or a boiled dinner -- now mostly available only on St. Patrick's Day, when Corned Beef and Cabbage makes it annual appearance. (In general, cabbage - and its German relative sauerkraut - are tough to find anywhere these days.)

Fish lovers can lament the passing of Oyster Stew - with those little 'baby' oyster crackers - and Salmon Pie.

Last time, we talked about the departure of Grapenut Pudding from the desert menu at T-Bones in Laconia.
But what about ANY pudding? Or Jell-O, which was also a frequent choice, particularly at diners.
Can you find these dishes at some eateries?
Sure, sometimes.
In fact, in the Lakes Region you'l find lots of old-fashioned diner food at the Tilt'n Diner in Tilton and at other neigborhood spots. In fact, George's Diner in Meredith has practically made a practice of serving classic goodies like the New England Boiled Dinner, Yankee Pot Road, Chicken Pot Pie and Franks & Beans.
But these dishes are fading fast from our tables, replaced by Chicken McNuggets and Iced Peppermint White Chocolate Lattes. And we're all a little poorer - and hungrier - for the passing.
Of course, there's always hope they'll make a comeback. After all, almost no one was serving Macaroni and Cheese until someone thought of adding lobster to it.

What Ever Happened To...? (Food Division, Part I)

Remember Red Flannel Hash? It used to be a regular item on many New England diner menus.
Recently it was revived at the Déjà Vu Diner in Laconia. Potatoes, corned beef, onions, beets... And it got us to thinking about other restaurant foods that are no longer as popular as they once were.
For instance, you used to be able to order a single soft-boiled egg for breakfast and have it served in a tiny stand-up cup; you had to carefully crack open the egg with your spoon and 'dig in'. (But it was tough getting toast into that tiny hole, which may be one reason it's not seen much any more.)
Or breakfast foods like a glass of prune juice or a half-grapefruit. (I confess it's been a while since we've been in the Déjà Vu so they may have these on their menu; we know they serve plenty of good, hearty meals.)
Or how about lunch and dinner items like liver-and-onions or country fried steak - both of which are still available at the Tilt'n Diner, if you can believe that.
But what about a tongue sandwich? (Yes, you could buy one years ago.) Or a glass of tomato juice with a slice of lemon on the side? And what ever happen to a sprig of parsley - which was sometimes mentioned on the menu as part of the meal?
Consommé is a strong soup that was listed on the Titanic's second-class dinner menu the night it sunk.
What about french fries with gravy, which lots of diner patrons loved? Or a cherry - or vanilla - Coke? Yes, you can buy bottles of them now but they were once only available at bars and restaurants where enterprising dining people added the flavorful syrup to the soda at the counter.
We just learned that the grapenut custard pudding has recently disappeared from the menu at T-Bones in Laconia. Too bad... a yummy, smooth pudding but apparently not as popular as the peanut butter banana cream pie or carrot cake.

Can you think of other restaurant menu items that are no longer available?

Maybe we can get the Déjà Vu or Tilt'n diners to revive a few of them.

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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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More Good Lakes Region News

Posted by abohan Senin, 21 Mei 2012 0 komentar

Mucho congrats to Alex Ray, owner of the Common Man family of restaurants - recently named among the state's best philanthropists by the Hippo in its annual "Best of Readers" poll. Folks who know the Lakes Region have known for years that Alex is one of the best. "He's one of the most generous people I've ever met," one employee said not long ago.

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Another Season, More Memories

Posted by abohan Kamis, 26 April 2012 0 komentar

The Spring continues to play games with the mind in the Lakes Region.
Today it's mostly sunny but when the sun hides behind a cloud the temperature seems to drop about ten degrees. The air is warm, almost Summerlike for a few moments, then it snaps with an Autumn feeling.
And life is as unpredictable as the weather.
There's a kind of lovely nervous energy this time of year, watching shopkeepers and restaurateurs running around with their ambitious plans for the Summer.
Then news that another local business has closed its doors, unable to even make it through to the lucrative Summer season.
This week, schools are on their Spring break so kids are everywhere. We stopped to rejoice over one babe's face to her mom's delight.
When we finally walked away and out of the store, she explained her momentary absence to her husband and son. "Baby fans," she said, explaining her delay in the family's special code.
A few weeks back, an older man who lives in Massachusetts but vacations in New Hampshire called and offered to make a significant investment in our company. He'd heard about our book and wanted a copy, but said he'd made a lot of money in investments during his lifetime and liked to help out smaller operations where he could now that he was older.
What's the expected return? The ROI, we asked him.
"I just want you to do something that will bless people," he said.
We would do that, we promised.
But a week or more passed, and no check had arrived. So we called him.
And he confessed that he'd had a stroke ten years ago and wasn't allowed to write checks from his own fortune anymore. In fact, he didn't even remember promising to send us a check.
We both laughed.
In a few weeks, the warm weather will be here. That's almost guaranteed.
But there will still be some rain.
It comes no matter what time of year, or life, it is.

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Lakes Region Coffee Survey

Posted by abohan Rabu, 25 April 2012 0 komentar

WIth all the discourse generated by our March 28 post (http://lakesregionofnewhampshire.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2012-04-07T19:51:00-04:00&max-results=7&start=7&by-date=false) - which also ran in the Laconia Daily Sun as a column, and initiated a lengthy response from a local cafe - the question has arisen:
What is/was the best place to enjoy a cup of coffee in downtown Laconia? Go to the Carbone Productions Facebook page to make your choice.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Carbone-Productions-LLC/183899221673394

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The richest of fare - for body and soul

Posted by abohan Senin, 23 April 2012 0 komentar

Three years ago next month, our book "The Lakes Region of New Hampshire: Four Seasons, Countless Memories" was released. The first photo/essay book about our lovely region was well accepted - and now we've added a new retail outlet in Winnisquam.

If you've not yet visited Mountain View Manna's stores in Winnisquam (or the one in Plymouth), get ready for the kind of special treat that could have your taste buds throwing a party. For years, Judy Ulrich of Holderness baked bread for family and friends. Then she won a First Prize ribbon at the Sandwich Fair and folks began offering her money to buy the delicious maple walnut, cinnamon, raisin, cranberry-orange, oatmeal molasses, whole wheat and garlic-basic baked goods.
So two years ago, Judy and her husband Bob opened “Mountain View Manna” and now the stuff is selling like – well, hotcakes (so to speak). It’s available at their stores as well as at various Lakes Region grocery stores, markets and restaurants See www.mountainviewmanna.com - and get ready for their homemade musical commercial.

"Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare."
- Isaiah Chapter 55, Verse 2

- from Mountain View Manna's website

http://mountainviewmanna.com/index.html

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When Things Are Radically ' 'Off-Season'

Posted by abohan Selasa, 10 April 2012 0 komentar

We’d love to think that “off-season” in the Lakes Region has its own unique charms.

Bu to be honest - it’s not always so.

In fact, the most interesting thing about the “off-season” here may be that things slow down enough for you to notice things.

For instance:

If the restaurant were “in-season”-busy, would we have noticed this scene at another nearby table? The picture is a little dark so here's what you're looking at:

Three generations: Grandma, Daughter and Granddaughter.

Grandma reading her Kindle.

Daughter on her laptop.

Granddaughter on her Smart Phone.

Who says New Hampshire folks are not tech-savvy?

Or how about this little sign spotted on the side of a building at an Alton marina:

Just in case you can't make it out, it reads, "SOUVENIRS - The Cheesy Sleezy Tourist Trap Shop-O-Rama."

Hmm, does any one see this little sign during the summer?

But then, of course, there's things like this...

The image is not very good, but the story behind it still resounds across the cold winter months.

The photo was shot this past November at Laconia High School. And the man is not a "reincarnated" Groucho Marx but Frank Ferrante, who was here presenting his wonderful one-man show, "An Evening with Groucho."

Ferrante is recognized as the world's best Groucho Marx impersonator and his show is filled with all the charm and wit of a Marx Brothers films.

Ferrante presented his show free to the public because the Putnam Fund, that great Lakes Region institution, sponsored the program.

It's the kind of thing that makes "off-season" a real turn-on for the local folks.

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