Uncommonly Inviting

Eryn EpiCurious — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:27:56 +0100

Restaurant week always holds a place in my heart. Loaded with risk-taking selections of recipes by chefs wrapped in a 3-course prix fixe menu, offering exceptional service, dinners with low lighting for romantic ambiance, and special pricing; it’s a must for the true Portsmouth foodie. Held semiannually now, there’s no excuse to be missing this event, and I rarely do.

Restaurant week was celebrated among 32 participating SeacRead More...

Those Darn Nails

The Young Curmudgeon — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:20:37 +0100

Perhaps you’ve read about one of President Obama’s first big trade policy moves: He recently imposed a tariff on Chinese tire makers.

Why? He wanted to help America’s tire industry when more American car owners are buying cheaper Chinese tires. The tariff is meant to crack down on imports that unfairly hurt American workers.

So far, so goRead More...

Gluten - who?

Eryn EpiCurious — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:20:07 +0100

Okay, we’ve all heard that eating gluten-free is the way to go, but can we give up that yummy bread? You don’t have to if you’re eating at Anello’s Cafe.

Another of my favorite ‘hole in the wall’ places is this tasty little shop located right on Congress Street.

According to the owner and chef, Traci Anello, she has been creating award-winning pastries in the area for over 25 years. Her “Gluten Free Cuisine” show has been broadcast nationally on the Chef Kitchen series, and Read More...

Naan. Its What's for Dinner.

Nancy Pearson — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:41:53 +0100

Can we celebrate that fact that even in New Hampshire, we can get pre-packaged Indian food that is actually good? You may have noticed this bread in the bakery section of your market. Naan is a staple food throughout India and the far east. (More info here about the history of naan and images.)

I've only eaten it in Indian restaurants and have never made it, but I did pick up a package the last time I went food shopping. It may change my life.

Usually, I usRead More...

'2012' - A Roller-Coaster Disaster Ride

Mike Vachon — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:47:12 +0100

‘2012' is yet another entry into the ‘end of the world' genre of films. This movie sticks closely to the now familiar pattern established by predecessors such as ‘Armageddon', ‘Deep Impact', and ‘The Day After Tomorrow'. Director, Roland Emmerich, also served as producer on the latter film and other special effects laden projects such as ‘Independence Day' and '10,000 B.C.'

Magic Mushrooms

Nancy Pearson — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:32:17 +0100

Fall is upon us, and what a glorious fall we are having this year. Mild, sunny days, crisp, cool nights and produce shelves erupting with gorgeous squash, gourds, pumpkins, pomegranates and apples. Statistically, most people list fall as their favorite season. Its easy to see why; fall connotes the "hunker down," the annual nesting that we New Englanders, anyway, look forward to after a hot and humid summer (OK, back when we used to HAVE summer). In Read More...

Our DMV

The Young Curmudgeon — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:08:50 +0100

Try calling the New Hampshire DMV. The phone number: 271-2371.

If you reach a live human being, email me. I’ll send you some swag.

I spent two days fruitlessly trying to get through during normal business hours. All that ringing, yet no one picks up.

Finally, someone picked up--a recording of someone. The friendlRead More...

Wild Willy's Burgers

Royal Burger Court — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:44:31 +0100

Our intrepid band of gastronomic adventurers continue their quest to discover the area’s best burger.

Adventure the Second: Wild Willy's Burgers

Wild Willy's Burgers, 765 Route 1, York ME

All Hallow's Treat

Eryn EpiCurious — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:02:03 +0100

Halloween is almost upon us. I'm staring at my pumpkin - trying to figure out what to carve it into, and whether I'll just salt and broil the seeds again this year on a layer of aluminum or not...not. That's my decision. It just seems too boring this year. Call it a good weather high - I'm in the mood for this holiday and I want to experience something new. Martha Stewart sRead More...

Four Lovely Words

The Young Curmudgeon — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:04:46 +0100

All you can eat.

At Downtown Pizza in Portsmouth (a.k.a. the Gas Light), you can consume pizza without limits from 11:30 to 2:00 every weekday. For $7.25, choose from among five or six pizza varieties, greasy garlic sticks and a vat of gloppy mac ‘n cheese.

They throw in free soda!

There’s something so 20th centRead More...

Halloween DVD Suggestions - Trick or Treat?

Mike Vachon — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:08:55 +0100

OK, so it's that scary time of year again... no, not tax time - Halloween! Not planning on donning that Donald Trump costume again and hitting the local parties with your ghoul-friend? Here are a few of my personal favorite Halloween titles you might enjoy instead:

First up is 'The Frighteners' (1996), starring Michael J. Fox, Dee Wallace, and JoRead More...

Couples Retreat - A Really Fun Movie (Almost)

Mike Vachon — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:09:24 +0100

The Couples

‘Ah-ha!' I thought, finally a decent date movie for my better half and myself. Having done a Caribbean cruise ourselves earlier this year, I figured we would not only enjoy the promised laughs (previews have a way of setting our expectations, don't they?), but the beautiful island scenery as well. ‘Couples Retreat' is a humorous take on the practice of marriage encounter sRead More...

It Bugs Me

Cheryl Kimball — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 02:54:22 +0100

Through an odd tradition, most of the time a fluorescent light stays on above the counter at the picture window in my kitchen. At some point in the summer, I finally have to turn the light off--that point is when I wake up in the morning and the counter is totally covered with dead bugs (I have no idea why they die overnight...). The carnage is sad and disgusting. But the bugs are just incredible. In Read More...

A Tale of Two Gyms

The Young Curmudgeon — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:47:12 +0100

I’m a grudging curmudgeon. I wake up in the morning thinking, “I love people!”

Staying positive for a sec, October marks one year since I ditched an awful Portsmouth gym and joined Planet Fitness. With its low price, hard-working employees and 1,000 TVs, PF delivers. (Hey, Federal Trade Commission: I did not receivRead More...

Right up the road

Cheryl Kimball — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 10:39:45 +0100

Mount Major is a twenty-minute drive from my home. In the 16 years I have lived here, I have driven by the parking lot for the Mt. Major trails many times but I have never climbed up it. I decided that I was finally going to do that this fall as soon as there was a confluence of a crisp, clear day and a clear schedule. Yesterday was that day (ok, so I simply declared my schedule was clear).

Ye Quest Begins

Royal Burger Court — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:51:11 +0100

Earlier this year an intrepid band of gastronomic adventurers set forth on a noble quest: to discover the area’s best burger. Their backgrounds, ages, and professions vary, but all have one crucial thing in common: a burger-shaped void deep inside that calls out to be filled. Monthly they converge upon an unsuspecting resRead More...

Salt of The Earth

Eryn EpiCurious — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 03:08:19 +0100

The next time you’re planning to drive by the Southgate Plaza, don’t. Turn in. There’s an unexpected valuable mineral to be found behind the 99 Restaurant. Somewhere beyond the ongoing construction in the back parking lot is a surprisingly amazing palate-perfect gem.

“Shio” Japanese Restaurant is new. Well, new to our town that is. The owners are formerly from Moritomes in Concord, but have brought the style and seductiveness of Asian cuisine our way thankfRead More...

Surrogates - Vicariously Refreshing?

Mike Vachon — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 02:06:32 +0100

Directed by Jonathan Mostow (‘Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines', ‘Breakdown'), ‘Surrogates' has a familiar feel to it. It's sort of a cross between ‘Die Hard' and ‘I Robot'. While I liked the concept behind the story; the actual film was creeping me out a bit - the whole notion of people just lounging at home while their mechanical alter-egos step out into the real world to dRead More...

Yeah, But Does It Taste Good?

Nancy Pearson — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:59:19 +0100

Am I the only person who manages to put ON weight over the summer? Maybe it’s the ice cream, gelato and fried clams. Yeah, it probably is…So that leaves me heading into the fall season craving comfort food but having to shed a few around the middle. (And bottom, truthfully).

I have a few stand by dishes that seem to work out well, and have at least one friend who threatened bodily harm if I did not share.

Fishing for local seafood? Check out the NH Fish & Lobster Festival today!

Katie Mack — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 14:17:02 +0100

Did you miss your chance to devour delicious seafood in Hampton last weekend? You are in luck! The Prescott Park Arts Festival is hosting the NH Fish & Lobster Festival in Prescott Park today from 12-4 pm. This is a brand new event to the area and supports the local fishing industry. Admission is FREE! This “Fishival” features seafood tastings, games, music, and more. Seafood tastings will run you $3, so make sure to bring cash. For more Read More...

Blog entries