Kinkikali

Breakfast in Hillsborough

Breakfast has been king for years.  Since 1989 the Hortons have staked a homestead in Hillsborough.  Here is the chronology of breakfast in Hillsborough:

Millview 1: On Main Street, the muffins were homemade and available via daily trivia on the blackboard.  Cindy did the counter while  Marcia did the cooking.  Popular hangout from 1989 to 1992.

Millview 2: Same place, different owners. High rent drove out Millview 1 and Millview 2.  Millview 2 was Aaron Zipper’s baby from 1992-1995.

Lost Loon:  After a strange hiatus, Zipper came back, in Antrim with a place of his own.  His well lit little eatery had salmon on bagel (bagel with lox) as its supreme creation.  Among is help was Donny who later went to pick up after Hurricane Katrina.  The Loon was active from 1995-2001.

Brunchy’s:  Perhaps the most interesting establishment, Brunchys was right outside of Emerald Lake Village in North Hillsborough.  The stand alone shack had terrible acoustics, cheek-jowl seating, and gossip by the gallon.  Many a Saturday morning started with french toast and dirty laundry,  Once again landlord larceny drove the likes of George and Jerelle from the kitchen.  Brunchy’s ran from 2001 to 2005.

Hillsborough Diner:  Eating here was like returning to the womb.  The Diner had been the original “place” for breakfast.  But a diagreement over cigars put the Diner on the blacklist…until they were the only option left.  Chocolate cream pie helped to ease ill feelings.  The Diner pretty much carries the breakfast load for the town.  They reign currently…2005 to present.

Sushi Train “The Track”

As stated in another post, Midori was the first, original, and best sushi bar in NH.  But Midori is long gone, but many, oh so many, have come yo fill the gaps.  Here are some with commentary:

Odd Fellow Building (Nashua):  Home to a slew of in/out restaurants from 1991 to 1995.

You You (Nashua): Right by the Nashua Mall, this “fancy pants” place had more emo to it then worth relating now.

Dynamite (Hudson): A favorite of a friend, but decidedly “iffy” to me–more support for the “ugly get worse service” principle.

Kobe (Manchester): A short lived place with niddle of the road service and quality.

Taipei & Tokyo (Bedford, Portsmouth):  Introduced by the worldly Rapsis family, T & T is another middle of the road restaurant with nice locations and plenty of parking.

Sakurabana (Portsmouth): Diana, a college friend, brought me to this place when visiting her.  Very quaint location with heavy oriental decor.

Yuki (Manchester, Goffstown):  Pricey and sterile, but quality nonetheless.  Never had good mutual karma with them.

Moritomo (Concord): Replacing Week’s restauant, the Moritomo has staked claim when they were the only game in town.  Small and yet thorough–their Simka Roll is heavan with tobiko.

Red Apple (Concord): Under many names at different times, they have a sushi buffet which I have veered away from due to health reasons.  An acquaintance once commented about seeiing rats there—more like a reason to ditch a potential date. Both Moritomo and Green Apple went sushi about the same time.

Beijing & Tokyo (Concord): Around 2007 B & T set up shop in downtown Concord.  Best described a blue collar sushi bar they showed some top rate customer service during the dark days of 2007. (Also delivery came with two guys not one, delivering).

Thousand Crane (Manchester/Nashua):  When I went to work for Vision Title & Closing, LLC in 2003, I was thrilled beyond reason to find a Japanese restauant (Thousand Crane) across the street and Margaritas restaurant downstairs.  For four years T-Crane was “the place”. Following the Midori-Moritomo line T-Crane became the next “sushi home” in conjunction with Sara (see below).

Sara (Goffstown):  No longer with us, but introduced by the ubiquitous Rapsis family, this Korean-Japanese restaurant was on the way home and thus a “sushi home”.  In addition to quality sushi at excellent price, the banchan (extras) were reminiscent of the Midori.

Chen Yang Li (Bedford, Nashua, Concord): Rated as one the best Chinese restaurants in NH, CYL has high standings for the Japanese side of the menu. Had a Christmas party very recently there, nothing but good things to dsy for James and his gang. Oh, pricey, muy pricey for tuxedo service. Also THE PLACE for Manchester area sushi when Manchester had their sushi ban.

Lee & Mt. Fuji(Peterborough): Now just a few years old, this stylish retro-industrial decored restauant overlooking the falls at the Boiler House puts out a breathtaking beautiful product–pricey and far afield–the place is not to be missed, at least once.

Ichiban(Concord): This national franchise moved in to the classic landmark “Cat in the Fiddle” restaurant.  Like Tokyo Joe in Nashua and Shogun in Manchester, Ichiban does sushi.  Its trade is in teppanyaki–the grill before your eyes technique.  Whereas Moritomo has a modest four tables, Ichiban has dozens.  Ichiban does have a quiet room without the song and dance of teppanyaki.

Ginger House (Antrim): A lament of living in Hillsborough has been the distance to sushi restauants.  Ginger House opemed in November of 2009, not next door, but at the town next door.  In many ways, Ginger House is the typical rural Chinese chop joint—yet it has sushi and sashimi—and a motivated, cheery staff, bubbling with enthussiasm.  Ginger House has made the penetration to the deep rural and for that alone they get applause.

Sushi Through the Years

Back in the 1960’s I was growing up and found the flavors (and decor) of Chinese restaurants to be exotic and alluring.  On April 10, 1983 I went on a “field trip” from UNH for a Japanese language class.  We went to Midori in Amherst on a wet and rainy Saturday.  Midori ,at the time, was the one and only Japanese restaurant in NH (Manchester had even banned raw fish!).  From that point I was “hooked” into sushi–fresh, tasty, and at the time inexpensive.  Since then I have had sushi and sashimi in the states, Costa Rica, Canada,  Japan, and China.

Below and in the future, I will relate my sushi travels on the blog.

Midori:  The first, the best, the classic.  Run by Mr and Mrs Lee (He Chinese, She Japanese) from 1980 to 2000, the food was always fresh and ALWAYS open.  The portions were grand and meals included (gratis):

Salad with ginger dressing

Soybean salad with sesame seeds and soy sauce

Octopus salad with raw octopus pieces, cucumbers and soy sauce

Miso Soup

Rice Crackers

Frpm 1997-2000 I was there almost every Sunday night.  Ran into the Morses from Hillsborough there.  The Lee’s helped me with a bi-lingual business card.   The Lee’s retired in 2000 and moved to Florida.  Mrs. Lee soon after died of cancer and Mr. Lee movied back here and set up a restaurant in Brookline.  I once tried to find it—but to no avail.

Otis

Otis Spunkmeyer–fundraising with a thrill for your taste buds.  Yes, the cookie master for the public education world. Where once there was just Girl Scouts and Their Cookies, there is now Otis Spunk.  Hillsborough must have had a fleet of 18 wheelers drop off the dough (oh to have seen that scene).

The cookies are pre-cut, just drop and heat. 40 minutes and a locked door (to keep the little grubby hands away until you’ve secured the finished product in a “secure location”) will make you a true Cookiemeister.

Shipyard Chamberlin Pale Ale (Beer)

Beer bottles usually don’t make good history teachers, but Shipyard Brewery out of Portland Maine is an exception.  Joshua L. Chamberlin, the mug face on the bottle, is a well known hero of the Civil War. He fought against Gen. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia from 1862 to 1865–Antietam to Appomattox. He and his Maine boys are best known for their stand at Gettysburg.  Shipyard has celebrated this Civil War celebrity by putting out a pale ale with his name on it.  The beer is tasty and flavorful, just hinting of fruit.  The body is medium with a blue collar aftertaste.  Best matched with a burger or brauts–it has an appeal just on its face–yes Joshua Chamberlin.  Oh to travel back in time with a case of Chamberlin. Now that’s messing with history.

Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout (Mature)

Back in the early 1980s when I was just getting used to being “of age” for drinking adult beverages, I had just discovered Guinness Stout and felt pretty worldly. My Mom came back from England (vacation) with a bottle of Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout.  I was so impressed with the classy Olde English style label.  The taste, heartier than the Guinness.  Now, nearly 30 years later, I brought s bottle recently.  The taste and flavor seemed flat.  Might have been my age and maybe Sam Smith has changed, been awhile I guess.  At a pint, the bottle has immaculate British credentials.

Holy Grail Ale

This is the first beer review.  I put this in the adult/mature category simply for the drinking age issue.  Responsibility matters here.

First a plug for Barb’s Beer Emporiumin Concord NH. They specialize in a diverse selection of beers. Sold individually or the more popular six mix pack.  So those who like variety vs. quantity, rack em’ up.

Another note, I was late in getting into drinking.  Even at college where beer and such was cheap, easy and come 1984, legal, I could not get into it.  Even having a brother a Frat Prez could not convert me.  Of course most beer was lager, soda with a hangover. I’ll pass.

Things turned differently in Costa Rica, Peace Corps country.  Beer drinking was practical, official, part of the job description and better than the water.

Since then I have enjoyed drinking for the taste, flavor, the unique character.

Monty Python’s Holy Grail Ale joins that line-up. The bottle labeling is typical Python–snide, cutesy, in your face smart alacky.

This Black Sheep Brewery ale (“tempered with witches”) is fruity, slightly acid yet well balanced.  I found the ale refreshing without being heavy.  Much like the troupe, this ale has plenty to offer with the Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam.

“Angry!” at Burger King

I go to Burger King (in Concord, NH) once in a while.  I am particular to their breakfast menu.  But one can’t help noticing their paper place mats. 

The last trip I noticed they were on a “C’mon Get Angry!” campaign.  They pushed the “Angry!” onions and “Angry!” sauce for Whopper, Tendercrisp and Chicken Sandwiches.  Fair enough I guess.  But “Angry!”–isn’t there enough anger in the air.  Advertise, by all means.  But Angry!–yeah I am not hip, not even close.  But I’d suggest “royal”, “rockin”, “spicy as your tastes”.  Just don’t be—Angry! Please.

Market Daze

Food shopping has always been a fun adventure for me.  For many years I lived in Nashua NH where choices included the tiny Kirkpatricks (aka Pascallys), the venerable Jeanottes, and the slightly more stylish Jean’s.  21st Century was the downtown market of choice. Soucy’s was further afield, but a landmark nonetheless. Across the highway was Alexander’s–a SUPER market by any stretch, even in the late 70’s.  Then came college, India, and the Peace Corps. By the early there were the Big Three.  No matter where I have moved in NH, the Three were yje ones to choose from.  Here is how they rate:

Market Basket:  Located everywhere but near me (their worst fault).  The selection is basic, the service is old world courteous (ties and blue coats); they among all still offer free coffee to customers; and MB has the lowest prices hands down. I love them for who they are and what they are not–basic, blue collar, best value.

Shaws:  Between Market Basket and Hannaford sits Shaws.  The selection is wider and with a white collar feel.  Pricing is decidedly more steep.  But guess whos local–Shaws.  Thus the dilemma–drive far for MB or stay close with Shaws? Shaws does have services and their groceries for gas gets my vote (Kudos for Irving Oil).  They also have nice coupon programs.

Hannaford (formerly Alexanders): These people know how to be sophisticated.  Selection can’t be beat.  They have stuff and at prices making Shaws (in general) a bargain.  I used to visit Hannaford in emergencies and for “can’t find elsewhere” things. Happily Hannaford pulled a great one.  As an uninsured I was facing $$$ medication costs.  Osco at Shaws was no help.  But my doctor suggested Hannaford.  For a low annual fee I get meds at a most reasonable rate.  Hannaford figures the program brings in potential shoppers.  I’ll give em that.  I’ll even give em my business.  I may not be a regular, but I do need to eat so I can find enough for a bagful.

There are other markets: Vista, Trader Joes, and Price Chopper  in the Upper Valley.  Goffstown has Sully’s.  Washington DC had Safeways, while Vizag had Karachi-walla.  Costa Rica had tiendas.

Cinnamon Condiment Upgrade

For the last six months I have been taking my breakfast at the Hillsborough Diner with cinnamon. It had always been an extra like extra coffee or salt, sugar, etc.  But today I saw the bill was higher the usual.  Could it be the upgraded chairs that arrived last week?  Nope. Now cinnamon has a price point—$.50.  Well recession is here to stay.  Too bad, worse times are ahead.