Poutine and cornbread a winning combination at New England's Tap House Grille

Always on the lookout for something new, I couldn’t help but notice a fairly new strip mall in Hooksett. After driving by several times, there was a restaurant in the distance that has been on our list to visit. Finally having some extra time on a Friday night, we decided to try New England's Tap House Grille.

Dessert before dinner at Morano Gelato in Hanover

To say that we love desserts is an understatement. Whether it is ice cream, cupcakes or a great bakery we have tried it all and think we know a thing or two about sweet treats. If a restaurant doesn't make their own desserts, we don’t bother to order anything to end the meal. One dessert that we don’t have too much experience with is the Italian ice cream known as gelato. We’ve been hearing so much about a small shop in Hanover, NH that we knew it was a destination for our latest road trip.

Molly's in Hanover not worth the wait

Located in the Upper Valley close to the Vermont border, Hanover is home to Dartmouth College, the smallest of the Ivy League schools. The green is in the heart of the campus which is truly a beautiful setting for the lucky students who call this community home.

Over the moon for Moonstones in Chelmsford, Massachusetts

Every now and then we like to venture over the border into Massachusetts where we have found some really great eats. A short ride from Nashua you will find Moonstones, a restaurant that we had tried before and knew that we had to visit again.

Fall Events: Pumpkin People 2013 with Slideshow in Jackson

As some of you know once a year we take a trip up north to see the beautiful fall foliage in the Conway,  New Hampshire area.  Food is always on the agenda and so is visiting Jackson to see the Pumpkin People. A number of local businesses compete for the best Pumpkin Person. This started 26 years ago and has become a yearly tradition for my wife and I. You can see them from October 1st  through the 20th.

If you have never visited Jackson you really should as this is one of the prettiest towns in New England. It is all there, the foliage, beautiful rivers, covered bridges and picturesque views.

So as not to spoil a trip for you we put together a slideshow from last year to give you a taste of the Pumpkin People. Be prepared to be amazed at the creativity.

Happy Hour at Pizzico Martini Bar in Nashua

The days of getting together with friends or coworkers in the afternoon for a few adult beverages is back. You need to look no further than the popularity of taverns/pubs that cater to this such as the River Road Tavern in Bedford and the British Beer Company in Manchester. And don't forget the Happy Hour that makes it easier for more restaurants and bars to join in on the fun. It is interesting to note that in Maine and New Hampshire the word Happy Hour can be used and in other states like Massachusetts it is afternoon food specials. Either way, we enjoy visiting these establishments that provide a relaxing way to chill. And let's face it, this helps the restaurant because it brings in customers during a slower part of their day.

Decent Italian food at the Chateau in Andover, Massachusetts

Located a short distance from Salem, NH, off exit 45 on I93 in North Andover MA, is the Chateau restaurant. With its large seating capacity (there are multiple rooms) and location, this is a great place to stop on your way up or down 93. We usually go for dinner but on this trip we decided on lunch. While we typically don’t like chains, we have found that the food is decent – not authentic but consistent.

NH Division of Health Services falls short on public access to restaurant inspections

With the recent Hepatitis A scare in Contoocook at the Covered Bridge Restaurant and American Legion, the focus is again on restaurant food safety.  Earlier this year according to a story by the Concord Monitor, a food service worker possibly exposed hundreds of customers to the virus and the health department was recommending Hepatitis A shots.


For those involved we feel your pain. Back in 2005 my wife and I were set to be married and about a week prior to our wedding my wife became extremely ill. For the entire week prior to our wedding I couldn't figure out what was wrong with my bride. To spare you the most graphic of details, she was violently ill, had a very high fever, and no energy. She and I both thought it was the flu. The afternoon before our wedding I noticed her jaundice eyes and I knew this was serious. We rushed her to the hospital where she was diagnosed with Hepatitis A. Luckily, she mustered up enough energy to get through the wedding the next day but our honeymoon was delayed because of her illness. In fact, it took a good three months before she was fully recovered.

Find Cronuts Here: The Bakeshop on Kelley Street in Manchester

You may remember earlier this year when I wrote about the Cronut craze in NYC and their lack of availability in New Hampshire. Well, I have great news. You can find Cronuts right here in the Granite State at the Bakeshop on Kelley Street in Manchester. The bakery is only three years old and seems to have a lot to offer. When we were driving past on a recent Saturday and saw the sign below we had to stop:

Rumor: Five Guys looking to expand in Concord

For fans of Five Guys’ fabulous hamburgers and fries there may be some good news for all those who live and/or work in the capital region. Word on the street is that they are looking at a space in Concord.

Looking forward to our next visit at El Rodeo in Concord

The wait is finally over for those in Concord who have been wondering about El Rodeo. Because this is the first new Mexican restaurant to open in this area for many years, we were excited to give them a try.

Use Oyster to help find your next road trip hotel

Has this ever happened to you? After planning your vacation you finally reach your destination to find a dirty room, miscellaneous fees, or pictures that look nothing like those shown on their website. Since you feel that your trip has been ruined and you wonder what you could have done differently? Whether you are searching hotels for a vacation, honeymoon or business there is a website that may help called Oyster. I realize there are hundreds of sites that offer reviews of hotels including Trip Advisor, Yelp, Frommer’s, Fodors, and Hotels.com to name a few. I’m not saying these should be forgotten but Oyster goes above and beyond to help you reduce the chances of a nightmare.

Dinner's finer at the Tilt'n Diner

On a cool, rainy night we found ourselves in the Tilton area and our thoughts immediately turned to comfort food. We decided to stop in at the Tilt'n Diner, a Common Man company restaurant that we have visited in the past. Since it had been several years since our last trip to the diner, I was excited to put the diner to the test. The location is ideal - just off exit 20 for those traveling north or south on I93 through New Hampshire.

Service might make you cry at How's Your Onion in Derry

After How's Your Onion opened a few years ago, we were regular visitors and appreciated the good food, service and quirky nature of the restaurant. Over the past several months our visits became less frequent because the service had declined considerably. A few weeks ago we decided to give it another try and sadly nothing has changed.