Wednesday, August 27, 2008

A Taste of the Palate—New Hampshire style

The Palate is expanding to New Hampshire…

As I mentioned in my radio appearance, I like ice cream, particularly “soft serve”. For some of the best soft served ice cream in all the world, try “Coneheads” in Woodstock, NH. We discovered “Coneheads” about 6 years ago on vacation, and it has been a frequent stop for us whenever we are in that area. 30 plus flavors of soft serve, plus Gifford’s hard packed, for those of you so inclined. Heaven in your mouth. Like Michelob, it doesn’t get any better than this. The Junior Palateers love it!

Half Baked and Fully Brewed

Trying to find a Starbucks in the White Mountain Region is like trying to find a loincloth at a Nudist resort. This is the only area in America where the Starbucks are more than a block apart. A favored motto has always been “When in Crete, go where the Cretins go”. So, I found a place-“Half-Baked and Fully Brewed”. Not as potent as Starbucks, but, in a pinch, it’ll do.

Honestly, I do like the homey, neighborhood feel, which is slightly different than the forced familiarity of Starbucks. That’s not to say I’m rebelling from my home away from home, it’s just that when you go to a place that feels homey, because that’s the way it is, and not because the CEO in his ivory tower tells you it needs to be, it’s a pleasant surprise. And it actually smelled like fresh ground coffee!

Speaking of surprises, Chinese food in NH. As we know, when you think “gourmet Chinese food”, you have to think Woodstock, NH. Nothing says “Apres Skiing” like “Kung Pao Chicken.” I heard that after a long day on the slopes, Franz Klammer liked to warm up in the lodge with some Hot and Sour Soup.

In the past, eating Chinese food in the mountains of New Hampshire was like eating a cheeseburger bought at a gas station Cumberland Farms-you took your life in your hands. But, the Junior Palateers, not knowing any better, encouraged us to try the new “Imperial Gardens” in Woodstock, right across from Coneheads, and you know-it was good, and the bathrooms were cleaner than the House of Roy’s, so we give it four thumbs up.

There’s so little to say and so much time…strike that, reverse it. I’ll be back soon, but in the meantime, enjoy The Ozark Mountain Daredevils.

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