Eggnog, Beef Wellington, Yule Log, Sausage, Cheese, Caviar, Wine, Fondue, and… Presents! The holiday season is the very best time to contribute to the local food scene. Whether you are taking a family member from out of town to a local restaurant, or cooking a feast with local produce this is the time to show off the bites the Seacoast has to offer. If you were in need of a few ideas here is our Seacoast Bites list of local holiday cheer:
Syrup By The Sea -(Portsmouth, NH). Since 2012 Chris and his wife Daphne have been tapping trees and boiling maple sugar in their on-premise Sugar House. Find the tasty and beautifully packaged Syrup by the Sea at McKinnons Market, Attrezzi and Seaport Fish; all located in Portsmouth, or for a local food adventure visit their sugar house and see where the action takes place. More information: http://www.syrupbythesea.com/
Lobster Love Photo Courtsey of Craigs All Natural
Craigs All Natural “Lobster Love” (Durham, NH). Based in Durham NH, Craigs’ All Natural makes homemade lobster pies and of course Lobster Love. Lobster Love is similar to Old Bay Seasoning but a little spicier and much more versatile. This stuff is GOOD. I love it on avocados, chicken wings, and in Deviled Eggs. This is a great local gift for the seafood lover, grill master, or spice addict. https://www.facebook.com/CraigsAllNatural/
Photo Courtesy of NH Coffee
NH Coffee Roasters (Dover, NH). A local roasting company offering fair trade, organic, and flavored coffee from the best places to source coffee beans on earth. Visit their factory store in Dover off of Route 155 to see their roasting facility and have access to their entire collection. You will also find NH Coffee Roasters at Fiddlehead Farms (Dover), Tendercrop Farms (Dover), On The Vine Marketplace (Exeter), and to drink at Two Home Cooks Restaurant (Dover), Cafe Espresso (Dover and Portsmouth) and many other places around New Hampshire. http://www.nhcoffee.com/
Photo Courtesy of North Country Hard Cider
North Country Hard Cider (Rollinsford, NH). Available in bottles and growlers, North Country Hard Cider has been around for a couple years now making artisan hard cider using an old apple press in the renovated mills in Rollinsford. North Country uses local apples creating balanced and unique ciders. Try their “Cran-Barrel” or “Hopshire”, cider varieties in their beautiful tasting room. https://www.facebook.com/northcountryhardcider/
Handmade Sugar Canisters and Creamers at Nahcotta
Photo courtesy of Nahcotta
Nahcotta Art Gallery (Portsmouth, NH). Nahcotta has the most beautiful dining, decorative and unique kitchen wares around. Perfect for the eclectic foodie on your list. https://www.nahcotta.com/
Attrezzi (Portsmouth, NH). Attrezzi is known for their great wine selection and kitchen wares but also check out their cooking classes. Their cooking classes make a great gift for the person on your list looking for an activity instead of a material item. http://www.attrezzinh.com/
Photo Courtesy of NH Eat Local
Son Mat Foods Hot Sauce (Kittery, ME). Our favorite (and only!) area ramen restaurant Anju (located in Kittery Foreside) offers a line of their signature hot sauce and traditional kimchi. This hot sauce and kimchi are artfully fermented providing modern twists on traditional favorites on the local level. Available at Golden Harvest (Kittery, ME), Maine MEat (Kittery, ME), Philbricks Fresh Market (Portsmouth, NH), and Fromaggio Kitchen (Boston and Cambridge). https://www.facebook.com/Son-Mat-Foods-408506142577827/
Up next… our 12 days of Christmas; all snack food, 12 recipes, the best local bites.
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