BEYOND THE PLATE WITH CAROL

He helps run a Facebook community of 212,000 people who love food in New Hampshire. He is a truck driver by day. He organized the food trucks at Granite State Comic-Con. He flew to New Zealand in 2024 for a budget endurance car race -- and got sent to the penalty box.Jason Hopkins is one of the admins and moderators of New Hampshire Eats, one of the largest food communities in the state. Carol sat down with him at her original Red Arrow Diner on Lowell Street in Manchester -- the first At the Plate episode filmed here -- and they talked for over an hour about food, community, racing, and what it really means to build something that belongs to everybody.In this episode:• Why Jason picked the Red Arrow Diner -- and what he looks for in any restaurant (hint: it's the nose, not the eyes)• The inside story of how Phil Meyer cold-DM'd Jason out of nowhere and NH Eats went from 10K to 212K members• The Halal Kitchen post that brought out the best of the NH Eats community -- and a few of the worst• The New Zealand trip: arriving at 5:30am, a borrowed $500 race car, and a house that was a literal toy museum• What Jason actually does as a moderator -- and why banning someone is always the last resort• The Nourish New England Christmas Market -- 15,000 people, snow, and a box truck full of playhouse pieces• Lightning round: Tucker's, Big Dave's Bagels, Littleton Diner, 581 North Portsmouth, and moreFind New Hampshire Eats on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/nheatsFind Nourish New England: nourishne.orgFind Jason on Facebook: facebook.com/lemons.lounge.guy📍 Red Arrow Diner -- Original Manchester Location61 Lowell Street, Manchester, NHOpen 24 hours a day, 7 days a weekredarrowdiner.com🔔 New At the Plate episodes drop on Thursdays -- hit SUBSCRIBE and turn on notifications so you never miss one!👇 Follow Beyond the Plate everywhere:YouTube: youtube.com/@beyondtheplatewithcarolInstagram: @beyondtheplatenhFacebook: Beyond the Plate NHTikTok: @nhbeyondtheplateSpotify: Search "Beyond the Plate with Carol"This episode is sponsored by Red Arrow Diner.4 NH locations: Manchester, Concord, Londonderry, and Nashua -- open 24/7.redarrowdiner.com | Instagram: @redarrow24diner | Facebook: Red Arrow Diner---ABOUT BEYOND THE PLATE WITH CAROLCarol Erickson, owner of Red Arrow Diner since 1987, sits down with the people behind New Hampshire's food and hospitality scene. It's not just about the food -- it's about the journeys, the community, and what drives people to go beyond.📍 Red Arrow Diner -- 4 NH locations, open 24/7🔗 redarrowdiner.comFollow Beyond the Plate:Instagram: @beyondtheplatenh | TikTok: @nhbeyondtheplate | Facebook: Beyond the Plate NH | YouTube: @beyondtheplatewithcarolFollow Carol: Instagram @carolsew24🔗 linktr.ee/BeyondtheplateNHFollow Red Arrow Diner: Instagram @redarrow24diner | Facebook: Red Arrow DinerTIMESTAMPS• 0:00 -- Intro• [~1:30] -- Why Jason chose the Red Arrow• [~3:00] -- What is New Hampshire Eats?• [~5:00] -- 212K members -- the growth story• [~6:30] -- What makes NH Eats special• [~8:30] -- Carol uses NH Eats when she travels• [~9:30] -- The Halal Kitchen post and community reaction• [~11:30] -- What catches his attention in a restaurant (the nose test) 😂• [~12:30] -- Sketchier the neighborhood, the better the tacos 😂• [~13:30] -- Alibaba Aftermath -- Manchester's hidden gem• [~15:00] -- NH overshadowed by Boston -- but the food scene is changing• [~17:00] -- Daily comics -- started during the pandemic• [~18:00] -- Jason orders pork pie at the Red Arrow• [~20:00] -- Robin the longtime Red Arrow server• [~22:00] -- How Phil recruited Jason from Merrimack Valley Eats• [~24:00] -- Dancing Lion -- the foodie awakening in 2012• [~26:30] -- Day job: truck driver for Nor Eastern Sheet Metal• [~28:00] -- Go-to spots in Gofftown and Concord• [~30:00] -- Granite State Comic-Con and the food truck connection• [~33:00] -- Jason's moderator lane -- banning as a last resort• [~35:00] -- Nourish New England and the Christmas Market• [~37:00] -- Tribute to Scott Rant• [~39:00] -- Lemons Facebook handle explained -- $500 race cars• [~41:00] -- New Zealand trip -- flying for a race• [~43:30] -- New Zealand food culture -- meat pies and Burger Fuel 😂• [~46:00] -- Jason's foodie origin story -- growing up in Bow• [~48:30] -- Long haul trucking and exposure to food across the country• [~51:00] -- Lightning Round• [~53:00] -- Best NH meal nobody's talking about -- 581 North Portsmouth• [~54:00] -- Penalty box -- first and only race 😂• [~55:00] -- Who else in NH does breakfast right?• [~57:00] -- Closing

In 2017, Carol Erickson had a heart attack at her home in New Boston, New Hampshire. The firefighters who showed up that morning saved her life. One of them was Bill Mortimer -- and he's our guest today.Bill is a Firefighter and AEMT at Hudson Fire Department in Hudson, NH. You may have seen him on NH Chronicle making smash burgers for his crew. But there's a story behind why Carol really wanted to get him on Beyond the Plate -- and in this episode, we get into all of it.In this episode:• Bill tells his side of Carol's 2017 heart attack call -- the STEMI reading, the IV in her foot, the moment he wouldn't let her say no• What firehouse cooking actually looks like -- crockpots after brutal shifts, the alarm going off mid-stir fry, Deputy Chief O'Brien's smash burger plate trick• Carol and Bill on women's heart attack symptoms -- why they present differently and why "know your normal" could save your life• What readiness really means in the fire service -- and why a fire department with fewer fires doesn't need fewer firefighters• The real story behind the NH Chronicle smash burger segment -- and why things taste better when they're made with loveHudson Fire Department | Hudson, NHhudsonnh.gov | Facebook: Hudson N.H. Fire Department | 603-886-6021Subscribe to Beyond the Plate with Carol on YouTube so you never miss an episode. New episodes drop every Tuesday.Follow us on Instagram @beyondtheplatenh | Facebook: beyondtheplatenh | TikTok @nhbeyondtheplateLike this video and leave a comment -- it helps more people find the show.All links: linktr.ee/BeyondtheplateNH---This episode is sponsored by Red Arrow Diner.4 NH locations: Manchester, Concord, Londonderry, and Nashua -- open 24/7.redarrowdiner.com | Instagram: @redarrow24diner | Facebook: RedArrowDiner---ABOUT BEYOND THE PLATE WITH CAROLCarol Erickson, owner of Red Arrow Diner since 1987, sits down with the people behind New Hampshire's food and hospitality scene. It's not just about the food -- it's about the journeys, the community, and what drives people to go beyond.Follow Beyond the Plate -- find us everywhere: linktr.ee/BeyondtheplateNHFollow Carol: Instagram @carolsew240:00 - Intro0:28 - Carol saw Bill on Chronicle0:48 - First call response1:28 - How 911 dispatch works2:14 - A day in the firehouse2:35 - AEMT explained5:40 - Finding balance on shift6:23 - 12 people per shift9:13 - The firehouse bond10:38 - How Bill became the station chef11:18 - Coming home to a crockpot 🙌12:21 - Katrina coffee story14:38 - Root beer pulled pork blizzard story16:07 - How Chronicle came together16:59 - "Things taste better when made with love"19:34 - Alarm goes off mid-cook 😂20:56 - "We are firefighters, not cooks"22:24 - Deputy Chief O'Brien's plate trick26:39 - NH's only two 24/7 kitchens28:27 - Mental wellness in the fire service29:45 - Red Arrow Diner sponsorship29:53 - AEMT vs EMT vs Paramedic32:20 - Carol reveals she knows Bill33:17 - The heart attack: that morning34:08 - Bill takes over the story36:44 - "I got that IV in your foot"38:29 - "If Daryl hadn't overslept..."39:01 - Carol thanks Bill39:35 - Women's heart attack symptoms41:17 - "Know your normal"43:37 - Does the firehouse have a real fire pole? 😂45:33 - Serving your community46:05 - Car seat expiration dates47:43 - Smoke & CO detectors49:07 - Always call 911 -- never voicemail55:43 - What people don't hear about first responders57:39 - Fire prevention = risk reduction58:43 - Manchester Taco Tour1:00:28 - Best places to eat in Manchester1:03:08 - Lightning round1:05:15 - Most rewarding part of the job1:06:08 - History of the fire pole 🐴1:07:00 - Outro

Carol brought At the Plate all the way to Greece for this one -- recorded on the back of a 52-ft sailing yacht named Baron, at the end of a 7-day charter through the Greek islands with Yachtsailing.com.In this episode, Carol sits down with the two people who made the whole trip unforgettable: Chef Dimitri, who left traditional restaurant kitchens behind for life cooking on the water, and Captain Theo, who's been sailing since he was a kid in a sea scout dinghy.We talk about:• Why Dimitri's own father told him becoming a chef was “the worst mistake of your life”• Cooking gourmet meals out of a kitchen the size of a closet• The lemon trade between boats when you run out of an ingredient mid-charter• Dimitri's grandmother's stuffed tomato recipe -- and why he eats it cold from the fridge• Theo's nerve-wracking first charter as captain at 22• A full Greek-island-themed lightning roundThis episode is part of our At the Plate series -- Carol experiencing food and hospitality on location, beyond the studio walls.Yachtsailing.com -- Crewed Catamaran Charters in Greeceyachtsailing.com | Instagram: @yachtsailing.grNew episodes of Beyond the Plate with Carol every Tuesday -- with At the Plate episodes dropping Thursdays. Subscribe on YouTube, follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and like, comment, and share to help the show grow.This episode is sponsored by Red Arrow Diner.4 NH locations: Manchester, Concord, Londonderry, and Nashua -- open 24/7.redarrowdiner.com | Instagram: @redarrow24diner | Facebook: Red Arrow DinerABOUT BEYOND THE PLATE WITH CAROLCarol Erickson, owner of Red Arrow Diner since 1987, sits down with the people behind New Hampshire's food and hospitality scene. It's not just about the food -- it's about the journeys, the community, and what drives people to go beyond.Follow Beyond the Plate -- find us everywhere: linktr.ee/BeyondtheplateNHFollow Carol: Instagram @carolsew24Timestamps• 0:00 - Intro -- At the Plate goes to Greece• 0:26 - Why bring the show to a Greek yacht• 0:51 - How Dimitri became a chef• 1:39 - Arguing with his father that first summer• 2:21 - “The worst mistake of your life”• 3:22 - Finding his footing in the kitchen• 5:17 - A different view every morning at sea• 6:04 - The kitchen is smaller than you think• 8:39 - Most memorable charters• 9:42 - Running out of an ingredient mid-trip• 10:22 - The maple syrup from Vermont surprise• 10:34 - Trading lemons between boats 😄• 13:08 - The two secrets to his cooking• 14:06 - Grandmother's stuffed tomatoes• 15:33 - Easy tzatziki recipe• 16:18 - What he hopes guests remember• 17:11 - Captain Theo joins• 17:20 - Starting out as a sea scout• 20:00 - His first charter as captain• 23:06 - Cyclades vs. Saronic islands• 24:51 - Most beautiful anchorage of the trip• 26:03 - The chef and captain team dynamic• 28:35 - Lightning Round• 31:09 - Closing Question

He played 8,000 shows in Las Vegas. Won 27 Emmys. Built a kindness empire. And now he's in the burger business -- and he's only 6 months in.In Episode 57 of Beyond the Plate with Carol, Carol Erickson sits down with Justin Spencer -- founder of Recycled Percussion, creator of the Emmy Award-winning Chaos & Kindness TV series, and co-owner of the fast-growing NH smash burger concept BAD BRGR. What starts as a conversation about burgers turns into one of the most raw, funny, and deeply honest episodes we have ever recorded.What you'll hear in this episode:-- How Justin went from a trailer park in Goffstown, NH to the Las Vegas Strip and why he says kindness became his "drug of choice"-- Why he stayed completely incognito as a BAD BRGR owner for 6 months before he would put his name on it -- and what finally convinced him-- What the BAD BRGR experience actually looks like: free candy for kids, free video games, live music stages, and every customer gets Justin's personal phone number-- The brutal honest truth about restaurant margins -- "at the end of the month you go, wow, we made 400 bucks"-- The gratitude alarm that fired live on camera mid-conversation -- and what Justin said he was most thankful for-- Plus: 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days, hiding $10,000 somewhere in New Hampshire the day of this recording, and a bathroom mannequin story you will not forget📍 BAD BRGR -- badbrgr.comManchester -- 1015 Elm StreetManchester -- Mall of New HampshireRochester -- 195 Wakefield Street, Lilac PlazaNashua -- Pheasant Lane Mall (opening June 2026)Instagram: @bad_brgr | Facebook: BAD BRGRSubscribe to Beyond the Plate with Carol on YouTube -- new episodes every Tuesday. 🔔Follow us on Instagram and Facebook: @beyondtheplatenhLike, comment, and share if this episode gave you something.Find us everywhere: linktr.ee/BeyondtheplateNH________________________________________This episode is sponsored by Red Arrow Diner.4 NH locations: Manchester, Concord, Londonderry, and Nashua -- open 24/7.redarrowdiner.com | Instagram: @redarrow24diner | Facebook: Red Arrow Diner________________________________________ABOUT BEYOND THE PLATE WITH CAROLCarol Erickson, owner of Red Arrow Diner since 1987, sits down with the people behind New Hampshire's food and hospitality scene. It's not just about the food -- it's about the journeys, the community, and what drives people to go beyond.Follow Beyond the Plate -- find us everywhere: linktr.ee/BeyondtheplateNHFollow Carol: Instagram @carolsew24________________________________________TIMESTAMPS0:00 - Intro0:58 - Who is Justin Spencer?1:26 - Raised in a trailer park / broken home2:31 - Recycled Percussion: the origin (1995)2:52 - America's Got Talent & 10 years in Las Vegas4:19 - "My drug of choice was kindness"5:02 - Chaos & Kindness: 150+ episodes, never paid a dime6:44 - Elliot Tatleman / Jordan's Furniture connection7:34 - The $100K investment that changed everything9:05 - At 49 -- what do I want to build next?11:05 - Ian and the origin of BAD BRGR12:22 - Walking through the BAD BRGR experience13:13 - Free candy, video games, and the customer obsession 😄13:44 - Every customer gets Justin's personal phone number16:52 - The brutal truth about restaurant margins 😄18:56 - Carol weave-in: 39 years at the Red Arrow22:26 - The gratitude alarm goes off LIVE on camera23:03 - "I'll take love 11 days out of 10 over money"25:21 - 6 months as a silent investor26:30 - "What account?" -- The incognito owner moment 😄32:22 - Rochester out-earns both Manchester locations combined35:29 - 7 marathons, 7 continents, 7 days38:20 - Hiding $10,000 somewhere in NH today 😄42:04 - Jimmy Love and Davin44:54 - Moe the Mug goes to a wedding49:48 - Meet Billy Bad Burger: Justin's alter ego51:12 - ⚡ Lightning Round55:06 - NH hospitality story: the $100 gift card58:14 - Closing

She moderates a 188,000-member food community. She runs the financials for a nonprofit fighting hunger in New Hampshire. She's a CPA who spent years baking custom cakes out of her London apartment and learning everything from YouTube. And she does all of it as a volunteer -- because she loves New Hampshire and the people in it.In Episode 58, Carol Erickson sits down with Michaela Herrholz -- moderator for the New Hampshire Eats Facebook group and volunteer CFO/COO of Nourish New England -- over lunch at 90 Low in Concord. This one is unfiltered, funny, and genuinely surprising.In this episode:-- What it actually takes to moderate a 188,000-person online community (and why it's harder than you think)-- The real story behind NH Eats cracking down on negativity -- and the term "dog piling" you need to know-- How NH Eats has changed the way people discover restaurants in New Hampshire (Carol finds out about an East Side Manchester gem she's never heard of -- after living there her whole life)-- The nonprofit Michaela helped build from scratch: Nourish New England and what food insecurity actually looks like on the ground-- Plus: Carol's own story from 18 years ago that changed how she sees hunger in this stateAnd yes -- Michaela confirmed on camera. NH Eats moderators are not paid. Not one of them.90 Low90 Low Ave, Concord, NH 0330190low.comNew Hampshire EatsSearch "New Hampshire Eats" on Facebook188,000+ members | Free to joinNourish New Englandnourishnewengland.comFighting food insecurity through food and community events across NHSubscribe to Beyond the Plate with Carol on YouTube so you never miss an episode -- new episodes every Tuesday. 🔔Follow us on Instagram: @beyondtheplatenhFollow us on Facebook: Beyond the Plate NHLike, comment, and share -- it means everything to this show and helps more people find it.Find us everywhere: linktr.ee/BeyondtheplateNHThis episode is sponsored by Red Arrow Diner.4 NH locations: Manchester, Concord, Londonderry, and Nashua -- open 24/7.redarrowdiner.com | Instagram: @redarrow24diner | Facebook: Red Arrow DinerABOUT BEYOND THE PLATE WITH CAROLCarol Erickson, owner of Red Arrow Diner since 1987, sits down with the people behind New Hampshire's food and hospitality scene. It's not just about the food -- it's about the journeys, the community, and what drives people to go beyond.Follow Beyond the Plate -- find us everywhere: linktr.ee/BeyondtheplateNHFollow Carol: Instagram @carolsew24Timestamps0:00 - Intro0:44 - Welcome to 90 Low, Concord1:46 - The blackberry mule mocktail4:01 - Have you always been a food person?4:21 - Two amazing cooks: mom and stepmom5:58 - London cottage bakery days8:46 - Joining NH Eats as a regular member9:16 - Phil reached out to moderate10:07 - 188,000 members and counting10:52 - What moderating actually looks like12:33 - Cracking down on negativity13:04 - "Dog piling" explained 😂14:03 - The hard part: saying goodbye to members18:31 - East Side Grill -- the Manchester hidden gem21:07 - Meet the family22:06 - CPA -- but not the tax kind 😂24:57 - Nourish New England30:44 - Carol's Red Arrow and the NH Food Bank33:54 - Moderating on lunch breaks38:01 - Using NH Eats to pick where to eat42:05 - Lightning Round44:21 - Her Red Arrow order: chicken tenders46:33 - Botanica Portsmouth -- converted by gin48:36 - "We are not paid" -- confirmed on camera49:26 - Closing

She started Manchester Craft Market with 17 cents in her pocket -- literally. Today, Jessica Moores runs a marketplace for 307 local makers inside the Mall of New Hampshire, and on this episode of Beyond the Plate with Carol, she's telling Carol Erickson the whole story.From picking things up off the side of the road to pay for her kids' clothes, to a strict anti-AI policy protecting local artists, to the 2020 story that somehow turned into their first million-dollar year -- this conversation covers all of it.In this episode:• How Manchester Craft Market grew from 20 makers in an empty storefront to 307 New England artisans• Jessica's anti-AI policy and how she protects human-made art in her store• The 2020 pandemic pivot -- waived vendor fees, weekly Facebook Live Sales, and a record year• A walk through all 16 aisles -- including the most unusual thing ever sold there (hint: it involves taxidermy)• Carol shares her own small business story, plus Jessica's lightning round answers about the Red ArrowLocation & LinksManchester Craft MarketMall of New Hampshire, Manchester, NHmanchestercraftmarket.comFollow Beyond the PlateSubscribe on YouTube, follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and like, comment, and share this episode with someone who loves shopping local. New episodes of Beyond the Plate with Carol drop every Tuesday!SponsorshipThis episode is sponsored by Red Arrow Diner.4 NH locations: Manchester, Concord, Londonderry, and Nashua -- open 24/7.redarrowdiner.com | Instagram: @redarrow24diner | Facebook: Red Arrow DinerAbout Beyond the Plate with CarolCarol Erickson, owner of Red Arrow Diner since 1987, sits down with the people behind New Hampshire's food and hospitality scene. It's not just about the food -- it's about the journeys, the community, and what drives people to go beyond.Follow Beyond the Plate -- find us everywhere: linktr.ee/BeyondtheplateNHFollow Carol: Instagram @carolsew24TIMESTAMPS0:00 -- Intro0:00:22 -- Meet Jessica Moores0:00:51 -- Started with 17 cents0:01:42 -- The mall walk that started it all0:02:22 -- From tables to renting shelves0:03:08 -- The old pet store & Chronicle0:03:39 -- 20 makers to over 3000:04:33 -- Building a system, not a store0:05:51 -- The hardest part: telling makers no0:06:40 -- 400 customers the next day0:07:40 -- Sewing, stained glass & crochet classes 😂0:10:07 -- A walk through the store0:12:25 -- Her strict anti-AI policy0:13:59 -- December sales = Jan-Nov combined0:15:06 -- 2020: crying for two weeks0:16:33 -- Their first million-dollar year0:17:25 -- Showing up for Nourish New England0:19:17 -- From Justice to building her own thing0:22:24 -- Carol shares her own small business story0:25:00 -- "Look at me" on small business0:26:02 -- Fighting 6 months for her spot0:28:05 -- Shop online -- 15,000 items0:30:15 -- Weirdest thing ever sold 😂0:31:09 -- Lightning Round 😂0:36:04 -- Closing thoughts & what's next

They quit their jobs -- one of them literally two days before we sat down together -- to run a BBQ food truck full time. Nick and Ben of Sigs Kitchen BBQ out of Fremont, New Hampshire are two brothers who turned a pandemic cooking hobby, a gaming username, and a leap of faith taken in memory of their mom into one of the most talked-about food trucks in New Hampshire right now.In this episode, we get into all of it:• Where the name "Sigs" actually comes from -- a gaming alias, a firearms manufacturer near Nick's house, and a skull-and-crossbones Discord logo nobody expected to see on a food truck• How their mom's love of pigs ended up permanently on the back of the truck -- and why BBQ felt like the right way to honor her• The wing competition they entered just to get their name out -- and accidentally won• What it really looks like running a BBQ business with your brother -- the good, the disagreements, and why it took longer to name the truck than to pick out the trailer• The olive potato salad customer who ate two servings of a food he hates, their home base in Methuen Mass, and why their award-winning habanero jerk wings are outselling everything in MassachusettsThis is the kind of episode that is Beyond the Plate all the way.FIND SIGS KITCHEN BBQ:• Facebook: Sigs Kitchen (their main platform -- follow for weekly schedule)• Instagram: @sigskitchenllc• TikTok: @sigs.kitchen• Home base: 224 East Street, Methuen, MA -- Thursday through Sunday when not on the road• Events booked April through October 2025 -- check Facebook for weekly locationsSUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW BEYOND THE PLATEFind us everywhere: linktr.ee/BeyondtheplateNHNew episodes every Tuesday -- hit the bell so you never miss one 🔔SPONSORSHIP:This episode is sponsored by Red Arrow Diner.4 NH locations: Manchester, Concord, Londonderry, and Nashua -- open 24/7.redarrowdiner.com | Instagram: @redarrow24diner | Facebook: Red Arrow DinerABOUT BEYOND THE PLATE WITH CAROL:Carol Erickson, owner of Red Arrow Diner since 1987, sits down with the people behind New England's food and hospitality scene. It's not just about the food -- it's about the journeys, the community, and what drives people to go beyond.Follow Beyond the Plate -- find us everywhere: linktr.ee/BeyondtheplateNHFollow Carol: Instagram @carolsew24TIMESTAMPS0:00 - Intro0:11 - Welcome: two brothers show up in Sigs Kitchen gear1:13 - Find them on socials1:29 - Life right now at Sigs Kitchen: chaotic. Good chaotic.2:00 - Before the truck: 20 years retail, 15 years fabrication2:27 - A pandemic, a smoker, and a YouTube channel begin4:45 - Mom passed -- and the leap of faith changed everything5:09 - Custom trailer built in Georgia -- 8x20 with smoker on the back6:18 - Officially full-time food truck owners (last day: two days ago)6:30 - Where does "Sigs" come from?8:35 - Why BBQ -- and the pig tribute on the back of the truck10:37 - The wing competition they didn't think they'd win11:29 - "You guys don't think you're as big as you really are"14:37 - The smoker IS on the truck -- pellet vs. stick debate16:42 - Carol's Red Arrow consistency weave-in17:53 - "We fight a lot -- but that's what brothers do" 😂18:02 - Half Dominican, half Italian -- two different roads, one truck19:50 - Real business disagreements: the great name debate 😂26:22 - Walk up to the truck -- full menu breakdown28:27 - The brisket melt: their top-selling sandwich by far32:27 - The olive potato salad customer 😂34:08 - How a rain-soaked Taco Tour led to NH ComicCon38:22 - 332,000 Facebook views in 90 days40:32 - NH vs. Massachusetts: wings sell twice as fast in Mass44:31 - "We bought a new truck yesterday"46:51 - Home base: 224 East Street, Methuen MA -- Thu-Sun55:42 - They sold rubs before they even had the truck56:54 - $3k in rubs at Christmas -- shipped across the US58:46 - ⚡ LIGHTNING ROUND1:01:33 - Booth or counter: Mission Impossible 😂1:01:45 - Red Arrow at 2am -- three very different answers1:02:05 - They have an actual theme song1:02:44 - One word. Sigs Kitchen. Five years from now.1:03:47 - "We set out in remembrance of our mother"

When Phil Meyer first got online during the COVID lockdowns, he found people trashing New Hampshire food. His response? Prove them wrong. That mission -- plus a conversation that happened right here at Cask and Vine in Derry -- turned into New Hampshire Eats, a Facebook group now 200,000 members strong.Carol sits down with Phil at Cask and Vine for one of our At the Plate episodes -- out of the studio and right inside one of NH's favorite spots. In this episode:• How NH Eats grew from 4,000 to 200,000 members and why the no-negativity rule was everything• The full circle moment: the original founder handed Phil the group right here at Cask & Vine• How Nourish New England was born from COVID conversations and what it is doing for food insecurity in NH• The NH World Christmas Market -- 80 vendors, 12,000 people, all volunteers• "NH Eats is not just for reviews" -- Phil on what it is really for• And yes -- Phil is a HUGE Red Arrow Diner fan 🍳Find Nourish New England: nourishne.orgFind NH Eats: search "New Hampshire Eats" on FacebookCask & Vine: caskandvine.com | 1 East Broadway, Derry NHNOTE: Carol misstated the website as "nourishnh.org" during the outro. The correct website is nourishne.org -- see pinned comment below.Subscribe to Beyond the Plate with Carol on YouTube 🔔Follow us on Instagram and Facebook: @beyondtheplatenhNew episodes every Tuesday -- find us everywhere: linktr.ee/BeyondtheplateNHThis episode is sponsored by Red Arrow Diner.4 NH locations: Manchester, Concord, Londonderry, and Nashua -- open 24/7.redarrowdiner.com | Instagram: @redarrow24diner | Facebook: Red Arrow DinerABOUT BEYOND THE PLATE WITH CAROLCarol Erickson, owner of Red Arrow Diner since 1987, sits down with the people behind New Hampshire's food and hospitality scene. It's not just about the food -- it's about the journeys, the community, and what drives people to go beyond.Follow Beyond the Plate -- find us everywhere: linktr.ee/BeyondtheplateNHFollow Carol: Instagram @carolsew24TIMESTAMPS -0:00 -- Intro + Carol at Cask & Vine0:57 -- Phil intro + NH Eats hits 200,000 members1:17 -- The full Eats network (New England Eats, RI Eats, Maine Eats, Vermont Eats)2:33 -- COVID lockdowns origin story3:41 -- "I set out to prove people wrong about NH food"3:58 -- The Cask & Vine handover story -- it happened right here4:30 -- Why Phil chose this place + Cask & Vine history5:14 -- Winery, distillery, brewery -- Cask & Vine does it all5:50 -- Server Zoe + drink orders 😄6:02 -- Phil's old-fashioned has a story behind it12:02 -- The no-negativity rule -- why it matters for NH restaurants15:31 -- Why NH Eats goes hard for small businesses33:11 -- "This is just volunteers" -- the Nourish New England team38:02 -- Phil reveals he is a HUGE Red Arrow Diner fan 🍳38:14 -- How Nourish New England got started39:17 -- What food insecurity actually looks like in New Hampshire42:49 -- The NH World Christmas Market origin story1:07:08 -- Poutine Fest and what's coming up for NNE1:17:57 -- Lightning round ⚡1:35:03 -- Phil is a super taster -- the maple syrup story 😄1:35:34 -- Anything we didn't cover?1:36:53 -- "NH Eats is not just for reviews" -- what it's really for1:37:24 -- "You get more with honey than you do with salt"1:37:40 -- Phil thanks the Beyond the Plate community1:38:22 -- Phil wants to come back for more episodes

He built three of Manchester's most talked-about spots from scratch -- and now he's opening a fourth. Dan Haggerty, co-owner of Industry East, Stashbox, and Moka Pot, sits down with Carol Erickson to talk about how a dishwasher at 14 ended up building one of the most creative small business empires in downtown Manchester.In this episode:• The traveling mixology business that became Industry East -- and how it almost looked completely different• The hot dog that saved the liquor license (and became their most iconic menu item)• Why a cocktail guy decided to open Manchester's first dry bar -- and what the sober-curious movement actually looks like from inside the industry• The Moka Pot expansion and what Dan says makes Manchester's small business community unlike anywhere else• Running multiple concepts within 2,000 square feet -- and what it takes to hold it all togetherFIND DAN & HIS SPOTS:Industry East -- 28 Hanover St, Manchester NH | industryeastbar.com | @industry.east.barStashbox -- 866 Elm St, Manchester NH | stashboxnh.com | @stashboxnhWithout -- coming soon to 8 Hanover St, Manchester NH (Manchester's first dry bar)Moka Pot -- 8 Hanover St, Manchester NHSubscribe to Beyond the Plate on YouTube so you never miss a conversation like this one. New episodes every Tuesday.Follow us on Instagram and Facebook: @beyondtheplatenhFind us everywhere: linktr.ee/BeyondtheplateNH---This episode is sponsored by Red Arrow Diner.4 NH locations: Manchester, Concord, Londonderry, and Nashua -- open 24/7.redarrowdiner.com | Instagram: @redarrow24diner | Facebook: Red Arrow Diner---ABOUT BEYOND THE PLATE WITH CAROLCarol Erickson, owner of Red Arrow Diner since 1987, sits down with the people behind New Hampshire's food and hospitality scene. It's not just about the food -- it's about the journeys, the community, and what drives people to go beyond.Follow Beyond the Plate -- find us everywhere: linktr.ee/BeyondtheplateNHFollow Carol: Instagram @carolsew240:00 -- Intro0:20 -- From dishwasher to front of house at 151:44 -- What kept pulling him back to the industry2:57 -- Guest plug: Industry East, Stashbox, Without, Moka Pot3:32 -- The traveling mixology business origin5:28 -- When the traveling business became a real place6:15 -- Meeting Jeremy Hart and building Birch on Elm7:22 -- The decision to become an owner9:10 -- Building Industry East during COVID10:38 -- The 18-seat design and what makes it work11:09 -- Mixologist vs. bartender (Dan has thoughts) 😄12:24 -- Dan and Jeremy's roles: "He's the cocktail guru, I'm the loud one"13:03 -- How the Industry East menu came together15:45 -- The hot dog that saved the liquor license16:49 -- Carol's eggs benedict hot dog visit19:03 -- Over 300 wieners of the week23:25 -- The charcuterie board and the quality philosophy28:03 -- Why Stashbox happened29:01 -- Finding the "cursed" Elm Street building31:38 -- Red Arrow sponsorship32:07 -- The Without dry bar -- how it started32:29 -- Is Dan alcohol-free himself? 😄33:07 -- Why the NA movement is real and not a trend37:38 -- "It's cool to be sober now"38:04 -- The real reason Without will work38:34 -- How close is Without to opening?39:07 -- The Without menu: Hawaiian chef, Polynesian fusion41:50 -- Moka Pot: the expansion and the vision45:07 -- Running multiple concepts across 2,000 square feet47:26 -- Baby Penelope and balancing family with the industry49:29 -- The wiener of the week right now (Banh Mi)50:26 -- Supporting local restaurants right now51:01 -- Lightning Round54:54 -- Closing: what Dan is most proud of56:34 -- Outro

Jakob Norris built Wicked Tasty from a single food truck into a multi-divisional hospitality company -- food truck, corporate café, full-service catering, a licensed bar program called Wicked Thirsty, and a seasonal mountain kitchen at Dartmouth Skiway. He did it in four years. And he did it with almost ten years clean and sober.This is one of the most honest conversations we've had on Beyond the Plate. Jakob opens up about losing his dad at 12, how kitchens became his anchor, what it felt like the day he chose recovery, and why second chances are at the core of everything he builds. In this episode:• How a real estate agent with a truck and a dream launched Wicked Tasty• What "New England Classics with a twist" actually means -- and the food behind it• The Dartmouth Skiway partnership and what it takes to run food and beverage on a mountain• Building Northman F&B Co. as a parent company -- and what comes next• Why Jakob hires the way he does, and the 19-year-old who became his full operations manager• The NHLRA Roaming Kitchen of the Year nomination -- and the moment with Dante from Dead Proof PizzaFIND WICKED TASTY & NORTHMAN F&B CO.Wicked Tasty Food Truck -- wickedtastytrucks.comNorthman F&B Co. -- northmanhospitality.comFollow on Facebook: WickedTastyTruck for their weekly scheduleInstagram: @wickedtastytruckIf this conversation hit you -- subscribe to Beyond the Plate on YouTube, follow us on Instagram and Facebook @beyondtheplatenh, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. New episodes drop every Tuesday at 7am. 🔔--This episode is sponsored by Red Arrow Diner.4 NH locations: Manchester, Concord, Londonderry, and Nashua -- open 24/7.redarrowdiner.com | Instagram: @redarrow24diner | Facebook: Red Arrow Diner--ABOUT BEYOND THE PLATE WITH CAROLCarol Erickson, owner of Red Arrow Diner since 1987, sits down with the people behind New Hampshire's food and hospitality scene. It's not just about the food -- it's about the journeys, the community, and what drives people to go beyond.Follow Beyond the Plate -- find us everywhere: linktr.ee/BeyondtheplateNHFollow Carol: Instagram @carolsew24Timestamps:• 0:00 -- Intro• 0:18 -- Carol's food truck visit -- the fluffernutter story• 1:21 -- What is Northman Food and Beverage Co.?• 2:34 -- Growing up in Plymouth, MA and Salem, NH• 3:10 -- Clam digging with dad, foraging, and the kitchen that raised him• 4:25 -- Losing his dad at 12 and how food became the anchor• 5:05 -- First kitchen job at Murphy's Tap Room, Manchester• 6:15 -- How Wicked Tasty started -- a real estate agent with a truck• 7:03 -- "Just something in me told me to say yes"• 8:36 -- Carol weave-in: 39 years, 4 locations, what consistency really means• 9:14 -- "New England Classics with a twist" -- the Wicked Tasty philosophy• 10:09 -- The Dartmouth Skiway partnership -- how it came together• 13:26 -- The NHLRA Roaming Kitchen of the Year nomination• 14:35 -- "Real recognize real" -- the Dante moment 😄• 15:12 -- What "Northman" really means• 16:04 -- Choosing recovery -- almost 10 years clean and sober• 16:15 -- "Everybody's worth something" -- second chances philosophy• 17:14 -- Carol's halfway house story at the Red Arrow• 20:08 -- "I knew that if I didn't, I was going to die"• 20:59 -- Sponsorship: Red Arrow Diner• 21:06 -- Building a team that grows -- transparency, patience, investing in people• 23:38 -- The 19-year-old who became full operations manager• 24:31 -- Walking up to the truck -- what to expect• 25:18 -- The menu: 603 Burger, spicy chicken, short rib poutine, specialty grilled cheeses• 29:15 -- The deep-fried fluffernutter -- how it's made• 29:54 -- What success looks like for Northman F&B• 31:36 -- The stabilization phase -- building slow and smart• 31:40 -- Why New Hampshire• 32:41 -- Wicked Thirsty -- the bar company with a caterer's liquor license• 34:01 -- Running multiple concepts -- staffing, strategy, and the on-call team• 36:03 -- How the commissary kitchen happened• 37:30 -- The ice machine moment 😄• 38:00 -- What keeps him going when it's hard• 39:26 -- "If you don't quit, that's how things change"• 40:27 -- The Passport Giveaway -- Black Friday prizes• 41:14 -- Lightning Round• 43:38 -- You're at the Red Arrow -- what are you ordering? 😄• 43:46 -- Closing question -- what are you most proud of?• 44:22 -- Outro -- go find Wicked Tasty and Northman F&B