Summer is fast approaching, and it's time to start planning your summer vacation, but you don't feel you can be as ambitious in your travel plans as you have in years past. Those winter heating and plowing bills put a hole in your pocket, and you don't think you can spring for the gas money it will take to drive hundreds of miles to out-of-state tourist destinations. Every time you fill up the gas tank you get that sinking feeling in your stomach that maybe this year you should confine your summer explorations to watching the Travel Channel.
Don't despair. New Hampshire has a slew of popular destinations, all within a half-a-day's drive, which means you can get anywhere in the state on less than a tank of gas. We have it all, mountains and lakes, rivers and ocean. Because we are such a beautiful state, the second most heavily forested state in the union, we attract our fair share of visitors, and those visitors tend to want to eat.
What does this mean for the average New Hampshire resident? Good food.
For such a small state, with a population of only a little more than a million, we have more than our fair share of great restaurants, due in large part to the visitors to our state who help sustain these fine establishments.
Many of you have eaten at White Mountains Community College at one of the many events and functions we've hosted here over the years, and you know how dedicated the faculty of our Culinary Arts program is. You may even know them by name, as we like to bring them and their students out for a round of applause, but did you know there are many restaurants throughout the state in which our graduates are busy in the kitchen?
Our Culinary Arts program has been mentoring the next generation of chefs and cooks for 42 years, adding to the flavor of New Hampshire’s cuisine. The program includes over 250 hours of lab work each semester (cooking!), and externships and apprenticeships in professional kitchens. Our graduates hold key positions in the kitchens of the Mountain Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, Balsams Grand Resort in Dixville Notch and the Common Man Restaurants, among others.
Three of our students were recently honored at the annual Peter Emmons Award Dinner. We are very proud of Chloe Harrington, who received the Roger Turgeon Baking Award; Scott Whitaker, who won the Peter Emmons Award as the top graduating senior; and Jessica Landry, who was honored as Freshman of the Year.
So take a break from your workday routine and head out on the road.
You won't have to drive far to dine on Pina Colada Chicken or Roast Loin of Venison with spoon bread and blackberry demi glace. Those mouth watering entrees are available at two of the North Country's fine restaurants. We won’t tell you which ones, but we’ll give you a clue. Go to our web page for the Culinary program at www.wmcc.edu/courses/culinary.html then scroll down to see the list of positions held by our Culinary alumni. Google those restaurants that are in New Hampshire, then check out their menus. New Hampshire never looked so good!
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