Last weekend I had the amazing opportunity to go to the Anheuser Busch plant in Merrimack, NH, to attend the 6th annual Rock’n Ribfest. Hosted by the Nashua West Rotary, the Ribfest has grown into a huge festival. It is also the home of the New Hampshire BBQ Competition! With tons of things to do such as eat, drink, listen to music, and more, the Ribfest is a ton of fun! Even big bounce houses were available for the children and DCU and Re/max had tethered hot air balloon rides. There was a main stage that featured a Teen Band competition and bands such as Project Mess, The Risen , Brickyard Blues, James Montgomery Band, and more.

I had ribs from Stickyfingers and T-Roy’s. I’d have to say that I liked the way Stickyfingers used the wood grill and I liked their sauce better; however, T-Roy’s meat was grilled better.

It’s so hard to put everything about the Ribfest in this short article, but if you have never been, you should really think about going next year! Everything that goes towards the Rotary West club goes to charity, so you’ll be having fun while supporting a great cause.

Last week, world-renowned Chef Emeril Lagasse opened his newest restaurant, Emeril’s Gulf Coast Fish House, at the Island View Casino Resort in Gulfport, Mississippi. The opening marked the debut of Lagasse’s “Coastal Creole” cuisine, as Chef de Cuisine Steve D’Angelo, General Manager Jason Lonigro and their staff of 90 infuse New Orleans flavor with Mississippi’s fresh seafood and unmatched Southern charm. The restaurant is open seven days, with dinner service from 5:30pm – 10:00pm Sunday-Thursday, and until 11:00pm on Friday and Saturday. (Lunch will be served in the near future). Reservations may be made by calling the restaurant, 228-314-1515.

Emeril’s Gulf Coast Fish House is Lagasse’s first new restaurant project since 2003, and the
tenth restaurant in the Emeril’s family. The menu explores “Coastal Creole” cuisine, a combination of Lagasse’s signature “new New Orleans” cuisine with an emphasis on fresh local seafood, produce and farm products that are unique to the region. The menu features Chef Emeril’s classics like New Orleans Barbecued Shrimp, and famous Banana Cream Pie, as well as new additions including Crispy Jumbo Lump Crabmeat Cake with Corn Maque Choux, and Shrimp & Grits.

“Opening a restaurant at the Island View is particularly special to me because my family and I have very close ties to the Gulf Coast,” says Emeril Lagasse. “My wife Alden grew up in Gulfport and we have spent a lot of time with our family and friends in this area. I am also very happy to be working with local guys Rick (Carter) and Terry (Green) at the Island View. I hope that this restaurant is a small step toward the recovery of this region and brings new attention to its unique food culture, abundant fresh seafood, game and produce.”

Friedmutter Group’s architectural design captures the allure of the environment and refreshing Coastal style. The venue is awash in natural lighting and hints of the Gulf waters with swirling glass ribbons and thousands of hand blown glass bubbles that float throughout the space. Inside the semi-private dining room beneath the 4,000 bottle wine tower, guests are surrounded by some of Chef Emeril’s best vintages, and dine at hand-crafted wood tables inset with shimmering glass. The main dining room offers views of the beach and nearby islands, with intimate banquets encircling a 14 foot capiz shell chandelier. A lively Chef’s food bar is the centerpiece of the eatery and your ticket to the action of the open kitchen.

“It has been quite a year for Island View Casino Resort, full of milestones since opening last September. However, seeing the doors to Emeril’s Gulf Coast Fish House open tomorrow will be an extremely proud moment - not only for our company, but for Terry and me on a personal level as well,” says Rick Carter, co-owner of Island View. “When we created the dream for Island View, we said we would aim for the very best for this resort, and in turn the very best for our hometown area. Emeril Lagasse shares that same vision and that passion; therefore, I can not thank him and his staff enough for joining us as Island View continues its commitment to revitalizing the Mississippi Gulf Coast.”