Peterborough In July

The winter is a dim memory as I walk down the hill to the post office. Peterborough is in bloom and the store is full of local friends and happy visitors to the Monadnock region.

Monadnock Oil and Vinegar is uniquely located up the hill from the main, downtown section of Peterborough. Walking down first thing in the morning, I meet many other shop-keepers grabbing their newspapers and mail or emerging from their favorite breakfast haunts. At the foot of the hill a bridge runs over the river. The view of the falls is splendid in the early morning light. Small spaces are carved out with inviting places to sit, listen to the river and admire the gardens full of color.

Putnam Grove Park was presented to the town by a Miss Catherine Putnam on March 11, 1862 to be kept forever as a public grove. It was dedicated by the Peterborough Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1915. A section of park across the street is new this year and equally  lovely.

We share our building with Ava Marie Homemade Chocolates. The bonus is excellent ice cream and the Social Grove Cafe that serves the only lobster roll in town on fresh-baked brioche rolls with homemade cole slaw, chips and a pickle. It’s a bargain I partake of several times a week at just $12.95.

As to the store itself, I’m enjoying bringing a bit of my over-crowded gardens to work every day.  Life imitating art?

We recently added a  our first southern hemisphere extra virgin olive oil of the year, an award-winning Australian Picual. Also French Tarragon white balsamic vinegar and a Greek Dill infused olive oil. The store just celebrated six months of business and we are planning our expansion for mid-August. The new space will house a herb and salt tasting bar, cheeses, a new selection of pasta, delicious stuffed olives and an array of wonderful jarred products fresh from Korey and Kim’s garden.

Business has been so brisk, I barely have time to keep up with the web site and marketing efforts. We did manage to organize the recipes into categories and I hope to add more products and an events calendar. Between farmer’s markets, up-coming country fairs and local women’s clubs requesting their time, Korey and Kim will be on the road a lot in the coming months.

Our next drop-in cooking demo is planned for August 16th with a new guest chef, Elizabeth Skipper from The Everyday Epicure. I’m excited to see what she has planned!