Best of NH 2014 Food Odds and Ends

In this section you'll find the best caterers, fine dining, local cheese, outdoor dining, the most romantic restaurant and more!

From left: Soup from Editor's Pick All Real Meal, favorite outdoor dining spot from the Readers' Poll the Common Man in Claremont, Readers' Poll Winner for locally sourced menu Republic and Readers' Poll Winner Calef's Country store, the pick for cheese shop. Photos by Susan Laughlin; Calef's photo by Melissa Boulanger.

Healthy Delivery: Forget pizza delivery. The girls at All Real Meal in Bedford/Manchester have developed a system to get healthy food out to busy moms/wives on a weekly basis. Using fresh ingredients and a light touch, they create a short menu of flexible choices and, after a few website clicks, your meal is ready for delivery. Yes, quinoa and kale spoken here.

Micro Dairy: Really, there’s nothing quite like the taste of fresh raw milk. At Brookford Farm in Canterbury, they distribute it in half gallons through CSAs, farmers markets and retail outlets, putting happy white mustaches on growing kids across the state. The milk is also skimmed for the richest cream around from their mixed herd of Jerseys, Brown Swiss, Guernseys and Holstein. With an on-site cheese-making facility, production includes a full complement of cheeses from a raw milk cheddar to cottage cheese to kefir. Get mooving.

North Country Snackery: For simple, wholesome, good food that’s also inexpensive, head to Ursula’s Snack Shack, a roadside stand (723-9931) located on Rte. 16 that’s just north of Milan and is open from January through October. Ursula, who cooks the American and German fare and bakes each delectable dessert, accepts cash only but you can BYOB. The bratwurst and sauerkraut served with German potato salad is a can’t-miss and for an added bonus, enjoy the spectacular views of the Androscoggin River from the picnic tables and screened-in tented dining area.

Organic Menu: At Blue Moon Evolution in Exeter, owner Kath Gallant takes seriously her commitment to a healthy diet via organic and local choices. Open for lunch and dinner, find a menu deep in creativity with vegetable and grains for a light touch. The raw board offers raw sunflower pâté, marinated raw vegetables while a raw carrot tart is crusted with cashews. Vegans and vegetarians and everyone else, rejoice, your heart will love you back.