The Gourmet Buzz

The Colby Hill Inn in Henniker (428-3281, www.colbyhillinn.com) is once again having their “Chocolate Lovers’ Weekend” March 5-7. It’s a great chance to not only indulge in chocolate, but learn a few tricks of the trade by acclaimed pastry chefs. As a side note, the inn’s executive chef, Jeannine Carney, was recently named “Best Chef” by Arrington’s Inn Traveler Magazine in a nationwide survey.

Luca Paris of Luca’s Mediterranean Café in Keene has been busy promoting the Keene area, billing it as the “International Restaurant Capital of New England.” He has also spearheaded the first-ever “Taste of Keene” and has a weekly radio show,“What’s cooking with Luca Paris.”

Paris has just released a DVD cookbook with instructions for some of his favorite dishes. Proceeds will go to benefit a culinary scholarship at the local high school.

News has it that renowned chef, James Haller, will be taking over as executive chef when the new Creamery restaurant at Canterbury Village opens this spring. The 130-seat restaurant, to be called The Shaker Table, was designed by Christopher Williams of Meredith.

He studied historical photos and plans of the former blacksmith shop to ensure the authenticity of the new addition to Canterbury Shaker Village. Haller, who literally “wrote the book” on Shaker cooking, will help ensure the authenticity of what’s prepared in the kitchen. The Gourmet Buzz can hardly wait. NH