It’s a balmy 67 degress at Hampton Beach right now and nothing tastes better than a clam roll on the water. The Sea Ketch on the strip has a great third-floor deck that welcomes beachcombers of all appetites. No matter how refined your palate, there’s always one day in the summer when you just have to have fried clams.I suggest you head to this fun, casual joint that will remind you of skip day in high school. Down the street, Browns is right up there w/ the best. A shack by anyother name could not be as authentic as this Seabrook destination. Pick your own lobby from the tank and grab a picnic bench. Don’t worr if melted butter drips down your chin, that’s the kind of place this is. Clams are fried to perfection here and served the way they should be w/ loads of tartar sauce. Full disclosure: I shunned tartar for yrs, thinking it was mayo in disguise, but it really adds umph to clams. Across the street is another clammery, Markey’s. But in my bloggy opinion, it pales in comparrison to Browns. They offer the same menu, mounds of fried scallops, haddock and steamers, but Markey’s is too fancified for what it is, a clam shack. So in Seabrook, which is it Brown’s or Markey’s?The Boardwalk Café in Hampton had a new renovation and its now up w/ the century. Maine lobster pie is on the menu. Yum!

Hey produce lovers, time to get busy! Finally after a fruitless winter everything’s turning up strawberries. The first fruit to fall this summer should be in great supply at Nashua’s Farmer’s Market tomorrow.Grab a basket, bag or headress and head out to the Main St. Bridge, from 10 to 3 p. I’ll be there to reap the local bounty. It’s too early for blues ( a few wks. away), but asparagus should be showing their phallic beauty and Im hoping straws. The berries ive been consuming like Skittles at Market Basket have taken a turn for the worse lately. Has anyone noticed? A deal’s a deal, but when half the berries are mush (the ones hidden under the few beauties of course) I get steamed. This French-inspired outdoor market also hawks bread and fruit wines. I got me a nice bottle of wild blueberry wine from Bartlett Winery when I was in Maine last mo. Anyone had it? Im saving it for a grilled sirloin paring on the roof tonight. What’s the verdict on fruit wines? Some are great, like blueberry merlot from Nashoba Winery, some too much like a kid’s punch. Winterport (another Maine Winery) has turned me off w/ its pear wine. The Japanese do a nice thing w/ pear wine. But what are the N.H.vintners turning out? I’ll let you know what i discover. see ya at the market.