On a Friday night, I hit the town with a few friends to experience a night of fine dinning at Michael Timothy’s. Downtown Nashua lit up, and the sound of jazz was in the air. Michael Timothy’s is the perfect bistro to dine at; there you can expect to experience the best food and live entertainment.

The soothing jazz, adorned with a tasty meal, was enough to make any one escape to cloud nine. I ordered the delicious summer shrimp scampi, a divine dish sauteed with zuchinni, cherry tomatoes, corn on the cob, red onions and cauliflower. To top it off, I ordered the sorbet with fresh berries. Yum! As the jazz played, I continued to eat, and I melted away. . . Nothing like escaping to the land of no return at Michael Timothy’s!

Ok, so those you who are familiar with me by now, know that I love, absolutely love, tasting food from all around the world! So far I’ve eaten Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, Italian, Mexican. . . Now, it’s time to go to India!

I had the opportunity to dine at the India Palace located on 493 Amherst Street, and I was absolutely blown away by the fine dinning experience! I ordered the Non-Vegetarian Thali, which is a traditional Indian meal served with Lam Curry, Chicken Tikka Masala, Tandorri Chicken, and Dal Rice. And to top it all off, I feasted on Kheer for desert. India Palace was magnificent, I thoroughly enjoyed my passage to India!

Don’t let the name fool you: 7 Star Pizza located in downtown Nashua, is more than just a pizza restaurant thatserves up some of the most tasty pies in the city. 7 Star is a full-fledged hot spot with an amazing menu, that transcends far above Italian pizza and dishes.

I am a fan of 7 Star’s pizza, but I am also a fan of their other dishes. I ordered the calzone with cheese, and fell in love! It was absolutely amazing! The place was crowded, which attested to its popularity. 7 Star is the upgrade in Italian cuisine, and is sure to please. . . 7 Star, anyone?

One of Nashua’s gems is none other than Mandarin Chinese Restaurant located on 493 Amherst Street. Standing in line next to Lilac Blossom, Mandarin is yet another traditional Chinese Restaurant that serves up some of the most appealing Chinese and Schezuan dishes.

Unlike Lilac Blossom, Mandarin is more reserved, but with the same exceptional taste as its competitor. The General Gau along with the shrimp fried rice is out of this world! Mandarin is so enchanting and so delicious, and is guaranteed to quench those hunger pains. Another dish I recommend: Chicken and Broccoli with steamed rice.

Usually I crave exotic dishes, but for some reason, I woke up craving seafood. So I took the admonishing of a family member, and headed over to Weathervane on 174 Daniel Webster Highway. Known as being one of New England’s best seafood restaurants, Weathervane is a traditional family restaurant with some of the most amazing seafood dishes.

I ordered the clam strips dish with french fries, which was absolutely scrumptious! The historic feel of the restaurant, along with the variety of food, made for a pleasantseafood experience. To finish off the meal, I ordered Weathervan’s famous homemade lemonade to quench my thirst, along with a Carmel hot fudge sundae with a cherry on top! Ah. . . nothing like Weathervane on a hot summer’s day!

Downtown Nashua is flooded with some very eclectic tastes. One taste in particular is straight from Vietnam, and is sure to please. The quaint, Vietnam Noodle House, located on 138 Main Street, is a pure delight!

The best in Vietnamese cuisine dwells right in the neighborhood, and serves mouth-watering dishes sure to quench any one’s exotic pallet. When I had the opportunity to visit the Noodle House I ordered the chicken curry with white rice, along with the Noddle House’s “famous sweet lemonade.” Not only was the food exceptional, but the service was as well. The hostess was amiable, which complimented the inviting atmosphere. If you are every in search of some of Vietnam’s finest, then make the Vietnamese Noodle House your destination,  and you will not be disappointed.

I was invited to one of the Lilac Blossom locations on 385 East Dunstable to attend a dinner date with a few friends. I was expecting the usual, good old fashioned Chinese food. But what I encountered that evening was anything but usual. Immediately, when I stepped inside the extravagant Chinese restaurant, I had to brace myself. 

Large elegant, silver-moon  chandeliers kissed the ceiling, along with beautiful oriental Chinese blossoms in pastel pink and purple. Maitre D’s asscorted and greeted my friends and I at the table, serving us crispy noddles and duck sauce. While mulling over the extravagant, yet costly menu, we all decided on the PU PU platter for four, along with non-alcoholic cocktails. I tried the Coconut beverage, which was chilled inside in a faux Coconut. The drink was a pure delight! When the gigantic PU PU Platter arrived, (steaming amidst a faux lava lamp,) my friends and I immediately dug in, savoring the sweet tang of the fried wontons, spare ribs, honey fried chicken, and teriyaki beef.

The delicious, traditional Chinese food, along with the elaborate scenery, made for a very enjoyable restaurant experience. Lilac Blossom definitely surpassed my expectations, and is one of the BEST Chinese food restaurants, along with Mandarin, to grace Nashua!

If you’re planning to vacation in Maine at some point during these last few weeks of summer, you need to eat here; and if you don’t have any vacation plans for Maine, you should plan some.

The Muddy Rudder in Brewer, Maine (with another location in Yarmouth) presented me with one of the best meals I’ve had in years; yes, years. Known as one of the most popular restaurants in Maine for the freshest seafood, the Muddy Rudder offers newly renovated digs and historic atmospheres. The "Rudder," as locals call it, has been feeding vacationers and residents since 1976, and after one meal, I wish I had known about it years ago. I ordered the Haddock with Crabmeat Stuffing ($19), that was chocked full of fresh, well seasoned crabmeat, wrapped with a perfectly flaky piece of fresh haddock. The dish was smothered with a creamy lobster sauce, and washed down with an incredibly strong Peach Martini. Definitely a meal (and a martini) worth the drive.

If you appreciate good wine and exotic brews, you need to pay a visit to The Wine Society in Nashua (and Tyngsboro).

When I paid a recent visit to The Wine Society’s Nashua location on Amherst Street, I not only perused their small shoppe’s wine, cheese, beer and accessories, but was also given information on each wine by the employee. I was even offered the day’s "special" of a wine and cheese paring. The wine was so good, I ended up buying it: a crisp, refreshing Chardonnay that was perfect for making me forget the humidity outside. The Wine Society also offers beers from Scotland, Belgium and Germany, to name a few, but their biggest beer collection is in the Tyngsboro store. For more information on The Wine Society’s wine/beer of the month and their tastings, click here.

After you buy your wine and/or beer, drink them to wash down some sliders.

Cravings Cafe & Gift Shop on E. Pearl Street in Nashua does not only dish up delicious food, but also offers individuals with physical and mental disabilities a chance to pursue their culinary dreams.Cravings Cafe offers a full lunch menu, as well as a catering menu, and each item is prepared by people with disabilities. The "trainees" are taught these culinary skills by chefs and artisans. The lunch menu at Cravings includes sandwiches, salads, soups and even dessert items. Some of the mentionable items on the menu are the roast turkey and cucumber sandwich ($4.95), as well as the sour cream coffee cake, that’s only a mere $1.25 a piece. Even items in the gift shop are all hand crafted by the trainees. The Cafe is closed on the weekends, but open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.