The first ever Wicked Wine and Brew Fest, held at Mel’s Funway Park in Litchfield on Saturday, was a great event, despite the rainy weather and the minor initial-event-mishaps. The beer and wine tasting options were various, including Pumpkin Ale from Shipyard and Green Apple Riesling from IncrediBREW’s Grape Time Winery, and although the lines were long, they moved swiftly. My favorite tasting of the day was Silver Mountain Ciders’ wines of Lempster, N.H. They let me try a sample of each of their featured wines, including the Blueberry Apple, Traditional Hard Cider, and the Apple Wine with Grape Brandy that would knock any wine-o on the floor

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The tents kept all of the attendees dry from the unfortunately wet weather, and The Sausage King of Nashua as well as Woodman’s Seafood & Grill were on hand to provide tasters with some munchies. I attended the event with my non-meat-eating boyfriend, and although we hit up the True Nut Company’s tasty almond concoctions several times throughout the day (their Maple Basil Almonds are a must try), the rest of the food selection was meat-only (and mostly fried). After we did our beer rounds, we decided to walk over to Woodman’s sit-down restaurant, right at Mel’s Tee Off, before hitting the wine tables. We opted for the grilled cheese with fries and a side of onion rings - the only vegetarian-friendly items listed on the menu, besides the garden salad we noticed later. Another small downside to the event: you could barely hear the live music provided by the bands Rise! and Tore Down House when you were waiting in line under the tents. Overall, the tasting was a great success and a lot of fun, and we were able to try a variety of local brews and wines without waiting in line for hours. What was your favorite part of the Wicked Wine and Brew Fest?

There are a few new restaurants sprouting up in the area, defying these “bad economy” rumors…or at least we hope. First up: Estabrook Grill at 57 Palm Street in Nashua. The upscale-looking establishment is attached to a new senior housing center, and even boasts a nice large patio for outside seating in a bistro-style setting. Excited to give their menu a whirl, I tried going to the eatery last weekend, as a recent ad of theirs in The Telegraph said they were open 7 days a week. Unfortunately, not on this day, right smack in the middle of dinner time.

Another new eatery is down the road in Litchfield, called Woodman’s Famous Seafood, with an original location in Essex, Mass. (Since 1914!) The crustacean-infested eatery is right at Mel’s Funway Park off Route 3A, and has been named “Best Seafood in America” by Forbes FYI, among others.

Any local foodies out there who have tried these new restaurants? Thumbs up or down?