C is for cookie, and that’s good enough for me: the 13th Annual Inn to Inn Holiday Cookie and Candy Tour is gearing up once again for the second weekend in December. Each of the 15 inns located in the White Mountains will be offering attendees cookies, candies, and other treats, while showing off their exquisite holiday decorations. Guests will also receive recipes at each stop, and the annual gingerbread contest will be in full swing, where each inn displays a homemade gingerbread sculpture. Local businesses donate the sculptures to replicate their favorite non-profit organizations, and tour goers vote for their favorite gingerbread creation at the end of the tour. I traveled along the tour last year with my mother, and the event was definitely worth the ride; just beware that GPS doesn’t like the signal up there, and the folks behind the cookie tour don’t provide you with detailed directions.

If you want to go: Each participating inn is offering two tickets (a $54 value) with their cookie tour package, including a two-night stay and breakfast for two each day.  Some inns have even added dinner to their packages. For a complete list of packages, visit http://www.countryinnsinthewhitemountains.com/holiday_cookie_tour_packages.htm.  If you’d rather purchase tickets for just the culinary adventure itself, the price is $27 per person and you can order them December 1st through 8th by calling 800-233-8309 or 603-383-9339.

I remember New York City for one thing: Chipotle Mexican Grill. The last time I was in the lit-up city, I gorged on a massive burrito that had to have weighed at least 20 lbs at this popular Mexican chain. The burrito I had, chocked full of rice, sour cream, black beans, and veggies, still haunts me in my sleep - that monstrosity was nothing but delicious. So when I found out that Chipotle is coming to Nashua, my jaw was glued to the floor. Can it be? Is this some horrible foodie rumor? No, folks - this one’s for real. The Mexican joint, at 225 D.W. Highway, will be open to the public on November 13th. The Chipotle crew is already doing their part in our neighborhood, too: on November 11th and 12th, the restaurant will be hosting Friendly Face-off Fundraisers for Nashua North and Nashua South High Schools. Nashua North’s event is on the 11th while Nashua South Schools’ will be held on the 12th, both from 5 to 8 p.m. For both events, attendees who give a $5 donation at the door will receive a gourmet burrito, tortilla chips, salad, salsa, and a drink. 100 percent of the proceeds will even be given to the high schools’ athletic programs, while the school that raises the most money will be rewarded a free burrito day at a later date. Any restaurant willing to devote two days to helping our schools gets a high grade in my book. Welcome to the neighborhood, Chipotle.

On Thursday, November 5th from 6 to 9 p.m., Kathy Berger, owner of Huephoria, will be holding a barn sale in Candia. Huephoria sells items like hand painted wine and martini glasses, and the event will also feature local businesses like Petunia’s Home Furnishings of Goffstown and Opus of Manchester. But what does this have to do with food? The Sugar Mommy will be providing guests with her homemade treats. I’ve sampled The Sugar Mommy’s food at the San Francisco Kitchen Tweet-up a few months ago, including her rich chocolate peanut butter cups and buttery, perfectly baked cookies. To save face, I refrained from eating the entire table covered in her food, but every bite was a sugar masterpiece that could have easily been coated in some addictive substance. It’s not confirmed what The Sugar Mommy will be making for Berger’s event yet, but hopefully we’ll get to sample some of her pumpkin bread, chocolate dipped apricots, or her cranberry white chocolate cookies. One can dream, right?

Sadly, it’s almost time to forget about fresh, salt water seafood and focus on warm, comforting meals for the autumn season. But seafood and summer fans alike can hold on to the warm weather season for a few extra days thanks to Saffron Bistro. On September 28th, seafood lovers can enjoy 5 courses and a dessert at the fixed price of $60. The five course meal begins with a raw Nantucket Oyster floating in a house made Bloody Mary shot, followed by a Lobster Johnny Cake and Pan Roasted Skate wing, made with Parisian gnocchi, corn, tomato, basil and a reduced balsamic glaze. The third course will be Little Neck Clams, followed by Grilled Line Caught Swordfish served with four grain salad, melted lemon and green onion butter with toasted leeks. To wash this sea-inspired dinner down, Saffron will be serving Passion Fruit Sorbet to cleanse dinner guests’ palates after the big meal. Basically, this is your last chance to enjoy the flavors of summer before Fall completely takes over.

Got vodka? Some competing downtown restaurants in Nashua do. In addition to their wine nights during the week, Black Orchid Grille and Unum’s are now devoting another day of the week to martinis for a more intense after work stress reliever. This Wednesday, Black Orchid is holding their first Martini Sampling Night where cocktail sippers pay a mere $2 for a 2 oz. tasting. Attendees can try just one tini, or all five that will be offered that night. This week’s menu includes: Dragon’s Kiss, made with Bacardi Dragon Berry Rum, lemonade, strawberry puree, and a splash of club soda, as well as La Pear Martini, with St. Germain Elderberry Liqueur, Grey Goose La Poire, pear puree and champagne. The tasting is from 6 to 8 p.m., and will be held the second Wednesday of every month from here on out.

Not too far down the road from Black Orchid’s, Unum’s will soon be holding “Tini” Thursdays, where the restaurant will be infusing vodka with various ingredients like fresh fruit and hot peppers, and will be selling the cocktails at a discounted price. Unums will even start showcasing fruit infused vodka martinis, and will select two cocktails each week where $1 of the proceeds will be contributed to Breast Cancer or Alzheimer’s research in honor of co-owner Karen Williams’ parents. Drinking vodka for a good cause? Count me in!

Labor Day weekend may mark the…dare I say it?…end of summer (or what we’ve had of one), but Express Cafe on Main Street isn’t ready to say goodbye yet. On Wednesday, September 9th, downtown Nashua’s newest coffee spot will be holding Lobster Day. The all day event will celebrate one of summer’s most popular crustaceans with dishes like Fresh Lobster Chowder, Lobster Salad Wraps, and Lazy Lobster Paninis. The Cafe has yet to create a website, but I recently wrote an article for Feast about their paninis, and trust me when I say owner Raidah Alawam knows how to make a mean panini. Her chowder and her wraps, however, have yet to be tasted (and thus judged) by this customer. What’s your review of Express Cafe?