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Food

The Feedbag Challenge At New Hampshire’s KC’s Rib Shack Is For The Brave And The Very Hungry

KC's Rib Shack in Manchester, New Hampshire offers a unique food challenge called the Feedbag Shovel, featuring over 6 pounds of barbecue.

Published Jan 10, 2020

Written by 

Michelle

New Hampshirites love a challenge. Getting through a harsh winter? We got it in the bag! Climbing that peak? Consider it done! But how about the kind of challenge that tests our minds and our stomachs? That's what you're in store for if choose to take this unique food challenge. Think you have what it takes to walk away victorious?

If you're hungry. And we mean really hungry, you'll want to head to Manchester for a visit to KC's Rib Shack Barbecue!

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William Smith / Google

From the outside things look rustic. But inside that rustic vibes somehow morphs into something that feels vibrant and festive.

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KC's Rib Shack Barbecue / Google

On any given night you'll find the place packed with folks looking to fill their bellies with delicious barbecue.

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KC's Rib Shack Barbecue / Google

And there's plenty to choose from if you're looking for a great meal. But if you're looking for a great meal that's also huge there's no better place to be.

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Anthony Lazzari / Google

And you can thank the Feedbag Challenge for that!

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bill jamer / Google

The Feedbag Shovel comes loaded with more than 6 pounds of BBQ! You'll get 1 full rack of spare ribs, 1/2 pound of pulled pork, 1/2 pound of pulled chicken, 1/2 pound of beef brisket, 1 smoked sausage, 1 pint of two different side dishes and 4 pieces of cornbread.

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silvermanarts / TripAdvisor

This thing is normally recommended for 3-5 people to share, but not the challenge! To complete the challenge you'll be expected to finish this thing off without any help within a 30 minutes!

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bruce hegstrom / Google

Finish this massive shovel's worth of food in under a half hour and you'll get the meal for free (it's normally $70!) and your name and photo on the wall. Honestly, it's totally worth it considering you also get to eat all that food!

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Te Queremos Cominicar! / Google

Can you do it? If you're giving the idea some consideration we recommend you stop by for a few beers and see if anyone else can get it done. At the very least its a fun thing to watch!

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Ken Dickerman / Google

KC's Rib Shack is open Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. You can learn more about them from their website, or follow them on Facebook. If you have more questions give them a call on 603-627-7427.

Pretty sure you can get through any kind of food challenge? For more check out these 6 restaurants in New Hampshire where your meal is free if you can eat it all!

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Food

This Train in New Hampshire is Actually a Restaurant and You Need to Visit

Scenic trains are one thing, but how about a scenic train that doubles as a restaurant? All aboard the Cafe Lafayette!

Updated Oct 30, 2024

Written by 

Robin Jarvis

Undoubtedly, New Hampshire is one in a million. There are so many unique places to see and things to experience here, we'll bet you could pick a new one every weekend and still not get to all of them! This is all the more reason to choose wisely. If you're seeking a truly one-of-a-kind experience, such as "dining trains near me," or perhaps "train-themed restaurants near me," then Cafe Lafayette is a must-visit. This dinner train in New England is one of the coolest train rides and it also qualifies as one of the most unique restaurants in New Hampshire!

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Cafe Lafayette is tucked away on the western slopes of New Hampshire's White Mountains. This unique moving dinner train has been entertaining guests for more than 25 years. Their own self promotion is an easy way to sum up this adventure. They say, "Two Hours, 20 Miles, 5 Courses." But even that doesn't cover everything... like the sheer beauty of the Pemigewasset River Valley as you meander through some of the most beautiful sights you've ever seen. Or the fact that there's just no "bad" seat on this dinner train. Everyone gets an awesome view.

A vintage train car labeled "Granite Eagle Café Lafayette Dinner Train" next to a building named "The Depot."
BEV Norton / Flickr

And the meal? Well, let's just say it's second to none and is actually prepared on board this magical moving express. You can choose between "main level dining" and "dome level dining," but really the pricing isn't all that different.

Cafe Lafayette has the distinction of being one of only a dozen or so dinner trains in the country. On top of those honors, they're only one of a handful of those same trains that actually prepare the food right on the train. The results are an absolutely outstanding, five-course dining experience you'll always remember.

For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, visit this (moving) destination restaurant in North Woodstock, New Hampshire. More information, including pricing and a link for reservations, can be found at the Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train website. One important bit of information: the Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train runs seasonally, May through October, and reservations are required. However, if you'd like to visit from December through April, check out the Depot at Cafe Lafayette. They offer tapas and a wine bar for the perfect dinner experience in the off-season.

A blue and white train car parked among trees, with a green hillside in the background.
BEV Norton / Flickr

Visit Cafe Lafayette and hop aboard this dinner train in New Hampshire for an adventure that's totally worth its price in gold. Have you already visited this dinner train in New England before? Isn't it one of the unique restaurants in New Hampshire? If you need a place to stay while you're exploring the area, check out these beautiful vacation rentals near Woodstock, NH.

And if you're just not into trains, or eating while moving, then check out this article highlighting 8 of the most unique restaurants in New Hampshire that will give you an unforgettable dining experience.

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Food

The Best Apple Cider Donuts in New Hampshire Come From This Small-Town Orchard

Taste for yourself why these sweet autumn treats at Washburn's Windy Hill Orchard have been called the best apple cider donuts in New Hampshire.

Published Oct 14, 2024

Written by 

Beth Price-Williams

Autumn promises so much fun, especially in New Hampshire. One of my favorite parts of the season is strolling through an orchard and filling a bucket with plump apples. But it isn’t until I take that first bite, as the juice sprays down my chin, that it really feels like fall. Only one thing rivals a freshly-picked apple and that’s hot, fresh apple cider donuts. You can enjoy both at this small-town orchard in New Hampshire all season long.

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Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard in Greenville is the place to be on the weekends this fall, especially if you want to indulge in (and you really do) some of the best apple cider donuts in New Hampshire. While the famous apple cider donuts are offered during the week, at least until they sell out, they’re only made and served hot and fresh on the weekends. How good are they? Well, you have to taste for yourself, but WMUR NH viewers have named these sweet treats the best apple cider donuts in New Hampshire for four consecutive years, beginning in 2021.

A plate of sugar-coated donuts surrounded by colorful autumn leaves.
Close up of apple cider donutsPS they tasted goodCheck our my Fall and Thanksgiving collection

However, if you want to try to avoid (there’s no guarantee, though) long lines, arrive at the orchard early in the day to snag your fresh apple cider donuts, which are sold individually and by the half-dozen and dozen. Buy some to go, but order the apple cider donut sundae to get that quick sweets fix. It comes with vanilla or chocolate ice cream, homemade whipped cream, fudge, and caramel.

Autumn and apple cider go hand-in-hand, so you might want to try the cold apple cider, frozen apple cider, or hot mulled cider. The orchard’s bakery also features a full menu of fall favorites, including pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, fresh caramel apples, homemade apple pies, and pumpkin cream cheese whoopee pies.

A close-up of a tree branch laden with red and yellow apples surrounded by green leaves.
Ripe apples hanging in a tree. Apples hanging on a tree branch at garden center.

If you’re not in a hurry, stroll through the seven-acre orchard to pick your own apples from the more than 700 apple trees, or search for the perfect pumpkins for decorating or baking. Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard has another fall favorite, a five-acre corn maze. Open daily throughout the season, the corn maze requires a small fee and is suitable for all ages.

Find more information, including days and hours, on the official website of Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard, or stop by the Facebook page of this small-town orchard in New Hampshire.

Do you agree that Washburn’s Windy Hill Orchard makes the best apple cider donuts in New Hampshire? Let us know in the comments! Autumn is the perfect time to get outdoors and explore all that New Hampshire has to offer. What are your favorite fall activities in New Hampshire? If you’re up for a scenic hike, head over to All Trails.

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