A Late Summer Visit to Kimball’s

New Hampshire’s Monadnock region, where Yankee‘s offices are located, has an impressive diversity of restaurants, especially considering that it remains a relatively undiscovered vacation destination. Restaurants like Pearl Oyster Bar,  Waterhouse, Harlow’s Pub, and the Harrisville General Store make the region a very good place to eat. And come summer, I can’t wait to get to Kimball Farm in nearby Jaffrey for fresh seafood and ice cream. I was probably the last person to believe that you could get great fried seafood in inland New Hampshire, but every time I go there, my faith is renewed. Fried scallops, fish n’ chips, even the lobster rolls are as good here as I’ve had at many Maine fish shacks. Is that sacrilege? But don’t just take my word. Ask any of the many pilots who fly into Jaffrey’s Silver Ranch Airport located next door, grab dinner and a cone, and fly home. You’ll hear them discussing their flight routes as they wait in line. That there are three other Kimball’s locations in Massachusetts doesn’t seem to matter. This Kimball’s is special, and the food always tastes better here, for whatever reason. On Wednesday nights, local antique car enthusiasts converge on Kimball’s to display their gems, share tips, and tailgate. The restaurant supplies the tunes, via sound system, and it’s a great place to have a picnic and watch the sun set.

The ice cream flavors lean toward the old-fashioned: maple walnut, Grape-nut, buttercrunch, and it’s all delicious. Portions are huge, though: a kiddie cone is enough to satisfy a hungry adult.   Now that the nights are getting cooler, I know the Kimball’s season is winding down. The restaurant is open May through September, and it’s always a little sad to drive by and see the building closed for the season. But we have a few more weeks to savor.