Hillary Davis Travels's Blog

Old Fashioned New England Candy Store Does It Right

        Memories of being a child in New England and looking forward to summers when my parents would buy us freshly made salt water taffey linger. I don't see them often anymore. And then, one day, I stopped at this store---one I drive by all the time. 

    Nelson's Candies has been in the tiny mill town of Wilton, New Hampshire forever. Forever is confirmed by this picture, which is hung on the wall as you walk in.

     Old school candy-making was learned and passed down from the present owner's grandfather (who he looks uncannily like). They've been a family business for over 100 years, an unusual accomplishment for small-town American stores that have to compete with big chains. 

    Here are my favorites, based on the last few months of testing: pumpkin fudge to die for; fresh maple fudge made with maple syrup from a farm down the road; brandy soaked cherry cordials; dark chocolate pecan turtles; dark chocolate salted caramels; and their old-fashioned mints.

    I went in last week and they were in full swing production towards Easter. 

    Everything is still made in heirloom copper pots.........

    .....and the inside of the store has a friendly feel to it, with samples!

    So the memories no longer need to linger. I have found my candy home. From now on, in New Hampshire, I know I will stop by this little store every holiday---and every time I drive through town as well.

 Nelson's Candy

65 Main Street

Wilton, NH  03086

(603) 654-5030

facebook.com/Nelsons-Candies

 

Hotel Review: Le Grand Hotel Cannes

    This is one of the most intriquing hotels in Cannes, and one of the most comfortable. Le Grand Hotel is a large property with a prime location on the Croisette. It even has its own private beach for its guests. Yet it only has 45 rooms and has a distinct boutique feel to it---most likely due to the fact that it has been run by the same family for generations. It is the details, at this hotel, that make it a standout.

    Its exterior is indeed grand. This privately owned property also includes apartments and a large elegant villa used for cultural exhibitions.

    Le Grand Hotel has the highest floor of any hotel in Cannes, and that is where I was taken to see the suite on the 11th floor. When they opened the door, this was the view....

    The first thing I did was make a beeline for the glass doors to open them and walk out on the terrace. It was surprisingly wide, with a small table and chairs perfect for dinner for two. Under a full moon. With a sea breeze. And champagne. Dinner cooked by the Michelin star chef in the hotel. But more about that later.

    I was told that the barrier behind the table could be removed to open up to another spacious terrace including a large jacuzzi, with an entrance to an adjoining suite---providing the possibility of settling into a quite large living space. 

    The view was just unbelievable. You could see the entire bay of Cannes, the mountains, the beach, old town....and I could imagine how it would look at night with all the sparkling lights. 

    Two wicker chaise longues were positioned facing the sea, waiting for someone to snuggle into them for a nap in the sun.

  I could imagine sitting here forever watching the yachts come and go.

    Back inside, the decor was a cool blend of 50's and 60's, which was refreshing and fun.

    Yet there were high tech touches like an ipad and huge flat screen TVs.

    I was again swept away, this time with the view from the bedroom. 

    ....which was simple and comfortable, with red bedside reading lights by Philip Stark.

    Le Grand Hotel was built in the 60's and is emblematic of that error. Major renovations upgraded the entire complex, making it supremely attractive and giving it a contemporary, sleek feel.

    Le Cercle Bar faces the sea and spills outside onto the lawn.....

    ....and artwork such as the "roses" constantly change color at night..........from pale pink to fuscia to red.....

    But here's the best news of all.

    Le Grand Hotel has one of the best chefs on the Cote d'Azur, Sebastien Broda. This Michelin star chef has lifted Cannes' hotel dining scene to a higher level with his inspired cuisine, which reflects the exquisite produce available on the Riviera. You can sample his cooking at Le Park 45, either inside or outside. You will be in the good hands of a chef who has worked with Roger Verger, at La Palme d'Or and at the Carlton. 

    This is a hotel I can enthusiastically recommend. It is retro chic, colorful, filled with light, sparkling clean, in a prime location, with a beach and a beach restaurant, a Michelin star chef, and an atmosphere that is friendly and very upbeat. No stuffy antique lobby at this hotel. It is breathing and alive. Its energy will revive you. Just what a great hotel should do.

Le Grand Hotel, 45 Bd. de La Croisette, Cannes, France

33 (0)4 93 38 15 45

www.grand-hotel-cannes.com

 

Vacation Apartment Review: Cannes, France

A Walk Through Cannes

The sky was black. I heard a huge thunderous boom. And then another. And then the rain came down in  heavy drops, pounding the pavement.

I'm in Cannes, and this morning the dark drama drove me into a cafe where I thought I would wait out the storm for a few minutes and instead encouraged me to sit down in the warmth of the interior for lunch. An hour later and the sky was bright blue.

     I took a walk through Cannes.......first to the antiques market in the Marche Forville......

....then a hike up the hill of Suquet to the top....

..........and back down ...........this was the first time in all these years I noticed the handprints of the stars in the sidewalk outside of where the Cannes Film Festival is held!

.........and now the sun was hot, the beach full, and the superyachts sparkling on the sea........

     One of the best places for free WIFI is at MacDonalds.........and while I was there checking my email I realized that the prices seemed high.........for the same amount of money you could eat very well at a cafe...........and I also noticed not many people there...........mostly people like me checking their email for the price of a not very good coffee......

    

.........on the other hand, this looked good! Two pounds of mussels, cooked either in cognac or with gorgonzola cheese.........hmmmmmmmm!

     I'll be here for another few weeks, so perhaps?...........if I come back for dinner, I'll post a picture for you!

 

 

Photo Essay: The High Line NYC

    If you are visiting New York City, or even live there, and haven't been to High Line yet, it is something you really should do. It is over a mile long, running high above the streets on the west side of Manhattan on old railroad tracks. 

    My last walk there was on this sunny day and you can see how many people gravitate to it to enjoy the weather and socializing.

    Art and fun and interesting buildings and peeks at the river are on either side as you walk. 

    

...........and here the walkers stopped for a rest, facing a window that looks at oncoming traffic coming towards them on the street below..........

..........lounge chairs for sunning...........

..........cafes and tiny restaurants for dining...........

......lawns for resting...................

...............and if you walk down the stairs every few blocks..............

...........you can drop into the Meatpacking District and other neighborhoods for shopping, dining, or cruising the bars...........

    High Line Park runs from Gansevoort Street to West 34th Street. Access points are at Gansevoort Street, 14th Street, 16th Street, 18th Street and 20th Street. If you enter at 20th street you have a great stroll downtown towards the Meat Packing District.

High Line Park Web Site

 

 

 

Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas Cruise to Bermuda

    This beautiful ship is where I spent my summer vacation. I only had one week free. How perfect. I would be taken care of, fed, entertained, and allowed to rest. It was exactly what I needed. I am a workaholic. A cruise takes care of you, takes a burden off your shoulders, holds your hand, and pushes fun into your life. I was on the Explorer of the Seas headed for Bermuda.

    We sailed out of Cape Liberty, NJ and had this view of New York City with the Staten Island Ferry heading towards her. 

 

.......everyone went up on the deck to see the ship sail under the Verazano Bridge...........

.............there was a Captain's Welcome Party on the Promenade with free-flowing champagne and live music to dance to...................

...........we all jammed onto the Promenade to enjoy the party............it was our first real look at all the shops and restaurants as well.................

...............this is what the Promenade looks like during the day.....some cabin windows open out to the Promenade and it is beautifully decorated and filled with light..............

............at one end of the ship is the Palace Theater, where all the broadway-style shows were held.......

.............this is looking up from the Promenade at the huge piece of artwork hanging from the ceiling......

.............this is looking down at where the art auction is held on a lower deck..........the curves and flow of the interior space of the boat were eye-catching and made it a pleasing experience to stroll around...........

..........the stores along the Promenade were filled with high quality items.....I thought these Lamborghini watches looked pretty cool...........there was also an English Pub and a French inspired cafe............and a Ben & Jerry's............

..................you can see the cafe below under the red awning on the left........I used to stop in for coffee or little croissant sandwiches stuffed with ham, cheese and tomato........they also served pizza and cookies every day.........

....I didn't take a picture of the cabin, but did of the hand-painted tile detail in the bathroom .............

............yes, those are my feet! Lounging and listening to a great band by the pool. Ended up dancing under the stars for hours....the entertainment on the boat was superb.

..........there is a huge gym facing the ocean with steam, sauna, whirpools and classrooms.....

............and an adults only pool area with its own bar and whirlpools..................

...and you can jog and walk the upper deck for working out in the sun and sea air....and in the evening you could either dine at your whim in the large buffet area or dine formally in the dining room below....

........this cruise was only five days to Bermuda, so since I had been there many times before, I decided to spend my time near where the boat was docked on King's Wharf. It had everything I wanted. A French pastry shop with WIFI. A fabulous British pub that makes their own beer and delicious Bermudian fish chowder. Shopping. A crafts center. Entertainment and bands at night. And a sweet little beach you could snorkel from with a restaurant, bar and bands. And I had time to rest, sleep, and rejuvenate. It's almost a perfect quick trip out of New York City, getting you to a place far enough away that you feel as if you have been somewhere, and taking very good care of you. I can't wait to go back.

Related Post:

Cruise Cuisine: Explorer of the Seas 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Central Park Stroll

Wow, what a sunny weekend in NYC! Everyone was out and about. Here are a few shots of a stroll I took through Central Park. Come with me!

    Hills were covered with bikini clad sun worshippers. Picnics were spread out under trees. I turned a corner near the Metropolitan Museum of Art and sat down on a bench to listen to great jazz.

    But you don't have to go in the museum to see art, there's tons of historic and innovative art throughout the park....this cat sits on a bluff above the running lane....waiting for runners to pass by and ambush them....(just kidding...!)

    The boat house was packed...............

.........brunchers were enjoying their meal with an excellent open air view of the rowers on the pond....

...the bar was humming. And the outside bar was filled to the gills with people celebrating summer.

..........just steps away, this was the line waiting to rent a row boat to go out on the pond...

.....there are so many beautiful corners of Central Park....this fountain being one of them.

..........and did you know there is a very lovey croquet court in the park??

...in fact, in many ways, Central Park is on the up and up. There's even a Pain Quotedienne instead of the former, not so great, snack shacks that used to dot the park. This is seriously good news.

...........it seems to me that Central Park is the perfect place to be on a perfect sunny day. Good food. Clean, well-groomed landscape. Art. Music. And others who also are in the mood to celebrate, in a laid back way, the return of summer in the city.

 

 

Madison Avenue Stroll, Part 2.

...and made a note that I want to come back and see this exhibit at Gagosian before I leave.....

...that's what's great about window shopping. You don't have to want to wear the clothes you see, you can just glance at them and keep walking...

...HOWEVER,  I would definitely, definitely, definitely wear this little Carolina Herrera number! Sleek, and I am a bona fide dog lover....hence...

....from whimsy to a very serious building: The Whitney Museum. 

....to a book store with my kind of book. Too bad it was closed. Have to go back!

...ladies and gentlemen. On the right, a Ralph Lauren store (whole building)...

....and just across the street, another Ralph Lauren store (building)....

....and a Ralph Lauren window. Most of the windows on Madison Avenue featured white or cream fashion....

....and a white Astin Martin across the street from Bond Street's Asprey.......

...if you want to fit in all the skinny clothes in the windows, don't stop here. Laduree for macarons. Heavenly. Just heavenly. Oh, maybe just one!!!!

...of all the fashion, the shoes along Madison Avenue were the most interesting.....

.....along with this....

.............while Nello's still draws the famous and infamous on mid-town Madison Avenue, I sort of like this little place....Bar Italia...........laid back and pretty....

....walk another block, and on your left you will see Hermes...........

...and across the street, the famous Nello. You go here for the crowd, for the ambiance, and for the lovely big flower arrangements. One night I sat here next to a very famous hedge fund manager and his wife, and the noise was so loud we couldn't hear each other comment on each other's plates. Polite smiles all around. (the end of the story: it was 8:30 and I heard him say, "We have to get going and get to bed, early day tomorrow).

....and now for some men's fashion.....

 

....Todd's boating shoes?!

....Barney's Department Store....minimalist.......

..............dripping in jewels at Chopard....

.....so I leave you with the last window I saw. Two shoes. Sort of says it all. If you visit NYC and stroll along Madison Avenue, it is always different. This was all shot on one day. But what is constant is that it is a small town street in a big city. Something many of us treasure. It is hollywood. Fantasy. Another world. For window shopping, it is superb!

 

 

Madison Avenue Stroll, Part 1

    While mid-town Madison Avenue is impressive and international, the upper reaches of Madison Avenue feel like a small town. Side streets are tree lined. Town houses have planters overflowing with flowers and vines. Stores are small, and antique shops, boutiques and art galleries abound.

    Come take a walk with me and let's look at all the shops together. Later, I will post a second stroll that takes you to mid-town.

    I started around 94th street and began to walk downtown....

    

    Rather than big book chains, a couple of independent bookstores have survived with a very loyal local clientelle. 

    This knitting store looked very tempting, but I have bags full of beautiful yarns waiting for me to transform them into something, so I bypassed this temptation and kept walking!

    Despite only being mid-June, summer sales are in full swing. 

 

    Bistro du Nord was ready for guests...........

.....and looked like it had an interesting menu for the evening.....

...........this lavender was so fragrant as I walked by...........

......shoe window shopping. From casual flats to space age stilletos!

    I stopped into Dean & Deluca, an upscale food market, to take a look around.....

...and ended up with roll mops and some peaches for later. 

....back on the street, more window shopping.

.....loved this window of an art gallery.

......not sure how I felt about these shoes!

.....EAT Cafe, always busy.....

    I stopped into L'Occitane....from the south of France where I lived for so many years. They make a wonderful Shea Hand Cream............

    And I ended up at my hang out, my favorite restaurant in the city. I stood at the bar. I had a tiny sandwich and an expresso. I feel so at home here, either dropping in for one of the gelatos they import from Milan, or for a wine, or for lunch, or for a late afternoon snack. Great ambiance. The family is from Milan and have had this restaurant in this location for years. You have to try it!

    Soon I will post Part 2. Stay tuned!

 

 

Please Don't Squeeze The Cotton Candy

    I lived in France for many years, starting when I was a newlywed in Paris. It was hard then to find American foods in France like peanut butter, oreos (my husband's favorite), bagels, and maple syrup---so I had them shipped over to supplement my pantry. When I later moved to the South of France and had loads of American friends flying over to visit, I would recruit them to pack (hide) some things for me in their suitcases. 

    My biggest treasure was receiving maple syrup.

    One weekend in the South of France, I had guests from Paris and wanted to serve them something fun for Saturday breakfast. But when they put a mouthful of pancakes and maple syrup into their mouth they very politely froze. Then they shook their head. Then they swallowed and blushed. Pushed for an answer of how they liked it, they responded that they did not have a taste for sweet things for their breakfast. 

    I tried maple syrup on some other French friends down from Bordeaux and they loved it. So I decided maple syrup in another country is a hit or miss proposition.

    But here in New Hampshire we get really excited about it. It is a rite of spring to wait for the sap to run and find new maple syrup.

    Just minutes from my village, a young couple has a maple business in a chalet-style barn on a pond with ducks and geese scurrying about---so perfect a setting that the thought occured to me their building would make a great house, with sunsets on the pond and high ceilings and a vast great room.

    I found them by accident as I was hurtling down the highway one day. A sign out front caught my attention.

    Never a lover of cotton candy, the sign stayed in my thoughts for days. Should I go back? What did it taste like?

    So I went back today and was swept away by how good their maple cotton candy tastes. I pulled off a fluffy bit, placed it delicately on my tongue and closed my mouth. It was gone. All that was left was the taste of not-too-sweet maple syrup. Divine!!!!!! Magical!

    I was hooked. I bought some of their maple cotton candy and some of their homemade maple pecan fudge. It was the best fudge I have ever eaten. Seriously. Not too sweet. Just perfect. 

    So I wanted to share with you my journey to Morning Star Maple Sugar House in Dublin, NH. This is what it looks like when you enter through their front door.

    They really have their act together. A gift store with every imaginable product made with maple syrup. Below are the packages of their homemade maple sugar candies shaped into bears, turtles, chicks, owls, and maple leaves...........

......and they make maple caramel popcorn.......

 ...........great looking lollipops............ 

..............and of course, their own golden maple syrup............

    If you are in New England this summer traveling about, visit Morning Star Maple. Your kids will love it. You will be able to tour their maple making facility............which is huge and ultra modern and clean.....

.....taste samples, sit by the pond,  savor some of their maple cotton candy......
.....and take some home. Just remember, don't squeeze the cotton candy!

Morning Star Maple Sugar House, Route 101, Dublin, NH 

603.563.9218   Order online at:  www.morningstarmaple.com