Page 22 | THE LAKER May 31, 2021 Lake
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Honoring Ice Cream By Thomas P. Caldwell Wherever you are in Central New Hampshire, ice cream and cheeses from the Sandwich Creamery are not far away. The dairy products are easily available at EM Heath in Center Harbor, Squam Lake Marketplace in Holderness, Farm To Table in Ossipee, and Picnic Rock Farm in Meredith, with other places also soon to be offering the homemade delicacies. For a real treat, though, make the journey to the source: The Sandwich Creamery at 130 Hannah Road in North Sandwich. To say it is off the beaten path is not an exaggeration: From downtown Center Harbor, it is a 14-mile trip along country roads that pass through both Center Sandwich and North Sandwich before becoming really remote, along Upper Road, Maple Ridge Road, Wing Road, and Hannah Road. The best part is still to come: the twisting dirt road leading to the farm, marked with a series of Burma Shavetype signs: Slow Down - Going Too Fast - Got To Make The - Journey Last. Going too fast on that road is not an option, making the sign warning of a speed bump somewhat humorous. For Emily Dickson of Meredith, it is the perfect place to go on a sunny afternoon. After hearing about the Sandwich Creamery from friends who live in the town, she began riding her motorcycle to the farm and sitting out in the garden to enjoy an ice cream. “It’s a nice drive to get here,” she
said, referring to the beautiful scenery along the route. It is a great destination for a get-away, with an expansive garden area with lawn swing, picnic tables, and plants. At times, there are farm animals to see, and those who are really lucky have a chance to watch the ice cream-making process through a window. Of course, the best part is being able to choose from a broad selection of ice cream flavors, as well as several cheeses. There are the usual flavors of vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, black raspberry, and coffee, but also Almond Joy, blackberry sorbet, blueberry, Chocorua O’Range, cow tracks, ginger, grape nut, and cookie dough.
“Definitely peppermint stick,” said Nathaniel, a shopper from Waterville Valley who has been coming to Sandwich Creamery since he was a toddler and says that is his favorite flavor. “They opened in 1995, and my dad started coming that same year,” he said. “There were always animals outside and we’d take out our ice cream and eat it with the cows, which is all a two-year-old could ask for.” A quarter of a century later, Nathaniel still makes trips to fill a cooler in the back of his car with all the ice cream it can hold. “It’s the best ice cream in the state,” he said definitively. In addition to the peaceful country setting, people appreciate the trust
shown by owners Tom and Lisa Merriman. The store operates on the honor system, with a sign saying, “We accept only cash or check. Please place in slot and collect change if needed.” The slot lies behind a hinged door, with a bucket for change beneath it. “People like the honor system,” Tom said. “People like being trusted.” Beginnings Tom said he went to England and took a course in cheese making, after which he worked in the Scottish Highlands. When he came back to Sandwich, he started making his own cheese, which he planned to produce and sell. He opened the Sandwich Creamery in 1995. Once he got the operation to the level where he felt the cheese was good enough to sell in stores, he began seeking out places beyond the farm where it would be convenient for people to purchase it. He and Lisa built the business on word-of-mouth advertising, putting their cheeses out at farm stands and farmers’ markets. Brie, Boursin, Caerphilly, and Coulommier are among the types of cheeses one finds at the Sandwich Creamery, as well as aged cheddar and cheeses flavored with horseradish or garlic. Asked about his personal favorite, Tom recommended his Brie cheese. Ice cream came along as part of the operation and, besides the standards, Tom said he enjoyed playing around • Day Tripping continued on page 23
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