How do you spend 20 years building relationships in one city — and then find an even better way to give back?

In this episode of Beyond the Plate with Carol, I sit down with Erik Lesniak, Business Liaison for the City of Manchester's Economic Development Office. Erik spent nearly two decades with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats before stepping into a brand-new role helping small businesses navigate and thrive in Manchester.

WE TALK ABOUT:

20 years with the Fisher Cats and why he made the jump

What a Business Liaison actually does (hint: it's all about relationships)

The Salvation Army and ringing bells since 2005

His son Jaden's miracle story — 47 days in the NICU

Being named 2025 St. Patrick's Parade Grand Marshal

Why walking Manchester every day matters

Dave's Hot Chicken and recruiting businesses to the city

His favorite lunch spot: Dun Thai

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CONNECT WITH MANCHESTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:

🔗 Website: manchesternh.gov

📘 Facebook: Manchester Economic Development Office

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

🍗 Dave's Hot Chicken

🍜 Dun Thai (South Maple Street)

⚾ New Hampshire Fisher Cats

🔔 Salvation Army of Manchester

🛍️ Mall of New Hampshire

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BEYOND THE PLATE WITH CAROL:

Real stories. Real people. Real conversations. Carol Lawrence is the owner of the iconic Red Arrow Diners — open 24/7 in Manchester, Londonderry, Concord, and Nashua. Each episode, she sits down with entrepreneurs, chefs, and community leaders for honest conversations about food, business, and everything in between.

📺 YouTube: youtube.com/@beyondtheplatewithcarol

📘 Facebook: facebook.com/beyondtheplatenh

🔗 Red Arrow Diner: redarrowdiner.com

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#ErikLesniak #ManchesterNH #QueenCity #NewHampshire #FisherCats #SalvationArmy #GrandMarshal #BeyondThePlate #CarolLawrence #RedArrowDiner #NHBusiness #EconomicDevelopment #SmallBusiness #CommunityLeaders #NewEngland

How do restaurant menus actually get made? In this episode of Beyond the Plate with Carol, Chef Nicole Barrera — Director of Marketing & Menus at Great NH Restaurants — shares how she went from busing tables at 14 to writing the menus for T-Bones, Cactus Jack's, and Copper Door in New Hampshire.

We talk about:

-How restaurant menus are developed

-The story behind her famous pink chef jacket

-FEED NH and giving back over $1M to New Hampshire communities

-Why CTE culinary programs matter

-Work ethic, women in culinary leadership, and building a career in hospitality

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - Intro

0:00 - Nicole's culinary journey starts at 14

0:00 - The pager story

0:00 - Annie V's and early restaurant jobs

0:00 - SNHU culinary program

0:00 - Getting hired at T-Bones

0:00 - The pink chef jacket story

0:00 - How menus actually get made

0:00 - FEED NH and giving back

0:00 - Advice for young people in hospitality

CONNECT WITH CHEF NICOLE & GREAT NH RESTAURANTS:

🔗 Website: https://greatnhrestaurants.com

🔗 T-Bones: https://t-bones.com

🔗 FEED NH: https://feednh.org

📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/chef.tbones

📸 Instagram: @greatnhrestaurants

BEYOND THE PLATE WITH CAROL:

Beyond the Plate is a New Hampshire podcast hosted by Carol Lawrence, owner of Red Arrow Diner. Each episode features real conversations with chefs, restaurant owners, and community leaders about food, business, and hospitality in New Hampshire.

📺 Subscribe: https://youtube.com/@beyondtheplatewithcarol

📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/beyondtheplatenh

🔗 Red Arrow Diner: https://redarrowdiner.com

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#ChefNicoleBarrera #TBones #CopperDoor #CactusJacks #GreatNHRestaurants #FEEDNH #NewHampshire #NHEats #BeyondThePlate #CarolLawrence #RedArrowDiner #WomenInCulinary #ChefLife #RestaurantLife #HospitalityPodcast #NHPodcast #NewHampshireFood

Shelby Rossetti didn't plan on a restaurant career when she walked into a Ground Round at 18 to pay for college—but she met her husband there, made great money, and never looked back. Thirty years later, after managing TGI Fridays locations across New England (including opening AND closing the South Willow location) and running her own weighted blanket business, she's now the General Manager at Evviva Trattoria in Bedford, bringing her decades of hospitality experience to this family-owned modern Italian concept.

From signature Italian Street Fries to creating a team culture that "feels like home," Shelby shares what makes Evviva special, how her journey brought her full circle in New England's restaurant industry, and why she'd be an electrician if she wasn't running restaurants.

Visit Evviva Trattoria Bedford: 📍 Website: www.evvivatrattoria.com/bedford 📱 Instagram: @evvivatrattoria 👍 Facebook: www.facebook.com/evvivatrattoria

About Carol Lawrence:

Carol Lawrence is the owner of the iconic Red Arrow Diners and host of Beyond the Plate, a podcast celebrating the people, stories, and passion behind New England's hospitality industry.

Follow Beyond the Plate:

Instagram: @beyondtheplatenh Facebook: @beyondtheplatenh Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts

#RestaurantManagement #NewEnglandRestaurants #HospitalityIndustry #EvvivaTrattoria #BedfordNH #ItalianRestaurant #CareerJourney #RedArrowDiner #BeyondThePlate #WomenInHospitality

Episode 27 is all about the heart and hustle behind La Carreta S. Willow Manchester NH! Jefferson Moreno Rivera shares how this spot keeps evolving, and Krystal jumps in with the kind of behind‑the‑bar magic that keeps the place glowing. Food, vibes, stories — this one has it all.

Big flavor, big personality, and big achievements — Episode 26 brings Bobby Marcotte to the table! The chef behind Tuckaway Tavern, Hop & Grind, Rise & Grind, and The Barn at Merry Hill, whose work has caught national eyes far beyond New Hampshire. We dive into creativity, hustle, and what it takes to stand out. You don’t want to miss this one!

I sat down with Judi Window of Diz’s Cafe—a true Manchester NH pillar. We talk front-of-house hospitality, Gary running the back, a crew full of family, and why you might literally be eating off your great-grandmother’s plate. Eclectic, funky, warm… this is what “supper” feels like downtown.

Ken Sheldon, better known as Fred Marple of Frost Heaves, joins me for a conversation filled with laughter, storytelling, and pure New Hampshire charm. From small-town humor to big-hearted lessons, this episode celebrates community, kindness, and his newest book, “Utter Nonsense.”

Sip Woodod joins me to share the journey from washing dishes to leading three local favorites: USA Chicken & Biscuit, The Halal Spot, and Rumi Kabob House. We talk resilience, family, faith, flavors, and what it really takes to keep guests coming back!

For the first time ever, I took Beyond the Plate with Carol on the road to the Hampton Beach Seafood Festival and I got to chat with Nicki Courtois, owner of Lupe’s 55 Cantina!

Nicki brings big energy, bold flavors, and serious heart to everything at Lupe’s. With creative dishes like her street tacos - she’s built a place that locals and tourist can’t stop talking about!!

This episode is all about passion for food, building community, and what it takes to keep things cooking on Hampton Beach.

Step inside 815 Cocktails & Provisions with co-owners Sarah Maillet and Ryan McCabe. They’ve built more than a restaurant — it’s a space where great food, creative drinks, and genuine hospitality come together beautifully.