By Holly Bedard
Editor

The Taste of Downtown Manchester last week was the perfect marriage of two of the best ways to spend an evening: eating and shopping. This Intown Manchester event lets you do a little of both as you parade down Elm Street peeking into shops you may not yet have entered and sampling the goods from some of the best restaurants in town.

The night was a sell-out, even with an increase in tickets for sale this year. You could see lots of people outside enjoying the musicians and singers, as well as inside getting a taste of the different shops and restaurants.

My favorite dish of the evening belonged to Piccola Italia. Situated deep within The Chair Gallery on Elm Street, this Italian eatery first served me a cannoli, then a butternut squash ravioli. (Bonus points for dishing out the dessert first.) The cannoli was fresh, with just the right amount of filling. The ravioli was a mixture of tastes that came together perfectly.

Another delicious stop on the tour came from Wallie & Bernie’s, who set up shop at D’Vine Wine & Gifts on Chestnut Street. They offered sake chicken with cucumber and bokchoy served with jasmine rice. This sampling had my dining companion and I saying we should make a point to stop by this restaurant. They also had a great butternut squash soup.

The most elaborate setup we saw was Margaritas, which took over almost half of Rheault Photography on Hanover Street. At this stop, you could make your own soft taco, with a variety of meats, veggies and sauces to choose from. Margaritas’ offerings were as tasty as ever.

It wasn’t just the restaurants I fell in love with during the Taste of Downtown Manchester. There were a number of shops that I won’t be a stranger to in the future. The most pleasant surprise I found was Pink Sapphire. I wasn’t sure what to expect as we hiked up the steep stairs to get there, but it was well worth the climb. The minute I stepped in, I could smell it: spa! I poked my nose into every room with a sinful-tasting Ben & Jerry’s ice cream in hand, marveling at how beautifully decorated everything was. On the way out, I was given a spa menu and some samples. These girls were after my own heart.

Another shop that had me impressed was Cute Little Shoppe on Chestnut Street. The shop does a lot of consignment from area crafters, with items ranging from purses and handbags to jewelry and other gifts. This may be a good place to go if you’re looking for something out of the mainstream.

The night was a great way to get people familiar with the shops and restaurants downtown Manchester has to offer. My only complaint is that the event isn’t long enough. By starting at 5 p.m. on a weekday, it’s hard for many to get there right at the start. And if you don’t start on time, you’ll have a hard time hitting all the stops.

That’s not going to stop us from trying, though. We’ll see you next year.