Puritan Backroom

Last updated

The Puritan Backroom is a 2020 James Beard Foundation Award America's Classic restaurant in Manchester, New Hampshire. The restaurant serves Greek-influenced New England cuisine and is known for their mudslides and for chicken tenders, which they invented in 1974. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

History

Arthur Pappas and Louis Canotas, Greek emigrants to the United States, opened the Puritan Confectionery Company in 1917.

In 1974, their children attached a back room for a restaurant. That same year, Charlie Pappas salvaged chicken pieces that had been trimmed from larger cuts, marinating and frying them to create chicken tenders. [4] Although references to chicken fingers and "chicken sticks" predate the introduction of chicken tenders at Puritan, it is difficult to tell if these refer to modern chicken tenders; a 1952 recipe for chicken fingers, for example, involves cream of chicken soup, pie crust, and shredded chicken. [5]

Puritan tenders are marinated in duck sauce. Marinated tenders are sometimes known as "Manchester chicken tenders" and are contrasted with "dry" tenders, which can be found at nearby restaurants like the Red Arrow Diner. [6] Puritan sells 6-8 tons of chicken tenders each week. [7]

As of 2020, the restaurant is run by the third and fourth generations of the Pappas family, including New Hampshire congressman Chris Pappas. Due to the importance of the New Hampshire presidential primary and the restaurant's location in the state's largest city, Puritan "has become a required stop for candidates passing through on the campaign trail. In an era of division, it is a rare nonpartisan space where everyone feels welcome." [1] [2] George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Marco Rubio, and Mitt Romney are among the political figures who have visited the restaurant. [8] [7]

Setbacks

On November 24, 2019, norovirus struck 18 people who attended a private function at the restaurant, and may have caused the death of one person. [8] In March 2020, a fire caused about $80,000 in damage. [9] In September 2020, they closed for a short time after a bartender tested positive for COVID-19. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Hampshire</span> U.S. state

New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec to the north. Of the 50 U.S. states, New Hampshire is the fifth smallest by area and the tenth least populous, with a population of 1,377,529 residents as of the 2020 census. Concord is the state capital and Manchester is the most populous city. New Hampshire's motto, "Live Free or Die", reflects its role in the American Revolutionary War; its nickname, "The Granite State", refers to its extensive granite formations and quarries. It is well known nationwide for holding the first primary in the U.S. presidential election cycle, and for its resulting influence on American electoral politics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buffalo wing</span> American dish of spicy chicken wings

A Buffalo wing in American cuisine is an unbreaded chicken wing section that is generally deep-fried, then coated or dipped in a sauce consisting of a vinegar-based cayenne pepper hot sauce and melted butter prior to serving. They are traditionally served hot, along with celery sticks and carrot sticks, and a dip of blue cheese dressing or, primarily outside of New York, ranch dressing. Buffalo wings are named for Buffalo, New York, where they were invented, and have no relation to the animal. They are often called simply chickenwings, hot wings, or just wings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manchester, New Hampshire</span> Largest city in New Hampshire, United States

Manchester is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire and the tenth most populous in New England. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 115,644.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicken tikka masala</span> Dish consisting of boneless chicken pieces in curry sauce

Chicken tikka masala is a dish consisting of roasted marinated chicken chunks in a spiced sauce. The sauce is usually creamy and orange-coloured. The dish was popularised by cooks from India living in Great Britain and is offered at restaurants around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butter chicken</span> Indian gravy chicken dish prepared with butter

Butter chicken, traditionally known as murgh makhani, is an Indian dish originating in Delhi. It is a type of curry made from chicken with a spiced tomato and butter (makhan) sauce. Its sauce is known for its rich texture. It is similar to chicken tikka masala, which uses a tomato paste.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Hampshire Fisher Cats</span> Minor league baseball team

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats are a Minor League Baseball team based in Manchester, New Hampshire. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays major league club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tandoori chicken</span> Marinated roast chicken dish

Tandoori chicken is a dish made from chicken marinated in yogurt and spices and roasted in a tandoor, a cylindrical clay oven. The dish is now popular worldwide. The modern form of the dish was popularized by the Moti Mahal restaurant in New Delhi, India in the late 1940s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicken fingers</span> U.S. dish of breaded and fried chicken meat

Chicken fingers are chicken meat prepared from the pectoralis minor muscles of the animal. These strips of white meat are located on either side of the breastbone, under the breast meat. They may also be made with similarly shaped pieces cut from chicken meat, usually the breast, or sometimes just pulverized chicken flesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Hampshire's 1st congressional district</span> U.S. House district for New Hampshire

New Hampshire's 1st congressional district covers parts of Southern New Hampshire and the eastern portion of the state. The district contains parts of Hillsborough, Rockingham, Merrimack, Grafton, and Belknap counties; and the entirety of Strafford and Carroll counties.

The Miss New Hampshire is the scholarship program that selects the representative for the state of New Hampshire in the Miss America competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hot chicken</span> Chicken dish from Nashville, Tennessee, US

Hot chicken is a type of fried chicken that is a local specialty of Nashville, Tennessee, in the United States. In its typical preparation, it is a portion of breast, thigh or wing that has been marinated in a water-based blend of seasoning, floured, fried and finally covered in a paste or sauce that has been spiced with cayenne pepper. This method of preparation originates within African American communities in the Southern United States. A richly pigmented seasoning paste gives the fried chicken its reddish hue. Spice blends, preparation methods and heat intensity vary from recipe to recipe or depending on the chef.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Pappas (American politician)</span> American politician (born 1980)

Christopher Charles Pappas is an American politician who has been the U.S. representative from New Hampshire's 1st congressional district since 2019. From 2013 to 2019, he represented the 4th district on the New Hampshire Executive Council. The district includes Manchester, two towns in Hillsborough, six towns in Merrimack, eight towns in Rockingham, and two towns in Strafford County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 United States House of Representatives elections in New Hampshire</span>

The 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in New Hampshire were held on November 8, 2016, to elect the two U.S. representatives from the state of New Hampshire, one from each of the state's two congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections. The primaries were held on September 13.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 United States House of Representatives elections in New Hampshire</span>

The 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in New Hampshire were held on November 6, 2018, to elect the two U.S. representatives from the state of New Hampshire, one from each of the state's two congressional districts. The elections coincided with other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States House of Representatives elections in New Hampshire</span>

The 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in New Hampshire were held on November 3, 2020, to elect the two U.S. representatives from the state of New Hampshire, one from each of the state's two congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in New Hampshire</span> Ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in New Hampshire, United States

The COVID-19 pandemic in New Hampshire is part of an ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. The first confirmed case was reported on March 2, 2020. A state of emergency was declared March 13, which included a ban on gatherings of 50 or more people. A small group filed a lawsuit claiming the order infringed on their right to assemble and worship; a judge dismissed the suit. On March 26, all nonessential businesses were closed and Governor Chris Sununu advised people to only leave home for essential necessities. That stay-at-home order was extended several times before being allowed to expire on June 15. Through November 22, a total of 74 emergency orders had been issued by Sununu. Sununu lifted the mask mandate as of April 16, 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 United States House of Representatives elections in New Hampshire</span>

The 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in New Hampshire were held on November 8, 2022, to elect the two U.S. representatives from the state of New Hampshire, one from each of the state's two congressional districts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mayoral elections in Manchester, New Hampshire, in the 21st century</span> Elections for mayor in Manchester, New Hampshire during the 19th century

Beginning shortly after the city's incorporation as a city in 1846, elections have been held in the mayor of Manchester, New Hampshire. The following article provides information on the elections for mayor in the city during the 21st century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave's Hot Chicken</span> Nashville-style fried chicken restaurant chain

Dave's Hot Chicken is an American fast casual restaurant chain specializing in Nashville-style hot chicken.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 United States House of Representatives elections in New Hampshire</span>

The 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in New Hampshire will be held on November 5, 2024, to elect the two U.S. representatives from the state of New Hampshire, one from each of the state's two congressional districts. The primary elections are scheduled for September 10, 2024.

References

  1. 1 2 "ANNOUNCING THE 2020 AMERICA'S CLASSICS WINNERS". James Beard Foundation. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  2. 1 2 DeCosta-Klipa, Nik (November 13, 2015). "New Hampshire politics revolve around these famous chicken tenders". Boston.com. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  3. ↑ Olmsted, Larry (December 17, 2015). "N.H.'s Puritan, birthplace of the chicken tender". USA TODAY. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  4. ↑ Fuhrmeister, Chris (December 17, 2015). "A New Hampshire Restaurant Says it Invented Chicken Tenders in 1974". Eater. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  5. ↑ Skrzat, Ellie (August 28, 2023). "Searching for America's First Chicken Finger". TASTE. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  6. ↑ Jagoda, Caleb (February 15, 2023). "Love Me Tenders: A Chicken Tender Crawl Through Manchester". New Hampshire Magazine. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  7. 1 2 Roof, Bryan (January 18, 2022). "On The Road: A Tender Side to a Political Battleground | Cook's Country". www.americastestkitchen.com. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  8. 1 2 Fortier, Marc (December 27, 2019). "18 Sickened at Puritan Backroom Restaurant in NH, 1 Person Has Since Died". NBC Boston. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Fire damages Puritan Backroom restaurant". The Concord Monitor. March 25, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  10. ↑ Feely, Paul (September 15, 2020). "Puritan Backroom temporarily closed after bartender tests positive for COVID-19". The New Hampshire Union-Leader. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.