5 goods made in the mwv
Among the things for which Mount Washington Valley rightly deserves to be famous are the many high-quality items that are locally made. Here are just a few:
bavarian chocolate haus
Bavarian Chocolate Haus, located at 2483 White Mountain Highway in North Conway, has been making specialty chocolates since 1991. Scott Ferrari and David Hallett have owned the business for 15 years, and Ferrari says some of the recipes date back to the beginning of the store or even earlier.
“We have a butter crunch recipe from 1912,” he said, and recipes for fudges and caramel unchanged since 1991. “We’ve got some basic recipes that are just wonderful,” he said. Ferrari and Hallet buy raw chocolate from a company in Pennsylvania — about 30,000 pounds of it a year — melt it down, add their own ingredients and form it into a variety of candies, from nut clusters and peppermint patties to new creations like cranberry pumpkin seed bark, and chocolate covered Oreos and gummy bears.
The shop has a strong following among locals and visitors. “People need chocolate,” Ferrari said. “And chocolate is good for you.”
limmer boots
These amazing custom-made-to-order hiking boots have been handcrafted in the Mount Washington Valley for over 70 years and have an international reputation. They stand up to the rigors of hiking from Mount Washington to Mount Everest and are so popular that for years there has been a 2 to 3 1/2-year-waiting list to get a pair. Still, customers agree they are worth the wait — and the price, now about $1,100. While that price might seem steep, Limmer boots are estimated to last an average of 15 years.
The shop is located at 9 Limmer Lane in Intervale and is open 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information call (603) 356-5378 or go to their website via the link below.
lupine
Outdoor recreation technology also influenced the creation of Lupine pet collars, leashes, harnesses and other accessories for dogs and cats. Founded in 1990 by Valerie and David Jensen, and Scott Badger, Lupine’s dog and cat collars are made of the same kind of durable nylon web as mountaineering equipment. The unique designs are beautiful as well as extremely durable.
You can find them at Four Your Paws Only pet store at 1821 White Mountain Highway in North Conway, and online via the link below.
ragged mountain equipment
Ragged Mountain Equipment started in the 1980s and makes its own line of outdoor clothing from base layers to jackets, along with gaiters and mittens, packs and sacks, all designed for outdoors enthusiasts by people who know their stuff. Founder Rob Nadler started out designing chalk bags and other technical equipment to meet his own climbing needs. He and fellow owner Cort Hansen take full advantage of the store’s location to carry on that “White Mountain Tested” tradition, getting constant feedback from the climbers, hikers and skiers who make the region their playground.
Ragged Mountain Equipment, open 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sunday - Thursday and 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Saturday, is located at 279 Route 16 and 302 in Intervale. Find out more about them via the link below.
Vito Marcello’s Gourmet Foods
Vito Marcello’s Italian Bistro has been a fixture of fine dining in North Conway Village for most of the past 35 years, serving gourmet Italian food in an intimate atmosphere. For much of that time, owner Vito Marcello has also been creating and marketing his own brand of pasta sauces, salad dressings, bloody Mary mixes and gelato.
Today, you can find his products in supermarkets and specialty food stores up and down the East Coast. Locally, you can find Vito Marcello’s sauces in Hannaford Supermarket and Zeb’s Market in North Conway, and Grant’s Supermarket in Glen.
Dave’s Gourmet Kettle Corn
Though we like to keep our lists to five local standouts, we couldn’t resist adding just one more, as Dave’s Kettle Corn is ridiculously delicious, even to one of us who thinks popcorn is best served simply with butter and salt. Dave’s is fresh and sweet and salty and very hard to stop eating. The newest made-in-the-valley business on our list, Dave’s was founded in 2021 and brings kettle corn to fairs and farmers markets, as well as packaging it for sale in supermarket, convenience and specialty stores in original and maple flavors.
You can find Dave’s at a growing list of local stores, including Grant’s Shop and Save in Glen, Ledge Brewery in Intervale, and Veno’s Specialty Foods and Meats in Conway.
