Rochester gets Thai infusion

Infeng Vongsay survived extensive renovations, burst pipes, and a heartbreaking scare when he was afraid he lost his wife in the devastating tsunami in Southeast Asia on Dec. 26, but he finally opened the doors at the second location of Thai Cuisine for lunch and dinner in early March. Vongsay and his wife Air have owned and operated Thai Cuisine at 499 Central Avenue in Dover since 1998. His Rochester venture (101 North Main St., Rochester, 603-332-4200) brings a new partner, Kilavong Chanthaboune, and a new style of restaurant, with an American-style dining room on the main floor and a traditional Thai-style dining room with low tables and cushions on the second floor. The menu features spicy appetizers, entrees of seafood, chicken, pork, beef and vegetables, and a special selection of duck dinners.

fundraiser for the Black Bean Caf?? in Rollinsford

It's not too late to buy the most valuable $50 raffle ticket being sold this year. The Salmon Falls Village Gallery (72 Front St., Rollinsford) is hosting a special fundraiser to help out their neighbors at The Black Bean Caf??, who are in need of extra cash to buy a hood vent for their kitchen. In the barnraising spirit, the Gallery is hosting an art raffle, with every ticket holder guaranteed to bring home a piece of art of their own choosing. Much of the artwork has been donated by locally and nationally known artists working across the street at the Salmon Falls Mill art studios. The event takes place on Thursday, March 31 at 6 p.m. For more information, contact Emily at 603-740-0330 or This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Taste of the Nation moving to Portsmouth

The much-anticipated 11th annual Taste of the Nation event, organized by Share Our Strength Seacoast, an all-volunteer hunger relief organization of the food service industry, will move from Wentworth by the Sea Hotel in New Castle to the grounds of Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth to increase guest capacity from 400 to 700.

"For the past two years, the event has sold out almost instantly, leaving a large number of supporters unable to participate in the festivities," said Scott McKee, co-chair of the event, in a press release. The goal, he said, is to raise a record amount for hunger relief without increasing the $75 ticket price.

Share Our Strength, a national organization with local chapters, donates 100 percent of funds raised at Taste of the Nation dinners to food banks, community aid programs, and other organizations battling hunger. McKee points out that in the last decade the greatest increase in hunger in America has been among the working poor. "It's a disturbing fact that amidst the abundance of the Seacoast, there are scores of individuals and families who have to choose between paying their bills and buying food," he said.

Taste of the Nation will take place June 21 at Strawbery Banke. Tickets will go on sale in late May.

Dover's Crescent City gets fresh

At Crescent City Bistro (83 Washington St., Dover, 603-742-1611) Chef Chris "Koz" Kozlowski will change the menu this week, and every week hereafter. He's introducing weekly season-specific menus, in which dinner choices will be continually refreshed, beginning on March 29, according to a press release from the restaurant. The new menus will include three offerings in each course category (appetizers/salads, entrees and desserts), with two to three guest-favorite house signature items always being available from the kitchen.