New Hampshire
About five percent of NH restaurants are Mexican. One Manchester spot aims to be a place for everyone.
Jose Garcia used to work in the fields as a kid in Zacatecas in northern Mexico. Looking for new horizons, he immigrated to Texas 22 years ago. There he found a community of young people like him.
“There was a lot of music and places to go to dance,” he said. “But there weren’t many jobs.”
He ventured to the northeast looking to open a restaurant that could mimic the festive ambiance he found in the immigrant community in Texas. Garcia also dreamed of offering real Mexican food. He has nothing against Tex-Mex tacos, but he says the real flavors of Mexico are unbeatable.
Once in New Hampshire, he found a more affordable place to live but with a much smaller Latino community. For years he had to work in a foundry, barely making ends meet.
His Dominican wife encouraged him to pursue his dream. They opened Begy’s Taqueria in Manchester a few years ago. They met on the dance floor in Nashua, and now they swing in the kitchen to the sound of the jukebox, preparing tacos that are hard to find in other places.
Tripe and other beef offal are served in warm corn or flour tortillas, topped with onions, fresh cilantro, radishes, cucumber, salsa, and a hint of lemon; a perfect balance of spicy and citrus. Garcia says the flavors are like going on a trip to Zacatecas, his hometown.
Garcia’s shop is one of the 155 Mexican restaurants open in New Hampshire; more than a third are in Hillsborough County, which has a larger Mexican community than other parts of the state, according to Census data. A recent Pew Research Center survey based on data from Safegraph, and Yelp reviews said Mexican restaurants make up roughly 5% of restaurants in New Hampshire, but nationally comprised 10% of the total of restaurants.
Compared with other New England states, New Hampshire has the second lowest number of Mexican restaurants, while Massachusetts and Maine have the highest concentration.
Garcia also sells more traditional taco options, like pastor, chorizo or asada, for those who do not venture into the specialties. David Frechette, a client, is a fan of steak tacos, he usually orders a half dozen
“It’s one of the best places in town,” he said.
The taco shop location was once a Bosnian restaurant. When Garcia rented it, the landlord asked him to please keep the name Begy’s, which is his last name. That anecdote encapsulates Garcia’s goal to make his restaurant a place for everyone, including U.S.-born residents and the growing immigrant community in his neighborhood who perhaps have never tried a taco before.
“That is essential for me,” he said. “People from Africa eating my tacos – that is amazing!”
Garcia says since there aren’t many Mexican restaurants in the state, some business owners have difficulties finding food suppliers or where to buy more affordable products.
“If I were a bad person I would not tell them where to find tortillas, and I would let them buy them very expensive,” he said. “But no, we get along like friends.”
There aren’t many Latin American restaurants in New Hampshire either, only 38 restaurants across the state serve Hispanic food from places like El Salvador, Colombia, or Puerto Rico, according to data from the Pew Research Center analysis.
Maine and Vermont have the fewest Latin American restaurants in New England, with 28 and 12 respectively.
Garcia shares his experience with people who want to open a restaurant because for him it’s all about elevating the value of Latino restaurants and diversifying the Granite State restaurant scene.
“They may become my competition, [but] we have to support each other,” Garcia said.
The federal government has activated the New Hampshire National Guard’s 157th Air Refueling Wing in connection with the war with Iran.
“I’ve had a briefing myself, a classified briefing, but it’s really important on the messaging on this that we really coordinate with the Pentagon,” Gov. Kelly Ayotte told reporters during a press briefing following Wednesday’s Executive Council meeting.
Ayotte said she was unable to share additional details about the nature of the New Hampshire National Guard’s activity related to the conflict, including how many guard members have been activated or what role they are playing.
“We’re going to respect what messaging comes out of the Pentagon just to make sure that our men and women in uniform are fully protected and that we aren’t providing any information that could be used in a way that would be harmful to them,” Ayotte said.
In a statement Thursday, Ayotte said the unit had been deployed in late February to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of the operation.
Earlier this week, Pentagon officials confirmed that members of the Vermont National Guard were involved in attacks against Iran over the weekend, though our news partners at Vermont Public were not able to confirm additional details on the nature of the operation.
During the briefing with local reporters, Ayotte also stressed her support for servicemembers and those close to them.
“I have such respect for our men and women in uniform,” Ayotte said. “As you know, I come from a military family, and they have our full support, and we appreciate them and their families, and obviously anyone who is serving right now, and my thoughts and prayers go out to those who have lost someone that they love.”
By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD – While Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte has said she opposes increasing highway toll rates across the state, the Senate voted Thursday to increase rates for out-of-state license plate holders.
It now goes to the House for consideration.
This would be a $1 increase for those who have out of state plates going through the tolls at Hooksett, Hampton and Bedford for out-of-state plates, a 75 cent hike for those taking Hampton’s Exit 2 and on the Spaulding turnpike at Rochester, and a 50 cent hike for those taking the exit off I-93 to Hooksett.
An analysis in the bill shows that this would increase toll revenue by $53.3 million in fiscal year 2027 and go up each year to generate $81.4 million a year in 2036.
Senate Bill 627 passed on a voice vote with two Republicans, Senators Regina Birdsell of Hampstead and William Gannon of Sandown opposing.
Senator Mark E. McConkey, R-Freedom, moved to take the bill off the table and offered an amendment.
He said the last time there was a systemwide increase to the turnpike toll was 19 years ago.
“I am sure we could all agree the cost of operations…has continued to escalate when revenue is not rising with it,” and he noted that with an enterprise fund, the state can only spend what it takes in.
The state has just completed a 10-year highway plan and there was a $400 million shortfall in projects that could not be paid for under the current income.
McConkey said the measure would not increase tolls for New Hampshire drivers with a state license plate.
“Why don’t we ask our neighbors,” to pay a toll increase. “We are getting the best of all worlds,” by passing the bill, he said, including “protecting our residents” and having resources for improvements to the turnpike system.
Sen. Gannon, R-Sandown, asked McConkey if there are any studies on impacts near the border on businesses.
If implemented, McConkey said the state will be the 27th lowest in per mile cost still. McConkey said the bill would also increase from seven to 14 days the amount of time for those with NH license plates to pay for a toll adding there are other states that also have different rates for out-of-state users.
The Hampton toll cost would go from $2 to $3, while Hooksett and Bedford would rise from $1 to $2 for out-of-state plates.
New Hampshire currently has the lowest rate per mile among states with tolls roads.
The governor said she does not support a toll increase.
“We are not going to put a burden on drivers for a toll increase,” Ayotte said. “Families are struggling.”
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