Just returned from a trip to North Country and the skiing and eating was incredible. We spent the weekend XC skiing in Jackson, N.H. What an ideal snowcapped-village. Enter through a covered bridge, strap on your skis and you're traversing the White Mountain National Forrest within minutes. As you glide by rivers, pines and birches you get hungry. This activity burns 500 calories an hour I’m told. So after five, we were ready. Our first stop was the Wentworth Inn for an après fondue.

This turn-of the century inn serves up an old-fashioned fondue in a cozy piano bar lounge with three Swiss cheeses, chardonnay and a splash of liqueur. Arriving w/ cubes of sourdough bread for dipping, it was rich, gooey, warm and satisfying. We were like a pair of Swiss ski bunnies plunging our long forks into the warm red ceramic pot w/glee. Later, many hours later, we hit the Thompson House Eatery upon recommendation of the inn’s friendly bartender Tony. Gallivanting gourmets know to ask locals for dining recommendations. We never would have hit this low-key, rustic romantic spot if not for asking.

After a bit of a wait, (this barn-turned bistro gets slammed) we dined on the best salad of ours lives. The Savannah salad with succulent steak was served on a luscious bed of greens, with currants, Gorgonzola, caramelized onions, tomatoes and other great things I can't remember. I was in bliss and soon ready for slumber.

Brunch the next day was at the Eagle Mountain House. From poached salmon, to omelets made-to-order, to a carving station, to strawberry shortcake, this inn (even older than the Wentworth) delivers with sweeping views of Carter Notch. You can strap on your skis outside the door here too. But it was cold and we were full.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot, on the way there we stopped at Hart's Turkey Farm in Meredeth, N.H. for a thanksgiving dinner! This old-school eatery in the heart of the Lakes Region serves up turkey 15 ways. We went for the basic dinner, stuffing, squash, turkey, mashed smothered in gravy. Good coffee too. Absolutely worth the stop.