Beyond the Plate with Carol

Beyond the Plate with Carol 🎙️ Beyond the Plate with Carol Erickson — a podcast celebrating local flavor, restaurants & small business success 🍽️✨

Beyond the Plate is a vibrant podcast hosted by Carol Lawrence, a passionate foodie, dynamic entrepreneur, and seasoned restaurateur with over 38 years of experience in the local dining scene. Each episode dives deep into the world of food, community, and entrepreneurship, highlighting the stories behind beloved local restaurants, rising culinary talents, and inspiring small business owners. From

behind-the-scenes glimpses to farm-to-table journeys, Beyond the Plate offers more than just food talk—it is a celebration of local flavor, innovation, and connection. Featuring lively discussions, guest interviews, foodie trivia, and fun challenges, this podcast serves up a delicious blend of entertainment and community pride.

06/07/2026

Every April, the NHLRA loads up buses with middle and high schoolers and takes them straight into the heart of NH's hospitality industry.
The DoubleTree in Manchester. Crown Tavern. Tuscan Village. The Fisher Cats. Capital Center for the Arts. Real places, real people, real careers.
Mike Somers says hospitality has a messaging problem — kids just don't know what's possible in this industry. But Amy is changing that, one visit at a time. This year, a few students came back from Tuscan Village asking about internships.
That's how you build the next generation. 🙌 Full episode out now — link in bio! 🎙️

06/07/2026

There's a difference between a quick fix and a permanent one — and Jakob Norris has always known it.
From day one of Wicked Tasty to where the company stands today, the growth has been tenfold. Not by luck — but by layering systems every single year, obsessing over the details, and always asking: what's the long-term solution?
That mindset is what built a food truck into a full hospitality company. And it's what keeps him going.
Full episode with Jakob Norris of Wicked Tasty & Northman F&B Co. is live now on YouTube. 🔗

06/05/2026

This is what it really looks like to run a neighborhood bar with heart.
Mike Ivas has a small but scrappy team at The Alibi Aftermath — two bartenders, his brother Pete who got a crash course and now pours twice a week, Crystal handling the front of house and social media, and Austin stepping in wherever he's needed.
And Mike? He's in the kitchen — but he hears every time that door opens. If he spots a first-time guest, Crystal's already on it. And if someone wants something that's not on the menu and he has what he needs to make it happen, he's going above and beyond. Every time.
"I'm not gonna say no. If I have it, I'm gonna go above and beyond — and I think people like that."
That's the kind of place The Alibi Aftermath is becoming on Wilson Street. And it starts with Mike paying attention.
📍 137 Wilson St (corner of Wilson & Somerville), Manchester NH 🔎 Follow The Alibi Aftermath on Facebook & Instagram
🎙️ Full episode: https://youtu.be/28i-Hchw5vk?si=gJOi8PhGuf7XCouO

06/04/2026

"I wake up and I can't wait to get in here. I love it so much."
That's Helen Ryba — founder of Green Envy Wellness right here on Elm Street in Manchester — talking about a business she built at 65. She's approaching 70 now, and retirement isn't even in her vocabulary.
I sat down with Helen inside the shop and I have to tell you — this was one of my favorite conversations I've had on Beyond the Plate. She's a cheerleader for women who think their time has passed. Spoiler: it hasn't.
If you have a dream, go for it. Why not?
🎙️ Full episode is live now on YouTube, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts.
📍 Green Envy Wellness | 377 Elm Street, Manchester NH greenenvywellness.com |

06/02/2026

Sometimes the most powerful thing someone can say is the simplest.
Jakob Norris — founder of Wicked Tasty and Northman F&B Co. — built a multi-division hospitality company in four years. But when Carol asked what he's most proud of, he didn't talk about the food truck or the bar program or the mountain kitchen.
He said he's proud he kept going. In recovery. In business. In his marriage. In his friendships.
It all takes work.
Full episode is live now on YouTube. 🔗

06/02/2026

🎙️ NEW EPISODE -- Beyond the Plate with Carol, Episode 52

Jakob Norris started with a food truck and almost ten years clean and sober. Today he's running Northman Food and Beverage Co. -- Wicked Tasty, a licensed bar program called Wicked Thirsty, corporate café operations, full-service catering, and a seasonal kitchen at Dartmouth Skiway. Four years. Multiple divisions. One heck of a story.

In this episode, Jakob opens up about:
• Losing his dad at 12 -- and how kitchens became the anchor that stayed constant through everything
• The day he chose recovery -- what it felt like, why it was scary, and what changed after
• Why second chances are at the core of how he leads and who he hires
• How Wicked Tasty went from "we thought we'd drive for Uber in winter" to running the mountain at Dartmouth Skiway
• The deep-fried fluffernutter (yes, Darryl and I tried it -- and yes, it changed my life)

This one hit different. Go watch it.

▶️
https://youtu.be/q7tCPVrFn7g

06/01/2026

No HR department? No lawyer on call? No problem — because Mike Somers is.
The President & CEO of the NH Lodging & Restaurant Association gives every restaurant owner in the state — member or not — direct access to him. His cell number is in his email. He's available 24/7. Late-night texts, early morning calls, liquor licensing questions, Department of Labor issues... he's there.
That's what it means to truly fight for this industry.
Tomorrow's full episode drops at 7am — you don't want to miss this conversation. 🎙️

06/01/2026

One man. One kitchen. One goal — and it's working.
Mike Ivas is running The Alibi Aftermath completely solo, building a focused menu around Detroit-style pizza and making sure every plate that leaves that kitchen is worth it. He's still fine-tuning things, but the people of Manchester are already taking notice — and coming back. Some three times over.
The building is cleaner, the food speaks for itself, and Mike's got the best kind of problem a new bar owner can have.
"If I'm busy, that's a good problem."
I've been there a few times now and I can tell you firsthand — what Mike has done with that space and that menu is really something special. The food absolutely speaks for itself.
📍 137 Wilson St (corner of Wilson & Somerville), Manchester NH 🔎 Follow The Alibi Aftermath on Facebook & Instagram
🎙️ Full episode: https://youtu.be/28i-Hchw5vk?si=gJOi8PhGuf7XCouO

06/01/2026

NH's hospitality industry contributes $340 million to the state every year. And yet — Mike Somers says legislators still don't fully appreciate the hard work, the employees, and the sacrifice behind that number.
That's not just a funding issue. That's a respect issue.
Mike has spent 17 years making sure policymakers hear this industry's voice. This conversation is one you need to hear. Full episode out now! 🎙️

06/01/2026

It takes a certain kind of courage to open your books to the world. 💪
During COVID, Tom Boucher went on national TV — multiple times — and shared the real numbers. Revenue down 80%. Losing $140,000 a week. He didn't do it for attention. He did it because restaurants are the second largest employer in the United States, and he needed people — especially legislators — to understand what was actually at stake for millions of workers and families.
Tom said it best: "I think it's important that our legislators hear from real small business owners." And he's never stopped showing up to make sure they do.
This conversation is one I won't forget. Full episode is out now — go give it a listen!

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814 Elm Street
Manchester, NH
03101

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