Chef Nick Provencher has introduced a chef's table experience at Ash Restaurant inside the historic Ash Street Inn in Manchester. The intimate dinners, held three nights a week, feature five changing courses cooked solely by Provencher for up to 12 guests. Owner Michael Pedler converted the Victorian bed-and-breakfast into a boutique hotel to host these family-style events.
At 118 Ash St., Provencher, formerly executive chef at the now-closed Birch on Elm, serves diners on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Guests receive a code and theme two days in advance, arriving between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to mingle in a gaming room before sitting at 6:30 p.m. The setup allows patrons to watch Provencher cook through a window, with bring-your-own-wine options including a decanting station. Provencher handles all cooking himself, changing the weekly menu to focus on creativity and local ingredients. He told reporters he was burnt out after past experiences but found renewed passion here, saying, 'I love the creative process of it.'