The Puritan Backroom is a 2020

James Beard Foundation Award The James Beard Foundation Awards are annual awards presented by the James Beard Foundation to recognize chefs, restaurateurs, authors and journalists in the United States. They are scheduled around James Beard's May 5 birthday. The media award ...

America's Classic restaurant in

Manchester, New Hampshire Manchester is a city in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. It is the most populous city in New Hampshire. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 115,644. Manchester is, along with Nashua, one of two seats of New Ha ...

. They are known for their mudslides and chicken tenders, which they invented in 1974.

History

Arthur Pappas and Louis Canotas, Greek emigrants to the United States, opened the Puritan Confectionery Company in 1917. In 1974, their children attached a back room for a restaurant. As of 2020, the restaurant is run by the third generation, including New Hampshire congressman Chris Pappas. The restaurant "has become a required stop for candidates passing through on the campaign trail. In an era of division, it is a rare nonpartisan space where everyone feels welcome.", In recent election cycles, George H. W. Bush and

Bill Clinton William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and agai ...

visited the restaurant.

Setbacks

On November 24, 2019,

norovirus Norovirus, sometimes referred to as the winter vomiting disease, is the most common cause of gastroenteritis. Infection is characterized by non-bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain. Fever or headaches may also occur. Symptoms usually devel ...

struck 18 people who attended a private function at the restaurant, and may have caused the death of one person. In March 2020, a fire caused about $80,000 in damage. In September 2020, they closed for a short time after a bartender tested positive for

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease quickly ...

References

External links

*{{Official, www.puritanbackroom.com
Familiar Stumps: The Puritan Backroom
America's Classics winners Restaurants in New Hampshire Buildings and structures in Manchester, New Hampshire