Our Story

Our Story

 

Here at Little Acre Gourmet Foods...

in Dover, NH our goal is to create unique and unexpected flavor combinations that transform simple foods into something special. Our delectable mustards, ketchups, cranberry sauce, and onion relish are made from scratch in small batches by co-founders Trina and Bill Ahrens. All Little Acre products are fashioned from all-natural ingredients with no additives and no artificial colors or flavors. Each jar contains nothing but a unique blend of savory and sweet ingredients guaranteed to enhance the flavors of other foods. Where Everyday Is Gourmet.

Bill, known as Dover, New Hampshire's favorite "hot dog man", created a hot dog business, Downtown Dogs, after retiring from the corporate sector. As a condiment connoisseur, Bill believes that hot dogs are the perfect vehicle for condiments--all condiments. 

 

Inspiration for Little Acre Gourmet Foods has come from Trina and Bill's love of good neighbors, good friends and good food." If it were not for our neighbors at the mill, Little Acre would not exist," notes Trina. "Our creative, our consulting chefs, and our biggest support all come from within the Washington Street Mills, which is also the home of Downtown Dogs. Our circle of friends has grown and now includes Neighbor Made in Keene, New Hampshire, where we produce our condiments. Good neighbors and good friends are certainly behind our success!"

Little Acre products can be used in a variety of different ways, whether it is to create an appetizer, enhance an entree, or be used as a garnish. Our recipes provide some ideas on how versatile Little Acre products can be. We hope you will try them and enjoy your own taste of gourmet!

 

   About Trina...

Trina, the condiment creator, has a chemistry background which led to experimenting in the kitchen. "Cooking is both an art and a science and developing new tastes is exciting," she explains. Soon, Trina's mustards, ketchups and relishes were in demand at Downtown Dogs. Thus, Little Acre Gourmet Foods was born. Inspiration for Little Acre Gourmet Foods has come from Trina and Bill's love of good neighbors, good friends and good food. "If it were not for our neighbors at the mill, Little Acre would not exist," notes Trina. "Our creative, our consulting chefs and our biggest support all come from within the Washington Street Mills, which is also the home of Downtown Dogs. Our circle of friends has grown and includes Neighbor Made in Keene, New Hampshire, where we produce our condiments. Good neighbors and good friends are certainly behind our success!

Little Acre products can be used in a variety of different ways, whether it is to create and appetizer, enhance an entree, or be used as a garnish. Our Recipe pages provide some ideas on how versatile Little Acre products can be. We hope you will try them and enjoy your own taste of gourmet!
Trina is the condiment creator and catalyst behind Little Acre Gourmet Goods. She grew up in the Midwest where harvesting, cooking and preserving food for your family, friends and neighbors was a way of life. Meals were prepared with produce from the backyard and that taste of summer was kept alive through the winter, thanks to many hours putting up fruits and vegetables. On the farm, preservatives and additives were never used.
Trina met Bill while attending college in Ohio farm country. Over the years, and after many travels, they settled in New England and raised two children.
Trina has had a long history of unique careers--farm hand, dressmaker, auto muffler maker, leather purse and hat maker, sales clerk, telephone operator, Tandem frame wirer, mother, Sunday school teacher, den mother, designer and creator of window treatments, tombstone engraver, pharmaceutical chemist, better half of the "hot dog man," and now, entrepreneur and creator of Little Acre Gourmet Foods.
Her background may seem like a crazy quilt of careers, but Trina avoids boredom at all costs and feels that each job has taught her something. These many endeavors have allowed her to approach Little Acre Gourmet with creativity, innovation, fearlessness, and a sense of humor.

About Bill...

As a veteran salesman and manager for a major audio company, upon retirement, Bill’s favorite past-time is chatting with friends and neighbors. With today’s communications so focused on emailing and texting, Bill feels that the “Live Chat” seems to have taken a back seat. Bill also loves his condiments. Since he was a little guy, he has topped everything he eats with condiments. In fact, Bill believes that food is merely a vehicle for condiments, and the Great American Hot Dog is the perfect vehicle.    
Bill’s love of “Live Chat,” and his love of condiments, brought the hot dog man to downtown Dover. Together, he and Trina opened Downtown Dogs, a hot dog eatery within the Washington Street Mills with its eclectic community of artists and small businesses. In the summer months, you can also find Bill on Dover’s Central Avenue with his hot dog cart, serving the “best dressed  hot dogs” while indulging his love of a good chat.             

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