“Maybe I just wanna fly, wanna live, I don’t wanna die-Maybe I just wanna breathe-Maybe I just don’t believe-Maybe you’re the same as me-We see things they’ll never see-You and I are gonna live forever” – Oasis “Live Forever”
I had planned to have lunch with Mike Bourgoine, a former boss, who after retirement from the grocery industry, took a job helping me out at the auction, before retiring again late last year. We joke that I started my career making minimum wage working for him, and he ended his career working for me at minimum wage. We wanted to catch up, and we decided to invite Bob Merrill along. Bob has always been the quiet backbone of our team at Northeast Auto Auction in Kittery, a hardworking man who prepares the auction for success every day. He also has Portsmouth roots that are as deep as the granite mooring blocks beneath the Piscataqua River. Over lunch at the Bratskellar, a Greek-inspired eatery with a German name that has been serving Portsmouth locals since 1960, Bob shared some of his knowledge of the city’s history. He spoke about the transformation Portsmouth has undergone since his childhood in the south end during the urban renewal projects of the 1960s and ’70s. Back then, it was a blue-collar town anchored by the busy Navy Yard and the now-closed Pease Air Force Base, which has since reinvented itself as a industrial and commercial hub for Seacoast New Hampshire. Bob has witnessed the rise and fall of industries, the changing character of neighborhoods, and the surge of new development that has reshaped the historic coastal city.
As we mulled over the menu, we noted that the “Brat” has a very large selection, especially if you’re sitting at the bar, where you can also order from the Dinnerhorn menu. The Bratskeller and Dinnerhorn share the same building but not the same kitchen, with most of the food at the “Brat” cooked right in front of diners in the pizza ovens behind the bar. On a busy day like the Thursday we stopped in, there was a well-choreographed dance of pizzas, wings, nachos, and sandwiches cycling through the seasoned ovens.
Mike and Bob both ordered their favorite pizza, bacon and tomato, while I went for the Aegean pizza, topped with feta, Kalamata olives, and Greek sausage. The pub pizza at the “Brat” is perfectly sized for one person, often leaving just enough to save a few slices for the ride home. While Portsmouth, NH, is very limited on pizza options, the pizza at the “Brat” is one of the best I’ve ever had. The crisp crust and perfect seasoning make it a must-try.
The restaurant itself is as memorable as the food. Navigating the parking lot can be a challenge at certain times of day because, at high tide, the lot often becomes an extension of the Great Salt Marsh bordering this classic establishment. We considered ordering their wings but instead decided to negotiate for stuffed grape leaves. This proved tricky since we were seated in the “Brat,” where the Dinnerhorn menu isn’t available unless you’re at the bar. Determined to indulge in one of my favorite Greek dishes, I got creative and called the bar, talked to Tom Clark the oldest bartender in the oldest bar in Portsmouth to place a takeout order. The oversized dolmades, served with a rich lemon sauce, were well worth the effort.
As we brought Mike up to speed on the latest happenings at the auction, I spotted a familiar face at the neighboring table: Tom Bergeron, the former host of America’s Funniest Home Videos, Hollywood Squares, and Dancing with the Stars. He was having lunch with Greg Kretschmar, host of Greg and the Morning Buzz on WHEB or 100.3 on your FM dial. I immediately recognized Greg, not just from his radio presence but also because of our work together for Donate Life. Greg, and his team’s involvement in the Blacksmith Ride for Life—a fundraiser that promoted organ donation in memory of his late broadcast partner Andy Blacksmith.
My wife Nina and I had volunteered to support the Blacksmith Ride for Life through Donate Life New England because events like these get people registered as donors and save lives. Before my heart transplant, I had never known anyone who had undergone such a procedure, but I followed Andy Blacksmith’s (real name Andy Celata) battle. Andy shared openly on air his struggles with end-stage heart failure, his diagnosis, prognosis, and the uphill battle to get the life-saving transplant he needed.
Each year, approximately 5,600 people die while waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. Andy was one of them in 2015, five years before I was listed for a transplant. As I spent months on life support waiting for a donor, every morning I would wake up, run my hair under the faucet in my room at Tufts Medical Center and look out the window toward Chinatown, thinking of Andy’s fight. I couldn’t help but wonder, If they couldn’t find a heart for someone like Andy, how could they find one for a regular guy like me?
Andy’s case was particularly complicated, his rare blood type and other factors made it incredibly difficult to find a matching donor. His story stays with me throughout my journey, constantly reminding me of how precious my second chance is and reinforcing the importance of organ donation and the lives it can save.
Bob lit up when he saw Tom, and for good reason. A lifelong fan, Bob has followed Tom’s career since his early days as a local DJ in Portsmouth during the early 1980’s when Tom gained a reputation for his quirky humor, including a memorable segment where he tracked down the elderly Three Stooges for a radio interview. Growing up in Haverhill, Tom began his career right here in Portsmouth where he could put an extra long song on and hustle across the street from the radio station to pick up some take-out from the “Brat”. Tom eventually moved on to Boston before achieving national fame. Seeing him back at the Bratskellar made him seem like just another local guy who knows the best spots in town to grab lunch.
We said hello to Tom and Greg, who graciously took the time to include us in their conversation. Greg recognized me from the Blacksmith Ride for Life and through our mutual friend, the “Rockin’ Realtor,” AJ Pappas. They were meeting so Greg could give Tom a few calendars he created from his photography. Greg explained how photography has become a therapeutic hobby for him, capturing the beauty of Seacoast New Hampshire and Maine. His work includes images of eagles, lighthouses, nature, and nautical scenes, prolific and undeniably beautiful.
Bob, usually reserved, couldn’t help but share his admiration for Tom’s early radio work. Tom, in turn, was warm and generous, reminiscing about his Portsmouth days. Greg chimed in with his own stories, reflecting on his nearly 40 years as a New England radio fixture. His program is old-school, with Greg and his friends delivering entertainment to their fans every morning. Beyond the radio, their community outreach has always been at the heart of Greg and the Morning Buzz.
A few days later, I saw Greg’s co-host, Laura, at a football banquet for the Manchester Bears youth program. She was just as kind and generous, sharing stories about Greg’s photography, his generosity, the other members of the Buzz, Roadkill, Kayla, Kelly Brown and memories of Andy Blacksmith.
As we wrapped up lunch, it struck me how much this dinner date encapsulated what makes the “Brat” so special. It’s a place where friends meet, a place where someone like Bob, with deep local roots, can share a meal in the same room as celebrities like Tom Bergeron and Greg Kretschmar, who still feel at home enough to chat like old friends. It was a reminder that, no matter how much the world changes, we are still connected.
Tom and Greg are good buddies, and outside of spending time with my beautiful wife, there’s nothing like hanging out with buddies. They say you live forever if people keep talking about you, and Andy Blacksmith’s memory is proof of that. If you ever met his mother, you’d know exactly where he got his character and infectious laugh. His loss was profound, but the gift of organ donation has saved millions. Thanks to Dominick Gholston, I’m one of them. To register to become an organ donor visit www.registerme.org.
“Maybe I just wanna fly, wanna live, I don’t wanna die-Maybe I just wanna breathe-Maybe I just don’t believe-Maybe you’re the same as me-We see things they’ll never see-You and I are gonna live forever” – Oasis “Live Forever”
Thanks for reading, and supporting local journalism. “Dinner Date” is a series of stories written by Salisbury resident C.J. Fitzwater about the places and people he meets for dinner. If you are interested in meeting, eating and telling your story, send him an email at cfitzwater@ymail.com.
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