Berry good

Looking for a tall order of shortcake? Look no further than the Mount Desert Island Historical Society’s 26th annual strawberry festival from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday. Of course, the highlight of the fund-raising event is the strawberry shortcake, which consists of a heap of fresh strawberries atop a homemade biscuit and finished off with whipped cream (a whole bowlful, if you want). The event will take place on the lawn of the historical society’s museum, on Somes Brook in Somesville. The admission charge of $4.50 will benefit the historical society. For more information, call 276-9323.

Divine secrets of the Yia-Yia garlic sauce

Whether you’re trying to fend off vampires or just add a little flavor to your meals, Yia-Yia’s Garlic Sauce will do the trick. George and Pat Demos of Flyway Farm in Newport developed the product using a traditional family recipe that originated in Turkey, traveled through the Peloponese Peninsula in Greece and made its way to Maine over the course of several generations. The sauce combines garlic, olive oil and vinegar for a thick, creamy consistency, yet it doesn’t contain dairy products, so it’s gentle on lactose-intolerant stomachs. It costs $4.95 for an 8-ounce jar or $12.95 for a 32-ounce jar and is available online at www.ultimategarlic.com or by calling (866) 226-8641

Tea time

The Woodlawn Museum (aka the Black House) in Ellsworth will continue its longstanding tradition of summer teas at 3 p.m. today on the lawn of the mansion. The cost is $15 per person, which includes treats and hot or cold tea, and proceeds will be used to purchase collection-cataloging software for the museum, which will help make the museum’s collections more easily accessible to the public. Additional teas are scheduled for July 24 and Aug. 7 and 21, all at 3 p.m. For more information, call 667-8671.

Island dining

This Saturday, you can grab a bite to eat on Mount Desert Island and benefit a good cause. On Dine Around Day, more than 40 of the most popular restaurants on MDI and Little Cranberry Island will donate a portion of their proceeds to Island Connections, an organization that provides free volunteer services to elderly and disabled residents on MDI. The group delivers hot meals, performs simple home repairs, light housekeeping and snow shoveling, and provides support for Alzheimer’s caregivers, among other services. For more information or a list of participating restaurants, call 288-4457

Tidbits is hungry for news about local food products and events. Send your Tidbits by mail to: Bangor Daily News, attn: Kristen Andresen, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor ME 04402-1329; by fax to 941-9476; or by e-mail to kandresen@bangordailynews.net.