Orono bicentennial cookbook

Help Orono raise funds for its 2006 bicentennial celebration by contributing a recipe to the bicentennial cookbook. The group welcomes historic recipes and new family favorites, along with brief anecdotes about the dish. Forms are available at the Orono town office and the Orono Public Library. For information or to volunteer to assist with the cookbook, contact Lianne Harris at 866-2456 or e-mail Lharris@nehs.net.

Hot, hot, hot chocolate

Leave it to Starbucks to raise the bar for cocoa.

Chantico, its new “drinking chocolate” will debut on Jan. 8. For five consecutive Thursdays (Jan. 13, 20, and 27; Feb. 3 and 10), all Starbucks stores in Maine will offer free samples of the rich, velvety beverage. Chantico, which one Starbucks exec likens to “a melted truffle,” will cost $2.65 to $2.95 for a 6-ounce serving.

Good and good for you

Nancy Fuller of Dixmont wrote in to inform Tidbits readers about Laura’s Wholesome Junk Food, an amazing selection of small, healthful, vegan cookies made by Portland native Laura Trice. Trice, a doctor who trained at Maine Medical Center, developed her line of “bite-lettes” to satisfy her own sweet tooth. Now living in California, Trice has earned a following with her Oatmeal Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin, Anna Banana Split and X-Treme Chocolate Fudge. Though no local stores carry them, they’re available in Freeport at Royal River Natural Foods on Route 1, or online at www.lauraswholesomejunkfood.com.

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.