Food for thought

Today’s meeting of the Maine Highlands Farmers will take place at the new food lab pilot plant at Hitchner Hall on the University of Maine campus in Orono. Dr. Beth Calder will lead the tour of the state-of-the-art facility – and you don’t have to be a farmer to attend. The tour begins at 1 p.m. and is free and open to the public. For information, call Donna Coffin Lamb at 564-3301 or (800) 287-1491.

Vegging out

Cheryl Wixson’s class Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone is back by popular demand, with a different menu and new recipes. It will take place Wednesday, April 12. Wixson will demonstrate new ways to incorporate nine fruits and vegetables a day into a daily menu. She describes the class as “a soaring adventure into delicious new horizons with vegetables, both garden favorites and exotic new finds.” For information and registration, visit www.cherylwixsonskitchen.org (be sure to note the spelling of Wixson’s name).

Maple munchies

What a sweet way to spend a Sunday! The Shirley Community Church will celebrate the arrival of spring with the 10th annual Maple Syrup Brunch. Cooks from all over the Moosehead region will prepare pancakes, baked beans, breakfast casseroles, muffins, biscuits, hash browns and fresh fruit, but the real star will be freshly made maple syrup from Charlie Baker’s Sugar Shack. The brunch starts at 11 a.m. Sunday, April 2, at the Shirley town hall. All donations will benefit the church’s operating fund. For information, call the Rev. Dr. Everett Parker at 695-3163/ eparker@midmaine.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.