Books and cooks

Buy the book – and lunch – at the American Association of University Women’s annual book sale this Saturday. This sale is as well known for its cuisine as for its literature. Peggy Hallee, former owner of the Crackerbox Chef, will return to the area to prepare her famous dishes, including fish chowder, vegetable-tomato soup, gourmet sandwich plates and Philadelphia Gourmet Salad with served with homemade pumpkin-cranberry bread and herb-roasted chicken. The sale takes place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Church of Universal Fellowship in Orono. Books cost between 50 cents and $2, and early birds can get in at 8 a.m. for a $10 admission fee. The rest of the day, admission is free.

Eat your words

If you’re a voracious reader, Books2Eat 2006 is just the thing for you. Local cooks (including professional chefs, culinary arts students and home cooks) are invited to create an edible book for the event, and prizes will be awarded in each category. The fund-raiser for Eastern Maine Community College Friends of the Library takes place from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 19, at EMCC’s Rangeley Hall. Professional entries will be auctioned off with proceeds to benefit EMCC Friends of the Library. Admission is free with the entry of an edible book, $10 per person without and $5 for students. Admission includes high tea. For information or an entry form, call 974-4640.

Sweet stuff

Sweet pea flowers may not be edible, but the luncheon that accompanies Saturday’s sweet pea lecture sure will be. Susan Keating of Sweet Pea gardens will teach gardeners how to grow the fragrant plant. The event will take place from noon to 2 p.m. at Rural Hall in Surry. Tickets cost $20 and include lunch. All proceeds will benefit maintenance of Rural Hall, recently placed on the National Register of Historic Places. For information, call 667-4730.

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.