Once upon a time, on a dark and stormy night, one very hungry motorist passed through Fort Fairfield and turned onto an ink-black side street. Had she gone a hundred yards farther, she would’ve ended up in Canada, but that’s a story for another day.

She drove. And drove. And drove. Until she reached a brightly lit gingerbread cottage nestled in a grove of evergreens. The warm glow of candlelight shone from the windows. She knew, although she had left no breadcrumbs to mark her way, that she had arrived at Canterbury Royale.

Her chefs and hostesses for the evening, Barbara Boucher and Renee O’Neill, greeted her at the door and swept her into the dining room. In the flickering light, silver gleamed and crystal shimmered. Our heroine had the distinct feeling she had traveled back in time – to a blend of the 19th century and medieval times – but with silverware, and lots of it. More than she knew what to do with, actually.

A gas fire crackled in the fireplace and candelabras cast shadows on the woodwork – relief carvings of Lord Canterbury, an intricate ceiling medallion and thronelike chairs, all handcrafted by O’Neill. A brass bell, to summon O’Neill or Boucher, sat on the table beside a goblet of water and a salt cellar filled with coarse fleur de sel. In the corner, a knight in shining armor stood guard over the scene.

Feeling a little like Hansel (hey, all Gretel got was crab shells), our hungry motorist felt a rumble in her tummy as she inhaled the buttery scent of bread warming in the kitchen. She made fast work of a bowl of mixed nuts, and stared, wide-eyed, as O’Neill explained that the evening’s theme would be “La Provence” and placed two giant loaves – one rustic, one onion braid – on the table.

Though she could’ve asked O’Neill to speak in an accent to complement the French theme, she decided against it, tore into the bread and slathered it with butter. She was road-weary and famished, after all. Then the soup arrived, a velvety potato bisque that warmed her belly and her spirits. No sooner had she finished and taken a sip of her wine then the second course arrived, tarte salee, a golden brown pastry filled with a sweet and savory mix of red pepper, egg, spices and meat. Poof! It was gone.

But, like magic, another course appeared. Now she was really feeling like Hansel as she dug into a filet mignon stuffed with wild rice and drizzled with a Burgundy reduction. She could feel her stomach grow as she nibbled the layers of her rainbow-hued vegetable terrine.

By the time the next course, Enchanter La Canard Orange (duck a l’orange with mustard prune, caramelized turnip and sweet potato) arrived, her head was spinning. She needed a glass of water. She was full. Too full. But she kept eating. The delicate lobster souffle. The pistachio-encrusted lamb chop – freshly butchered to order. The toffee cheesecake. The cream horn. The flourless chocolate torte. Each course the size of a full meal.

She feared for her waistline. And yet, she knew her hostesses weren’t out to get her. O’Neill and Boucher, half sisters who moved to Aroostook County 18 years ago, had no plans for their oven other than to turn out even more gourmet feasts.

It’s their passion which drove them to turn an addition to their home into the dining room it is today. O’Neill is a history buff with an affinity for Old English and medieval times, so Canterbury Royale seemed to be a logical choice of names. It opened in 2004, and it has since become the stuff of local lore. A write-up in Yankee Magazine’s Travel Guide to New England didn’t hurt, either. Despite their success, they’ve kept their day jobs – O’Neill is a portrait artist and Boucher works as an accountant.

There’s no romance in day jobs, though, so let’s return to our story. And our motorist, who thought she would burst, or worse, fall asleep on the ride home. Unlike Hansel and Gretel, our heroine did not have the luxury of a white duck to ferry her home. Especially after the Enchanter La Canard Orange course.

But alas, she did make it back through the dark and stormy night. And her hostesses packed her leftovers, which were many, in a doggie bag fit for a Saint Bernard. So she lived happily – but not hungrily – ever after.

The end.

Kristen Andresen can be reached at 990-8287 and kandresen@bangordailynews.net.

Check it out:

Canterbury Royale

What: a medieval-themed restaurant.

Where: 182 Sam Everett Road, Fort Fairfield.

When: Daily, by reservation only.

How much: $36.95-$42 for a six-course themed dinner, $9.95 for a full Scottish breakfast.

Reservations: Required. Parties of four or more only, 472-4910.