Good spirits

If you’ve always wondered how wines and liquors are made, this is the workshop for you. At 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, Keith and Constance Bodine of Sweetgrass Farm Winery and Distillery in Union will discuss the art and science involved. The Bodines use local fruits to produce wines, ports and brandies. They also use native wild blueberries to create their Black River Gin. For information, call Merryspring at 236-2239 or visit the www.merryspring.org .

From Russia with love

Break out your big fur hat – it’s time for a trip to Russia (by way of Milo). For its monthly “Taste of the World” menu, Valerie Jean’s restaurant will serve a four-course meal of Blini with Sour Cream and Caviar, Borscht (beet soup), Chicken Kiev or Beef Stroganoff, and Chrusti, which is Russia’s version of fried dough. The dinners take place each Wednesday through January, and reservations are required at least one day in advance. In addition, Valerie Jean’s will serve its three-course $9.95 Italian special on Sunday nights. The restaurant is located at 26 Main St. in Milo. For information or reservations, call 943-7470.

Cafe? Hooray!

Fans of the former Bangor restaurant J.B. Parker’s have reason to rejoice – chef Brian Ross and Tim Kelly have teamed up to open J.B. Parker’s Cafe and Catering at 52-56 Main St. in Bangor (most recently Bloom Bakery). The cafe offers gourmet coffee drinks, soups, sandwiches and decadent pastries to go or eat in. Hungry diners can expect panini such as capacola and provolone with roasted peppers and pesto, as well as smoked turkey with cheddar cheese and a mango chutney. A selection of wraps and cold sandwiches – such as chicken salad with dried cranberries, toasted walnuts, mayo, red onion and celery – rounds out the menu. Dinners to go will be offered in the future, though there are no plans for a full-service fine-dining restaurant like the old J.B. Parker’s. For information, call 947-3656.

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.