A wine tour of Italy

Italian wine lovers take note: George Schwartz of Vias Wines will return to Cleonice in Ellsworth to present selections from Piemonte and Liguria – paired with a mouth-watering menu – at 6 p.m. Sunday, March 2. The meal begins with an Antipasti de Mare paired with Bardellini Pigato 2006. Next up is Brodetto, a classic seafood stew from Liguria paired with Dolcetto San Luigi 2005. Risotto Piemontese paired with Cogno Barolo 2002 follows, along with an entree of Stufato al Barolo – beef braised in Nebbiolo with rosemary, dried porcini mushrooms, nutmeg, sage and aromatic vegetables, paired with Produtori Barbaresco 2004. For dessert, a Guiandula Cake with hazelnuts and chocolate, served with Gorgonzola, will be paired with Marenco Brachetto. The meal costs $75 per person, and reservations are recommended. Call 664-7554 for details.

A man with a pan

He can bring home the bacon. Fry it up in a pan. And never, ever forget he’s a man. So why not urge him to enter Seamark Community Arts’ fourth annual Men Who Cook recipe contest and fundraiser? The event takes place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 8, at Deer Isle-Stonington High School. Men and boys are needed to cook and serve food, either individually or in teams. Cooks will receive a free ticket to dinner and a coffee mug printed with the Men Who Cook logo. Proceeds will benefit Seamark scholarship programs. In the past, menu highlights have included Jorge Beans, Haitian pork, Spanakopita, and Potatoes Dauphine. For information or to register, call Cathy Marshall at 348-5208 or e-mail mail@seamarkcommunityarts.com.

Hearty ‘Appetites’

There’s a new caterer in town: Appetites delivers fresh meals to homes and offices within the Greater Bangor area and also provides meals for functions and special events. Chef Michael O’Neal specializes in “Art Nouveau” cuisine, which he describes as “a combination of culinary styles from around the world and their traditional ingredients presented in a nontraditional way.” Lunch and dinner menus change on a weekly basis – this week’s lunch offerings include such dishes as blackened tuna on focaccia, a green salad with feta, dried cranberries and sliced almonds with lemon poppyseed dressing and Appetites’ signature chocolate peanut butter cookie. For information or to see this week’s menu, visit www.appetitestogo.com or call 299-5233.

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.