Garden of eatin’

Foodies on the Schoodic Peninsula have missed the Kitchen Garden restaurant in Steuben since it closed five summers ago. But its owners, Jessie King and Alva Lowe, will reopen at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 21, for a one-night-only benefit dinner for the Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium. The six-week art event will take place at the former naval base in the Schoodic portion of Acadia National Park, now known as the Schoodic Education and Research Center. It will culminate in the creation of seven granite and basalt sculptures by Maine and international artists. The evening’s menu will include a puff-pastry tomato tart appetizer, pureed summer carrot soup with shallots, garlic and fresh herbs accompanied by a sampling of fresh breads from the recently opened Wildflour Bakery in Steuben, and fresh summer salad from ingredients grown by King and Lowe. Diners can choose between Alva’s authentic Jamaican Jerk Chicken or Caffaloo and Ricotta Roulade. Caffaloo is a green much like spinach that grows wild in Jamaica. Alva’s mother sends caffaloo seeds to King and Lowe each year. Dessert choices will include Creme Brulee (a Kitchen Garden specialty, along with the Jerk Chicken), chocolate cake and fresh seasonal fruit. The dinner costs $100 per person and seating is limited to 25 people. For information or to reserve, call 546-2708.

Barbe-cues

Hankering for ribs? Check out WO’s BBQ on Verona Island. The stand features meats slathered with Charlie Wentworth’s sauces, which he sells under the label WO’s Wicked Fine BBQ Sauce. Of the offerings at WO’s, one local chef says: “I highly recommend the chipotle-sauced ribs with a side of cole slaw … and forget the napkins – it really is finger-lickin’ delicious.” For information, call 469-2500. To check out the sauces, visit www.mainemade.com/

members/profile.asp?ID=2849.

Mamma mia!

Billy Joel had it right: A bottle of red. A bottle of white. It all depends on your appetite. And it looks like scenes from an Italian restaurant might be coming to a new location in the Queen City soon. Rumor has it – and the rumor was started by owner Leslie Thistle – that the former Courtyard Grille space on Hammond Street hill will soon house something that “smells like garlic, olive oil, fresh tomatoes and very ITALIAN!” Estimated

opening date is August.

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 04402-1329; by fax to 941-9476; or by

e-mail to kandresen@bangor

dailynews.net.