Curry favor

After a long wait, the Taste of India in Bangor is back. New owners Rakesh Kumar and Uma Kant reopened the popular Main Street restaurant on New Year’s Eve. Taste of India serves lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. daily. For information, 945-6865.

Turkey talk

You’ve heard their voices. You’ve listened to their advice. Heck, they stopped you from burning the bird this Thanksgiving. Now, you can see the faces behind the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line. The long-awaited “Ladies of the Talk-Line” 2002 calendar is packed with poultry-proficient pinups – fully dressed, of course. For a free copy, visit www.butterball.com or call (800) BUTTERBALL.

Lighten up

This gives “cool drink” a whole new meaning: Litecubes, a set of illuminated plastic blocks with a freezable, nontoxic gel center, make any beverage glow from within. Each cube has a battery-operated light inside, activated by tapping the side. And unlike glow sticks, you can use them over and over again. Their inventor, Carl VanderSchuit, says, “It’s like fire and ice. Imagine a waterproof candle that can be submerged in a drinking glass, tub or your pool – without going out.” They cost between $13.36 and $17.95 for a four-pack, and they’re available at Bed Bath & Beyond. For information, visit www.litecubes.com.

Getting your oat

January is Oatmeal Month, and what better way to celebrate with a nice, hot bowl of oatmeal? How about a slice of Banana-Pecan Oat Bread or some Dilled Salmon Cakes? The folks at Quaker have hundreds of ideas to help you incorporate oats into your diet, and you can try some of them by requesting one of three free recipe brochures: “Awesome Oats,” “Super Recipes for a Super You,” and “Oats: The Whole (Grain) Story.” To request one or all of them, send your name and complete mailing address, plus the name of the brochures you want, to: Oatmeal Month Brochures, P.O. Box 3305, Chicago, IL 60654, or e-mail your request to oatoffer@aol.com. For information, visit www.quakeroatmeal.com.

Tidbits is hungry for news about local food products and events. Send your Tidbits to: Bangor Daily News, attn: Kristen Andresen, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor ME 04402-1329, or kandresen@bangordailynews.net.