Dare we say it? Downtown Bangor is gradually turning into a food destination? Giving further credence to the growing sense that downtown is on the move, another new eatery is opening on Main Street. Housed in the former location of J.B. Parker’s, the Unbridled Bistro and Bennett’s Market will open the week before Christmas. The dual lunch-and-dinner spot is the work of Kim Smith and her daughter, Colby. Kim Smith is the granddaughter of Marianne Dumas, a Frenchwoman who escaped the Nazis during World War II with her American husband, Donald Purslow, and arrived in Maine. Dumas opened Le Domaine in Hancock in 1946, which to this day offers fine French food. Smith, who naturally became a chef like her mother and grandmother before her, had wanted to open a small dining establishment somewhere in Greater Bangor for years. She finally made the decision to move into the location at 52 Main St. earlier this year. The Unbridled Bistro will feature prix fixe, reservation-only French-inspired dinners from 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Bennett’s Market will offer European-style breakfast and light lunch fare from 6:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, and is the work of Colby Smith, Kim’s daughter and also a chef. Both Bennett’s and Unbridled will offer organic, Maine-grown food, Maine wine and beer and Maine coffee. Call 907-5585, or e-mail unbridledbistro@gmail.com for more information, or to make an advance reservation.
Spice up your life this weekend with an Indian cooking class hosted by Gunjan Gilbert, proprietor of Tandoor Downeast in Franklin, at Pairings in Winterport. Gilbert will share her food experiences, experiences of growing up in India, and learning to cook from her mother and grandmother. She will cook a selection of Indian appetizers and soup, along with one of her signature Kati rolls — a spicy mixture of meat and vegetables rolled in a flatbread. The class is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, at Pairings, located at 279 South Main St. in Winterport. Cost for the class is $50, and includes a glass of wine. To reserve a spot, call 223-0990.
Though the holiday on everyone’s mind is Christmas, at Tidbits, we want to know what you have on the menu for the week after. If you’re planning on holding a New Year’s Eve party, we want to hear from you. It doesn’t matter if you’re hosting for a small group or for a big party — for grown-ups or kids — what kinds of foods and beverages will you be serving? Appetizers and cocktails are of particular interest, though anything special you’ve traditionally offered for a New Year’s party is welcome. Send an e-mail to eburnham@bangordailynews.net with your suggestions, as well as your name and hometown, and we may run something in an article later this month. Bonne annee!
