OBSESSIONS

WHAT WE CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THIS MONTH.

EAT

CHARLIDEW GOURMET SPREAD

FROM PLEASANT RIDGE PROVISIONS

WHY DO WE LOVE IT? Say the words “snack dinner” around my family and cheers will erupt. What started as a way to use up some party leftovers while simultaneously having one less dinner to cook, has turned into one of our favorite meals — just a bunch of appetizers, raw veggies, cheese, crackers, etc. Anything goes. We love a trip to Bangor Wine and Cheese for prosciutto, “fancy cheeses,” crusty bread and whatever else looks tasty. Last summer we discovered Charlidew Gourmet Spread from Pleasant Ridge Provisions out of West Gardiner and now we can’t get enough. The hand-crafted gourmet cheese spread is just a little sweet, perfectly spicy, packed with flavor and, as the label warns, “slightly addictive.” It’s great to dip with veggies or crackers — particularly Mill Cove Baking Co.’s The Old Salt Cracker, made in Portland and also available at Bangor Wine and Cheese. Yum. According to their Facebook page, Charlidew is also available locally at Tiller & Rye and Emery’s Meat, both in Brewer — and I just learned they also make a Salsadew and a sour cream-based Chippydew, so now I know what will be on the menu for our next snack dinner!

— AMY ALLEN

CAFFEINATE

BREWED AWAKENINGS

WHY DO WE LOVE IT? I was recently in Wells for a beach weekend, but had to work remotely from my hotel room one morning. I unfortunately didn’t have time to go to my favorite breakfast place, The Maine Diner, and my dad and I were getting hungry. But that’s how I found Brewed Awakenings. Located on the Post Road, Brewed Awakenings is this super charming to-go (at the moment) shop with bagel, breakfast sandwich and brunch offerings along with a plethora of caffeinated drinks. I was able to order online and avoid the lines, which gave me extra time to visit their goats and chickens on site. They even have this cute barn with picnic tables for patrons who want to stay and eat. The perfect option for a working person on the run in a busy tourist town.

— ROSEMARY LAUSIER

READ

Many books come across my desk each month and I purchase even more. These are some that I’ve particularly enjoyed recently and recommend. Hope you find something you love!

“STATION ELEVEN” BY EMILY ST. JOHN MANDEL — A fastmoving flu spreads across the world, killing a vast segment of the population. Civilization collapses. In the decades that follow, the world remakes itself without the trappings of technology or centralized governments. Towns become the center of life and The Traveling Symphony becomes the beacon of art and hope for many in the area that used to be parts of Canada and the United States near the great lakes. But a violent prophet threatens the troupe’s very existence. Told in alternating scenes from the past and present, this book unfolds beautifully. If you watched the Netflix show, take heart. The book is wonderful and dynamic in its own very special way. Read it. (FICTION)

“THIS TIME TOMORROW” BY EMMA STRAUB — Alice is about to turn 40. She likes her job, is happy with her apartment, still adores her best friend from high school and values her independence. But her father is sick and she feels like something is missing. Then she wakes up on her 16th birthday, a teenager again experiencing life with her single dad in a new way. Between SAT prep and the party she barely remembers, Alice views everything through a new lens. Given the opportunity, how should she change the past? With a fresh spin on time travel, this book imagines the possibilities — and explores the fallout. Highly recommended. (FICTION)

“OUR MISSING HEARTS” BY CELESTE NG — After years of civil unrest and economic instability, there’s a new America where laws and law keepers seek to preserve American culture. But the dark underbelly is the villainization of those deemed unpatriotic — especially those of Asian descent. It’s in this world that Bird Gardner grows up, following rules and attempting to be seen as the model citizen. In doing so, he’s had to disavow his Chinese American mother and her poetry, which is seen as a beacon for the resistance. This gripping novel about a broken world, the attempts of those in power to fix it and the reality of ignoring injustices will keep you engrossed, page after page. (FICTION, DUE OUT OCT. 4)

— SARAH WALKER CARON

OBSESSIONS

WHAT WE CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THIS MONTH.

WATCH

“DETECTORISTS” ON AMAZON PRIME VIDEO

WHY DO WE LOVE IT? The British comedy series “Detectorists” is slow-paced and quiet, especially compared to sometimes-frenetic American television, and so dry that at first the humor was hard to catch. But just a couple of episodes in, I was hooked. The show, about the lives and loves of two members of a metal detecting club in England, is often laugh-out-loud hilarious, the theme song haunting and the scenery bucolic. But most of all, humanity shines from the characters and the writing. Just like the gold the main characters seek, there are treasures aplenty to be found here. Available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

— ABIGAIL CURTIS

DINE OUT

FRIED BAO BUNS AT MASON'S BREWING COMPANY

WHY DO WE LOVE IT? Sometimes you just need a good date night out. I’ve worked from home throughout the pandemic, which is great in many ways, but also really isolating. My husband has been very accommodating in getting me out of the house for regular date nights (sometimes our kids tag along, sometimes they choose to stay home — an incredibly underrated benefit of them getting older). On a recent kid-free date night at Mason’s, we got to take our time and try a variety of things from the menu. The tastiest of which had to be the Fried Bao Buns. Bao buns are a sweet, white, fluffy bun that is typically steamed. Mason’s version is fried so the outside is crispy and stuffed with Cuban-style brisket (yum!), pickled red onion (one of my absolutely favorite things) and dressed with a cherry pepper mayo. The combination is simply delicious. Pair with Mason’s Crystal Margarita (blanco tequila, triple sec, simple syrup and acid water — a mixture of acids to replicate the flavor of lime sour mix without using actual juice) and you’ve got yourself a perfect snack for sharing on date night.

— AMY ALLEN