Winter in a small town in Maine can get pretty isolating. We don’t get out as much, we don’t see our neighbors. A couple years ago, a few of our community elders came up with the idea to address this and at the same time support a local institution, and the Beach Bistro was born.

Taking place a couple/few times each winter, the Beach Bistro is a pop-up restaurant/benefit supper, held at the Lincolnville Historical Society, formally the Beach Schoolhouse, 33 Beach Road.

A local chef or chefs gathers a crew, and prepares a supper for 35-ish, prepared and served from the kitchen of the old schoolhouse. Historical Society volunteers become servers for the night, as the ground floor is set up with tables and place settings, a place for the community to break bread together. I always neglect to advertise these dinners in this column, because tickets are generally sold out before I can announce it.

Past dinners have been hosted by Lincolnville chefs Dorothy Newcombe and Dick Butler, Wade Graham, and Diane van Pelt and Lynn Wildmour. This past Saturday, Historical Society president and my Ma, Diane O’Brien, convinced Hanji Chang to prepare a Lunar New Year feast for the community.

Hanji is a native of Taiwan, and makes her living as a freelance animator, creating animation for businesses and nonprofits, through Puckerbrush Animation, as well as teaching at the Maine College of Art. She is also known for the not-safe-for-work cartoon Temp Tales, an ongoing saga created with her husband, Andy O’Brien, about life on a fictionalized Maine island.

She is also my sister-in-law.

Hanji is one of those people who excels at just about everything she puts her mind to, and man, this woman can cook. Her mother, a Korean native who married a Taiwanese man, actually hosted a Taiwanese cooking program at one time, so perhaps it is in her blood.

Facing the prospect of making a meal for a pack of hungry locals, Hanji gathered a crew consisting of Tracee O’Brien (my wife) and Jen French Keating (the daughter of Don French), to help her prepare a three course meal consisting of chicken dumplings, radish cakes, Taiwanese Beef Noodle soup, and purple glutenous rice pudding. These three women, brought together in Lincolnville by virtue of their connection to Ma and her sons, make a heck of a team. Though, I suppose in Jen Keating's case, it it is fulfilling her destiny as a Lincolnville French descendant. My teenage sons were enlisted as dishwashers, under the supervision of dish-pit emeritus Don French. 

Cyrene Slegona and Kay Kelsey served the dishes as they came out of the kitchen. I installed myself at the entrance to the kitchen, with the uncharacteristically confrontational role of kitchen bouncer. Having spent years in restaurants and catering, I knew that the last thing the chef needed was the input of well meaning guests. As anyone who has ever worked in a kitchen knows, there is a set of unspoken rules and traditions, so I was there to fetch wine openers (and wine) for the “front of the house”, and provide updates on when the next course would be coming out.

Working with kitchen in a public space is always a challenge- there is never all the supplies you need- so numerous pans and utensils were dragged down from Sleepy Hollow. Facing a shortage of salad bowls, the beautiful and durable bowls I got for my wife at Honey Bee Hill Ceramics in Rockport were enlisted. As my boys got their hair cut in the ancient barber chairs at Mechanic Street Barber Shop Saturday afternoon, I received a request to empty Hannaford of their stock of baby bok choy and cole slaw mix. When I finally arrived, dish-pit crew in tow, the ladies in the kitchen were laughing and singing, as they prepped noodles, sautéed radish cakes and pan fried heaps of chicken and cabbage dumplings.

Dumplings for wealth, noodles for a long life, cabbage for luck.

Regardless, from my perspective, it seemed like another roaring success for the Lincolnville Historical Society. The room was packed with neighbors chatting with neighbors, the food was, as always, delicious, and everyone was smiling. It may have been a few weeks late, but the year of the Fire Horse was welcomed in this little town on the coast of Maine.

I really love this new tradition, and if you, or someone you know, feels up to testing out your cooking skills, reach out to the Lincolnville Historical Society. I am happy to provide kitchen security.

Library Happenings

Join the cribbage crew Thursday, March 12, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. to learn to play or face off against a neighbor. Friday, March 13, brings mahjong from 12 to 2 p.m.- lessons and open play. Get out of the mud and into the warmth of the Lincolnville Community Library. Meet neighbors, or bring something home to read in front of the fire on the chilly evenings.

Okay, Lincolnville, mud season is upon us. Winter has not yet ended in these northern climes, but its days are numbered. I actually found myself appreciating the rain Saturday! The cats are getting extra antsy with the sound of birdsong in the mornings. Sorry, Lyla, there is still snow on the ground, and even if there wasn’t, that robin is not going to just fly into your mouth.

May the Year of the Fire Horse be fortunate for you. Know that it symbolizes energy, freedom, and action. Seems like a good year to stand up for what you believe. Do so with strength and kindness. As always, reach out to me at ceobrien246@gmail.com.

Municipal Calendar

Monday, March 9

Select Board, 6 p.m., Town Office

Recreation Committee, 6 p.m., Town Office

Tuesday, March 10

Library open 3-6 p.m. 208 Main Street

AA Meeting 12:15 p.m., Community Building, 18 Searsmont Road

Budget Committee, 6 p.m., Town Office

Thursday, March 12

Library open 3-6 p.m. 208 Main Street

AA Beginner’s Meeting, 7 p.m., Lincolnville Historical Society, 33 Beach Road

Friday, March 13

AA Meeting 12:15 p.m., Community Building, 18 Searsmont Road

Library open 9-12, 208 Main Street

Saturday, March 14

Library open 9-12, 208 Main Street

Sunday, March 15

United Christian Church, 9:30 a.m. Worship and Children’s Church, 18 Searsmont Road

Bayshore Baptist Church, 10 a.m. Sunday School for All Ages, 10:40 a.m. Coffee and Baked Goods, 11:00 a.m. worship, 2648 Atlantic Highway