The envelope, please. On Oscar night, Sunday, February 28, Lubec's Bayside Chocolates will be in the room. Peppermint patties, prepared by nominee Cheryl Till, will be in the celebrity gift bag, and Till will be nominated for "Best Chocolatier" honors.
     Till herself is a little sketchy as to just how this all happened. "A member of Bobby Flay's team came across the patties," she says, without really knowing how the celebrity chef's scouts sampled the easternmost chocolate kitchen in the United States. But that led to being honored by the Friends of Acadia, and from there the next stop was Hollywood. Going forward, each package of Till's peppermint patties will carry a sticker from the Friends of Acadia. "I'll be donating a share from each sale to benefit the park," she says.
     Till, who hails from East Machias, purchased Bayside Chocolates from the estate of Eugene Greenlaw, after he passed away, and she reopened the store on June 23, 2015. She specializes in organic recipes and insists on a short shelf‑life for prepared products. Although the winter slowdown has been a bit more than hoped for, the full range of her offering is available. "Call me and I'll have it for you fresh the next day," she says, pointing out that many items -- including the same peppermint patties sampled on the famous red carpet -- are available immediately.
     The store is located at 43 Water Street and can be reached at 733‑8880.