Capannari Ice Cream has scoop on TV's 'Ace of Cakes'

Mount Prospect's own Capannari Ice Cream is making it to the "big time." They are going to be involved in an event next weekend with the Food Network's Ace of Cakes Duff Goldman.

Capannari's ice cream maestro, Jim Capannari, will be providing ice cream for the annual Discovery Center Museum fundraiser in Rockford on Oct. 20.

And the special guest for the event is none other than Goldman, the man who Food Network fans know as the "Ace of Cakes." A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Greystone, Calif., Goldman has worked in some high-end kitchens like Napa Valley's renowned French Laundry. On the Food Network he is known for elegantly unusual and intricate cake designs and, apparently, even blowing up cakes on air.

"When I saw that Duff was going to be appearing in Rockford, I contacted the Discovery Center Museum and suggested that we provide ice cream to go with his cake and both the museum and Duff loved the idea," Katie Dix, Capannari's partner, said.

Since then, Capannari and Dix have conferred with Goldman to come up with a special flavor of ice cream in his honor.

"He told us that his favorite flavor is chocolate and that he loves peanut butter and candy," said Capannari. "We came up with a combination of chocolate ice cream with peanut butter swirls throughout and mini Reese's cups and have named it 'Duff's Discovery' in honor of both the Discovery Museum and Duff."

As part of the fundraiser Goldman will do a demonstration and talk in the afternoon at the museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford. Then, he will judge a cake-decorating competition for both amateurs and professionals. Reservations for the afternoon are $25 per person.

That evening will feature a delicious meal, a high-energy and humorous presentation by Goldman and a local celebrity cake-decorating contest, as well as a raffle and silent auction, all at Cliffbreaker's Restaurant and Banquets in Rockford. The cost of the evening is $85 per person.

For $100 per person you can reserve the entire day. For reservations, phone (815) 972-2834 or www.discoverycentermuseum.org.

The Discovery Center Museum is a nonprofit science and children's museum with more than 200 hands-on exhibits, a planetarium, a special area for children under 6, and an outdoor science park, located in Rockford.

Get a Clue! Do you love puzzles? Hidden pictures? Crosswords? Sudoku?

Then you might want to try your hand at the Mount Prospect Public Library's latest challenge event. In conjunction with the Mount Prospect Historical Society, they have devised a fun and unusual puzzlethon which will be from 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, at the library, 10 S. Emerson St.

Puzzle solvers will watch 10 short live performances that afternoon, according to Gavin Kleespies, executive director of the Mount Prospect Historical Society. Imbedded in each performance will be a clue which they will have to put together to figure out the mystery.

"Each individual or group will have already been issued a decoder which they will use to solve the final puzzle," added Victoria Bitters of the library. "Everyone who correctly solves the final puzzle will be put into a drawing for the afternoon's grand prize."

The cost is $10 per person or $30 for a team of four friends or family members. Proceeds will benefit the Mount Prospect Public Library Foundation and the Mount Prospect Historical Society.

For more information and sample puzzles, visit www.puzzledmountprospect.org. To preregister, phone (847) 253-5675 or log onto www.mppl.org/events.

Arts and Crafts Festival: The St. John Lutheran Church Couples Club will hold its annual Arts and Crafts Festival from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday in the church recreation hall, 1101 Linneman Road.

Moving to Thursdays: Starting next week, my column will be moving to Thursdays. So look for me one day earlier from now on!