Cake baker ace to visit Hoffman Estates in fall

Who would have known being a cake baker would lead to fame and fortune?

That's the case for Duff Goldman, host of the Food Network's "Ace of Cakes." Here's how the show's described on foodnetwork.com.

"By shaping cakes with drill saws and blow torches and staffing his bakery with fellow rock musicians, Duff Goldman is not your typical baker. Yet he's one of the most sought-after cake makers in the country. From a tilted Dr. Seuss-like seven-tiered wedding cake to an almost perfect replica of Wrigley Field, he and his team of artists dish up sugar and spice in the most unexpected and entertaining ways."

It sounds better than a Twinkie, I suppose.

Goldman could be in Hoffman Estates in September if preliminary plans to hold the American Food and Music Revival in the Sears Centre parking lot pan out. The tour features live music performances.

Village officials indicated Monday the event could give them and nearby residents an idea of the kind of noise levels they might expect from the nearby Prairie Creek Amphitheater. It's due to open around Memorial Day 2009. The 8,900-seat outdoor music theater still is on the minds of many Northwest suburban residents, wondering how the nighttime concerts will affect the quality of their lives. The village is still fine-tuning how it will monitor noise at Prairie Creek, deciding on how many shows and which musical acts they should measure.

Hopefully, the September event, if it happens, will bring more fun to the village than concern. A fest like this would be a lovely way to say goodbye to summer -- if summer ever arrives.