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If prompted, Vicky Hayes won't hesitate to tell you how to whip up a batch of chocolate-mint candy or how to build a gingerbread house for Christmas. She stresses that holiday traditions are important.

She should know.

For 30 years, she operated Create-A-Cake and Catering, a custom bakery and catering business that also sold baking and candy supplies.

But early last year, she closed the retail side of her business.

"I was ready to retire, but I wasn't ready to retire. You know what I mean?" she says. "The business was too big. It just outgrew me."

Then she ran into Jerone Pearson, owner of The Emerald Event Center (2000 E. Wendover Ave., Greensboro; 691-2000; http://www.emeraldevent center.com), a wedding and banquet facility housed in an old warehouse in the historic Overseas Relief Depot community. They got to talking, and Pearson decided to purchase Create-A-Cake.

He expanded the facility's kitchen to accommodate the new service, and Create-A-Cake moved in, piping bags and all.

It's a match made in confectionery heaven. Hayes gets to continue what she loves, and her staff has a spacious kitchen in which to turn out custom creations for weddings, banquets and all sorts of gigs.

"It's a challenge. I've never been in an event center," Hayes says. "We've always traveled like gypsies."

Hayes still plans to retire but says she'll stick around a couple of years to get Create-A-Cake running smoothly in its new home.

"I did some child's first birthday cake, now I'm doing their wedding cake," Hayes remembers fondly of her years at the decorating turntable. "I just want to see it go on."

Hayes says she may even teach a class here and there, lamenting that cake creation is a dying art as many people turn to full-service grocery stores as a matter of convenience.

"I'd like to see the cake decorating art go on," she says. "I'd love to see a bunch of young decorators."

Local bakers will be happy to know that she's planning to reopen the retail shop at Emerald Event Center, at least during November and December.

Library Offers Recipe Club

It seems we are indeed a nation of foodies. Now, the Greensboro Public Library is getting into the act.

The Chavis Branch (900 S. Benbow Road) has created a book club, the Chavis Recipe Exchange Club, that explores new tastes and cooking styles by reading selections from the library's extensive cookbook collection.

The next meeting is at 3 p.m. Saturday. Call Robert Meadows at 373-5838 for information.

South African Wine Dinner

Green Valley Grill (624 Green Valley Road, Greensboro) is holding a South African Wine Dinner at 7 p.m. Thursday.

The presenters are Paul Cluver, proprietor of Paul Cluver Winery, and Alex Dale, proprietor of Radford Dale. Cost is $75. Make reservations at julia.schiavone@qwrh.com.

Budget Fine Dining

Bistro Sofia (619 Dolley Madison Road, Greensboro) is offering an evening on a budget from 5 to 10 p.m. Sept. 19. Get three courses and a glass of wine for $25. Call 855-1313 or visit http://www.bistrosofia.com.

California Wines

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar (3342 W. Friendly Ave., Greensboro; 294-7790) celebrates California Wine Month by featuring three flights of California wines each week in September. Visit www. flemingssteakhouse.com.

Chocolate Store To Open

Loco for Coco Gourmet Chocolate, an upscale specialty chocolate shop, plans to open in early October at 1420-D Westover Terrace in the Westover Gallery of Shops in Greensboro.

The shop will offer a variety of quality chocolates, including a line of Belgian hand-dipped truffles in more than 20 flavors, as well as sugar-free and preservative-free truffles.

Grill Expands Breakfast

Center Grove Grill and Soda Shop (998 N.C. 150 West, Summerfield) is now offering breakfast plates.

A choice of meat comes with two eggs and choice of hash browns, grits or gravy with a biscuit or toast. Pancakes and Belgian waffles are other options, and children's plates are available.

Center Grove also offers daily plate lunches. Call 643-8089 for the menu.

Breakfast is served from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Lunch and dinner is served from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.

Zaxby's Spreads Wings

Zaxby's, a Southeast chain known for its chicken fingers and Buffalo wings, plans to open 31 new restaurants around the Piedmont Triad, including locations in Guilford, Forsyth, Alamance, Davidson and Rockingham counties.

For information, visit http://www.zaxbys.com.

Have restaurant news for Short Orders? Contact Carl Wilson at 373-7145 or cwilson@news-record.com.