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For Laura Godwin, being on the set of "Leatherheads," the comedy set at the dawn of professional football, was an exciting, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Godwin appeared in several scenes after answering a casting call for the movie, starring George Clooney, that was partially filmed in the Triad last year.

"It was fun to step out of the role of a stay-at-home mom," Godwin, 35, says. "It was fun to play dress up."

But it's the role of a chocolatier that this mother of two has chosen for herself. Or perhaps, it chose her.

On Saturday, Godwin will hold a grand opening for Mama Laura's Chocolates (304-H Trindale Road, Archdale; 885-2462; www.mamalauras.com), a new retail outlet for her online selection of chocolate confections.

Godwin calls herself the "accidental chocolatier." She says she comes from a long line of cooks. In French class in high school she had to prepare a French dish. She gravitated toward chocolate and chocolate toffees.

"I never had intentions to be a chocolatier," she says. "Once I did toffee for Christmas. Then people started asking me to do something for Valentine's Day. So I did truffles. Then I was asked to do something for Easter. People would turn to me whenever they needed a gift."

And that's how her home business got started. It eventually grew into an online retail business.

Business was booming last Christmas, resulting in 16-hour days with no help. That's when Godwin decided to start looking for a retail outlet so she could employ an assistant. She found a space in the carriage house on the Archdale Manor estate, a retail center housed in a historic mansion.

The former ice cream shop is the perfect spot to sell her old-fashioned confections inspired by Depression-era cookbooks and her great-grandmother, the first Mama Laura. Godwin doesn't create ganache or other high end confections.

"My motto is, 'If great-grandmother wouldn't have cooked it, than neither will I,' " she says. "I like to keep things simple. I think people appreciate that."

She only uses real chocolate with cocoa butter to create such goodies as turtles, English butter toffee, caramels, truffles and ice cream toppings.

For the holidays, Godwin is offering snowflakes, candy canes, Christmas trees and other seasonal-shaped confections.

But would she consider a career in movies?

"If I had the opportunity to do it (appear in a film) again, I would," she says.

Retail hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Italian bistro opens

Grioli's Italian Bistro and Pizzeria (4008 Battleground Ave., Suite A, Greensboro; 288-7747; www.griolisbistro.com) has opened at The Shoppes at Battleground Avenue.

Italian pasta dishes, such as spinach-stuffed Shells Florentine ($9.95) in white sauce; Quattro Stagioni ($11.95) with fresh veggies tossed in Alfredo Sauce and topped with blackened chicken; and the seafood-loaded Pasta a la Contadina ($11.95) ar abundant. Grioli's also offers family classics: Nonna's G's Scampi ($12.95); chicken ($11.95), veal ($12.95) and eggplant ($10.95) Parmigiana; Sicilian Crusted Tilapia ($13.99) and Stuffed Chicken Gorgonzola ($13.99).

The Virginia-based chain is the second in the area, with a location at Burlington Station (1409 University Drive, Suite 108) in Burlington, and offers New York Style Pizza ($5.95 for an 8-inch cheese to $15.95 for the Beefeater), 42nd Street Deli-style subs ($6.75 for a vegetarian to $7.95 for a Chicken Diablo) and panini sandwiches and wraps (Artichoke and Turkey Panini, $7.50).

Grioli's also offers antipasti (Stuffed Mushrooms Italiano, $7.95), salads (Inslata Di Fagioli, $6.95, with mixed beans) and soups (Minestrone, $4.25). Top things off with New York Cheesecake ($3.95) or Cannoli Siciliano ($3.95).

Hours are 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Sunday.

Radio personality visits

Tickets will probably go fast for this event, but National Public Radio affiliate WFDD 88.5 FM is bringing Lynne Rosetto Kasper, host of NPR's "The Splendid Table," to Greensboro.

Mingle with Kasper at the 5:30 p.m. event on Dec. 12 at Revolution Mill Studios in Greensboro.

The evening also includes local wine, hors d'oeuvres from The Stocked Pot in Winston-Salem and a cooking demonstration by Stocked Pot owner Chef Don McMillan. Cost is $50. For reservations, call 758-8850 or visit www.wfdd.org.

Bakery holds workshops

Roll your own holiday truffles during a workshop being held by Spring Garden Bakery and Coffee Shop (1932 Spring Garden St., Greensboro) at 3 p.m. Saturday. Cost is $7.95. Call 272-8199 before Friday to register.

A holiday cookie decorating workshop is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at the bakery. Cookies are priced at $9 a dozen.

New menu offerings

At Green Valley Grill (622 Green Valley Road, Greensboro; 854-2015), chef Leigh Hesling is offering a new menu of Bacon-Wrapped Berkshire Pork ($27.95), Grape Leaf-Wrapped Salmon ($22.95), Crab-Stuffed Flounder ($25.95) and Vanilla Panna Cotta Sponge Cake ($12.95) topped with Gewurztraminer and saffron infused pears.

Check it out online at www.greenvalleygrill.com.

Restaurant gets the vote

At the Signature Chefs Auction, a benefit for the March of Dimes held Nov. 6 at the Empire Room, the restaurant 1618 West Seafood Grill (1618 W. Friendly Ave., Greensboro; 235-0898; www.1618west.com) won the People's Choice Award.

1618 manager Greg Demarchi says chef George Neal's Potato Crusted Sea Scallops was given the award at the funraiser. The lump crab-stuffed scallops were drizzled with a Chipotle oil balsamic reduction and three mustard fusion and served with cremini mushrooms.

Demarchi says the award is the only one that was voted on during the "spirited competition."

New menu items

Now that The Press Wine Café (301 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Greensboro; 333-3190) is under new ownership, new items are on the menu, including a Charcuturie Plate and Bleu Steak.

On Wednesday, everything on the menu is 10 percent off. Tuesday is discount wine night, with selected bottles for $10. Visit www.thepresswinecafe.com for the menu, additional drink specials and a coupon.

Deal for shoppers

Take a break from holiday shopping and take advantage of the Early Bird Shopper's Special at La Bamba Restaurante Mexicano (2702 High Point Road; 856-8888; www.restaurant.com/labamba).

From Dec. 5 to 21, combination platters are 25 percent off from 3-5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Restaurant goes green

In his ongoing quest for sustainability and wholesome food, Masoud Awartani , owner of Zaytoon Mediterranean Café (301 N. Elm St., Greensboro; 373-0211; www.zaytoongreensboro.com) is taking steps toward a more green restaurant by serving his Mediterranean specialties on 100 percent biodegradable plates and cups.

Awartani admits he would prefer using washable dinnerware, but the restaurant's kitchen is not equipped to handle the requirements of dish washing. So he opted for an eco-friendly solution.

Wing franchise eyes area

Wing Zone -- a leading Buffalo Wing delivery chain offering 25 flavors, hamburgers, sandwiches and salads -- is looking to open in the Greensboro and High Point market within the next two years.

For more information on a franchise, visit www.wingzone.com.

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