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When Nancy Revzen starts talking about baking, she becomes almost breathless. For five years, she has been turning out European-style breads and pastries at Ollie's Bakery in Winston-Salem. Last week, Revzen, who lives in Greensboro, opened another Ollie's Bakery (333-9500) at Suite E at 1420 Westover Terrace in Greensboro.

It seems an unlikely stretch for a Julliard-trained professional pianist who once worked as an assistant conductor and coach for the New York City Opera. But as Revzen puts it, baker and pianist are very similar professions.

"It's exactly the same discipline and nuances. One is sound. One is taste," says Revzen who adds that she has always had two talents: a special ear and a special palate.

"From the time I was 19, I really fluctuated between the two careers (food and music)."

She turned down a scholarship to finish her doctorate at UNCG and instead traveled through Europe. When she returned, she bought Ollie's Bakery. "I wanted to work for myself instead of being in an academic situation," Revzen says.

Inspired by the bakeries and cafes she had experienced on her travels, she expanded the bakery's menu to include more than two dozen artisan breads and a cornucopia of pies, tarts, cakes, cookies and other pastries. And for Revzen, the daily offerings are not unlike a performance when the doors open in the morning.

"It's technical, but artistic," she says. "Everything I ever learned as a pianist is used here."

Ollie's, next to Loco for Coco in Westover Gallery of Shops, across from Lucky 32, also offers coffee and espresso to go with that morning pastry. Lunch items (most around $4) like egg and chicken salad, foccacia and Greek tzatziki sauce or hummus on crostini or freshly sliced bread.

"We're open for breakfast, lunch, tea time and dessert," Revzen said.

For a look at Ollie's bread schedule and other items, visit www.olliesbakeryws.com.

Hours: 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 7 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Beer dinner planned

Lucky 32 (1421 Westover Terrace) in Greensboro will hold a beer dinner featuring the brews of Thomas Creek Brewing in South Carolina. The event is 7 p.m. June 10.

Four beers will be paired with four courses. Cost is $40. Call 370-0707 for reservations.

Taste Guilford offerings

More than 25 area restaurants, hotels, caterers and beverage distributors roll out their best for Taste, a culinary sampling presented by the Guilford County Hotel/Motel Association.

The event, a benefit for Miracle League of High Point, is from 5:30 to 9 p.m. June 14 at the Greensboro Embassy Suites, 204 Centreport Drive near the Piedmont Triad International Airport and will include live music and silent and live auctions.

Tickets are $35 advance or $40 at the door. Ten advance tickets are priced at $300 through June 11. Call 378-6465 or visit www.tasteguilford.com for a list of participating restaurants.

Confection shop moves

Mama Laura's Chocolates (885-2462) has moved to 10948-J N. Main St. in Archdale. The new space is twice as large, with seating for 40 to 60 customers.

"We needed to expand. Our old location was just too small," says owner Laura Godwin, who has been making confections for years but opened a retail spot a year and half ago at Archdale Manor.

The shop offers 32 flavors of ice cream ($1.99 regular, $2.99 large) served in cones or cups, milk shakes, sundaes, banana splits and floats.

The ice cream is in addition to the old-fashioned handmade goodies such as caramels, turtles, truffles and toffee. Godwin says the shop is gradually adding baked goods such as a daily cupcake and cookie.

The shop also offers Wi-Fi.

Hours are 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. For more of what Mama Laura's offers, visit www.mamalauras.com.

Free doughnuts

Krispy Kreme (www.krispykreme.com) will offer one free doughnut to each customer on Friday, National Doughnut Day. Customers can pick one free doughnut of any variety at participating stores.

Supper benefits park

Summer Supper will be served from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. June 11 at Center City Park at Friendly Avenue and Elm Street.

The event, presented by Friends of Center City Park, features food by Exclamations Catering, live music by the Nutbush Ramblers and children's activities by ArtQuest.

Cost is $35 for adults, $10 ages 6-12. Visit www.centercitypark.org or call 379-0821 by June 7.

Weekly samples

Each weekend, Earth Fare (2965 Battleground Ave.) in Greensboro is offering food tastings from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

This weekend will be fresh Buffalo Mozzarella, heirloom tomatoes and Garlic Expressions. On June 11-13, Stuffed Chicken Grillers will be sampled, followed by Piedmontese ribeye June 18-20. June rounds off with samples of fresh local peaches June 25-27.

For more information, call the store at 369-0190.

Wine dinner planned

Steak Street (3915 Sedgebrook St., High Point) will host a wine dinner featuring a four-course dinner paired with the wines of Joel Gott Winery. The dinner will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Cost is $65. Call 841-0222 for reservations.

Cheap wings

Thursday night is 60 cent boneless wings night at East Coast Wings and Grill (1579 A-B New Garden Road, Greensboro; 547-9464). The deal is good for a minimum order of six regular wings. Flavored wings, sides and dressings are extra.

Free breakfast

To show support for teachers and school employees, McDonald's restaurants in the Triad are offering free breakfast to all school employees from 6 to 10:30 a.m. June 9.

Show your school ID and get a free breakfast sandwich and small McCafe coffee.

Student buffet offered

The GTCC culinary program is taking reservations for a Garde Manager (French for "keeper of the food") buffet served June 9 and 10 at the Jamestown campus.

The buffet is a showcase of cold-food presentation by entry-level students of the culinary program. Cost is $7 for lunch and $9 for dinner. E-mail culinarydining@gtcc.edu for reservations.

The meal will be offered again June 23-24 and July 7-8.

CContact Carl Wilson at 373-7145 or carl.wilson@news-record.com