Remember Allen’s Cake Shoppe in Elkhart?

The guy who ran it for 53 years is out of retirement.

Allen Dorris made a living baking cakes for more than five decades. He retired in 2006 and closed the shop.

But he’s back in the biz, at least as a teacher.

Liz Borger, owner of b on the River, asked him to come out of retirement.

She’d tried to convince him to sing barbershop in a production of “The Music Man,” but he declined that.

“Liz asked me to deal with some cake business here and gave me a couple of young people to teach,” he said.

He’s got a couple good students in the kitchen of the restaurant and gift shop at 333 Nibco Parkway, Elkhart. And the cakes that are appearing in the bakery case reflect the care and talent of Dorris and those who are learning from him.

Borger said the kitchen team continues to improve at the restaurant and so do its offerings. Andrew Johnson left about a year ago. Other chefs have stepped in, including head chef Charu Pant. Customers asked for cakes and cupcakes, so the bakery added them, leading her to ask Dorris, 80, to help.

• Lucchese’s Italian Restaurant, 655 C.R. 17, Elkhart, will soon have wine on tap, according to chef Zach Lucchese. A system is scheduled to be installed this week to pour zinfandel, petite syrah and a red blend from C.G. Di Arie wine. The unfiltered wine will be shipped in kegs and poured by the glass. The family tasted the wines and liked the flavor and the idea of having wine on tap, so is proceeding. An event with the winemaker is planned for 1 to 4 p.m. April 17.

• Appleberry’s Restaurant opened a week ago at 510 Lincoln Ave., Goshen, in Linway Plaza where Pete’s Fabulous Fish was most recently. An owner said the restaurant has a full breakfast and lunch menu, as well as coffee, free wifi and Greek pastries. Hours are 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. seven days a week.

• Elkhart is getting a Biggby Coffee shop soon. It’ll be in the Walmart store along C.R. 6. The chain started in Lansing, Mich., and is growing fast. Damon Westjohn, who works in the Truth’s advertising department, provided the tip and described the place well: “It’s a standard Starbucks/Tim Horton type of mud shakck with a Jamba Juice look and feel.”

• Eight restaurants are having give-back nights to benefit Child And Parent Services in the coming weeks. No coupons are required, according to the CAPS newsletter. Calabria Restaurant will give 15 percent of sales and its employees will give 15 percent of tips on Wednesday night, according to Nino Porpiglia. Other events are April 17 at Sauk Trail, April 18 at Antonio’s, April 19 at Cafe Navarre, April 24 at Lucchese’s, April 26 at Bruno’s Per Bacco, April 29 at b on the River, and April 30 at 523 Tap & Grill.

• Goshen’s Sister City Committee is having a German dinner to honor Bexbach, Germany, its longtime sister city. The event is 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 21 at Shanklin Park’s Schrock Pavilion. The menu includes schnitzel and German potato salad. Tickets are $12.50 and available at City Hall or from any committee member, according to a press release.

• Ivy Tech Community College’s 10th annual Culinary Arts Dinner is 6 p.m. Thursday at Century Center. The theme is “Eat Locally. Support Community. Sustain Globally.” Tickets are $100 per person and support the culinary arts program, according to a press release. Information: 574-298-7001, ext. 6364.

• The Elkhart County Extension Office is having a cheesemaking workshop from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 14. The cost is $15 per person, $20 per couple or household. The event will demonstrate how to make soft cheeses at home. Information: 574-533-0554

Marshall V. King is news/multimedia editor and food columnist for The Elkhart Truth/eTruth.com. You can reach him at 574-296-5805, mking@etruth.com