I need to make a cake as a "thank you" for a local businessman who has helped our church secure meeting space in one of his buildings. I want something that says "thanks" is classy, and shows off my skills a bit. (Since it will be seen by lots of folks, and I need the marketing opportunity), Need to serve 30 or so.

Cakes for guys are really hard! This gentleman is very conservative, so anything with liquer, cigars, etc is out. Any ideas welcome. I'm drawing a blank here.

You could do a tiered pirouette cake, leaving the strawberries off to keep it more masculine. I think those cakes are very impressive looking, especially when they're tiered.

http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&meta=search&type=full&search=pirouette&pageID=3

How about something fall themed? Maybe a wooden basket filled with fall leaves? You could add a rustic "thank you" note attached to the side of the wooden basket - or have it sticking out on a sign.

obviously he has a soft spot for churches....

could do a:

• replica of building you're using
  
  • Thanks for giving God and us a new place to call home
    
  • "The Big Guy says "thanks for the new digs!" (we thank you too.)"
    
  • Mathew 19:20 (NIV) For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.
  
  
  
• cross shaped cake
  
  • "thanks for helping us hold the cross high!"
    
  • "while our reward is in heaven, you have our deepest thanks now"
  
  
  
• cake that looks like the cornerstone for a building
  
  • "thanks for being our cornerstone on which to build our church"
    
  • "thanks for supporting our ministry"
  
  
  
• cake that looks like a big rock
  
  • Peter would be proud! You're our rock on which build"
    
  • [Thanks for being the firm foundation on which we build!"
  
  
  
• cake that looks like a sheep
  
  • "Thanks for being a good sheep and housing us!" (Matthew 25:31â46 - The Parable of the Sheep and Goats)
    
  • "Thanks for giving the sheep a home."
  
  
  
• cake that looks like praying hands
  
  • our prayers rise before God in thanks for the blessing he has given us in you.
  
  
  
• cake the looks like an open Bible with suitable verse (could be quote from the parable above, a beatitude, a psalm quote, a proverb, etc.)