Buddy Valastro has come a long way in a short time, from son of a baker to boss of all things baked. And while his personality has made for perfect television, Buddy still does what he does best: bakes elaborate and mouthwatering cakes that are treats for the mouth and the eyes. But while cakes may be his day job (thanks to Carlo’s Bakery), family is everything for the husband and father of four. His two cookbooks are all about famiglia and the fourth generation baker keeps those traditions going in his shops. Let’s take a walk down memory lane and explore the evolution of Buddy Valastro.
Watch Buddy vs. Duff Sunday at 10 PM ET/PT and stream all your favourite Food Network Canada shows through STACKTV with Amazon Prime Video Channels, or with the new Global TV app, live and on-demand when you sign-in with your cable subscription.
Jersey Boy
Buddy was born in Hoboken, N.J. in 1977. The baby of the Valastro clan (he has four older sisters) began working at his family’s business, Carlo’s Bakery, at age 11, alongside his father, Buddy Sr. He took baking courses in high school, but the gene was already baked in his blood. Nothing was going to stop him from creating cakes and other amazing confections.
Shop Talk
Buddy’s dad passed away in 1994 when Buddy was 17. The son not only took over the shop but also succeeded his Pops as the new cake boss — literally.
Buddy’s Television Debut
The shop has made a name for itself by producing some of the most extravagant and grandiose cakes. Buddy made his first appearance on the Food Network in 2007, when he guest-mentored the “Battle of the Brides” episode of Food Network Challenge. But with his personality, it wouldn’t be the last we saw of him on-screen. In fact, it was just a taste.
Star Power
Carlo’s Bakery is known for creating cakes for any occasion that are devoured by celebrities (from Britney, to Gigi, to Beyoncé, to Big Bird) and ordinary Joes alike.
The Big Time
In 2009, his series – the aptly named Cake Boss – premiered on TLC and ran for eight seasons. It spawned several spinoffs including Next Great Baker, Kitchen Boss, Bakers vs. Fakers and Buddy’s Family Vacation, which featured Buddy, wife Lisa and their four kids — Sofia, Buddy Jr., Marco and Carlo — as they embarked on an RV road trip across America in search of delicious eats and fun-filled adventures.
Sweet Street
Carlo’s Bakery was actually founded by Italian pastry chef Carlo Guastaferro in 1910 before he sold it to Buddy’s father in 1964. In 2010, in honour of the bakery’s 100th anniversary, Hoboken renamed the corner of where the shop sits (Washington and Newark Streets) to Carlo’s Bakery Way.
A Tough Personal Loss
In 2017 Buddy suffered a huge personal blow when the family lost their matriarch, Mary Valastro. The 69-year-old had been diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, and she put up a good fight. “She is no longer suffering and I hope she’s dancing to ‘I Will Survive’ with my dad right now,” Buddy shared on social media at the time.
A Rivalry Was Born
The brilliant idea of pitting Buddy against Ace of Cakes’ Duff Goldman was an epic baking battle that couldn’t be denied. They may be baking royalty but their styles are very different as Buddy’s cakes tend to be huge and filled with all kinds of personality, while Duff’s are meticulously detailed. In any case, Buddy vs. Duff was born, and one thing was clear: Buddy didn’t like it when he lost to Duff—he didn’t like it one little bit.
Host With the Most
Buddy may have been licking those frosted-filled wounds following the first season of Buddy vs. Duff, but he was too busy to dwell on the loss for long. The 43-year-old couldn’t be a more perfect host for the series Bake You Rich, which saw four bakers competing to become a household name. Each episode’s victor found their winning creation available to order at Carlo’s Bakery. Now that’s sweet!
Ace of Cupcakes
Buddy broke his own Guinness World Record in October 2019 when he appeared on Live! With Kelly and Ryan and iced even more cupcakes in one minute than he did earlier in the year.
Buddy vs. Duff: Take Two
Duff may have taken Season 1 of Buddy vs. Duff but Buddy had something to prove in the show’s second season. He and his team mounted an epic comeback with some of the biggest cake creations we’ve ever seen, evening out the score between these two bakers by taking home the win.
A Tragic Accident
Buddy’s victory was short-lived when, in September 2020, he mangled his hand in a gruesome freak accident while bowling with his family. The bowling pinsetter malfunctioned, and a metal rod impaled his hand. The ace baker then underwent five reconstructive surgeries and physical therapy, and today he says he feels back to 90-95 per cent.
Ready for Round 3
With Buddy and Duff tied at one win apiece, there’s a lot on the line as we head into Buddy vs. Duff Season 3. This time around the challenges are tougher than ever, but both personalities seem ready to prove that they have what it takes to outdo the other. And as far as we’re concerned, we can’t wait to see how it all plays out.
Watch Buddy vs. Duff Sunday at 9 PM ET/PT and stream all your favourite Food Network Canada shows through STACKTV with Amazon Prime Video Channels, or with the new Global TV app, live and on-demand when you sign-in with your cable subscription.
Posted by Denette Wilford. Last Updated on August 9 by Amber Dowling.