Q: What are some daily challenges that you face as a baking
master?
A: I’ve spent almost my whole life in
the bakery working all types of jobs. I’ve done everything from cleaning the
grease traps to decorating wedding cakes. In order to master anything you have
to learn how to do everything well. I think my biggest challenge right now is
coming up with ideas for new cakes. There’s so much creativity needed to design
a cake. Every cake brings a new challenge- but that’s a great problem to have!
Q: How do you manage to juggle your busy career with family
life?
A: Family is always number one for me.
We are lucky to be able to be together so much. We work all day and then we can
still go home and make dinner together. It’s really special.
Q: Who inspires you and where do you get your ideas for
cake decoration and design?
A: Most of my designs come from stuff
I dream up. I’ll usually have an idea of what the client is looking for, and
then I just think of ways I can take it to the next level. The guys and I come
up with some pretty crazy stuff sometimes.
Q: What are some of your favourite ingredients
for baking and creating confectionary masterpieces?
I like to stick to the traditional
flavors- chocolate fudge, vanilla buttercream, etc. My favorite cake is
actually a cake that my father invented. It is called a “cream puff cake” and
it’s really good.
Q: What advice would you give to aspiring young students
who want to break into the culinary profession?
A: Be prepared to work hard. You have
to be willing to put in 110% to be successful in the culinary world.
Q: The Cake
Boss has spawned a number of similar reality shows, what makes your show stand out from the rest?
A: I think “Cake Boss” is completely different
than other cake shows because it’s about my family and how we all work
together. People can relate to the challenges that come along with family. We
might fight, but at the end of the day we still sit down for a meal together.
That’s what my business is about- everyone becomes part of the famiglia.
Q: What is it
about watching cakes being made that you think appeals to viewers most?
A: I think it has a lot to do with the problem solving.
There’s always something to figure out.
Q: What is the
secret ingredient to your success?
A: I work hard – that’s not a secret. You can’t be
successful without putting 110% in.
Q: Is there any
cake that you designed that you’re most proud of? Why?
A: The Nascar cake was by far the hardest and my most proud
cake. We took 56 people down to North Carolina and spent 3 days making a
larger than life race car. I don’t
think I would ever do it again!
Q: The Cake Boss
has a huge following in South Africa, what can fans expect to learn from you during your visit to the Cape
Town Good Food & Wine Show?
A: It’s a mixture of storytelling and demonstration. No
matter what age, everyone can take something away from it. I’m going to do some decorating and some cooking.You’ll
get to see the sweet & savory side of me!
Quotes from Buddy:
“The
strangest cake I ever made was with bugs!”
“There’s nothing better than giving a bride her dream
wedding cake”
“Passionate bakers must always have patience”
“When I bake I always get into what I call the
“zone”
“The food I will remember forever is my dad’s cream puff cake”
“Italians should be known for our food, cars and clothes!”
“Pure, unadulterated bliss is sitting at the pool with
my wife and kids”
See Buddy in action at the Good Food and Wine Show.
Cape Town: 24 -27 May Durban: 23 -26 August Gauteng: 21 – 24 September