TLC's Cake Boss whips up tasty fun for his Springfield 'famiglia'

Nov. 12, 2012


Buddy Valastro, star of TLC's "Cake Boss" will appear in Springfield on Nov. 24. Reminder Publications submitted photos

By Katelyn Gendron

katelyn@thereminder.com

SPRINGFIELD — For Buddy Valastro, master baker and star of TLC's "Cake Boss," famiglia (family) is the key ingredient to life's happiness, equal to that of any in his best recipes.

Valastro, author of two New York Times bestsellers, "Cake Boss" and "Baking with the Cake Boss," will appear in Springfield on Nov. 24 to promote his new book, "Cooking Italian with the Cake Boss: Family Favorites as Only Buddy Can Serve them Up." He humbly admitted to Reminder Publications that he's certainly not a master chef but this book tour will allow him to share comical stories of holiday gatherings and the best Italian-American recipes his family has to offer.

"I'm nowhere near a professional chef. I'm a baker and there's a big difference. I'm just a really good at-home cook ... when you come to my house, you're not leaving hungry," Valastro said.

"Nothing brings a family together like food ... A couple of weeks ago, my wife was hungry and we had very little in the pantry so I just took pasta and made some garlic anchovy sauce and that's just how I kinda roll. I really believe that anybody can do it [cook] ... You can tailor it to whatever you do but some people need some basic steps," he added.

Valastro was quick to point out that his book tour is not the typical stand in line for hours and wait for an autograph gig; rather, it's a family-friendly affair, complete with demonstrations, audience participation and contests.

"This is a whole new show. Part of why I came back to Springfield is 'cause we had such a fun night and a really successful show. I took things that people really liked from the first show and other things they wanted to see but didn't, such as a fondant demonstration [and incorporated them into this new show]," he explained.

"You can see my [baking] tricks and recreate them at home. I will call people up from the audience and have them compete for the cake that I make. I will have fun with it and wing it ... If you were at the last show, this show is great, it's like the last show on steroids!" Valastro continued.

When asked how the success of his TLC reality series has impacted his personal and professional lives, Valastro replied, "To do the show, it can be good for business, but helping people to inspire them to do more with their lives [means more]."

Providing family-friendly programming is also important to him. "I'm also a dad of four and family man and you can only watch 'SpongeBob' so much. I want to have quality family content," he added.

Valastro said it's also important to help others reach their goals in the culinary arts, which is the reason for his latest show, "The Next Great Baker."

"I'm giving someone a shot like I was given a shot," he said of the show, noting that he owes his career to the opportunities his father gave him at the family business, Carlo's Bake Shop in Hoboken, N.J.

"I always idolized my dad so I always wanted to be like my dad. I just happened to be good at it [baking] and it gave me a sense of satisfaction. All the cards lined up," he said. "My dad never said 'you had to be a baker' but he did say 'you have to learn work ethic and learn how to be a man.' Not only did that help me prepare for [my career but also for] what I'm going through now; I work harder than ever."

When asked how Hurricane Sandy affected business at Carlo's and how the book tour might aid victims, Valastro replied, "We reopened today [Nov. 6]. We lost a lot of product but a lot of the devastation is at the Jersey shore. It will never appear the same.

"We haven't come up with the first [fundraising effort yet] but being the son of New Jersey anything I can do to raise awareness [is key] ... I know the community of Hoboken and the people in the Tri-State Area who got hit will [bounce back]," he continued.

Valastro will appear at Symphony Hall, 34 Court St., on Nov. 24 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets to the show are $42.75 and can be obtained by contacting the Box Office at 788-7033 or visiting www.symphonyhall.com.

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