Paul Wise Speaker Series: Buddy Valastro

Buddy Valastro P25

The Cake Boss - Everyone’s Buddy

Carlo’s Bakery

 For New York Times best-selling author Buddy Valastro, 44, mixing eggs, sugar, butter and flour means a lot more than “making a cake.” As a fourth generation baker, it’s a constant source of pleasure, pride and creativity. Creating amazing cakes connects Buddy with the memory of his father Buddy Sr. and his extended Italian family history. His talent and passion for the family business, Carlo’s Bakery, has earned the straight-talking cake expert the moniker, and TLC TV show, Cake Boss. In December 2010, TLC premiered the spin-off series, Cake Boss: Next Great Baker, where Buddy challenged bakers from around the country to compete for a chance to work alongside the Valastro family at Carlo’s.

This past August, Cake Boss: Next Great Baker crowned its fourth season winner. December 2013, TLC launched Buddy’s Bakery Rescue (formally Bakery Boss), a series following Buddy Valastro across the country helping other family-run bakeries that are struggling to find their own sweet success with his famous blend of business skills and baking expertise.

Following the launch of his best-selling first book, Cake Boss, Stories and Recipes from Mia Famiglia (Free Press, Nov. 2010), Buddy brought the pages of stories and tips to life on stage via his highly successful Bakin’ with The Boss Tour. Buddy went on to release a how-to book, Baking with the Cake Boss: 100 of Buddy’s Best Recipes and Decorating Secrets (Free Press, Nov 1, 2011). A year later, Buddy shared his savory skills and favorite Italian recipes in his how-to book, Cooking Italian with the Cake Boss: Family Favorites as Only Buddy Can Serve Them Up (Free Press, Nov 6, 2012) and hit the road for his much-anticipated Homemade for the Holidays Tour.

Last November, Buddy offered families festive tips and tricks to celebrate the holidays with his newest how-to book, Family Celebrations with the Cake Boss (Atria Books, Nov 5, 2013). Expanding outside of Hoboken for the first time, Buddy and the famiglia built a 100,000 square foot baking facility in Jersey City in 2011, opened over twenty-two new locations throughout the United States and in Brazil. In October 2013, Buddy brought his family’s classic Italian recipes to the table, opening his first restaurant, Buddy V’s, in the Venetian Las Vegas; Buddy then went on to open additional Buddy V’s restaurants in San Antonio, TX and Bethlehem, PA. Old favorites and new recipes are on the menu as well as desserts you know and love from Carlo’s Bakery.

Taking his talents behind the camera lens, Buddy and long-time partner Art Edwards have launched Cakehouse Media, a production company focused on creating original high quality lifestyle programming. Buddy also hosted two seasons of the Food Network competition series, Bakers vs. Fakers.