Buddy Valastro, the cake boss, has always proudly told of his Italian origins during the reality show "The Cake Boss". Friendly, always cheerful and a great professional, Valastro is an example of Italian style in the world.
Buddy Valastro, who is the cake boss
Confectioner, entrepreneur, but also writer: Bartolo 'Buddy' Valastro junior It was born in Hoboken, in New Jersey, March 3, 1977. Already from his name and surname, his origins are clearly perceived. Italian indeed. The father, Buddy Sr. the original Cake Boss, and of Lipari, while the mother Mary, 'Maria', is from Altamura. Buddy Sr. follows in the footsteps of his grandfather and great-grandfather, both bakers in Sicily.
They buy Carlo's Bakery from Carlo Guastaferro in 1963. Buddy grows to Little Ferry (New Jersey) and spends her childhood watching her father make cakes, pies and cannoli. From the age of 11 he started working in the pastry shop Carlo's Bakery Shop. In 1994, at the age of 17, he lost his father; so he decides to roll up his sleeves and take over the family business. And in addition to producing typical Sicilian sweets, it also specializes in sugar paste cakes.
Buddy Valastro and the television success
In Italy he becomes famous with the reality show "The Cake Boss" (the Boss of Cakes), where he tells his life between shop, children, sisters, brothers-in-law and amazing cakes. Buddy, in fact, creates real sculptures (some even very tall) and which are highly appreciated even outside New Jersey. Thanks to the reality show, he opened 17 other patisseries. The newspaper 'The Hudson Reporter' placed Valastro among the 50 most influential people in Hudson County. He also acts as a judge in the various editions of "The cake boss: the challenge": during the episodes the aspiring pastry chefs compete to win the title of cake boss to the sound of cakes that offer various themes assigned during the challenge.
Valastro also wrote three books: "The best recipes of the cake boss" (2012) inside which explains how to make decorated cakes. And then again "The best of the cake boss" e "The cake boss. Stories and recipes from my family " both from 2014; in the first you can find the recipes for making cupcakes and cakes, as well as the techniques for making sugar paste cakes. The second volume, on the other hand, tells about the private Valastro, but also the public one, between Italian-American pastry and recipes.
The Valastro family
The 4 Sisters of the Cake Boss, Grace Faugno, “Madeline” Maddalena Castano, Mary Sciarrone and Lisa Gonzalez, they work with him in the pastry shop. In 2001 Charles sposa Elizabeth 'Lisa'; the couple has four children: Sofia, Buddy Jr, Marco and Carlo. Mother mary passed away in 2017 due to ALS.
The most important values: family and roots
Valastro has always proudly shown his clear Italian origins, as well as the infinite affection for his father, Buddy Sr. In the course of the reality show, in fact, Buddy often told about what his father represented in his life, an important presence, which transmitted to him the values of the family and roots. In one of the episodes, Buddy, his wife Lisa, children, brother-in-law Mauro and family are seen spending their holidays in Altamura, the land of their mother. As already mentioned, Buddy's sisters and brothers-in-law also work in the pastry shop. Proof that the union for the family can also be able to give life to a great business. Despite the demanding job, Buddy is also a loving husband and father; in fact, the one formed with Lisa is a stable couple. Valastro, so proudly proud of his being Italian. We, proudly proud of him!
Photo source: Facebook page "Carlo's Bakery"
I had the opportunity to meet him at an event he did in Mexico City! He is a great pastry chef! 😀
Beautiful!!! 🙂