Reality TV has a more charming and tastier side on Thursday nights. If you didn't know, Baltimore is the home of one of the most famous cake bakeries in the U.S., Charm City Cakes.
Last year, Food Network took Duff Goldman, winner of many Food Network cake contests, and created a reality TV show around his bakery. The show is called "Ace of Cakes" and each Thursday night at 10 p.m., two new 30 minute episodes are shown. The great thing about this show is that the bakery is a big family, since Duff hired mainly all his friends to work for him.
The family style business is evident in the show from the way the business is run, to the carefree demeanor of the employees. Many of the bakery's employees are actually artists, who never had specialized education in pastry baking. In addition to the owner and operator, Duff, there is Mary Alice Fallon-Yeskey, office manager, and Geoff Manthorne, executive sous chef who bring more zest to the show and bakery. Together, they make cakes ranging from simple wedding cakes, to a cake of King Tut, to a replica of Wrigley Field and in a recent episode, an army tank.
The show displays the process they use to make the cakes. Viewers get to see how the cake is made from its beginning to the point where the client gets to taste it. On each episode they display one of their main cakes for the week. Viewers get to follow Duff and other bakers as they drop off the cakes to their clients. Many times, Duff has run into trouble trying to transport cake, especially getting them to fit into his van.
Normally it seems that it takes a week to produce a cake that is very elaborate. For example, with the army tank, Duff and Geoff go to Aberdeen Proving Grounds and ride in a tank that they actually recreate into a cake. They were able to pull this amazing task off and added sparklers that shot out of the final product.
The show also is able to display a different aspect of Baltimore that most of America wouldn't know. You see Duff visit different beautiful Maryland venues, Camden Yards, Engineering Club and The Maryland Science Center to name a few, to drop off cakes and make appearances.
Duff himself has become a celebrity, which has boosted his business.
Charm City Cakes would not be charming without Duff. He brings an enormous atmosphere and environment to the show and his bakery with his delightful and funny personality.
His loud, contagious laugh can be heard throughout the show. Also, the show displays the activities that Duff and his employees do when they're not at Charm City Cakes.
"Ace of Cakes" really gives you a great perspective of the cake industry.
Each week I am excited to see what cakes are going to be made and what is happening in the bakery. I also tune in just to hear Duff laugh.
The TV show has portrayed Baltimore in a better light and has shown that anyone can create fantastic cakes.
So, if you are looking for a little humor, excitement and amazement for a Thursday night, before you head out, check out the charming reality of "Ace of Cakes."
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