Bartolo "Buddy" Valastro Jr. (born March 3, 1977) is an American celebrity chef, entrepreneur, and reality television personality of Italian heritage. He is the owner of Carlo's Bakery, as well as the face of Buddy V's Ristorante. Valastro is best known as the star of the reality television series Cake Boss, which premiered in April 2009. He has also starred in Kitchen Boss (2011), The Next Great Baker (2010), and Buddy's Bakery Rescue (2013). He had a cameo in the hit movie Bridesmaids; he baked one cupcake in the kitchen baking scene, only showing his hands.
Video Buddy Valastro
Early life
Valastro was born in Hoboken, New Jersey to Buddy Valastro Sr., and Mary W. Tubito on March 3, 1977 and grew up in urban Hoboken and Little Ferry, New Jersey. His mother was born in Altamura, Italy and is the daughter of Italian-American immigrants who moved to New Jersey when she was six years old. His father, Buddy Sr was born in Lipari, Italy. Valastro grew up with four sisters: Grace, Mary, Maddalena and Lisa.
Valastro began working at his family's business, Carlo's Bakery at age 11, alongside his father. His father died in 1994, when Valastro was 17, and he succeeded him as the new "Cake Boss".
Maps Buddy Valastro
Career
Valastro is the owner and head baker of Carlo's Bakery, the bakery featured on Cake Boss. Carlo's has since opened 17 more bakeries due to the popularity of the show. In January 2012, as a result of the attention that the shop and the TV series had brought to the city of Hoboken, the Hudson Reporter named Valastro as an honorable mention in its list of Hudson County's 50 most influential people.
Carlo's Bakery currently has seven locations in New Jersey--Hoboken, Marlton, Morristown, Red Bank, Ridgewood, Wayne, and Westfield. Outside of New Jersey, the bakery operates locations in Philadelphia, PA; Bethlehem, PA; Westbury and New York, NY; Orlando, FL; Frisco, Dallas, and The Woodlands, TX; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Uncasville, CT; Las Vegas and most recently in Minneapolis, MN. The Lackawanna Factory in nearby Jersey City serves as the corporate office for the business and is used as additional space to create wedding and specialty cakes, and to bake specialty baked goods for shipment across the country.
Valastro launched an event planning and catering company, Buddy V's Events, in June 2014. It specializes in catering everything from corporate events to family gatherings, as well as planning events such as weddings and galas.
In 2016 Valastro partnered with Whole Earth Sweetener Co. on a campaign to "Rethink Sweet." "Buddy will serve as the official brand ambassador for the new line of zero- and lower-calorie sweeteners, and will work to help his fans make healthy lifestyle choices, without compromising on taste. Buddy will share his culinary expertise, along with all-new, original and seasonally festive recipes for mouthwatering treats using Whole Earth Sweetener Co. products."
In 2018 Valastro partnered with The Pound Bakery, a pet treat manufacturing company to redesign and launch a new line of pet treats. "We wanted to create palatable treats for dogs that are inspired by classic Italian entrees and desserts," said Lexie Berglund, President of The Pound Bakery. Buddy also worked with several other companies to launch a full line of ready-to-use fondant, buttercream icing, and Italian Biscotti cookies under the new brand name Buddy Valastro Foods in 2018.
Personal life
Until 2014, Valastro resided in East Hanover Township, New Jersey, with his wife Lisa and four children: Sofia Valastro, Bartolo "Buddy" Valastro III, Marco Valastro, and Carlo Valastro. He has four sisters and a stepfather, Sergio. As of 2014, he resided in Montville, New Jersey.
On 13 November 2014, Valastro was arrested for driving while intoxicated. "You can't arrest me," he told the police. "I'm the Cake Boss." "Is there anything we can do?" he asked. "I'm a good guy. You don't have to arrest me." Buddy's driver's license was suspended for 90 days and he paid a $300 fine.
Filmography
In popular culture
Comedian Paul F. Tompkins plays a parody of Buddy Valastro on the Comedy Bang! Bang! podcast and the IFC TV show.
See also
- List of pastry chefs
References
External links
- Carlo's Bakery Shop official website
- Buddy V's Events official website
- CakeHouse Media official website
- Buddy Valastro Foods official website
Source of article : Wikipedia
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