If you're not familiar with the show, it's a reality based program following the creative crew of Charm City Cakes. Duff Goldman, owner and mad scientist and his crew make cakes. A lot of cakes. Now there's a couple of reasons why I enjoy this program over the rest of the Food Networks stable of cooking show nags. 1) Duff, while not a native, has made Maryland and Baltimore his home. Which means you'll see cakes like this.
You know I'm loving these. 2). They all love what they do and it's evident on the show and in the pride they take in their cakes. 3). They (all the staff) got to go to Hawaii and make a Lost Cake for the 100th episode of Lost. Not cook for some writers and producers like Top Chef Masters did but actually meet the actors and crew on the set.
I know which one I'd rather do.One of the recent episodes featured a dream gig for a Crabgirl like me. Making a cake to celebrate Old Bay's 70th Anniversary. If you're not familiar with Old Bay you can check out their history at their website. It's a seafood spice that is deeply woven into my DNA, delivered on many plates of steamed shrimp and bushels of hard shelled crabs. Duff and his crew get to visit the Old Bay factory,
make a cake of the iconic Old Bay can,
and deliver the cake to Camden Yards for an Baltimore Orioles baseball game.
Duff also got to throw out the first pitch. I'm not putting up any picture of that. Let's just say some people make awesome cakes and some people can throw a baseball. It may be that some people can do both...Duff is not one of those people. He can make beautiful cakes and this one especially touched my crabby soft shell. If you enjoy watching people doing what they love with passion and humor, check out Ace of Cakes on the Food Network.
UPDATE: For all you Old Bay lovers out there, fun article from the Washington Post on the popularity of the spice mix and the people who love it on just about everything.
That is some awesome talent he has!
ReplyDeleteThey seem to enjoy their work, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteLove this show. Undeniably, this dude is the master of cake decorating. That being said, you ever taste fondant? Yew.
ReplyDeleteI always think it's funny that one of the most popular things about commercial cakes is the icing but all these designer cakes have icing that taste nasty.
ReplyDeleteArt or Taste - Why Can't We Have Both?
I know, huh? We should get on that. That being said, nothing is better than commercial butter cream icing. Straight sugar to the arteries. And the ass.
ReplyDeleteI love the crabby cake! I watch this show sometimes, they are amazing artists, so clever!
ReplyDeleteMy husband's co-worker is pretty amazing at the cake decorating too. She's been in comps on Food Network. I wish I lived closer to New York!
http://www.thepaintedlily.com/
PS: Sham, I just bought a HUGE bottle of Old Bay seasoning at Costco and besides puttin' it on fish and grilled shrimp, not sure what to do with it? Any ideas?
Oops, I meant to say that the Painted Lily is the wife of my husband's co worker...er, whatever!
ReplyDeleteGeez Louise, I am so not with it today. I just noticed you put up a link to the Old Bay site that also has Old Bay recipes! yay!
ReplyDeleteOk, off the computer and back to the couch for mindless TV, very sick Diva am I.