Just follow the yellow brick PATH…
Okay… Maybe it’s not quite lined with yellow bricks {the PATH is actually a train that the husband and I took to get from Manhattan to Hoboken}, and Buddy isn’t the wizard {although he does work some magic with baked goods!}, but visiting the Cake Boss was easily an experience that was as awesome as the movie The Wizard of Oz. 😉
This is not a recipe related post, but what better place to mention the food and experience from this trip than here? This Canada Day long weekend, Joe and I decided to take a drive out to New York, and stay for a few nights. Knowing that we were a mere 15 minute train ride from Hoboken, I couldn’t help but insist that we visit Cake Boss. His show is one of my favourite things to watch, and he has been the biggest inspiration to me when it comes to baking and cake decorating. {I’m hoping that with a little more practice, my “house cake” will be up to “Cake Boss” standards! 😉 }Watching his show each week causes extreme drooling, and extreme urges to bake cakes. I know we’ve got plenty of amazing bakeries here in Toronto, but something about those cannolis just called out to me. {And I will admit, the hype is WELL deserved! There are some tasty treats there, people! The chocolate covered strawberries were so yummy, but I didn’t get a picture of them… 😉 Ate them too fast.} My goal was to at least get into the bakery, but I never imagined that I would have gotten to meet Buddy himself! I had hoped though… Let me share the story with pictures…
There is an actual street sign... Hard to miss... 😉
Another sign outside of the bakery...
The husband and I outside of cake heaven - er, I mean Carlo's Bake Shop... 😉
Some wonderful cakes in the display...
I actually thought this was a bag at first...
Hello, amazing cake!
One of Buddy's sisters working at the counter, she was really nice too!The bakery was SUPER busy, as expected, and we only saw Buddy inside for a moment on the stairs. They were filming, so obviously a lot of running around was going on at the back. I saw a few other members of the cast, but wasn't quick enough with the camera...
goodies inside... Waiting to dig into our treats while sitting across the street from the bakery!
Chocolate and regular cannolis... MMMMM!!!!!!!! Joe loved the regular ones, I loved the chocolate ones... 🙂
We also had red velvet cupcakes... These were the best cupcakes I have ever had in my life. No jokin', in Hoboken! 😉
At my insisting, we walk by the back where the deliveries happen... And what do we see?
Filming is taking place! That guy behind the crew's arm is Buddy, loading a cake into the truck... A few other people and myself stick around, and a girl from Montreal asks if he can come back out to take a few pictures. He says he'll be out in 2 minutes...
True to his word, he comes back out for some pictures! So I got to meet him, and got a picture with him! 🙂 Easily one of the highlights of our long weekend trip to NYC {and mini-trip to Hoboken, NJ}!!! 🙂
I’m not normally the “ohmygoshI’msuchabigfan*crycrycry*” type of person when it comes to “famous people”, because really – they’re just people, and not all people are as special as they seem. But Buddy is not just a talented baker and cake decorator, he’s also an amazing artist. He has pretty much perfected the art of making stunning cakes. {Yes, I’ve seen Ace of Cakes, and they’re great too. But Buddy is still my favourite!} It was so great to meet him, and he’s a really friendly guy. The bakery is pretty awesome, too. It’s small, and obviously gets busy, but everyone working there seemed really nice and efficient.
I’ve read a lot of reviews where people complain about either the crowds, or about “rude workers”, and these reviews make me laugh. EVERY store/company/restaurant will have rude employees, or nice employees that are just having a bad day. It happens. Get over it. With the crowds, it’s to be expected in a place that’s on television. It’s so close to one of the hottest tourist spots, so if people are fans they’re obviously going to go and visit. Also, there are many local customers that buy baked goods from there. {So if you want to avoid crowds, visit the bakery at 7am when it opens, and go on a weekday.} If they WEREN’T busy, I’d be a bit worried… 😉 I’ve always believed that a sign of good quality food at a restaurant or bakery is a full house. So I will stress this point: Carlo’s Bake Shop lives up to the hype. 😉Note: I also got a picture with his mum, but it didn’t turn out too well…
Cook With Nikki 