Bartolo "Buddy" Valastro is a baking superstar. Wunderkind gone celebrity icon, Valastro has an old world education in artisanal dessert making and is at the helm of a very modern cake empire. Hit television shows, cookbooks and a live stage show bring Valastro to you in just about every format. This month, you can catch him at the Miller Auditorium, serving up stories and baking secrets.
A darling of the food entertainment world, Valastro creates feats of sugar artistry, such as giant baseball cap-shaped cakes.
"It's truly a dream come true," Valastro said. "I never imagined that I could share my passion for baking and cooking with the world in this way. I'm so blessed to have so many opportunities to inspire the world to be passionate about creative desserts."
Valastro hails from a long line of master bakers and honed his now-famous technique while growing up around Carlo's City Hall Bake Shop. Never attending culinary school, Valastro's childhood was spent immersed in the craft which imbued him with top notch talent. Much of the allure of the Carlo's brand cakes lies in the realism captured in sugar and flour, which means his team of bakers must be highly skilled as well.
"Most of the decorators have had some sort of formal art or decorating training, but everything I have learned has been by trial and error," he said. "It's almost like a second nature to know how to design a cake."
| An Evening with Buddy Valastro: The Cake Boss The Bakin' with the Boss Tour Miller Auditorium, Kalamazoo Nov. 17, 7:30 p.m. $28.75-$48.75 millerauditorium.com, (269) 387-2300 |
Valastro's passion has led him beyond the kitchen — sort of — and onto the stage, which sprang from a motivational speech given at a college.
"I had a lot of people come up to me afterward about how much they enjoyed my message. I ... decided to incorporate that element into an interactive show where I could bring people up on stage and teach them methods that my father taught me," Valastro said.
Thus, The Bakin' with the Boss Tour was born. The show is filled with anecdotes, instructions on baking techniques and even hands on contests.
"With a few simple tools, anyone can use some creativity to make a beautiful cake," said Valastro. "I tried to recreate my work bench ... A lot of my cake decorating is done on a simple wooden table, so that's what we do on stage."
Keeping the show fresh, the contests and challenges often vary from city to city.
"We have a lot of audience participation, so you see some crazy stuff," Valastro said. "I have one segment where we teach the husbands and boyfriends how to make a rose out of modeling chocolate, and then I have them present it to their lady. It's funny to see some of the smooth moves guys across America have."
In addition to the event at Miller Auditorium, a book signing will be held at a local bookstore (location to be announced) where you can pick up Valastro's popular book, Cake Boss: Stories and Recipes from Mia Famiglia along with the new title, Baking with the Cake Boss, which will be released Nov. 1.
Other Eclectic Events
Inside Jokes: The Tradition of Satire in Art
Grand Rapids Art Museum
Through Jan. 15
artmuseumgr.org (616) 831-1000
In tandem with the Warrington Colescott: Cabaret, Comedy & Satire printmaking exhibit, the GRAM presents another exhibit based on its permanent collection that focuses on visual and historical satire. Take in caricatures by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, experience the moral critiques of William Hogarth and others through the graphic arts of printmaking. In a time of worldwide dissidence, enjoy a romp through dissenters of yore.
Native American Culture Day
Grand Rapids Public Museum
Nov. 5
grmuseum.org (616) 456-3977
During Thanksgiving season forget about the pilgrims and celebrate the cultural heritage of those who came before. Listen to traditional Native American stories, participate in craft making for all ages and play historical games. Explore exquisite, customary regalia and learn about classic dances and songs during this immersive event.
Fractals: Mathematics & Science as Art
Kalamazoo Museum
Through Jan. 22
kalamazoomuseum.org
Most people view art and science as polar opposites. At the Kalamazoo Museum, explore the possibilities of design through mathematics and the beauty of fractals, an ancient concept brought to life through computer generation. The snowflake-like spirals are rendered in vivid color schemes that are wondrous and mesmerizing.
