‘Cake Boss’ Buddy Valastro tries Singapore’s national cake
Even after shooting nine seasons of the American television show “Cake Boss”, celebrity baker Buddy Valastro had yet to try one of Singapore’s signature desserts: the pandan chiffon cake.
The 40-year-old boss of Carlo’s Bakery took a surprising liking to the humble cake, which he had the opportunity to try during an interview with Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore earlier this week. Buddy was in Singapore to promote the latest season of his reality series.
Declared by the BBC to be Singapore’s national cake, the simple pandan chiffon is a far cry from the extravagant creations on his programme.
Besides bigger and wilder cake inventions, the upcoming season will also put the spotlight on Buddy’s mother Mary Valastro, who passed away in June this year. “It was a very traumatic time in my life. But I felt like I owed the fans – and the fans loved her so much – to give her a good tribute and a good goodbye,” said the father of four.
His father, Buddy Valastro Sr, passed away in 1994 when he was only 17 years old. Buddy then took over his family’s bakery business, now known for creating customised cakes. Whether it’s a military tank or jackpot machine, he is able to mould his works into seemingly impossibly shapes.
Out of all the cakes that he has created, the one he enjoyed making the most was a life-sized cake of his wife, Lisa.
“First off, anybody who’s making a life-sized cake of their wife, you got to be really, really smart or really, really stupid. You put a little extra fondant on here and she looks fat, or you don’t carve the cupcakes right – you know what I’m saying? You’d be in big trouble,” said Buddy with a smirk. “Even though she’s a hundred times more beautiful than the cake that I made for her, she knew that it came from the heart.”
Speaking of love and cake, it was nice to see Buddy fall in love with a new kind of cake during his visit to Singapore. Buddy held the piece of the pandan chiffon in his hand and began to probe it.
“It smells really good. You could touch it and feel that it’s already moist,” said Buddy, who then began to eat a piece. “It’s delicious,” said Buddy while munching on the cake. “The pandan leaf is subtle so it’s not overpowering. It’s really nice. I’m eating the whole freaking thing.”
Watch the whole interview here:
Season 9 of Cake Boss will premiere on TLC Southeast Asia (StarHub 427 & Singtel 254) on 15 November at 9pm.
Related stories:
Changi Airport’s new Japanese food hall to open on 14 November
Miss Universe Malaysia’s national costume for this year was inspired by Nasi Lemak
Thai eatery pays homage by serving dishes from defunct heritage vegetarian restaurant
Follow Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore on Facebook.
