Food Network: Duff Goldman, Ace of Cakes interview

Chef Duff

It was a quiet Saturday afternoon. I decided to lie down for a nap. The phone rang. I answered it. It was a man who said his name was Willie Goldman. Nothing registered. I thought it was someone who wanted an estimate for carpet cleaning, since that is the business we are in. So, I said, “OK?” He went on to tell me that he was the brother of Duff Goldman. Then it hit me! Ace of Cakes! I was in shock. About two weeks I ago I sent in an email to the Charm City Cakes website. I asked them if by some chance Chef Duff might have time to conduct an email interview with me. And the rest is history!

I spoke with Chef Duff that afternoon for an hour and a half. I have to say he is just as nice to speak to, as he appears to be on TV. He made the interview very easy for me and shared a lot of information, much of which I plan to share with you. I plan to write several articles on this amazing person, so to learn more, keep your eyes peeled for future articles.

I am a huge fan of The Food Network program, Ace of Cakes. I learned a lot from Chef Duff that Saturday afternoon. I hope you enjoy learning about his life as much as I have.

When Duff attended culinary school, he was one of the two guys in an all girl class. He became known as “The Bread Guy”. The first cake he made in school was a three-tier wedding cake. Duff covered the cake with white fondant and covered it with intricate string work. His cake decorating ability amazed his fellow students and teachers as well.

After working at “French Laundry”, Duff ended up living in Colorado. Duff accepted a job at a local resort as a pastry chef. In addition to pastry, Duff learned how to carve ice and create chocolate sculptures. He also experimented with and enjoyed making sauces, corned beef and cleaning fish.

Eventually, Duff began making the wedding cakes for guests of the hotel. They had a book with about ten wedding cakes for the guests to choose from. Duff learned how to make each cake. After a while, Duff suggested that he sit down with the guests and personalize their wedding cakes for them individually. Duff would sketch out the cakes and when they agreed on the style and design he would create their masterpieces.

Duff became more interested in the art of making and decorating cakes. He purchased a couple of books to help him learn about new techniques.

A friend, Mary Alice who we know from the show, called Duff one day and asked him to make a wedding cake for her brother. Duff made a six-tiered cake that he filled with approximately three thousand marzipan flowers, butterflies and ladybugs.

This was just the beginning for Chef Duff Goldman…

Photo credit to Vince Lupo/Direction One.
 

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