Tag Archive for ‘Cake Boss’ at Laptop Television Mom

I’m obviously not a food blogger, but I love to write about (and watch) food television. I’m a long-time fan of shows like Top Chef, Chopped and Next Food Network Star. Recently, I’ve been sucked into the cake decorating shows, and Cake Boss is a fan-favorite in my house.

I admittedly watch a lot of television after the kid goes to bed and I go back to work (hence the moniker Laptop TV Mom). But during waking hours, we limit TV-time in my house. My young daughter is allowed to watch cartoons during breakfast, but then has to “earn” TV time for her favorites like iCarly. But let’s be honest, there are times when this mama just wants to cuddle on the couch with her special girl, and chill with some TV. The challenge is finding TV that we both want to watch. And this is where cooking shows come in.

My 4.5 year-old daughter and I love to watch cooking shows together. We spend the time talking about the mystery ingredients, the decorations on the cakes, and which recipes we would eat for dinner. We can watch these shows, and I know there will be no sex, drugs and bad language. (Well, some of the shows have bad language, but I can usually work around a bleeped-out F-bomb.)

All that said, I’m also a closet foodie who loves to cook (and eat). I love cookbooks, entertaining, and experiencing new and exciting restaurants.

So, absorb all that information — and couple it with BlogHer Food 09 in San Francisco — and you have LTV Mom attending the upcoming conference for food bloggers. I am meeting up with cookbook author Gina von Esmarch, and we are going to see cooking demonstrations, learn about food photography, and meet the food bloggers we love to read.

But my favorite part? I am bringing my kid with me! My hubby is out of town, so the kid and I are hitting Highway 280 and joining the foodies in San Francisco. She says she wants to drink milk and watch people cook. (I told her the California Milk Board will be there, and milk is her absolute favorite drink!)

So, if you see a TV blogger (and closet foodie) with her super-cute kid, please say hello!

– LTV Mom

Photo Credit: BlogHer

Cake Boss on TLC

When it comes to topics for reality TV, you can take your pick. You can find show about fashion, real estate, decorating, cooking and even hair styling. Recently, there has been an explosion of shows about cake decorating. When it comes to watching these shows, I see two major themes: cake decorating competitions and a sneak-peek into a bakery. Here’s a look at my favorite cake-shows, as well as a nod to my ultimate favorite.

Cake Boss on TLC — Yes, this is easily my favorite cake show on TV. The show Cake Boss highlights a family-owned bakery in New Jersey run by Buddy Valastro of Carlo’s City Hall Bake Shop in Hoboken. The show has a fantastic cast of characters, including Buddy, four older sisters, three brothers-in-law and cousins galore. Buddy is the heart and soul of the show. He is a hard worker, joker, comedian, and artist. The cakes that come out of this bakery are absolutely beautiful… but the beauty of the show is the love of the cakes, the heart (and heat) of the family, and the hilarious dialogue. Set your DVRs now.

Ace of Cakes on Food Network — This is another show that takes us behind the scenes of a too-cool bakery, but this time we are in Maryland. Chef Duff of Charm City Cakes in Baltimore is this cool, super-tattooed chef who makes masterful cakes representing icons from Wrigley Field to a family’s much-loved bulldog. Duff is charming, but his cast of supporting cake artists don’t hold a candle to the artists at Buddy’s bakery. That said, my kid’s birthday cakes don’t hold a (birthday) candle to Duff’s masterpieces.

Ultimate Cake Off on TLC — This show is a cake-decorating competition show, and it’s pretty good. Each week, three accomplished cake decorators go head-to-head to create amazing cakes based on a common theme in just nine hours. (Point of reference: some of Duff’s cakes take 29 hours!) I’ve seen pirate cakes and shark cakes… all better than the cupcakes I made last weekend! This show provides great insight into the heart, soul, heartache and expertise it takes to reach this level of cake design.

Food Network Challenge “Last Cake Standing” — Food Network Challenge has many different types of challenges, but I love the cake contests. It’s the show’s first-ever elimination style show, and is my favorite of the competition-style cake shows. Hand’s down, the best part of the show is the celebrity judge Kerry Vincent who brings a silver tongue, quick wit, amazing eye for detail, and signature headband to every show. Kerry demands each cake artist brings an amazing level of professionalism to each design, and those of us who watch the shows are the ones who benefit.

At the end of the day, I am hooked on my cakes… have I missed any other good shows?

– LTV Mom

Photo credit: TLC