The Stuff on Duff
Monday, August 07, 2006 | posted by Mike
We had a post last week on the next big show debuting on Food Network, Ace of Cakes. I was a bit less than enthusiastic about the idea, and a couple of you picked up on that. As you can see from the comments on that post, Duff Goldman has some pretty rabid fans, so I decided to take a look around to find out what I could about the goateed baker.There is quite a bit of info out there on the Baltimore-based Goldman, particularly local stories about his shop, Charm City Cakes. You can expect to see more in the national media in the coming weeks, as the debut of the new show approaches. But these local stories from a few years ago, including one from the City Paper, provide a good look at this early career, including training at the CIA and early experiences in Napa Valley, Vale and under Todd English at Olives in Washington, D.C.
Another article, this one from the Baltimore Business Journal, focuses on Goldman’s success as an entrepreneur. It does a good job of illustrating his creativity, including a hand-painted gold cake depicting Gustav Klimt’s painting “The Kiss.” (You’ve seen the painting before…the poster was probably hanging on your college girlfriends dorm room wall.) It also talks about the role that the Internet had in the growth of his business, working in conjunction with word-of-mouth and avoiding the costs of more expensive print advertising.
Both articles are worth a read, and I do admit that I am now a bit more excited about Ace of Cakes. I still can’t shake the goofiness of the promo commercial, though. I really wish Food Network’s web site had some preview footage or something. Ah well…it will be here soon enough.
Of course, by then we’ll be on to the next premiere.
Labels: Duff Goldman
