Celebrity baker Buddy Valastro has been a TV staple for over a decade. But he's recently
been spending more time away from the cameras. So what has he been up to behind the scenes?
From his personal life to his latest projects, here's what's cookin' with the Cake Boss.
In 2018, Valastro wowed fans everywhere with his visibly slimmer figure. Using the Optavia diet
program, Buddy took his health into his own hands and lost 35 pounds by eating six small
meals a day. He was adamant about how much better he was feeling, explaining to People,
"I'm not doing it because I'm trying to look good, I'm doing it to feel better. I feel so much better
now. […] I'm not the sensitive type — people could call me fat, they could call me skinny.
I don't really care. I did it for me. Even at my heaviest I was always comfortable with myself."
But the focus on his wellness might have been a way for Buddy to cope with a devastating loss.
In June 2017, Buddy's mother, Mary Valastro, lost a long battle with ALS, at 69. Mary had
appeared on "Cake Boss" during its early seasons, but retired after her diagnosis in 2012; the same
year Buddy started the Momma Mary Foundation in her honor. After her death, Valastro struggled
to return to his New Jersey bakery, which led to a two-year hiatus for the series. He told People,
"I haven't been back to Hoboken since she died and I know that when I go there, I'll definitely
break down. That place has got so much history and that was my mom's spot, that was her store."
"I'm so proud of you. So very proud."
"I love you Ma."
"I love you too."
In the year before her death, Mary lost almost all of her motor skills, relying
on a wheelchair and a specially-equipped van to continue her visits to the bakery. Buddy said,
"The day she passed was so mixed. It was a mixture of sadness and relief because
she wasn't really living at the time. This disease is horrible and it takes a toll on you,
and she wasn't that firecracker she always was." After a two-year hiatus, the show returned in 2019
with "Cake Boss" Season 9 on Discovery Family. But along with his famed TV shows, Valastro is running
multiple businesses and restaurants, including Carlo's Bakery's multiple locations across the
United States. In 2013, he opened Buddy V's in Las Vegas, with two more locations following close
behind in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and McAllen, Texas. And when he's not baking a decadent dessert
or a mouthwatering dish, he's running Cakehouse Media with his partner and producer Art Edwards.
The two first teamed up for "Cake Boss" in 2008 and after much success with the series, they
launched their own production company in 2014. The pair has now produced 12 shows together across
various networks, including "Bake You Rich," Cooks Vs. Cons," and of course, "Cake Boss."
"Y'know what they say, if it walks like a dog, barks like a dog…it's a dog."
Valastro also owns his own pet treat and baking supply line under Buddy Valastro Foods.
The idea for pet treats came when Valastro noticed one of the family dogs watching intently as Buddy
whipped up goodies for his wife and kids at home. He wanted to create treats that would be just
as tasty and healthy for his pup — and started Buddy Valastro Pets for all of our furry friends.
"911 where is your emergency?" Things took a turn in 2020 when
the cake mogul suffered a tragic, freak accident in which he impaled his hand in a
bowling pin-setting machine at his home. After his first surgery, Valastro posted a photo, writing,
"I was involved in a terrible accident a few days ago. […] What do you think of my new accessory?"
A rep for Valastro told ET that the accident happened due to a malfunction with the bowling
pin-setter. When he tried to clear a pin from the mechanism, his hand got lodged inside the
machine and a metal rod impaled his right hand. His brother-in-law, Joey — who happens to be a
licensed EMT and firefighter — immediately jumped in to help. But ultimately, a saw had to be used
to remove a part of the mechanism to free Buddy's hand. He recalled the incident, telling Today,
"I thought I was going to faint, I looked at my hand and there was blood everywhere and
I was stuck, the rod going back and forth because the machine goes back and forth.
Something told me to stay calm. My whole family worked together […] and within
five minutes they were able to take the bolt out [and] cut me off the machine."
The injury caused severe nerve damage to Valastro's dominant hand,
leading him to wonder whether he would ever bake again. At the time, he told People,
"I have a thing with my hands. If I get a paper cut on my hand,
I'm pissed off. My hands to me are my lifeline [to] everything I do.
And I wonder, 'Am I ever going to do what I used to be able to do?'"
"His hands were so swollen that his muscle was dying."
Buddy has since undergone multiple surgeries to repair his hand. And after his fifth procedure,
in April 2020, Valastro seemed a lot more optimistic about his healing. He told Rachel Ray,
"Now I definitely have a lot more of my mobility back, so I can make a whole fist,
I can make all my fingers straight, and I've got about 75 percent of my strength back."
Valastro remains dedicated to his progress in physical
therapy and hopes he will continue gaining more strength in his hand.
"The amount of prayers and love that I've gotten from fans and from so many people
all over the world really really touched my heart and is so inspiring to me."
TLC profiled Valastro and his family as they spoke about the incident and Buddy's recovery,
going forward. Ahead of the special, the star posted a few clips from the show, including home
security footage of the scary moments immediately following the incident. A press release read:
"It's a long, emotional journey, from Valastro's multiple surgeries, to his family anxiously
waiting at the hospital, to grueling physical therapy, and to his first days back at the job."
"I know that he ain't movin' like Buddy Valastro does."
Fans watch as the Cake Boss deals with his injury,
struggling to do ordinary tasks like cutting and icing a cake. It's both heartbreaking and
inspiring as the star continues to push forward and do his best to get back to normal again.
Despite the obvious challenges involved in his return to Carlo's Bakery,
Valastro is back at it again — and creating a variety of decadent desserts, including a Cookies
and Cream Tsunami Cake, Rainbow Surprise Cake, a pizza, a strawberry cake — and so much more.
In July 2020, Buddy invited supermodel Gigi Hadid to the shop for a fun-filled
day of cake decorating with Harper's Bazaar. He then shared a cute selfie of the two, writing,
"You may know [Gigi] as a world famous supermodel but she's also the sweetest
person ever and one amazing cake decorator too! She will always
be a part of my [Carlo's Bakery family] and a friend for life!”
Hadid also shared her own photos from the day, posting,
"Best. Day. Ever. Somethin coming soon from CAKE BOSS
[Buddy Valastro] & his biggest fan / newest [Carlo's Bakery] intern."
"I gotta say, pretty damn good. I think you did a great job."
"Thank you!"
"I love it!"
Buddy also made an everything bagel cake for Gigi on her birthday in April 2020. So it's safe to
say these two share a pretty sweet friendship. As true fans already know, family has been the
top priority for Valastro from the very beginning. Proudly continuing the Valastro legacy, he stepped
into the family business at 17 years old when his father, Buddy Sr., died in 1994. So of course,
he's all about his own family. Since his injury, Buddy has praised his wife, Lisa, and his kids for
their help, even sharing that he's grown closer to his wife since his accident. He told People,
"My wife has been amazing. She's been a trooper. We're going on 20 years now,
and I think that we kind of checked all the boxes. But after you have an injury like this,
and your wife helps dry you out of the shower, that crosses another level. You
get to really know each other, and love each other and be there for one another."
Not everything has revolved around his injury though. From dancing and singing
along to Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" to enjoying his yearly birthday cake from his wife,
to remembering his parents, Valastro has clearly focused on creating memories with his family that
will last forever. More recently, he celebrated his daughter Sofia's high school graduation and
acceptance into the University of Delaware, as well as his son Marco's 8th-grade graduation.
Valastro clearly isn't slowing down anytime soon. And he's currently facing off against
master baker Duff Goldman for the third season of Food Network's "Buddy vs. Duff."
Food Network president Courtney White said in a statement,
"This past year has been life-changing for Buddy and Duff; Buddy suffering a horrific
injury to his dominant hand, and Duff welcoming a daughter and becoming a first-time father.
These momentous events have given them a newfound appreciation for life and family — in addition to
a stronger motivation to prove their incredible talents with the best cake designs these bakers
have ever created in order to break their tie in this fierce cake competition."
This season will see the two bakers face-off with old world-inspired cakes,
dream car cakes — equipped with actual working lights, engines and hydraulics — a feast of savory
foods made entirely of cake, and more. And all of it will lead up to the two-hour season finale when
Buddy and Duff will be tasked with creating monster cakes in order to win the top prize.
Goldman won the king of cake in season one and Valastro took home the crown in season two,
so who will walk away the champion for Season 3? We can't wait to find out!
"I'm totally coming to win."
"I'm ready."
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