From Culinary Student to the Ace of Cakes ... Duff Goldman

by AJ Fanter
ajfanter@careerschoolguide.com
Career School Guide Columnist

It takes only a few moments of watching the Food Network’s “Ace of Cakes” to know that Duff Goldman isn’t your typical culinary school graduate. As a former sculptor and graffiti artist, Goldman has set the culinary world spinning with his take on cakes.

Why? Goldman’s cakes are just as likely to be made with blowtorches, hammers and drills as they are the more traditional butter cream, batter, and pastry bags.

Artist with Culinary Know-How

More than just creating edible magic for customers, Goldman has made it his business to put the “art” back into the culinary arts. He hires professional artists to help design, develop, and decorate his outrageously inventive and passionately realistic culinary creations. While Goldman looks and acts like a rough-and-tumble rocker, his culinary background is truly impressive. After studying the culinary arts in California’s Napa Valley at the Culinary Institute of America, he worked for pastry chef Steven Durfee at the acclaimed French Laundry in Yountville. After gaining additional experience working for restaurants in Vail, Colorado and Washington, DC he opened his own business in Baltimore, Maryland. Charm City Cakes is where his Food Network reality show, Ace of Cakes is filmed.

Getting a Start Studying Culinary Arts

If the idea of making cakes or pursuing a culinary career appeals to you, then getting your culinary arts degree is a great starting point. Not only does formal culinary training give you the skills and knowledge necessary to be a great cook, baker, pastry chef or executive chef, it helps to you obtain valuable experience that you might otherwise have to “earn” via on-the- job training.

If you think you’d like to follow in the footsteps of the “Ace of Cakes”, you should consider getting your culinary arts degree.

Sources:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, Chefs, Cooks, and Food Preparation Workers
He Takes the Cake, KnoxNews

About the Author

AJ Fanter is a freelance writer based in Reno, NV.