Monday, January 4, 2010

THE ACE OF CAKES: REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED
ACE OF CAKES

INSIDE THE WORLD OF
CHARM CITY CAKES
BY DUFF GOLDMAN
and WILLIE GOLDMAN


ABOUT THE BOOK:

In Ace of Cakes: Inside the World of Charm City Cakes, Duff Goldman, Food Network’s indomitable “Ace of Cakes,” reveals the inspiration behind some of the most outrageous and extraordinary, gravity and reality-defying confectionery creations in the world. An eye-popping collection of photos, illustrations, stories, reflections, collages, and memorabilia celebrating the eccentric Baltimore bakery where everything takes off, Ace of Cakes is a truly delectable volume that shows the magic that can happen when creativity is king and “no limits” is the mantra.

When Duff Goldman, Food Network's "Ace of Cakes," envisioned Charm City Cakes in Baltimore nearly a decade ago, his goal was to make wonderful cakes for friends and family. As word spread about his fabulous creations, his dream grew into a nationally renowned business staffed by a team of talented professionals, including musicians, artists, and creative souls with experience in architectural modeling, graphic design, deejaying, coffee making, performance art, dog walking, sculpture, painting and more.

Aces of Cakes: Inside the World of Charm City Cakes is a celebration of the bakery that started it all. This colorful scrapbook is loaded with stories about Duff's early days as a graffiti artist turned young chef, his successes and hilarious disasters, and the amazing team he built step-by-step. Through candid interviews and profiles and hundreds of photographs, illustrations, and collages, the book shows how energy, inspiration, collaboration, and a bit of luck can conspire to help anyone achieve their creative vision.

Of course, at the center of this stunning book are Charm City's Cakes. From the simple to the breathtakingly complex, Duff shows off some of the bakery's more unusual techniques and tools that shape their famous creations. He also offers a behind-the-scenes look at his Food Network show, shares his most incredible customer stories and requests, and reveals some of the bakery's favorite cake facts and tips—along with a comprehensive episode guide and a monster cake montage featuring seven years' worth of the bakery's astonishing cake creations.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Duff Goldman, Food Network’s “Ace of Cakes,” studied at the Corcoran School in Washington, D.C. A former graffiti artist with degrees in philosophy and history, he started working for acclaimed Baltimore chef Cindy Wolf while attending the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He studied pastries at the Culinary Institute of America and worked as a stagiere at the legendary French Laundry restaurant in Yountville, California, under acclaimed pastry chef Steven Durfee.

Duff has also served as the executive pastry Chef of the Vail Cascade Hotel and Resort in Vail, Colorado, and as a baker for Todd English’s Olives in Washington, D.C., where he worked under executive chef Steve Mannino. In 2000, Duff opened Charm City Cakes in Baltimore. In addition to owning and operating Charm City Cakes, Duff is also a sculptor, artist, and musician—he plays bass in an indie instrumental band and is an all-around good guy with the cleanest hands in town. He lives in Baltimore, Maryland.
Willie Goldman is a Los Angeles–based screenwriter and producer. He began his career at NBC in Burbank, where he worked on such shows as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Later with Greg Kinnear, and Hang Time. He later moved to Warner Bros., where he worked on the Emmy Award–winning drama ER for seven seasons. In addition to writing several original drama pilots and an adaptation of the acclaimed James Crumley novel The Last Good Kiss, Goldman is also the co-creator and co-executive producer of Ace of Cakes. He lives in Los Angeles, California.

REVIEW:

Fans of the television show Ace of Cakes rejoice! The book you dreamed of is baked to perfection and ready to serve. However, if you are not a fan, or have never seen the show, you are still in for a delicious treat. Meet Chef Duff Goldman and his staff that make up the group that is like a family and works at Charm City Cakes, as well as all being part of the crew that gets things cooking on the Ace of Cakes show. They now come together in this wonderful book that is prepared more as a work of art/novel, than a cookbook--just like the show is more documentary that reality type television.

What you get in the book is information about each of the talented people that are on the show that make up the always creative, often times wacky, group of cake artists. Duff along with younger brother Jeff have put together a book that may look like it belongs in the kitchen but will more than likely wind up on a coffee table somewhere to be read and shared quite often.

The same love of what they do on the show is evident in the book. Filled with full-color photographs, you get to meet each member of the show as they are all such a gifted crew, each with a specific talent that has translated into the cake decorating business. Each person has a section of their own on what their own experience is like at Charm City Cakes and on the show. They tell how they came to be in the cake design business. Hundreds of photographs cover the bakery and cakes as well as some of their interesting customers. The photographs are smaller than you might expect but I am pretty sure it is because they had so much they wanted to share. It is more than just pictures that make this book so unique. The story of Charm City Cakes and the people who make up the business and the show are the real stars here. Yes, this is a book you will drool over but you will also read with interest and delight, especially if you are already a fan of the show. If you aren't, it is my guess you soon will be.

Along with each Charm City Cakes staff member writing about themselves, they also each created a special cake for this book. The baking and decorating tips are as amazing and the humor irreverent so you get the true feel of the artistic, creative, and laid back mood of the show and its boss. This is a book you will go back to many times to read and to look at. I found it a great deal of fun, filled with lots of interesting stories about the creative staff, and the most amazingly decorated cakes one would ever find anywhere. If you aren't enchanted by this Charm City Cake group and its head honcho, Chef Duff, then obviously it is not your cup of tea, or let's say, your slice of cake. But most likely you will delight in the cakes, the stories, and the pictures....there is something for everyone in this--yum!

GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO SHAWN AND THE GOOD PEOPLE
AT HARPER COLLINS PUBLISHING,
I HAVE TWO COPIES OF THIS GORGEOUS
BOOK TO GIVE AWAY. HERE IS WHAT
YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN A COPY!

RULES:

--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!


HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING INTERESTING YOU FIND WHEN YOU CLICK HERE TO VISIT AND LOOK AROUND CHARM CITY CAKE'S WEBSITE.

+1 MORE ENTRY: TELL ME IF YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG AND IF SO, HOW OR WHERE

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND LEAVE A LINK I CAN FOLLOW IN THE ENTRY

DEADLINE FOR ENTERING
IS
6 PM, EST, JANUARY 19
GOOD LUCK

73 comments:

bermudaonion said...

I bet my husband would love this book! I discovered that Charm City Cakes is not open to the public. :( Please enter me. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

LibraryGirl said...

When we actually had cable, Ace of Cakes was a fun show to watch if I happened to catch it while it was on.

I love that they have 30 different flavors including mudslide!

angela.donner (at) gmail.com

LibraryGirl said...

I follow with Blogger.

angela.donner (at) gmail.com

rubynreba said...

They are a very small company and do not allow anyone to watch them make their cakes.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Anonymous said...

Charm City Cakes has over 30 flavor choices!

Donna
dlhaley@hotmail.com

Suburban prep said...

I love on the blog how they talk about the show even when it is a repeat. I saw the show with the cross stitch stockin and thought is was wonderful. The picture on the blog just brings it back.
msgb245 at gmail dot com

CrystalGB said...

They have over 30 flavors of cake you can choose from. They are not open to the public.
I am a follower.

Crystal816[at]hotmail[dot]com

Unknown said...

I love the Ace of Cakes... never miss the show on FN... I especially loved the firefighter cake that Duff did, the detailing was incredible...

Unknown said...

I subscribe in google reader.

Esme said...

this sounds delicious-I would love to try an almond amaretto cake

chocolate and croissants at yahoo dot com

Wrighty said...

I would LOVE this book!! I enjoy the show and saw the episode where they were working on the book. As a design major I'm so intrigued by how creative they all are. They really make some incredible cakes! Thanks for your giveaway!

5wrights1[at]verizon[dot]net

Esme said...

I follow with blogger reader

chocolate and croissants at yahoo dot com

Wrighty said...

I follow with Google Friend Connect, Google reader and you're on my blogroll.

5wrights1[at]verizon[dot]net

Unknown said...

I was surprised to see that they have over 50 cake flavors, even Caribbean Black Cake!

jgbeads(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

I am a follower!

jgbeads(at)gmail(dot)com

Esme said...

cococroissants

http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com/2010/01/ace-of-cakes-review-and-giveaway.html ace of cakes giveaway

chocolateandcroissants at yahoo dot com

traveler said...

Great giveaway. The cakes are enticing and so many delightful flavors. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I subscribe via e-mail. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Cheryl said...

I enjoy watching this show. Duff is funny as well as his workers. The cakes they make are incredible. Would love to win a copy of this book

clbstitch at yahoo dot com

Cheryl said...

Oops hit send too soon. Forgot to add that I am already a follower through goggle

Thanks Cheryl

clbstitch at yahoo dot com

Linda Kish said...

So many choices of flavors. The almond amaretto cream sounds interesting.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

GFC follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

The Brunette Librarian said...

I had no idea Charm City Cakes wasn't open to the public! :/ How crazy but gosh, their work is amazing.

rachie2004 @ yahoo (d0t) com

The Brunette Librarian said...

I follow with blogger :)

rachie2004 @ yahoo (d0t) com

Mitzi H. said...

As much as I admire thier work, I don't think I could come close to matching their beautiful cake decorations....although the book might help???

mitzihinkey at sbcglobal dot net

Mitzi H. said...

I'm a follower:

mitzihinkey at sbcglobal dot net

Google friends and reader.

Jane said...

I was amazed to find out that the minimum price of any cake is $1000.

janie1215 AT excite DOT com

Jane said...

I'm a follower through Google Friend Connect.

janie1215 AT excite DOT com

g.g. said...

They offer a 15% discount to certain groups including teachers..good for them

anjamie4 AT gmail DOT com

g.g. said...

I follow on Google Friend and by email

anjamie4 AT gmail DOT com

Wendi P said...

They have over 50 different cake flavors... YUMMMMMM!!

Wendi P said...

I follow you on google friend.

Anonymous said...

They are not open to the public. I love to watch the cake shows on TV. They are amazing.

rhoneygtn at yahoo dot com

nfmgirl said...

Holy Moly! That Broadway cake is unbelievable!

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

Lacey said...

In August of 2005 he bought a 6,000 square foot cake compound in Remington and what is today known as charm city cakes.

Lacey914@sbcglobal.net

Lacey said...

http://twitter.com/HtxAstrosFan/status/7455554274

tweet!!

Lacey914@sbcglobal.net

Lacey said...

Blog follower through google friends

Lacey914@sbcglobal.net

throuthehaze said...

I learned they have over 30 flavor choices.
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

throuthehaze said...

follower
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

Missa said...

They have tiramisu cake! I looooove tiramisu! I also love the purse cake for the sweet 16...so cute!

sweetmissa at gmail dot com

Missa said...

I subscribe to you blog by e-mail.
sweetmissa at gmail dot com

Missa said...

I tweeted: http://twitter.com/hunniebee724/status/7460626009
sweetmissa at gmail dot com

Caroline said...

We love Ace of Cakes, so much fun! I really like their recent Mint Flower cake on their website.

design4less@yahoo.com

Caroline said...

I'm a rss feed subscriber.

design4less@yahoo.com

Benita said...

The list of flavors is so extensive. I particularly like the chocolate cherry.


bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Benita said...

I follow via GFC and I subscribe via email.


bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Judie said...

I learned that Charm City Cakes is not open to the public and that cake decorating is way different from what I used to do.

D509AE(at)aol(dot)com

Judie said...

I'm an e-mail follower

D509AE(at)aol(dot)com

Cheffer said...

I almost had a heart attack when I saw you were giving this away. I watched series and challenges since the beguinning. But I was suprised to read your review because I didn't know how his father helped Duff Goldmans business so much. Duff is very lucky for his father because who knows if he would be this successful without his fathers help!


Fourevermandm@aol.com

Cheffer said...

I followed your Blog on Google Connect.

Fourevermandm@aol.com

Unknown said...

I watch the show everytime I can. Thanks for the giveaway.

Unknown said...

I follow with google reader.

Unknown said...

I love the black white cake - it reminds me of toile.
ashleymaymott(At)aol(dot)com

Unknown said...

I get e-mail updates and google friend connect.

Ladytink_534 said...

I love this show! The did an awesome Hogwarts cake for the premiere of one of the Harry Potter movies.

Ladytink_534(at)yahoo(dot)com

Ladytink_534 said...

Longtime Google Friends and Google Reader subscriber.

Ladytink_534(at)yahoo(dot)com

Terri said...

I love their Virtual Tour where we can get an inside look at the bakery@

Terri said...

I follow your blog's feed via reader.

Terri said...

Tweeted: http://twitter.com/Dahbou/status/7638660383

KayeDean said...

I learned they have over over 40 flavors of cake and are booked up almost every day through Dec 2011.
sandym204 @ gmail dot com

KayeDean said...

I am a follower.
sandym204 @ gmail dot com

Veronica said...

I love watching him on TV and I had no idea that Charm City Cakes was not open to the public, very interesting! Thanks for a great giveaway :)

Veronica said...

I follow your blog via Google Friends Connect, thanks!

Sheila (Bookjourney) said...

I like the cake that is square and has the black writing on it... it looks like Japanese... the square shapes are cool.

I am a follow of your blog and on twitter

journey through books @! gmail dot com

Wickdogg said...

love the show....found out they have 50 flavors of cake and not open to public...guess because they are so expensive and takes so much time for one cake


wickdogg AT gmail DOT com

Wickdogg said...

I follow by email as well as a Google friend connect follower

wickdogg AT gmail DOT com

Violet said...

Ace of Cakes is such an awesomely fun show! Fun fact from their website: I love the sound of their "Italian orange & vanilla" flavored cake. Yum! Sounds like a cake-a-licious creamsicle!

theeagerreaders[at]yahoo[dot]com

Violet said...

I follow your blog through Google friend connect:

theeagerreaders[at]yahoo[dot]com

DEBIJOT said...

They require a minimum of $1,000 per cake.

DEBIJOT said...

google friends connect follower

Nancye said...

Follow via Google friend connect

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Tweet! Tweet!

http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/7962891986

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Interesting Fact: The store usually makes about 15 specialty cakes per week.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

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