Does anyone else out there find it exceeding difficult to find a TV show that both you and your significant other can enjoy together?  Well, it’s a regular challenge that both Kathleen and I deal with on a regular basis.  She’s obsessed with her morbid crime documentaries or dry Egyptology shows, where as I enjoy silly shows like House or So you think you can dance.  We all have our vices…But every once in a while there’s a show that really works for both of us.  The Cake Boss is one such show.

The show is about Buddy Valastro, who  is one of the most successful and renowned cake artists in the United States.  He’s the master baker of Carlo’s City Hall Bake Shop in Hoboken, New Jersey.  He’s the BOSS, hence the name.  He basically supervises a team that includes his mother, four older sisters and three brothers-in-law.  The show blends the artistry of cake-making and the drama associated with running a family business.  There are a bunch of characters on the show, which bring us endless entertainment. 

While watching a recent episode, Kathleen and I thought it would be a cool idea to visit the actual bakery in Hoboken.  We joked around about a few times, but I didn’t actually think we’d ever end up going.  I mean, it’s not like it’s just down the street.  We’re talking about a 2 hr drive.  Well, as you might have guessed by now, we chose a date and stuck to it.  We’d be accompanied by our close friend Tara and Kathleen’s brother, Joey.  We chatted and laughed the entire way there.  It was great! 

We left early Sunday morning and arrived around 10:30 am.  After waiting in a line that wrapped around the block for a good hour or so, we were given a number and entered the historic Carlo’s Bakery.  What a mad house!  Organized chaos is the best way I could describe it.  Every customer was essentially assigned an employee who would then handle your order.  There had to be at least 30 order takers!  Insane.   Unfortunately Buddy wasn’t there, but we did meet a few of his sisters, who have strangely enough become celebrities in their own right.  Although we didn’t get a chance to see Buddy, it was totally worth it.   We gathered our nearly $100 worth of baked goods and mentally prepared for an onslaught of delectable goodness.  But first, we’d have lunch at a local Johnny Rockets for some burgers and fries.  Yeah, eating healthy was low on our list of priorities that day.  It was all about glutinous satisfaction. 

After our long ride back home, we quickly dove into our stash of goodies, which was comprised of:  Chocolate Chip Cookies, Gourmet Cupcakes, Crumb Cake, Red Velvet Cake, Chocolate Covered Strawberries and a number of other deadly treats.  Wow, here it is a week later and I’m still feeling the effects of that ridiculous sugar binge.  Never again…Eh, on second thought.  Give me a few months to recuperate and I should be good to go again. 

Below are some photos from our journey: