He takes the cake

Who says you don't have to work hard if you're the boss?

Flashing a smile and his famous Italian charm, New Jersey baker and reality TV star Buddy Valastro, aka the Cake Boss, worked up a sweat hugging hundreds of fans at a book signing sponsored by Rainy Day Books earlier this month at Unity Temple on the Plaza. Valastro, star of TLC's reality series “Cake Boss,” came to Kansas City as part of a nationwide tour that took him to 20 cities in 21 days.

A nationwide tour … for a cake baker?

Don't laugh. It sold out around the country. As one commentator put it, “we're in the golden age of cake television.” From “Ace of Cakes” and “Ultimate Cake Off” to “Last Cake Standing” and “Wedding Cake Wars,” cake programs are everywhere. In the last three years you could hardly turn the channel without landing on one of these sugar-soaked shows.

“Cake Boss” is arguably the most successful and highest rated of the bunch. Now seen in 180 countries, it has achieved near cult status, attracting throngs of giddy visitors to Hoboken, N.J., from as far away as Japan and Jakarta. The show centers on Carlo's Bakery (run by Valastro and his extended family) and the drama that ensues as they make their spectacular special-order cakes.

How much of a phenomenon is Buddy Valastro? His official “Cake Boss” Facebook page has 3.2 million “likes.”

On his page fans communicate with Valastro like they would a close friend. They share stories from their lives, leave compliments or tell him they're coming to visit. They even leave links for YouTube videos, where they tell him how much they love his show, or make their pitches for him to make them — or someone they know — one of his larger-than-life custom cakes.

“Hi Buddy,” wrote one fan. “I am from Hawaii and planning a trip to visit your store. Do you have anything for tourists like us to watch how the beautiful cakes are made? You are all so creative. It is always a WOW whenever I watch your show.”

But not everyone has positive comments. Some, like Rosemary Harding, leave sharply worded constructive criticism.

“Enjoy the show except all your screaming,” she said. “If I worked for you and you yelled at me the way you do the crew, I would walk out. There is no excuse for how you treat the other bakers. You should learn some manners and take a course in how to talk to others.”

But most of the comments are as sweet as one of the Cake Boss' creations.

Valastro is as popular with chefs as he is with home bakers.

Carey Iennaccaro, owner of Sprinkled With Sugar, a custom-cake business in Olathe, appreciates what the show has done for her industry.