Baking Buddy: Cake Boss vying to win

By Michelle Rose TV Media

We’re already a few weeks into Round 2 of Food Network’s big King of Cake title bout, aka “Buddy vs. Duff.”

In the first two episodes, we watched defending champ Duff Goldman and challenger Buddy Valastro go head-to-head in Big Appleand dinosaur-themed showdowns. The East Coast leg of the competition continues this Sunday, March 29, when these two artists draw inspiration from jousts and pageantry to create a centerpiece for Medieval Times’ 30th anniversary.

There will be one more stop next week before the competition moves to the West Coast in the run-up to the May 3 finale. That last competi- tion should be a good one if you love cake and Star Wars: Buddy and Duff will be tasked with creating the perfect edible showpiece for an event hosted by Billy Dee Williams at Disneyland’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge attraction.

“Buddy vs. Duff” is the kind of show that could only exist after the Discovery-Scripps merger in 2018. The $12-billion takeover brought Food Network, HGTV and Travel Channel under TLC’s parent company, meaning TLC’s “Cake Boss” (Valastro) and Food Network’s “Ace of Cakes” (Goldman) were now part of the same TV family.

And when you have two big stars with similar shows, this naturally suggests a rivalry, even if the two had already moved on to other projects. (If you really want to keep score, Duff was the first to ink a TV deal back in 2006, but Buddy has had more spinoff success.)

Enter “Buddy vs. Duff,” Food Network’s highest-rated show in 2019. News of its success might come as a surprise if you’ve read online reviews and comments, which don’t pull any punches when it comes to critiquing the scoring, the show’s format and even Buddy himself after he walked off in the second challenge. But viewers kept tuning in week after week. And that proba- bly says a lot about the celebrity status and skills of these two cake artists, who seem to differ in every way.

The action and the competitive banter continue this week on “Buddy vs. Duff.” But if you’re a fan of Buddy, don’t change the channel after this week’s winner is announced. The Cake Boss himself will appear on the March 29 episode of “Beat Bobby Flay,” which airs right after “Buddy vs. Duff,” and he’ll be looking for a win in that one, too.

Sunday, March 29

1:00 p.m. (9) KAWE Ciao Italia

2:00 p.m. (9) KAWE The Great British Baking Show Mary makes a tennis cake based on a Victorian recipe; Paul makes two types of cream horns. Hosted by: Sue Perkins, Mel Giedroyc

Monday, March 30

1:00 p.m. (11) KARE The Rachael Ray Show Viewers are presented with great recipes and simple solutions for everyday issues.

Tuesday, March 31

1:00 p.m. (11) KARE The Rachael Ray Show Viewers are presented with great recipes and simple solutions for everyday issues.

Wednesday, April 1

1:00 p.m. (11) KARE The Rachael Ray Show Viewers are presented with great recipes and simple solutions for everyday issues.

10:30 p.m. (2) KTCA New Scandinavian Cooking Andreas visits Savalen and makes some of his Christmas favorites.

4:30 a.m. (2) KTCA New Scandinavian Cooking Andreas visits Savalen and makes some of his Christmas favorites.

Thursday, April 2

1:00 p.m. (11) KARE The Rachael Ray Show Viewers are presented with great recipes and simple solutions for everyday issues.

Friday, April 3

12:30 p.m. (9) KAWE Food Over 50 A focus on the dietary challenges of ‘eating outdoors.’

1:00 p.m. (11) KARE The Rachael Ray Show Viewers are presented with great recipes and simple solutions for everyday issues.

1:00 a.m. (9) KAWE Dishing With Julia Child Jose Andres and Eric Ripert are amazed by Julia’s hands-on treatment of a whole fish.

1:30 a.m. (9) KAWE Dishing With Julia Child We follow Julia Child’s breadmaking recipes for classic pain de mie and raisin bread.

Saturday, April 4

7:00 a.m. (2) KTCA Steven Raichlen’s Project Smoke Smoking to stuffing and wrapping, use a variety of techniques.

Hosted by: Steve Raichlen

7:30 a.m. (2) KTCA Cooking With Nick Stellino Chicken Milanese; southern style biscuits and gravy; Nanci’s lobster mac and cheese.

8:00 a.m. (2) KTCA Nigella: At My Table Nigella cooks comforting recipes, like chicken with red grapes and marsala.

8:30 a.m. (2) KTCA Simply Ming

9:00 a.m. (2) KTCA New Scandinavian Cooking

9:30 a.m. (2) KTCA Pati’s Mexican Table Pati spends the day making three chocolate-filled recipes with her youngest son Juju. Hosted by: Pati Jinich

10:00 a.m. (2) KTCA How to Cook Well With Rory O’Connell

10:30 a.m. (2) KTCA New Orleans Cooking With Kevin Belton Oysters Rockefeller; Fried oysters with Spinach Salad; Oyster Patties.

11:00 a.m. (2) KTCA Joanne Weir’s Plates and Places Recipes include beer-braised sausages along with braised red cabbage.

11:30 a.m. (2) KTCA Lidia’s Kitchen Recipes include scallops saltimbocca and seared lamb chops with mint salsa verde.

Noon (2) KTCA Jamie’s Ultimate Veg Jamie celebrates beautiful veg in an oozy risotto with amazing roasted tomato. Hosted by: Jamie Oliver

(8) WDSE Garage With Steve Butler Steve makes a cafe style table.

(9) KAWE America’s Test Kitchen From Cook’s Illustrated Julia Collin Davison makes skilletroasted chicken breast with harissa-mint carrots.

12:30 p.m. (2) KTCA America’s Test Kitchen From Cook’s Illustrated Recipes include a roast boneless leg of lamb with garlic, herb and bread-crumb crust.

1:00 p.m. (2) KTCA Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Christopher goes to Taiwan and learns about Taiwanese cooking from Chuang Pao-hua.

1:30 p.m. (2) KTCA Cook’s Country From America’s Test Kitchen Test cook, Ashley Moore, makes fish and chips for Bridget. Shrimp burgers are also made.

(9) KAWE Barbecue University With Steven Raichlen Hog Island BBQ oysters; grilled tenderloin in herb crust with grilled potatoes.

2:00 p.m. (8) WDSE A Taste of History Walter helps make some unique and traditional St. Lucian food.

2:30 p.m. (8) WDSE Cook’s Country From America’s Test Kitchen Christie and Bridget grill thick-cut Porterhouse steaks.

3:00 p.m. (8) WDSE America’s Test Kitchen From Cook’s Illustrated Julia Collin Davison makes skilletroasted chicken breast with harissa-mint carrots.

Brainerd Daily Dispatch, MN: Food Mar 29, 2020 to Apr 4, 2020