BAKING IS DEAD.

The Descent into Gimmickry: When Baking Met Misguided Ambition

Let’s be clear: the culinary world has officially jumped the shark. It wasn’t enough to simply bake things, no. Now, apparently, we need explosions and fabricated “versus” scenarios to capture a fleeting moment of attention. Buddy Valastro, a man who once demonstrated legitimate skill, has devolved into a purveyor of sugary spectacle.

His “Buddy vs. Christmas” special – a grotesque display aired sometime around December 7, 2020 – featured a rocket-powered sleigh cake. Let that sink in. A cake. With rockets. It’s not innovation, it's desperation. It’s a pathetic attempt to mask a lack of genuine artistry with pyrotechnics. The cake itself, I suspect, was likely mediocre, completely overshadowed by the manufactured drama and frankly dangerous display.

And the madness doesn’t stop there. We're now apparently celebrating “rocket ovens.” Yes, a wood-fired oven that bakes bread in 20 minutes. As if speed is the ultimate measure of a decent loaf. Showcased way back on April 26, 2019, this isn’t about improving baking, it's about achieving novelty at the expense of tradition and, most likely, a nuanced flavor profile.

These aren’t culinary advancements; they are distractions. A desperate grab for views masked as ingenuity. This isn't baking. It’s performance art for the easily amused. I, for one, refuse to be entertained. Give me substance. Give me skill. Give me a properly proofed sourdough, not a sugary missile.