Q& A with Duff Goldman

From:
Massachusetts (now live in Baltimore, MD)

Stores or restaurants:
Charm City Cakes in Baltimore, MD

Cooking/baking background:
I attended CIA at Greystone in Napa Valley, CA and worked at: the French Laundry, Todd English's Olives, Baltimore's Savannah restaurant, and I was the executive pastry chef at the Vail cascade ski resort in Vail, Colorado

Interests:
Music (I'm in a rock band), art, history

Culinary inspirations:
My great-grandmother, my mother, Stephen Durfee, Mike McCreary, Colette Peters, and Margaret Braun

Culinary secret weapon(s):
My awesome staff and our collective creativity, my ability to laugh at myself A LOT

Favorite restaurants:
Joss in Annapolis, MD (Best. Sushi. Ever.)

Favorite food:
Sushi

Food you won't go near:
Cilantro

Weirdest thing you've ever eaten:
A shot of rattlesnake blood (hold the cilantro)

Alternative dream job:
Rock star/bass player for the band Clutch

Best cooking/baking advice you've ever received:
Be thoughtful

Awards:
Best of Baltimore (Baltimore Magazine and Baltimore City Paper), 3rd place in the Halloween Spooky Candy Competition (Food Network), 2nd place in Bon Appetit celebrity ski race

Why you should win this challenge:
Because Elvis would want me to win. Thank you very much. Duff has left the building.