Inevitably though, Duff’s entrepreneurial spirit would bring him back to Baltimore in 2000, where he would realize his dream and open Charm City Cakes…

…in his apartment.  He wasn't there very long; as word-of-mouth, the media, and even the health department all began to take an interest, he soon found himself in a real bakery of his very own. Increased coverage in the press and a growing list of clients helped propel Duff into an even bigger location: an old church he retrofitted into his current modern bakery in his adopted hometown – and Charm City Cakes as we know it was firmly established.

As word about his unusual and daring cakes got out, Duff hired staff with more artistic experience than the typical pastry chef, like painters, architects and sculptors. His team is known for producing highly creative cakes that range from Star Wars characters and vehicles, to a replica of the Stanley Cup, to a working life-size motorcycle, a Hogwarts Castle for Warner Bros. and their premiere of Harry Potter.

Following several appearances on its cake competition Challenge series, in 2006, Food Network tapped Chef Duff and his fellow cake baking artists at Charm City Cakes to star in Ace of Cakes.  After six years and ten seasons, the show is popular in over 40 countries worldwide. In 2011, Duff was nominated for two James Beard Foundation awards for both Best TV Food Personality/Host and Best Television Program.

In addition to his work on Ace of Cakes, Duff also stars in the Food Network series, The Best Thing I Ever Ate, has been featured in episodes of Iron Chef America, The Next Food Network Star, Diners, Drive-Ins, and Drives, Chefs vs. City, Cupcake Wars, Chopped, and has just completed several guest-starring roles in both TV and film. Today, Duff’s work has also been featured on Oprah, Good Morning America, Fox News, CNN, The Today Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and more.

Chef Duff has also made his first foray into the publishing world with the New York Times Bestseller, “Ace of Cakes: Inside the World of Charm City Cakes.”

Duff’s newest show, Sugar High, premiered on the Food Network in August 2011 and chronicles Duff’s cross-country trek to capture the sweet secrets and tasty techniques that keep the cookies from crumbling in the top bakeries around the nation. Duff visits a bevy of sweet spots ranging from diners and curbside snow-cone machines to food carts and boutique bakeries, getting a full view of what it takes to sweeten up any soiree. This sugary search leaves mouths watering as Duff discovers the country’s best baked goods

In addition to owning and operating Charm City Cakes, Duff is also a sculptor, artist, and musician - he plays bass the an indie instrumental band, Sand Ox, has an affinity for wearing his signature hockey jerseys, and is an all-around good guy with the cleanest hands in town.

Links to Chef Duff
Duff’s website
Duff on Facebook
Duff’s decorating products