Jeffrey Adam “Duff” Goldman is an American pastry chef, businessman, and TV personality. He was born on December 17, 1974, in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in a Jewish family. His passion for cooking started at just four years old, and it never stopped. After earning a history degree from UMBC, he trained at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone and worked under acclaimed chefs at elite restaurants, including The French Laundry.

In 2002, Duff opened Charm City Cakes in Baltimore, turning his one-of-a-kind custom cakes into a national brand. His bakery became famous for edible sculptures of cars, stadiums, and celebrities. He later expanded westward, opening Charm City Cakes West in Los Angeles, along with Duff’s Cakemix, a DIY decorating studio.

Duff first captured audiences on Ace of Cakes, which ran for 10 seasons on Food Network. His TV career has since grown to include Holiday Baking Championship, Kids Baking Championship, and Buddy vs. Duff. Most recently, he co-hosted Baking Championship: Next Gen in early 2026 and serves as lead judge on the new series The Ultimate Baking Championship, also on Food Network.