Big
BREAK Network
Food of courtesy Photos BY ANGELA MATUA
ANGELAMATUA
@ANGMAT08
The six-episode show follows Guy Fieri
as he walks 10 contestants through the
process of hosting a culinary travel series.
Each contestant picks a restaurant
that best represents their show idea and
films a pilot using the skills they learned
throughout the show. Contestants also
cook a meal that embodies their show
idea in Fieri’s kitchen.
Vaccaro said he has always been interested
in baking and was “born and raised in
a bakery” since his father opened Vaccaro’s
Bakery in Astoria more than 30 years ago.
“My dad always told me, ‘You are born a
baker; you can’t become a baker,'” he said.
“At 14 I was running a bakery with five bread
bakers, and bread is where all my baking
passion started.”
The younger Vaccaro is in charge of making
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the custom cakes and bakery items in
the store. He said he uses a lot of traditional
family recipes but adds a modern twist. His
favorite desserts to whip up are his “infamous”
donolies (a hybrid doughnut and
cannoli) and bacon brownies.
Vaccaro also added that being an Astoria
business owner allows him to connect with
people from “all walks of life.”
“I love being an Astoria business owner
because of all the diversity this city
brings to my store,” he said. “I get to talk
to people from all walks of life, and hear
all their incredible stories. I was also born
and raised in Astoria, which allows me to
stay connected to all my old customers
and friends. It will always feel like home.”
The Astoria native said he is a big fan of
Fieri, and when he heard about a new show
Fieri was casting, he decided to send out a
tape even though he thought his chances of
being chosen were slim.
But on Nov. 5, Vaccaro made his television
debut next to one of his idols. Vaccaro was
chosen among thousands of submissions.
“Working with Guy was a dream come
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
Vinny Vaccaro, the owner
of Vaccaro’s Bakery in Astoria,
is competing in the new Food
Network show called
“Guy’s Big Project.”