Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Grace Faugno (née Valastro) |
| Date of Birth | June 30, 1966 |
| Known For | Carlo’s Bakery team member; appearances on TLC’s Cake Boss |
| Primary Roles | Front counter, sales/retail operations; later special orders/deliveries |
| Spouse | Joseph “Joey” Faugno (head baker at Carlo’s Bakery) |
| Children | Robert Faugno; Bartolina “Bart” Faugno |
| Parents | Bartolo “Buddy” Valastro Sr.; Mary Valastro |
| Siblings | Buddy Valastro Jr., Maddalena Castano, Mary Sciarrone, Lisa Valastro |
| Television | Cake Boss (premiered 2009) |
| years active | 1990s–present (Carlo’s Bakery; TV appearances since 2009) |
Early Life and Roots at Carlo’s Bakery
Grace Faugno grew up in a household where the aroma of fresh pastries seemed to carry the day forward. As the eldest of the Valastro siblings, she stepped into Carlo’s Bakery not just as a family member, but as a dependable force at the front counter. For customers, she was often the first smile they saw and the steady hand guiding special orders, holiday rushes, and everyday celebrations.
Her role evolved alongside the bakery itself. As Carlo’s expanded from a Hoboken neighborhood shop into a destination for fans across the country, Grace remained grounded in the details that matter—correct orders, happy customers, and an unflappable work ethic. She has long been the connective tissue between the shop’s back-of-house artistry and the daily hum of transactions and pick-ups at the counter.
Marriage, Children, and the Valastro-Faugno Web
Grace’s personal life is woven into the same fabric as her work. She is married to Joseph “Joey” Faugno, the head baker known for his precision and calm under pressure. Their partnership—professional and personal—puts them at the heart of the shop’s rhythm. Together they have two children, Robert and Bartolina, who grew up amid flour-dusted aprons, towering wedding cakes, and the bustle of filming days.
The broader family web keeps the momentum. Grace’s siblings are deeply involved: Buddy Valastro Jr. is the public face of the bakery; Maddalena and Mary have anchored the front-of-house; and Lisa has rounded out the family’s retail presence. In-laws like Mauro Castano bring the pastry expertise that underpins the bakery’s reputation. It’s a clan that balances tradition, television, and the daily logistics of a beloved business.
On-Screen Presence: The Cake Boss Era
When Cake Boss premiered in 2009, Grace stepped into view as she always had: pragmatic, supportive, and ready to solve problems. Over the show’s long run, viewers saw her navigate large-scale orders, complex customer expectations, and the inevitable curveballs of reality TV—delivery scrambles, last-minute changes, and the family debates that come with living and working together.
The show amplified the bakery’s reach, but it also crystallized Grace’s role for millions of viewers. She represented the customer’s point of contact, the operational nerve center, and the storyteller who could translate a life event—a wedding, a milestone birthday, a tribute—into a cake that captured the moment.
Roles Beyond the Counter: Sales, Operations, and Special Orders
Grace’s strengths are equal parts people skills and process management. She has:
- Managed front-counter operations during peak seasons and weekend crunches.
- Coordinated special orders with decorators and bakers, aligning design, flavor, timing, and delivery.
- Assisted with deliveries and in-store reveals, translating client stories into on-camera and in-person experiences.
- Helped uphold the Carlo’s Bakery standard that predates TV fame: consistent quality, family service, and community presence.
Over the years, as Carlo’s opened additional locations and the brand stretched beyond Hoboken, her perspective—what works, what scales, what keeps a family business personal—remained a compass.
Milestones and Timeline
- June 30, 1966: Birth of Grace Valastro (later Faugno).
- 1990s: Active at Carlo’s Bakery in customer-facing roles; the family business is a community staple.
- 2000s: The shop’s reputation grows beyond New Jersey through word-of-mouth and press features.
- 2009: Cake Boss premieres, introducing the Valastro family—Grace included—to a national audience.
- 2010–2015: Frequent episode appearances; front-of-house leadership; special-order coordination; on-air family segments.
- Mid-2010s: Public family moments and community events highlight the family’s close-knit nature and resilience.
- Late 2010s–2020s: Continued involvement with Carlo’s Bakery and family media projects; periodic appearances in digital content and roundups.
Family at a Glance
| Family Member | Relationship to Grace | Role/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bartolo “Buddy” Valastro Sr. | Father | Late patriarch; foundational figure for the bakery |
| Mary Valastro | Mother | Family matriarch remembered for warmth and resolve |
| Buddy Valastro Jr. | Brother | Cake Boss; lead decorator and public face |
| Maddalena Castano | Sister | Front-of-house anchor; married to Mauro |
| Mary Sciarrone | Sister | Customer service and cake consulting |
| Lisa Valastro | Sister | Front-end roles and family segments |
| Joseph “Joey” Faugno | Husband | Head baker; operations and recipe expertise |
| Mauro Castano | Brother-in-law | Pastry chef; core of back-of-house craftsmanship |
| Robert Faugno | Son | Appears in family content; connected to community |
| Bartolina “Bart” Faugno | Daughter | Appears in family stories and celebrations |
The Work Behind the Cameras
Television can make bakery life look like a parade of cake reveals, but Grace’s day-to-day has always been more granular. It’s inventory checks at 6:00 a.m., a phone that never quite stops, and the art of delivering news—good or bad—with grace. It’s managing customer expectations when demand outstrips capacity, or pivoting when a delivery route snarls in traffic. She is adept at turning chaos into choreography.
Even off-camera, Grace’s presence is a signal to staff and customers alike: the details matter. Whether it’s a first-communion order or a multi-tiered showpiece, she helps ensure what leaves the bakery is exactly what a family envisioned when they walked in.
Community, Family, and Resilience
The Valastro-Faugno story is one of family threads pulled tight by shared work. Over the years, the family has faced personal challenges and celebrated public triumphs. Grace has been a steady influence through both—showing up for milestones, supporting fundraisers, cheering on the next generation, and keeping Carlo’s grounded in its roots. The bakery is still a place where everyday customers walk in with stories, and they often find Grace ready to listen and translate those stories into something sweet.
Financial Notes
There are no public disclosures of Grace Faugno’s personal finances. As with many family businesses, the public spotlight centers on the shop’s collective success and the Cake Boss brand rather than individual net-worth figures.
FAQ
Who is Grace Faugno?
Grace Faugno (née Valastro) is the eldest Valastro sibling, known for her front-of-house leadership at Carlo’s Bakery and appearances on Cake Boss.
What is her role at Carlo’s Bakery?
She has long managed front counter and sales operations, also coordinating special orders and occasionally assisting with deliveries.
When did she first appear on television?
Grace began appearing on Cake Boss when it premiered in 2009, featuring regularly throughout the show’s run.
Who is she married to?
She is married to Joseph “Joey” Faugno, the head baker at Carlo’s Bakery.
Does she have children?
Yes, she and Joey have two children: Robert and Bartolina.
Is there a confirmed net worth for Grace Faugno?
No reliable public estimate exists; her finances have not been disclosed.
What makes her central to the bakery’s success?
Her mix of people skills, operational focus, and deep knowledge of customer needs keeps the front-of-house running smoothly and aligns it with the bakery’s artistry.
