When HBO’s host of “Last Week Tonight” John Oliver won the contents of a closed Red Lobster in Upstate New York at an auction, it really burned the buns of local bakery owner Eric Deising.
Deising, the owner of Deising’s Bakery and Restaurant in Kingston told News 12 that he left a note taped to the Red Lobster in Kingston looking to buy some of the equipment inside to upgrade his business.
On the June 2 episode of “Last Week Tonight,” Oliver announced that the show had bought the contents of the restaurant in a “winner takes all” auction. His team then rebuilt it all from the tables to the lobster tank inside his studio and served the chain’s famous Cheddar Bay biscuits to the audience.
After the show aired, local news broke out about Deising’s equipment request and disappointment to find out that Oliver had bought it all. On the June 9 show, Oliver replied to Deising’s Bakery on air. He said had been planning to “ignore all of this,” until he saw all of the positive reviews about the almost 60-year-old restaurant, including their 3-D animal cakes for holidays and seasons.
HBO TV host John Oliver makes an Upstate NY bakery a deal on his June 9 episode after Oliver won kitchen equipment in an auction that the bakery owner wanted. Screenshot from HBO MaxScreenshot from HBO Max
The animal pastry John Oliver coveted most however, was Deising’s adorable bear-shaped cakes, and he had a proposition for the Ulster County cafe.
“I’ve got good news and bad news for you,” he said on air to Deising, “The bad news is we actually already donated the Red Lobster kitchen equipment. And even if we hadn’t, it didn’t have the 36-inch flat-top oven/grill or kitchen convection oven that you were looking for. The good news is, though, we’re willing to buy those items for you on one condition. All I want in return is a baked good with my face on it on sale in your bakery, specifically a cake bear with my face on it. I wanna be a cake bear.”
He also added that he hoped the bear would have a plush tush, but that as long as it fit the general description of “John Oliver Cake Bear,” he would be happy.
And much like Deising’s original taped note on the door of Red Lobster, John Oliver’s team taped a handwritten note to the bakery which read, “We have the equipment you’re looking for. Please contact us” along with an email address.
HBO host of "Last Week Tonight," John Oliver made Deising's Bakery & Restaurant in Ulster County a deal — make a cake bear in his likeness and he would buy them new restaurant equipment and the local establishment rose to the occasion. Deising's Bakery | Provided photoDeising's Bakery | Provided photo
“The bear is in your court… Make me a cake bear. I want to be a cake bear,” Oliver said at the end of the episode.
Deising’s rose to the occasion and created bear cakes the next morning with printed cutouts of John Oliver’s face, posting to their Facebook page, saying, “Challenge accepted Last Week Tonight with John Oliver your special cake bear is in the oven and will be made today!”
HBO host of "Last Week Tonight," John Oliver made Deising's Bakery & Restaurant in Ulster County a deal — make a cake bear in his likeness and he would buy them new restaurant equipment and the local establishment rose to the occasion. Deising's Bakery | Provided photoDeising's Bakery | Provided photo
According to the Times Union, they sold out of their first batch of mini cake bears 11:30 a.m. on June 10.
The John Oliver cake bears are made of chocolate cake with cream filling served atop a cream-and-green-sprinkle “forest.” They are being sold through Father’s Day on Sunday, June 16 at $8 a piece, and proceeds will be donated to People’s Place, a local food pantry, thrift store and community cafe.
HBO host of "Last Week Tonight," John Oliver made Deising's Bakery & Restaurant in Ulster County a deal — make a cake bear in his likeness and he would buy them new restaurant equipment and the local establishment rose to the occasion. Deising's Bakery | Provided photoDeising's Bakery | Provided photo
Those with an HBO or Max login can watch both episodes about Red Lobster and John Oliver’s challenge to Deising’s Bakery and Restaurant, on HBO’s website.
