A CATERING student is preparing to take the biscuit after challenging a global phenomenon to a trans-Atlantic bake-off.

Darlington College student, Tomas Wood, from Barnard Castle, has challenged the New York based chef and Cake Boss reality TV star, Buddy Valastro in a UK vs US ‘cannoli-off’, during a college visit to New Jersey on March 26.

A cannoli is a small, Italian pastry, filled with a sweet, creamy filling containing ricotta, flavoured with cinnamon and dusted with sugar.

Inspired by Buddy’s book, ‘Baking with the Cake Boss’, Tomas began baking cannolis as part of his studies and is hopeful Buddy will accept his challenge.

The 17-year-old said: “We are visiting one of his bakeries to have a look around and I am hoping to compete against the Cake Boss. If he says yes, I think I could take him on.”

Tomas is currently undertaking a patisserie and confectionary apprenticeship at Darlington College, while Buddy is the head baker and owner of Carlo’s Bakery, a family business that now has ten stores in the US.

Tomas added: “I don’t need his recipe book to look at anymore. I have already started to tweak his recipes, so I think I can beat him.”

Tomas has perfected and sold more than 1,000 of the tasty treats to finance his once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Darlington College catering tutor Donna Joyce said: “This is the first international trip we have staged in almost a decade and the students are incredibly excited.

“Tomas has done really well baking more than a thousand cannolis to raise enough money to go on the trip.

“He has the drive and ability to take on Buddy and the whole experience will be an inspiration to us all.”