He was host of the cooking show and then the travel/cooking show with Jeff (Bobby Cannavale). He does guest shots on tv shows and he does a lot of commercial work. National TV spots for major corporations pay a lot.

Those commercials must really pay a lot because he had that apartment before the cupcake show. Then he was also fine with leaving the show and not worried about not having a job afterwards. Also was able to up and leave everything and go to Italy.

They mentioned he had been the spokesman for some national chain, previously.

http://www.suggest.com/tv/1356/7-surprisingly-expensive-commercial-actors/

Check out the last two in particular.

@Radio Free Geneva said:

They mentioned he had been the spokesman for some national chain, previously.

It was in the pilot - "Go-Gurt".

He said "It's been covering my rent for years now."