S15.E06: Autumn Week

[magdalene]

What a bummer! The baker with the most personality this go around has been let go.  They should give her a show. I am kind of in shock.

[Dirge]

Paul and Prue ranted about too much spice in the first bake, I can't believe they had the nerve about too little in the second. 

I'm so sad. Nelly was my favorite. 

Edited November 2 by Dirge
typo

[SunnieDays]

The sound of Noel's voice when he said her name broke my heart. 

 

 

[Cattoy]

Really sorry to see Nelly go, especially as Dylan was insufferable this week. Hopefully whatever caused his mood will be fleeting, because he was not fun to watch.

[magdalene]

45 minutes ago, SunnieDays said:

The sound of Noel's voice when he said her name broke my heart. 

 

 

He was genuinely upset.

I had a terrible time this episode.  Both my faves Nellie and Dylan clearly in the bottom, one of them to go. There was no way I was going to be happy with the outcome. And I am not happy.  I hate these themed episodes. 

Edited November 1 by magdalene

[springbarb]

I'm annoyed at how little the Signature was considered later in the show. Some bakers really struggled there but it...didn't seem to matter.

[Orcinus orca]

Oh, Nelly, how I will miss you. Your spirit and your sass were just the highlight of my week. And since I have Czech (well, Bohemian) ancestry I was thrilled to see her do well and be such a joy in the tent.  I loved her little speech at the end, what a truly lovely person she is.

At this point, I no longer have a clear favorite.  They are all incredibly talented, the best we have ever seen, but there isn't one I am actively rooting for now.  What happens, happens and I don't think I will sweat the dreaded announcement.

[peeayebee]

So sad to see Nelly go. What a wonderful personality. So funny, too. The only plus is how she went out. Just an inspiring, uplifting person. I want her as my friend.

The pies looked great. Well, Nelly's apple and poppy seed filling looked very unappetizing to me, but I don't doubt it tasted good. Loved the bunny on Sumayah’s pie. 

The autumnal (love that word) cakes all looked great. However, Nelly's spinach cake did not appeal to me at all. But it was interesting all the different vegetables the bakers used. I have to admit, I've never had some of them.

 

[mjc570]

I loved Nelly as a person, and was so sorry to see her go.  But as soon as I heard "chocolate avocado," I knew.

I love warm spices, so I was drooling at every single bake.  

[awaken]

3 hours ago, Cattoy said:

Really sorry to see Nelly go, especially as Dylan was insufferable this week. Hopefully whatever caused his mood will be fleeting, because he was not fun to watch.

Except when he said Noel is SO goth. I laughed out loud and rewound it so I could laugh again!

[Straycat80]

So sad to see Nelly go! But she went out with grace and a cute little dance. I hope we can see her back on specials. 
All the showcase cakes were amazing. All these bakers this season are really top notch. 

[libgirl2]

11 hours ago, peeayebee said:

So sad to see Nelly go. What a wonderful personality. So funny, too. The only plus is how she went out. Just an inspiring, uplifting person. I want her as my friend.

The pies looked great. Well, Nelly's apple and poppy seed filling looked very unappetizing to me, but I don't doubt it tasted good. Loved the bunny on Sumayah’s pie. 

The autumnal (love that word) cakes all looked great. However, Nelly's spinach cake did not appeal to me at all. But it was interesting all the different vegetables the bakers used. I have to admit, I've never had some of them.

 

I grew up in baked goods with poppy seeds, so my mouth was watering. 

I was very sad to see her go. Everyone is just so good this season. 

[peeayebee]

1 hour ago, libgirl2 said:

I grew up in baked goods with poppy seeds, so my mouth was watering. 

My father was Polish, so I'm familiar with poppy seed danish. Still, Nelly's filling just looked ick to me.

[blueray]

15 hours ago, magdalene said:

What a bummer! The baker with the most personality this go around has been let go.  They should give her a show. I am kind of in shock.

As sad as I was to see Nelly go, Dylan's at least tasted good. Nelly's didn't look appetizing, but that's because I wouldn't put spinach in a cake. That being said, I'm calling it right now, she'll be back for one of the holiday episodes.

15 hours ago, Cattoy said:

Really sorry to see Nelly go, especially as Dylan was insufferable this week. Hopefully whatever caused his mood will be fleeting, because he was not fun to watch.

I was wondering this too. He seemed sad or something. I mean throughout the whole episode.

[PaulaO]

I refuse to watch this episode.  Too sad to see Nelly leave the tent.  

[sugarbaker design]

5 minutes ago, PaulaO said:

I refuse to watch this episode.  Too sad to see Nelly leave the tent.  

Then you won't see Nellie being her most bubbly, quirky, hilarious, joyful, singular self!

[Cattoy]

2 hours ago, libgirl2 said:

I grew up in baked goods with poppy seeds, so my mouth was watering.

Curious. Was that a stand-alone tart, or were you in a croquembouche apartment? 😸

[iMonrey]

1 hour ago, blueray said:

As sad as I was to see Nelly go, Dylan's at least tasted good. Nelly's didn't look appetizing, but that's because I wouldn't put spinach in a cake.

This might have been a coin flip, between Dylan and Nelly. Both got some criticism for their Signatures, but Dylan's was actually burnt. I would think that would put him a bit behind Nelly. But apparently Paul found Nelly's Showstopper ghastly. That might be what sunk her. 

(I try to keep "score" by writing down what each bake is then rating the judges reactions: red for bad reaction, black for neutral, and green for praise. Nelly's Signature was rated neutral while Dylan's was rated red.)

I loved what she had to say at the end, how it's not about winning, it's about enjoying. Words to live by.

17 hours ago, Cattoy said:

Really sorry to see Nelly go, especially as Dylan was insufferable this week. Hopefully whatever caused his mood will be fleeting, because he was not fun to watch.

How was he "insufferable?" He was disappointed with his bakes, understandably. He takes this very seriously because he actually does want to become a chef. But he was still a good sport about the joking around. He seems like a pretty quiet, low-key guy. I don't see how that makes him insufferable.

[Lois Sandborne]

No surprise here, but Nelly was just a delight on Extra Slice this week. She came out in a tiara, keeping up her streak of fabulous head wear. She also said she formed a real friendship with Andy, and that Noel is her brother from another mother.

[J-Man]

I really don't understand the judging this season. Gill flopped on the first two challenges (dead last in the technical for the second week in a row), yet she was still in the top two and a possibility for Star Baker again? 

[springbarb]

30 minutes ago, J-Man said:

I really don't understand the judging this season. Gill flopped on the first two challenges (dead last in the technical for the second week in a row), yet she was still in the top two and a possibility for Star Baker again? 

Agreed. It isn't totally random, but it doesn't seem like Paul and Prue are even taking all of the bakes into account.

[libgirl2]

2 hours ago, Cattoy said:

Curious. Was that a stand-alone tart, or were you in a croquembouche apartment? 😸

Poppy seed roll. 

14 minutes ago, springbarb said:

Agreed. It isn't totally random, but it doesn't seem like Paul and Prue are even taking all of the bakes into account.

I think they are going with who has the most potential to do better (and having an off day). 

[Orcinus orca]

8 hours ago, libgirl2 said:

I grew up in baked goods with poppy seeds, so my mouth was watering. 

My, too!  My Bohemian grandmother made wonderful kolache with poppy seed filling that I loved.  And Makový závin which is a poppy seed roll.  Gosh I miss those!  No recipes, of course, she just knew what needed to be used.  I did find Bohemian/American cookbook but for a lot of recipes the measurements are a "juice glass" of this or a "tumbler" of that!

Oddly enough, I heard about a gas station in Texas (of all places) that does kolache. I ordered some and they are as close to Grandma's as I have ever tasted.

I hope Nelly does a cookbook!!

I think Dylan has an odd affect most of the time. He does smile but for the most part seems to be quite closed off from what is happening.  Maybe he is just super-focused.  I feel as though Paul gives him some passes.

[caitmcg]

8 minutes ago, Orcinus orca said:

Oddly enough, I heard about a gas station in Texas (of all places) that does kolache

i had heard Texas has a kolache scene. Apparently there's a well-documented Texas kolache trail.

[CherryMalotte]

24 minutes ago, Orcinus orca said:

I hope Nelly does a cookbook!!

Me too!  I'd buy that in a heartbeat, and I don't bake much.  I'll miss her sunny personality.  

Could be that Dylan is just stuck in gear this bake - we all trip ourselves up at times.  I'd like to see him thru to the end.

[Orcinus orca]

12 minutes ago, caitmcg said:

i had heard Texas has a kolache scene. Apparently there's a well-documented Texas kolache trail.

I got mine from Weikels. Tasty and my dad approved and I had them shipped for holidays for him. I can make the apricot filled ones (not as good as his mom's) but the poppyseed were his favorite.

[magdalene]

6 hours ago, iMonrey said:

How was he "insufferable?" He was disappointed with his bakes, understandably. He takes this very seriously because he actually does want to become a chef. But he was still a good sport about the joking around. He seems like a pretty quiet, low-key guy. I don't see how that makes him insufferable.

I don't understand the "insufferable" either.  He knew he wasn't doing well and that was bound to stress him out.  He seems more the introverted type.

[peeayebee]

1 hour ago, Orcinus orca said:

Oddly enough, I heard about a gas station in Texas (of all places) that does kolache. I ordered some and they are as close to Grandma's as I have ever tasted.

I moved to Colorado a few years ago, and I recently heard about a restaurant/bakery in Fort Collins called Colorado Kolache (I think). I need to go to there.

Edited November 2 by peeayebee

[oliviabenson]

I'm devastated Nelly left the competition. She is a lovely person.

[J-Man]

It was interesting that not once did anyone use the Americanism "fall" to refer to the season. Although one of the guests on "Extra Slice" did bring up "fall back" with regard to Daylight Saving Time. 

[Sesquipedalia]

Nelly never won Star Baker, but she won our hearts.

[SemiCharmedLife]

I'm not surprised to see all the comments about Nelly leaving us- so heartbreaking.  She was the sunniest, most positive person to grace the tent in a long while.  I loved that she baked so many traditional recipes honoring her homeland and came up with creative ideas of her own.  I could tell Noel was near tears saying her name- so many of us felt the same way, as did her fellow bakers.  I hope we get to see more of Nelly in the future. (If she was in the US, she would be popping up on every baking show under the sun! )

[iMonrey]

23 hours ago, J-Man said:

Gill flopped on the first two challenges (dead last in the technical for the second week in a row), yet she was still in the top two and a possibility for Star Baker again? 

She didn't flop the Signature. The judges praised her blackberry and apple pie. They also praised her bonfire spiced carrot parkin. Those two put her in the running. 

Dylan, Georgie and Illiyan were the ones who had trouble with their Signature bakes. 

[oliviabenson]

The show will be less entertaining without Nelly. Her husband and is a lucky man.

[Jordan Baker]

I like everyone (well, almost everyone) this season, and I think they're all very talented. Dylan and Nelly were my favorites, though, and so the elimination would have made me sad no matter which baker had gone home. But, yes, Nelly's leaving seemed especially sad.

I do hope that Nelly returns in one of the specials. She is such an entertaining person, but her story really touched me. Just a lovely, inspiring woman.

 

 

 

[chaifan]

I really expected Dylan to go, based on his whole "I don't like Autumn" attitude.  I understand his frustration on not doing well, especially on his signature bake which was below his own expectations, but he was in a funk from the beginning.

I wasn't a Nelly super fan, I found her to be a bit too much.  But strangely enough, I liked her a lot this episode.  Sort of sorry to see her go, but I'd rather have Dylan stick around given the choice.  I loved the concept of his apple cider pie, it's a shame it was a bit burnt.  I love that he just tore out the middle of the upper crust to expose the lovely swirled apple slices. 

I was surprised Illiyan used blueberries.  I think of blueberries as a summer fruit, not a fall fruit.  I absolutely love blueberry pie, though, and hers sounded amazing.

I felt bad for Gill screwing up on the Technical.  I thought she said she was going to start over.  She should have - at that point she really wouldn't have lost much time.  I love her combo of apples and blackberries.

 

Edited November 4 by chaifan

[SemiCharmedLife]

On 11/2/2024 at 9:05 AM, iMonrey said:

 

(I try to keep "score" by writing down what each bake is then rating the judges reactions: red for bad reaction, black for neutral, and green for praise. Nelly's Signature was rated neutral while Dylan's was rated red.)

I loved what she had to say at the end, how it's not about winning, it's about enjoying. Words to live by.

 

I do the same thing, except I use yellow for neutral.  

They said Dylan's pie was burnt, but from what I saw, just a few pieces that jutted out seemed to be a darker brown color.  I wonder if using foil over certain areas would have helped.

[cowgirlwen]

What I didn't understand is that the theme of the showstopper was "Autumn Festival".  Although Sumayah's and Georgie's cakes were beautiful, they were simply Autumn scenes, and not related to a festival or celebration at all.  (Same could be said for Nelly's, which was more metaphoric comparing a woman's stage of life to the fall season.)  It seems as though the judging was pretty loose on the theme aspect.  

 

[AZChristian]

Our wonderful Nelly's good-bye note.

[RoxiP]

The Hill Country of Texas was populated by Czech people (and German) and has a huge heritage and history (I'm saying that so poorly - sorry!).  There are many festivals and the town of West is known for their bakery - driving past it without stopping is very hard!

[Deskisamess]

12 hours ago, chaifan said:

 

I was surprised Illiyan used blueberries.  I think of blueberries as a summer fruit, not a fall fruit.  I absolutely love blueberry pie, though, and hers sounded amazing.

 

 

I looked up the info on blueberries in the UK, and they come on later in the summer and stay into the fall, some varieties into November. I'm in Ohio, and they usually come on in early June.

Im sure going to miss Nelly. Her energy was so positive and lovely.

[Shrek]

On 11/2/2024 at 8:45 PM, J-Man said:

It was interesting that not once did anyone use the Americanism "fall" to refer to the season. Although one of the guests on "Extra Slice" did bring up "fall back" with regard to Daylight Saving Time. 

Why is that interesting? It's called Autumn in a lot (most even) of the world so why on earth would a British baking show with people living in GB for people in GB call it fall? 

[LilJen]

I thought Nelly was a hoot the entire show run, and I am sorry to lose her.

[J-Man]

3 hours ago, Shrek said:

On 11/2/2024 at 8:45 PM, J-Man said:

It was interesting that not once did anyone use the Americanism "fall" to refer to the season. Although one of the guests on "Extra Slice" did bring up "fall back" with regard to Daylight Saving Time. 

Why is that interesting? It's called Autumn in a lot (most even) of the world so why on earth would a British baking show with people living in GB for people in GB call it fall? 

It's interesting to me because so many other Americanisms have taken hold in the UK (and other countries as well), but "fall" is a holdout. 

 

[libgirl2]

23 minutes ago, J-Man said:

It's interesting to me because so many other Americanisms have taken hold in the UK (and other countries as well), but "fall" is a holdout. 

 

I have family in the Dominican Republic and trick or treating is popular out there. 

[Shrek]

39 minutes ago, J-Man said:

It's interesting to me because so many other Americanisms have taken hold in the UK (and other countries as well), but "fall" is a holdout. 

 

I think words don't travel much whereas things like trick or treat do, even if very slowly. Trick or treat was not done when I lived there 20 years ago but I have been told by family that it has become quite popular in some areas but not in the majority. 

[peeayebee]

Speaking of Americanisms (sort of), correct me if I'm wrong:  Because of the Pillsbury Bake-Off copyright, this show's name had to be called The Great British Baking Show in the US. Do they still call it The Great British Bake-Off in the UK? I thought about this because in the intro, Noel and Alison say to us, "Welcome to the Great British Baking Show!" Do they do a separate intro for the UK where they call it The Great British Bake-Off?

[Irlandesa]

8 minutes ago, peeayebee said:

Do they do a separate intro for the UK where they call it The Great British Bake-Off?

Yep. And it looks like might even CGI the trophy but I don't pay close attention to that. https://laughingsquid.com/great-british-baking-show/

 

[Me from ME]

Quote

Trick or treat was not done when I lived there 20 years ago

My family lived  there longer ago than that. We had to make do with Guy Fawkes Day for an autumn holiday. Also, hamburgers and milkshakes were not available. The Wimpys and Whipsys at Blimpy were rough approximations.

Edited November 5 by Me from ME
Misplaced apostrophe

[BellaR]

I am rooting for Dylan, but he was definitely the weakest baker last week. I think that he owes his reprieve to the good things that he did during the previous weeks.