S06.E01: Cake

[Athena]

Quote

The bake off is back...

Once again, 12 new bakers don their aprons and head for the iconic tent in the heart of the British countryside. Judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood have created 30 new challenges that will test their baking prowess, creativity and skill in a bid to find the country's best amateur baker. From Victorian classics to high-end patisserie, from chocolate sculptures to everyday staples, the bakers will need cool heads and even colder hands to make it to the final. With them every step of the way are Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins, ready to lend a hand or a shoulder to cry on.

 

Starting with cake week, the bakers' first signature challenge is to make a madeira cake. It's a well-loved cake, but which of our bakers will try to impress by reinventing this classic, and who will play safe in a bid to get perfect madeira with its traditional crack?

With one challenge out the way, the bakers face their first technical - Mary's frosted walnut cake, a pre-war classic that is as British as they come. Light sponge sandwiched with buttercream and covered with sweet meringue, this technically challenging cake is one of Mary's favourites, and no one wants to disappoint the queen of baking.

Day Two, and the bakers have to go all out to impress with their first showstopper, the black forest gateau. This retro classic from the 70s has it all - chocolate, cherries and cream. It's ripe for a reinvention, and these 12 bakers are ready and willing.

12 new bakers, 30 new challenges.

On your marks, get set... bake!

[GaT]

I'm so jealous that the UK is getting the show back in August, & the US isn't :-(

[BusyOctober]

I wish my PBS station would run this now!  I need to find a way to see this incase it doesn't air here.  I hope some kindly Brit posts it on YouTube after it airs! 

[doesntworkonwood]

I'm team Tamal for reference! 

 

I don't think we've been able to see much of the bakers personalities yet, so I am looking forward to that. 

 

I have missed this show so much, I'm so glad it's back. 

[Occasional Hope]

People who wear hats indoors (including a tent) annoy me. I was pleased with the result this week if only for that.

[Rickster]

I should point out that the show is available on demand at the BBC website, for those the website thinks reside in the UK, so you can watch it at your leisure.

Edited August 9, 2015 by Athena
Removed quote from deleted post.

[LaChavalina]

I was a little worried coming into this because the early "meet the contestants" buzz made them sound so... gimmicky. I was dreading a lot of over-the-top personalities, so it was a relief to see that the feel was the same as ever--very down-to-earth and focused on the baking!

 

Dorret was probably my least favorite coming into the competition (came off as kind of snobby in her bio), but I felt so much empathy for her and I'm glad she's staying. The first week must be extra tough, since it sounds like they don't get to "test drive" the ovens, etc., in advance.

 

Lime + chocolate + cake batter does not mix. Why one would continue to "experiment" after being told by the judges not once but twice that your experiments were not working?

[shandy]

I can’t wait until 2016. This is my favorite show, I'd happily pay the UK television tax just to get it. First ep is always hard as they are all strangers. I’m in love with Mat – a tall drink of gin-firefighter,  what’s not to like. Nice they have more of an ethnic mix this year. Hat Guy seemed really out of place, just didn’t have baking instincts. I thought the 2nd challenge walnut creation looked weird. I’m not a huge fan of glossy frosting. I would have lasered onto Nadiya’s. It looked elegant. I love her humor.

 

Things British bakers say – I’ll start making a cake and end up with a meat pie LMAO

 

Loved the black forest cakes – they are a boozy family favorite so it was interesting to see the different variations and awesome to see something familiar.  I was so pleased for Marie – you can just tell she’s made pound cakes since the 70s. The inside of her black forest cake looked EXACTLY like my grandmother used to make

 

Would a ‘close’ sponge be rubbery and chewy?

 

And yes La C, I was really pleased the selectors have gone for bakers again and not zany. It must be a difficult job as a 10 million audience reality show is always going to attract the fame hungry. 

 

Welford Park looks amazing this year. Mary seemed frail *worried. 

Edited August 9, 2015 by Athena

[some1105]

I'm really happy with this year's crop of bakers.  Particularly the women are a pretty lovable bunch--I don't even mind how expertly they're curated, because the casting people are great at this.  

 

I do think Ian needs to start breaking his family's rule about not making any jokes, even if they are likely to be groaners, as so far I'm missing the man "characters" of yesteryear--Richard, Howard, Louis, Norman, and I think he's a candidate, along with Paul if he loosens up a bit, and Tamal, who seems very sweet.  

 

As for the ladies:

Flora as this year's Martha will work for me as long as the halo of sweetness gets spiked with more references like her parents "threatening" her not to bother coming home if she doesn't make it through;

Sandy is expertly deploying the sly dousings of liquor and stream of eccentric self-description and cheeky "ohhh, my chunks are well dispersed";

Nadiya brings the positivity along with a dose of zingy honesty: "No, of course I'm not okay with twelfth!";

The looming presence of Ugne's partner standing watch over their kids in the other room during their home footage cracks me up every time I watch it;

Dorret needs a few huge hugs and some perspective, as it's not going to get easier; and

Marie is my first call to make the final.  I was very amused to see that her picture perfect cake for her grandkids appeared to have a pinata-style center just filled with loose M&Ms.  

 

There's no way I'm not going to have fun watching this season.  I need more lingering nature shots and (I can't believe I'm writing this) I actually missed the Historical Tangent with Mel/Sue.  There are food historians toiling away in total obscurity across Britain, and this show has given them the opportunity to spring to brief national fame by explaining to us why Madeira cake appears to contain no Madeira and why Brits have reportedly stopped eating delicious delicious black forest cake for the past three decades...

[kscoaster]

I actually missed the Historical Tangent with Mel/Sue.

I don't think any of the first episodes have had them - they're too busy with contestant introductions.  I really enjoy them as well, so I do hope they're back in the next episode.

 

I believe PBS edited them out of season 5 when they were shown here.  (At least, I didn't recall seeing them until I saw prior seasons on the web.)  

 

People who wear hats indoors (including a tent) annoy me. I was pleased with the result this week if only for that.

As hipsters go, he was okay - but I'm glad he's gone rather than overstaying his welcome.  I was pretty surprised, but the rationale that he didn't satisfy the challenge brief made sense.

[Pallida]

I don't remember seeing before that the oven doors essentially slide themselves under. I don't know why I assumed it involved pushing it in. I would love that in my terrible galley kitchen. I didn't understand what Flora said about her oven at home always being on.

I love the wide range of ages so we get a diversity of approaches and interpretations.

I thought Tamal's apple roses were beautiful. The slight coloration made them quite lovely.

[Occasional Hope]

Flora said her family has an Aga:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AGA_cooker

[shandy]

Flora said her family has an Aga:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AGA_cooker

 

Ah, I guessed it was a cookstove, not surprising given she lives on a Scottish farm. 

[Rinaldo]

so far I'm missing the man "characters" of yesteryear--Richard, Howard, Louis, Norman

Don't forget my own personal favorite, Glenn!

 

My heart went out to Dorret, as that misfire must have been devastating. (But this is why you don't throw your bake in the bin! Someone else may have done worse by intent, rather than by accident.)

[Pallida]

I noticed that Sue really seemed to be physically blocking the possibility of Dorret throwing out her cake.  I hope she doesn't get too far into her own head about a bad start.

[micat]

Dorret's face when she lifted that collar and the mousse came spilling out - I felt for her! I remember making a chocolate cream pie with my mom when I was growing up, and it never ever set. I've never had the courage to try another mousse-like dish.

 

I loved - loved - loved the editing around Paul facing mirror-Paul during the judging. Just those beats of them looking at each other and looking like each other - well done editors, you had me cracking up.

[some1105]

Don't forget my own personal favorite, Glenn!

 

I will never forget Glenn.  He's an inspiration (quitting his job to pursue his dream, even though I bet he's an awesome teacher).  I would love to follow him around the country like his own personal Glennhead, watching him make huge cakes in village halls.

 

I like that they don't do "stunts" like bringing in surprise guest judges or re-inserting past contestants, but it's definitely time for another "Where are they now" special.

[Kromm]

Dorret's face when she lifted that collar and the mousse came spilling out - I felt for her! I remember making a chocolate cream pie with my mom when I was growing up, and it never ever set. I've never had the courage to try another mousse-like dish.

 

I loved - loved - loved the editing around Paul facing mirror-Paul during the judging. Just those beats of them looking at each other and looking like each other - well done editors, you had me cracking up.

The editors on this show are pretty good.

[Athena]

I loved - loved - loved the editing around Paul facing mirror-Paul during the judging. Just those beats of them looking at each other and looking like each other - well done editors, you had me cracking up.

 

It amused me a lot too. They both have the Paul intenseness. Contestant Paul does not seem like the kind of man you want to see angry though. He has a soft side with his hobbies, but he is a prison governor. When Sue was joking around with him about his work, he was so gruff and stoic, "Security is nothing to be joking about." Bless Sue, she seemed mildly abashed, but still continued the joke a little bit and he smiled at that. If she hadn't, it would have a bit too severe to end the scene there.

[3 is enough]

Especially liking Tamal, Flora, and Marie.

 

Think Mary just has a cold.  Her voice sounded a bit raspy to me, but she didn't look too frail.

Edited August 10, 2015 by Athena

[NYGirl]

Yay for me.  I LOVE this show.

 

I kind of knew that Stu was going to be the one to go.  He was really out of his element.

 

I felt sorry for that lady that had the cake come apart.

 

I'm a fan of Tamal.

 

I was so excited to see Paul.  I've got a crush on him

 

Mary, however, looks like she's always smelling farts.

Edited August 10, 2015 by Athena

[Athena]

Please don't post how you are viewing the episodes unless you are in the UK and using iPlayer. Thanks.

[Sandiscot]

This doesn't start on my San Diego KPBS until September 6. Has it already started in other parts of the US? 

[Athena]

This doesn't start on my San Diego KPBS until September 6. Has it already started in other parts of the US? 

 

No, this is the new series/season 6 currently airing in the UK. PBS has not announced news of when they will air this season, but they are likely going to air season 4 in September. At that time, I'll put up some episode topics for it. In the mean time, if you don't want to be spoiled about S6, you'll have to avoid these new episode threads.

[shandy]

I don't watch a lot of tv, but I like to relax reading up about GBBO/GBBS. The popularity in the UK is quite something, and just shows what PBS could have on their hands if they made a version.

 

I'm loving the bake along blogs with their sassy humor, disasters and extra info on the recipes. They are even having a little competition.

 

http://www.mummymishaps.co.uk/2015/08/gbbo-bloggers-2015-round-up-week-1-cake.html

 

I'm still not sold on that soft meringue frosting in the walnut cake but am totally going to make black forest brownies.

[Kromm]

I don't watch a lot of tv, but I like to relax reading up about GBBO/GBBS. The popularity in the UK is quite something, and just shows what PBS could have on their hands if they made a version.

Except, CBS might have a lock on the US rights. The same production company as the UK version did the US one that lasted one season, but the actual rights may have been sold.

[ElectricBoogaloo]

Yay, so glad this show is back!

 

I can't say that I am at all disappointed about Stu being eliminated. Between his douchebag hat and his insistence on gonig way too far outside the box on some of these challenges, I was not a fan. This is the sixth season of the show so everyone should at least have an idea how it works and how far they can push the boundaries with the judges. Paul and Mary prefer more traditional flavors, but you can get away with some non-traditional stuff if the flavors and textures are good. But between the beetroot and the Italian meringue, Stu's showstopper was way too off the traditional track.

 

I like Flora, Tamal, and Nadiya so far. I am looking forward to seeing more of the bakers next week so I can get to know some more of them.

[OnceSane]

I wasn't sad to see Stu go either, but I thought the woman with the collapsed mousse cake was a goner.

[Anoia]

First time watching this. It's praised as good, so I thought I'll catch up on the current season. My favorites so far are Marie and Nadia.

 

That black forest cake, though. Definitely not traditional. Germans don't make sponge with fat. If it contains fat, it's not a sponge. Also, no buttercream in the traditional receipe. So why single Stu out. (I thought he was to go home, as soon as he mentioned the beet, as his previous experiments didn't turn out very well.)

[halopub]

I've been looking into Stu's incoporation of beets. While his blackforest cake may not have met the judge's brief, apparently beet use in chocolate cakes is not particularly new. On A Chef's Life, Vivian Howard talked about how beet juice was used to replace food coloring in Red Velvet cakes during WWII. She uses beets in her own chocolate cake, albeit not Red Velvet.

 

Searching online, well known personalities like Nigella Lawson, Jamie Oliver and Martha Stewart offer their own takes on beet chocolate cakes. Plus the BBC's food website has recipes. So it sounds like something that hasn't quite caught on but is popular in some circles.

[Christina]

I forgot how much I enjoyed Nadiya's facial expressions. I watched it when it aired in UK and am now watching it on PBS. I live in the middle of nowhere and have to pay for NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX and PBS, and the only option was a city 2 hours away. However, a PBS station about 30 minutes away also comes in, and that station is playing this while the Columbus station is not. You wouldn't think there would be that big of a difference in all the stations, but the Columbus station isn't playing it for another week. 

I think beetroot and rhubarb taste the same, and they both taste like Off bug spray, the kind we used to spray on ourselves when out camping. No matter how much you held your nose and kept your mouth closed, you could always taste it. If I had a dessert and it had beetroot in it, I would break down in tears of disappointment. It's like when you order a strawberry pie and they bulked it up with rhubarb but don't list it as an ingredient. 

[Primetimer]

Get back in the tent and savor the scrumminess of Season 6!

View the full article

[MerBearHou]

I could not possibly love a TV show more.  A huge welcome back!!!!!  The PreviouslyTV wrap-up above by Mark Blankenship must be read (so clever) and I adored when he started out with "Mat is my boyfriend so everyone else, back off"...(paraphrasing).

When Sue kindly comforted Dorret over her disastrous showstopper cake, I knew Dorret wouldn't be sent home.  Poor Stu -- I really liked him a lot but all 3 of his cakes were very off-target.

I am so impressed by the entire set-up of the tent and find myself paying a lot of attention to the beautiful grounds, the cook stations, how do they run the electrical lines, manage the effects of the rain and elements on the cooking results, things like that.  I am just in awe of the entire production.

Unlike Food Network Star and MasterChef, it is huge that we see all of bakers' cakes being tasted, judged, commented, ranked so you get a feel for how each and every result turned out.  On those other shows, I'm frustrated when I don't hear/see a bit about each person's creation.

Could go on and on!  Happy, happy.

Edited July 2, 2016 by MerBearHou

[mlp]

I was actually counting the hours today until this show came on.  It's so nice to see civilized people competing, serious judges, no sob stories or gimmicks, no "twists"  and no contrived drama.  

I wonder why U.S. appliance manufacturers don't make ovens with doors that slide under like the ones in the tent.  That seems like a great feature.

[Rick Kitchen]

I was rooting for Marie, so I'm very happy.  Everybody needs a Scottish grandmother who bakes every day, and she seemed sweet.

Nadiya is lovely.  I was glad her second failure didn't hurt her.  I'm surprised Dorret's fail of a gateau didn't do her in, but I guess Stu just didn't produce all the way around.

Tamal looks like a contender, too.

I didn't understand why Sandy's cake having a 70s look was a bad thing, since the gateau, they said, is a retro 70s thing.

Mat is probably the softest-spoken fireman I've ever seen.

Oh, and Mark, Paul is a prison governor (warden), not just a guard.  :)

Edited July 2, 2016 by Rick Kitchen

[Zahdii]

Was dealing with a massive headache, so even though the show was on I missed a lot of it.  Luckily, it's available for free online, at least in the US:

http://www.pbs.org/video/2365777831/

[GaT]

So glad to have the show back. The British bakers are so far more advanced than the bakers they have on the US version that it's like comparing home ec students to professional bakers. Even the bad bakes are still pretty good. I thought Stu was going to be the one to go, he was trying to bake like Howard from series 4, but he just didn't have the skill to meld the flavors that Howard did. Dorrett really lucked out.

[Mabinogia]

Other reality competition shows could learn a lot from this show. Not one single unlikable person, no crazies, no villains, just a group of people doing something they love for little more than bragging rights and this was the most tension filled, edge of my seat compeition show ever. I cried for poor Dorritt when her showstopper fell. I clapped with glee for Marie when she got star baker. I was sad for Stu when he got sent home. I don't want to see any of them go home or fail and I am thrilled when the judges praise their work because you can see just how much it means to them.

This show absolutely brings me joy. And the food porn...OMG this camera crew deserve awards because my mouth is drooling the whole time.

12 hours ago, mlp said:

I wonder why U.S. appliance manufacturers don't make ovens with doors that slide under like the ones in the tent.  That seems like a great feature.

I love those ovens. The first time I saw them I was amazed that that is a thing that exists, then I went online and was disappointed I can't get one Not fair!

[annewithaneee]

I actually got choked up when Dorret's mousse started to spill and leak everywhere. Granted, it was 4 am and I'd had a lot of cheap wine, but. 

Loving everyone except Stu's hipster nonsense was a bit grating (so I'm happy with the result), and I hope Sandy stops describing herself as "random". It's reminding me of my tween self and is cringe-y. 

[MerBearHou]

When Dorret's cake became a messy blob, I said "oh noooo" a little louder than expected and my husband thought something had gone wrong in our home.  I said "no, it's just a cake disaster on the show" and he thought I was a little nuts.  

I absolutely love the little inserts of humor from almost everyone.  Nothing over-the-top -- just little moments -- so British and adds so nicely to the sum of the show.

Watched it again online later and caught a lot that I missed the first time.  The pastel-colored cook stations and ovens with retreating doors are so cool.

[stillshimpy]

I'm so lucky that my husband actually enjoys what an unmitigated goober I am when watching this show.  I ooooohhhhh and awwwww over those awesome ovens (the doors, those awesome, awesome slide away doors! ),  kind of jabber on about "What kind of stand mixer is that?  I thought last year they all used Kitchenaids, but that's not a kitchenaid....I don't think....I wonder if they're better?" , gasped in horror when Dorret's mousse went flowing out and was in stitches over Nadiya's facial expressions.  The woman looked straight-up-terrified on more than one occasion, and I sort of love it, because I have ZERO poker face also, so it was like seeing my people:  Clan Face-Gives-it-Away our tartan is peppered with emojis.  

So I watch the show and my husband gets a kick out of watching me watch the show.  

I cannot even cope with how unbelievably excited I was that it was back on.  We literally sat there refreshing the app over and over, watching the baker introductions, waiting for the episode to appear.  I freaking love the modern world.  I'd make the worst Amish person. 

I can't believe no one else has brought this up as of yet, but holy Gin-Joints, Sam!!! Seven shots of gin in the icing?  I'm surprised the cake didn't actually hiccup.  

Once again there's such a wonderfully cheerful, poised teenage girl on this show and it's entirely awesome.  Whenever this happens I can't help but imagine, again with my watching husband, how indescribably awful it would have been for me to be filmed at 19.  In fairness to me, a fair number of truly horrid things happened in my childhood, but in fairness to the rest of the planet?  God I was insufferable, particularly compared to the sunny, sweet teens this show lands complete with Aga references and a unicycle riding sister to go with the happy dog too.   An author would hesitate to pen such a lovely teen, lest they be accused of abandoning reality in pursuit of a fiction. 

The Prison Guard is an early favorite of mine, because he has what looks to be a terrible scar from a head wound, but apparently likes to make flowers out of sugar.  I dig diversity of experience and interest in a person. 

Hipster oddball of the early exit was the only person who reminded me of an American Reality Show participant.  I just didn't really get the sense that he was in the same league as the other bakers and he's the only person who seemed to be there to perhaps promote his other pursuits.   I'm glad he exited tent left without much ado. 

I'm sure I'll settle down before next week's episode, at least I hope I do for the sake of my dogs and husband, but last night there was much love expressed for everything by me.  "ooooooooh! I love the little candy-colored fridges.  Too tiny to be practical but they look like doll furniture magically enhanced! So darling!!"  Now that y'all are amazed that my husband doesn't file for divorce, based solely on my overly giddy reactions to baking shows, I just want to add that we both join Sue in the "Bake!"  of the "On your mark, get set, bake!" of it all.  So at least I know my husband isn't just suffering and gets a kick out of it too.  

The black forest cake with the elephants, bunnies and other little molding chocolate stencils was so adorable I wanted to hug it and then eat the crushed remains. 

Edited July 2, 2016 by stillshimpy

[MerBearHou]

In my short history with PreviouslyTV (though a longtime TWP-ite), stillshimpy's post above might be my very favorite!!  You have a wonderful, clever, perfect vocab way with words.  I'll look forward to sharing this GBBO season with you (and your supportive gem of a husband).  

[stillshimpy]

That was an incredibly kind thing to take the time and effort to  say (type, you know :-) ), thank you so much, MerBearHou.  

[Jesse]

1 hour ago, annewithaneee said:

I actually got choked up when Dorret's mousse started to spill and leak everywhere. Granted, it was 4 am and I'd had a lot of cheap wine, but. 

Me too, and I watched it this morning! So glad she got another shot.

[adhoc]

Watched online this morning. So pleasant to have the cakes themselves be the source of drama (e.g. Dorret's cake) rather than the contestants!  The current season of MasterChef US is running now, and that show is as much about personalities (especially the most obnoxious ones) and shticks (light-up sneakers, anyone?) as it is about the food. 

And I, too, love all the little puns and witticisms in TGBB (Madeira cake challenge: "5 minutes left, madeiras!"  Camera shot of sheep in a pasture: "Mary and Paul will now take stock of the contestants....")

For one teeny, tiny moment I thought young Flora was going to be this season's Ruby, when she lamented about how she'd forgotten to turn her oven on (because her family has something I never heard of, an aga, an oven that is always on), and that she just hoped...and then her cake turned out fine. Fortunately, that was the only time she did that, so hopefully she will not be one of these talented but self-deprecating young women like Ruby was. 

There are two tall, slender men competing and I keep getting them mixed up. 

All in all, very nice first episode. Learned what a madeira cake was, too. :-)

[theatremouse]

2 hours ago, MerBearHou said:

When Dorret's cake became a messy blob, I said "oh noooo"

In my living room we all in unison reacted with "oh noooo" when that happened. We'd also just a minute earlier been talking about how we liked her and thought she'd go far so it was like a clunky foreshadowing edit happening in my own house.

I felt so bad for her because she looked SO crushed. My first impulse was "somebody needs to hug her now". And I still thought she might be OK if it tasted great, and if Stu's were the disaster it looked like it was going to be, since he botched every round. So I was a) jazzed when Sue then did hug her and reminded her the taste matters too and b) super worried when it didn't taste great. Here's hoping she turns it around in the next one.

[Trip]

This was my first ever episode of the show, and it was really refreshing. One thing I loved was that after "Ready, set, bake!" there was no mad rush toward a pantry, or fighting with other chefs over ingredients, or whatever sorts of other things you see at that point on US cooking shows. No, they just ... start ambling over toward their bowls and mixers.

[Rinaldo]

1 hour ago, adhoc said:

There are two tall, slender men competing and I keep getting them mixed up. 

So do I! Can anyone offer some help with telling Mat and Ian apart? -- something that doesn't depend on seeing them side by side for comparison? (i.e., I know one has longer hair, and one has a pointier nose, but that's helpful only if I see them both at once.)

43 minutes ago, theatremouse said:

ISo I was a) jazzed when Sue then did hug her and reminded her the taste matters too 

That was a lovely moment. (But I had a suspicion that at least a small part of the purpose of grabbing Dorret in a hug was to make sure she didn't get anywhere near the waste bin with the cake....)

After Flora mentioned her family's Aga, I looked up the term. Can any of our British readers tell me, are they rare, or characteristic of certain sorts of households? (Old houses, or rural location, or anything like that?)

Edited July 2, 2016 by Rinaldo

[Rick Kitchen]

2 hours ago, stillshimpy said:

I can't believe no one else has brought this up as of yet, but holy Gin-Joints, Sam!!! Seven shots of gin in the icing?  I'm surprised the cake didn't actually hiccup.  

And yet, I think it was Mary? said there wasn't enough gin in the icing.

11 minutes ago, Rinaldo said:

So do I! Can anyone offer some help with telling Mat and Ian apart?

Not to be mean, but Mat has a rather distressingly long nose.

[Rick Kitchen]

I was reading about Aga cookers on Wikipedia, and discovered the delightful fact that it was invented by a Nobel prize winning physicist.  :)