S07.E05: Pastry Week

[Mondrianyone]

Just now, adam807 said:

I guess I'll have to listen...

That seems like a good idea.

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I don't recall either of us making jokes about Val's age, or at least claiming we didn't like her because of it.

I started counting when the age references became a thing.  I counted four.

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Jane looks to be about the same age as Val, give or take, and I adore her. Not to mention worshiping at the altar of the hopefully immortal Mary Berry. It sounds like more than one of you came away with this perception, so I guess it's a good lesson in being mindful of how we say things, but I assure you that I hated Val for reasons having nothing to do with her age, and I think I can safely speak for Danny on that point as well.

As I said, you had what were other legitimate reasons for not liking Val--i.e., her claiming that undercooked is how she liked things or that's how they did it in her family as excuses for falling short on challenges.  I don't know why you couldn't stick to those, without the digs.  Does the fact that you love Jane and Mary--and they're old--excuse making age-related cracks about someone you don't like?  I don't like Kanye West.  Does that mean I can single him out for racist crap?

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For the record, both Danny and I (and Dave, our usually silent producer) are over 40. So we're not quite up to Val yet, but certainly not under 30!

Then you should all know better.

Look, when Bruce Jenner became Caitlyn, there was practically a ten-page set of rules everyone had to read before posting on that forum and possibly using the wrong pronoun by mistake.  There's a whole lot less choice involved in the matter of getting old.  So I just don't see why those kinds of gratuitous insults are okay while most others--about race, sexual preference, ethnicity, etc.--are verboten.  Shouldn't staff here be held to an even higher standard than us unwashed posters?  I try to limit my snark to behaviors and matters of taste, not physical things that people can't help.

I do agree with truther above, though.  You get points for not hiding out and actually replying to my criticism.

[adam807]

2 hours ago, Mondrianyone said:

I started counting when the age references became a thing.  I counted four.

References for sure; the show made them too. Jokes or insults...were unintentional at best. But that doesn't change how they were perceived, and these are all fair points.

These podcasts are off-the-cuff by design. It's worth knowing how we're coming off. And if you think we're dull now, you should've heard the first episode that we threw out!

I'm not looking for a gold star (or a biscuit?) for responding -- it's an interesting conversation that I'm happy to have. Thanks to you guys for being respectful in your criticism. I'd be afraid to read the comments at all on most sites. :)

Edited July 9, 2017 by adam807

[Mabinogia]

Despite the podcasts, which I don't care for because I used to read the recaps at work during break and I can't really listen to podcasts at work, I am grateful that we at least get the photo accompaniment because the food porn on this show is stunning.

[Mondrianyone]

I'm going to violate my own rule of three posts on a subject and then done, since it would be rude not to reply to you, Adam.

1 hour ago, adam807 said:

References for sure; the show made them too. Jokes or insults...were unintentional at best. But that doesn't change how they were perceived, and these are all fair points.

These podcasts are off-the-cuff by design. It's worth knowing how we're coming off. And if you think we're dull now, you should've heard the first episode that we threw out!

I never would've posted merely to say that I thought the podcast was dull unless it didn't also piss me off.  I think what I found most shocking about the repeated references to Val as old (and I don't think they were just references--they were meant to belittle; we don't always say "little old lady" for nothing) was how diametrically opposed they were to the spirit of the show--sweetness, in every sense of the word.  I guess I thought they were really unsavory.  (Stop me before I baking-pun again.)

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I'm not looking for a gold star (or a biscuit?) for responding -- it's an interesting conversation that I'm happy to have. Thanks to you guys for being respectful in your criticism. I'd be afraid to read the comments at all on most sites. :)

I suspect that most of us had it beaten into us by the lovely mods (and one lunatic) at TWoP.  So that's who to thank.

I'm glad you didn't take offense, even though a few things I said were probably meant to offend.  No hard feelings on this end either.

[adam807]

20 minutes ago, Mondrianyone said:

I never would've posted merely to say that I thought the podcast was dull unless it didn't also piss me off.  I think what I found most shocking about the repeated references to Val as old (and I don't think they were just references--they were meant to belittle; we don't always say "little old lady" for nothing) was how diametrically opposed they were to the spirit of the show--sweetness, in every sense of the word.  I guess I thought they were really unsavory.  (Stop me before I baking-pun again.)

No, I get it. I was only speaking to my conscious intent (and my assumption of Dan's). We recorded this episode 2 weeks ago and have done two more since then, so I really will have to listen back to see (er, hear) what we said.

Not offended by "dull" either, whatever brought it out. You're entitled to your opinion, and no one's forcing you to listen, least of all me! FWIW, I miss Mark's write-ups too. He's great.

And I will never, ever stop anyone from making puns. 

[MortysCleaningLady]

How does Rav keep skating by?   I'm disappointed that Val was gone and I want to play "how much was flour in 1977?"

 

Rav's cinnamin swirls, while appearing tasty, aren't that exotic, he miscounted his braids, and his Bakewell tart was a broken mess. I get that his showstopper was better than Val's, but her Danish and Bakewell were better.

[theodyssey]

20 hours ago, adam807 said:

Do we know for a fact that Andrew is gay? Or rather, is he publicly out?

Andrew is definitely gay. It's not something GBBO actually hides from, other than that the show avoids covering all the baker's personal stories. But it does come up eventually.

Edited July 10, 2017 by theodyssey

[chaifan]

Did Candice arrive to the show with a truck load of storage crates?  I'm constantly amazed by the props she uses for display and presentation.  The antique scale this week was fabulous!  I give her extra credit for that type of presentation, personally.  And, I am beginning to believe she packed a distinct shade of lipstick for each episode.  I'd like to see her, Benjamina and Andrew in the final.  While sometimes their execution can be off, they seem to be the most creative to me. 

[rab01]

7 minutes ago, chaifan said:

Did Candice arrive to the show with a truck load of storage crates?  I'm constantly amazed by the props she uses for display and presentation.  The antique scale this week was fabulous!  I give her extra credit for that type of presentation, personally.  And, I am beginning to believe she packed a distinct shade of lipstick for each episode.  I'd like to see her, Benjamina and Andrew in the final.  While sometimes their execution can be off, they seem to be the most creative to me. 

The show is only filmed on the weekend and the bakers go home in between episodes so they just bring the props and special baking gadgets that they want for the particular bakes that are coming up that show.  I remember one season where a baker (Ian maybe?) manufactured some of his props and gadgets for each episode. 

[theatremouse]

On 9/22/2016 at 1:21 PM, shandy said:

Paul can be such a know it all; the first amuse-bouche I ever had was something fishy with cream cheese 'en cornet' (similar in shape to Jane's cones).

I don't think Paul was necessarily wrong here. By definition an amuse-bouche is supposed to be one bite. The issue wasn't that they were conical, but that they were more like 3-bites.

On 9/22/2016 at 7:49 PM, Silverleaf said:

Can people please remember that this is the Great British Bake Off? Americans have been having peanut butter and jelly for centuries but it isn't a flavour combination even remotely common here so just because peanut butter and banana has reached rural Iowa does not mean it has reached our shores.

My beef with Paul over this has nothing to do with the relative popularity of peanut butter+anything in Britain. Paul has, on multiple episodes in multiple seasons of both this show and its American counterpart, repeatedly expressed surprise at the combination of peanut butter+<jelly/banana/bacon/younameit>.  If he just said he does not like the combination, it's one thing, but his continued moment of surprise is bizarre. I'm like I've seen you be served this on TV before Paul, stop acting like you've never heard of such a thing.

On 7/8/2017 at 11:21 AM, Quilt Fairy said:

The biggest problem I had with the timing in this episode was Mary commenting several times when critiquing the technical "Well, they obviously didn't wait until the tart cooled before they put on the icing" when she knew damn well they weren't given enough time for that.

I can't find it now, but I thought I'd read something a while back that for the technical they have someone from the show do Paul/Mary's recipe in question in the time allotted to make sure it is possible. And since some of them came out not melted, it must have been possible. Might require tighter time management than the contestants generally manage, but I don't think it's fair to say Mary knew they didn't have enough time. If they do an official practice run (possibly even the making of the example piece) and it's completed by one human in the time allotted, then it can be done.

[adam807]

On 9/22/2016 at 10:49 PM, Silverleaf said:

Can people please remember that this is the Great British Bake Off? Americans have been having peanut butter and jelly for centuries but it isn't a flavour combination even remotely common here so just because peanut butter and banana has reached rural Iowa does not mean it has reached our shores.

My surprise at this was simply that he'd seemed to never have HEARD of it. This yank finds it revolting, but common enough in pop culture, and for better or for worse a lot of ours crosses the Atlantic. Wasn't it Elvis' favorite? 

[Rinaldo]

8 hours ago, theatremouse said:

IMy beef with Paul over this has nothing to do with the relative popularity of peanut butter+anything in Britain. Paul has, on multiple episodes in multiple seasons of both this show and its American counterpart, repeatedly expressed surprise at the combination of peanut butter+<jelly/banana/bacon/younameit>.  If he just said he does not like the combination, it's one thing, but his continued moment of surprise is bizarre. I'm like I've seen you be served this on TV before Paul, stop acting like you've never heard of such a thing.

 

21 minutes ago, adam807 said:

My surprise at this was simply that he'd seemed to never have HEARD of it. 

Yes yes yes, to both of these. Also: Paul is in the biz. He's supposed to be considerably more knowledgeable about what's going on with food internationally (certainly in the US, where he has spent time professionally) than the average person on the street. Not liking a combination is one thing, but astonishment that it exists is getting tiresome -- either he's feigning ignorance, or he doesn't pay attention in his chosen field of expertise.

[Kohola3]

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Might require tighter time management than the contestants generally manage, but I don't think it's fair to say Mary knew they didn't have enough time. If they do an official practice run (possibly even the making of the example piece) and it's completed by one human in the time allotted, then it can be done.

They can't do an official practice run because the don't know what the challenge will be.  They do know for the signature and showstoppers but not the technical.

And I think the time allotted is based on the time it takes for either Paul or Mary to make the item.  I don't think that's quite fair since some of the instructions are "make XXX" with a list of instructions.  Some of the contestants have never heard of/seen the particular thing so even if a skilled baker it seems to me they need to give the contestants a bit of time to think things through and plan their bake.

[Mabinogia]

50 minutes ago, Kohola3 said:

I don't think that's quite fair since some of the instructions are "make XXX" with a list of instructions.

I don't find it unfair since they are all judged the same, and the technical does not determine who stays or goes. As much as we all love to see well finished products, several identically perfect pastries would be dull. Since the technical has the expectation of every one of them being the same I prefer they make it a time challenge so we get some interesting disasters. Not all of them come out bad and they are graded on a curve, from best to worst. Given more time that result probably wouldn't change much. I don't think someone who couldn't finish in the time allotted would magically be able to beat someone who did a great job with a time limit.

I could have sworn Paul had never heard of peanut butter and banana in another season as well. That's where I start rolling my eyes. Not heard of it once, sure, I buy that. They talk about things I've never heard of and maybe he's not an Elvis fan. Not heard of the same thing twice? Not possible. There was also PB&J which I find more unlikely to have never heard of. They may not have it in England, but as a baker I would think he'd know more than the average Englishman about food from other countries. I know what haggis is despite never having seen it served here in the US, nor do I have any interest in trying it. I saw it on a TV show and looked it up.

[theatremouse]

1 hour ago, Kohola3 said:

They can't do an official practice run because the don't know what the challenge will be.  They do know for the signature and showstoppers but not the technical.

And I think the time allotted is based on the time it takes for either Paul or Mary to make the item. 

You've misunderstood. I wasn't saying the contestants do a practice run. I meant someone from production does it within the time allotted for the technical, based on how long Mary and Paul say it should take. Like a test kitchen scenario. Not dissimilar to how someone from production runs new obstacles on American Ninja Warrior to make sure they can be completed.

[AZChristian]

The protagonist in one of  my favorite series of books (Kinsey Millhone in Sue Grafton's "alphabet" series) is fond of peanut butter and pickle sandwiches.  Being a lover of peanut butter myself, I had to try it.  Not my cuppa tea.  But I wonder what Paul would do if served a dish with that combo.  LOL.

[Rinaldo]

2 hours ago, Kohola3 said:

I don't think that's quite fair since some of the instructions are "make XXX" with a list of instructions.  Some of the contestants have never heard of/seen the particular thing

That's the point. 1, if you're really knowledgeable, you will have heard of it (and sometimes it's the youngest and least experienced baker who turns out to be aware of a particular item). 2, if you really understand the principles and techniques of baking, than you can confidently use them to combine into an unfamiliar creation. And indeed, we've seen exactly that happen. So it's not unfair, just challenging as it should be.

[AZChristian]

Also, don't they know the week before what the category will be?  Seems like they could go home and practice a lot of things that fall into the upcoming category.  They could at least have seen pictures and have a basic knowledge of what the finished product should look like (Andrew and the upside-down Jaffa cakes).

[Mabinogia]

1 hour ago, Rinaldo said:

if you really understand the principles and techniques of baking, than you can confidently use them to combine into an unfamiliar creation.

And that is the point of the technical. Not exactly to make the perfect whatever, but to show you know off the top of your head how to do basic things like make a certain sponge, or how long dough should cook or be proved. And in the later, the time restriction should actually help. if you have x number of minutes and you know that dough needs to bake for y number of minutes, then you should prove it for z number of minutes based on the total time you were given. And if you don't know how to make the basic items that are the foundation of most of the technical, you are the baker who should go home that week.

Time management seems crucial in baking. If I were going on the show I'd be timing everything I bake. Now, IDK how much of that knowledge would stick with me under the hot lights and cameras of the tent, but hey, I know I buckle under pressure which is why I wouldn't go on this show to begin with. That and my ability to bake being completely recipe dependent.

[Tara Ariano]

In case you missed it, here's the Previously.TV podcast on the episode!

 

Two Spotted Dicks: The Bakers Get A Little Flaky On Pastry Week!

Bakewell tarts expose the age divide in the big tent.

[iggysaurus]

On 7/9/2017 at 3:25 PM, Mabinogia said:

Despite the podcasts, which I don't care for because I used to read the recaps at work during break and I can't really listen to podcasts at work, I am grateful that we at least get the photo accompaniment because the food porn on this show is stunning.

I just wanted to weigh in and agree with those who don't like the podcasts -- not because of a problem with any particular content, but because like the poster I quoted above, I read the forums and recaps during breaks at work and I can't listen to or watch things easily in that setting. But even at home, I'd prefer a written recap. I just don't care for podcasts as a format for show recaps. I like reading.  Is reading obsolete? Are we switching everything over to podcasts and videos because millennials prefer audiovisual content and find reading to be boring?

[wonderwoman]

55 minutes ago, iggysaurus said:

Are we switching everything over to podcasts and videos because millennials prefer audiovisual content and find reading to be boring?

I think this is only one aspect. As a writer, I can tell you it is far easier (not to mention more fun) for two people to shoot the shit for 30 minutes than for one person to write a thoughtful recap/review in the same 30 minutes.  

Edited July 11, 2017 by wonderwoman

[Kohola3]

28 minutes ago, wonderwoman said:

I think this is only one aspect. As a writer, I can tell you it is far easier (not to mention more fun) for two people to shoot the shit for 30 minutes than for one person to write a thoughtful recap/review in the same 30 minutes.  

The problem with shooting the shit for 30 minutes is that it's unscripted and the "little old lady" comments have caused some consternation.  A written piece can be edited and polished.  And, again, I don't have time to listen to someone blathering when I can read the same content in minutes.  I preferred the written recaps and it sounds like a lot of the posters here agree.

[Rinaldo]

50 minutes ago, wonderwoman said:

I think this is only one aspect. As a writer, I can tell you it is far easier (not to mention more fun) for two people to shoot the shit for 30 minutes than for one person to write a thoughtful recap/review in the same 30 minutes.  

More fun for the participants, but I would rather read the thoughtful review. It's more likely to have been thoroughly polished and worth the time it takes (I say this without having heard any of the podcasts for this series, so it has nothing to do with their content -- it's a reaction to the whole format). And I can read an article in a tenth of the time it takes to listen to a podcast covering the same material. 

[Eliz]

On 7/9/2017 at 1:21 PM, Kohola3 said:

Big ditto on that.  Who has time to listen to a podcast that's nearly as long as the show?  Give me a readable recap any day.

AMEN

I have nothing against these guys or their commentary. But I have a very strong format preference, for this and any/all shows.

[Kohola3]

Just now, Eliz said:

I have nothing against these guys or their commentary. But I have a very strong format preference, for this and any/all shows.

Sadly, they don't seem to care. 

Looking forward to Sunday though, as always.  Makes my week!

[Clanstarling]

On 9/22/2016 at 6:00 AM, Silverleaf said:

I really wish they had done an authentic Bakewell pudding not a Bakewell tart. Val got her comeuppance with her cocky I bake a Bakewell tart every week - hers was the only one with a soggy bottom.

I'd never heard of a Bakewell tart (not having been to the UK), but when Val only pre-baked her thick crust for only 5 minutes - even I, a basic baker - knew that would bite her in the bottom.

On 9/22/2016 at 7:28 AM, Schweedie said:

And I've also been disappointed in Tom. I think he'd do better if he didn't insist on being so experimental and insistent on "pushing it" all the time, because he seems good at the basics. If he could just play it safe for once, I'd like to see how that would go down. Chocolate and sirloin? To serve to Paul Hollywood? Tom, what were you thinking?

The idea of chocolate on steak was strange (though I suppose, not dissimilar to mole sauce). Tom is a bit too pouty for my tastes. That could well be the edit, but I have to kind of remind myself of who he is each time. I didn't think the choice to use granola was too odd, but that wheat biscuit thing looked horrible - not what I would want in a danish.

On 9/22/2016 at 10:48 AM, BradyB66 said:

She totally won me over with her comment last week.  "These are not the Yorkshire Puddings you're looking for."

Me too.

On 7/7/2017 at 8:43 PM, MerBearHou said:

The baking has been well analyzed above so I'll comment on my opinions of the bakers.  I finally figured out what bugs me about Candice (and yes, she can bake beautiful things quite often).  I don't like how coquettish she acts and how very aware she is of her unique mouth and it is her "go to" almost constantly in her facial expressions.  Licking her lips, pursing her mouth, cutesy acting -- some may care for it -- I do not.

To be fair, most of us don't see our own expressions unless we mug in front of a mirror all day long. Those all seem like fairly natural expressions to me, ones which perhaps don't translate well on camera. As for unique lips, it's more the lipstick for me. The shade she wore this time was far softer, and she looked softer as a result. Also, the girl grew up in a pub.

2 hours ago, Kohola3 said:

The problem with shooting the shit for 30 minutes is that it's unscripted and the "little old lady" comments have caused some consternation.  A written piece can be edited and polished.  And, again, I don't have time to listen to someone blathering when I can read the same content in minutes.  I preferred the written recaps and it sounds like a lot of the posters here agree.

I'm a writer and always prefer to read a recap, for all of the reasons that have been mentioned previously.  I've read some wonderful, thoughtful recaps here and elsewhere, ones that gave me further insight to what I just watched, and I've enjoyed fun, quipy recaps. But I won't watch a podcast, because I've already watched a program and don't want to watch another program about the program.  So when a show I'm following moves from a written recap to a podcast, I come here for the forums and go elsewhere for the recaps.

Edited July 11, 2017 by Clanstarling

[wonderwoman]

2 hours ago, Rinaldo said:

More fun for the participants, but I would rather read the thoughtful review. It's more likely to have been thoroughly polished and worth the time it takes (I say this without having heard any of the podcasts for this series, so it has nothing to do with their content -- it's a reaction to the whole format). And I can read an article in a tenth of the time it takes to listen to a podcast covering the same material. 

Of course it's more fun for the participants. That was my point. And you're right that as consumers, we feel written reviews are worth the time they take to write.. But, I've been wondering if there's a financial aspect here.  As you point out, reading a review takes considerably less time than listening to the podcast covering the same material. Does having people on the site longer generate more revenue?

[Athena]

This topic is to discuss the episode and the content of the podcast, not to debate the format of podcasts vs written recaps. Some discussion has been allowed but now please move on. If you wish to contact editorial about the podcasts and recaps, send an email to feedback@previously.tv

Thank you.

[Paul B]

aww come on - Val's "baking with love" shtick at the end was kinda cute. I will miss her mania.

[theatremouse]

I'd never heard of Bakewell tarts before this episode, and they've now come up twice for me since. Weird coincidence. Also makes me hungry. That raspberry jam look goooood.

[Destiny74]

On 7/7/2017 at 10:43 PM, MerBearHou said:

The baking has been well analyzed above so I'll comment on my opinions of the bakers.  I finally figured out what bugs me about Candice (and yes, she can bake beautiful things quite often).  I don't like how coquettish she acts and how very aware she is of her unique mouth and it is her "go to" almost constantly in her facial expressions.  Licking her lips, pursing her mouth, cutesy acting -- some may care for it -- I do not.

I'm sorry, but this totally.  I took issue with her black lipstick the first week.  And while she has grown on me, she really does play up her cute little bow mouth by pursing her lips and sucking her cheeks.  I dunno, it aggrivates me.

I had issue with Benjamina the first few weeks because I felt like she was Ruby 2.0.  She was so unsure of her baking and so apologetic when presenting her bakes.  I feel she's gotten better, more confident.  Good on her.

I love Andrew.  What a doll.

I love Sulasie (I know I spelled that wrong) He makes me smile.

Rav is a great guy.  I really like him, I just think he isn't around for much longer.  His smile is so bright!

[Kohola3]

The "problem" is that they are all so darned nice!  I can't root against any of them;  I am not fond of Clara Bow and her pouty lips but I still can't root against her.  Losing one of these is like losing a friend.

[Lamb18]

10 hours ago, theatremouse said:

I'd never heard of Bakewell tarts before this episode, and they've now come up twice for me since. Weird coincidence. Also makes me hungry. That raspberry jam look goooood.

I'd heard of them before but didn't know what they were, so it was fun to see them in the technical challenge.

Are Bakewell tarts from Bakewell in Derby?

Shoutout to AZChristian:

I am rereading the Kinsey Millhone books right now (just finished P is for Peril). I wonder what Paul's reaction would be to olive pimento cheese spread? (Although it probably would be good in a savory biscuit!)

[Mabinogia]

1 hour ago, Kohola3 said:

The "problem" is that they are all so darned nice!  I can't root against any of them;  I am not fond of Clara Bow and her pouty lips but I still can't root against her.  Losing one of these is like losing a friend.

This is so true. In the past I've been all "oh, well, I'll be fine if this person goes, then they go and I'm all NOOOOO!!!!" I just adore them all so much. Even Clara Bow and her facial Olympics.

Even Val, I'm all, okay, it looks like Val is going to go this week, that's okay, she's not my favorite. Then they call her name and I yell "NOT VAL!!!!!" Not that I could say who should go in her place because I'm so very fond of them all.

[J-Man]

I think on one of the previous seasons, either Sue or Mel did one of their little historical features on the Bakewell tart. Of course I don't remember anything about it now.

[meep.meep]

On 7/11/2017 at 4:43 AM, Rinaldo said:

 

Yes yes yes, to both of these. Also: Paul is in the biz. He's supposed to be considerably more knowledgeable about what's going on with food internationally (certainly in the US, where he has spent time professionally) than the average person on the street. Not liking a combination is one thing, but astonishment that it exists is getting tiresome -- either he's feigning ignorance, or he doesn't pay attention in his chosen field of expertise.

To be fair, he did the same thing with Rav's yuzu earlier in the season.  Meaning he's not just picking on the peanut butter people - he's willing to be feigning ignorance about a lot of stuff.

Lovely young Martha cooked with peanut butter in her season.

[dubbel zout]

25 minutes ago, meep.meep said:

To be fair, he did the same thing with Rav's yuzu earlier in the season.  Meaning he's not just picking on the peanut butter people - he's willing to be feigning ignorance about a lot of stuff.

Feigning ignorance about something like yuzu is quite different from feigning ignorance about peanut butter. The latter isn't some unheard-of ingredient at this point.

Edited July 12, 2017 by dubbel zout

[Meredith Quill]

On 08/07/2017 at 4:43 AM, MerBearHou said:

I can't help but be wistful every time I hear Mel and Sue banter so perfectly with each other and with Mary and Paul.  I miss them already and they aren't gone yet.  The show "caught lightning in a bottle" when they cast them together -- will be impossible to replace and capture the spirit we know and love in this show.

Sue and Mel often work together and are friends irl. I was first introduced to them as a presenting pair on a lunchtime show in the late 90's called Light Lunch.

[Rinaldo]

17 hours ago, SilverStormm said:

Sue and Mel often work together

Yes, "Mel and Sue" is a long-standing entity with its own Wikipedia article.

[Silverleaf]

Bakewell puddings originate from Bakewell in Derbyshire. Bakewell tarts are an abomination and should not exist.

[Florinaldo]

The show probably gives them enough time to do the challenge, but with just a little to spare, based on the premise that those with technical proficiency and efficiency in execution will rise to the top. It also helps to be at least a little familiar with the recipe involved; as a Canadian, I would have been totally clueless as to how to make a Bakewell tart. I think I may have eaten some years ago, but it's not a staple here; however, anyone appearing on a British baking competition should review the classics from that country beforehand so as to not be completely at sea when faced with the challenge of preparing a dish they do not make very often, if ever.  Do they get workshops in preparation for the competition, that may cover many possible recipes or techniques besides the ones they will be called upon to cook?

 

On 2016-09-22 at 5:35 AM, ElectricBoogaloo said:

Poor Andrew. I can't believe he forgot to turn the oven on! I'm impressed that his tart turned out as well as it did

I can only imagine the amount of ribbing he must have taken from his fellow engineers (or is he still a student?). I suppose he noticed the mistake early enough to correct it, perhaps just a few seconds after putting his pastry in the oven (editing can be deceving after all). Since operation of electronic controls can vary subtly from oven to oven, he may have a relatively valid excuse.

 

On 2017-07-07 at 11:43 PM, MerBearHou said:

I finally figured out what bugs me about Candice (and yes, she can bake beautiful things quite often).  I don't like how coquettish she acts and how very aware she is of her unique mouth and it is her "go to" almost constantly in her facial expressions.  Licking her lips, pursing her mouth, cutesy acting -- some may care for it -- I do not.

Your description of Candice neatly encapsulates my feelings about her and why I haven't warmed up to her. I must give her credit though for using a pasta press to help in making the phyllo dough; I wish I had thought of that the few times I tried my hand at that time-consuming and frustrating confection.

Edited July 14, 2017 by Florinaldo

[Rinaldo]

1 hour ago, Florinaldo said:

Do they get workshops in preparation for the competition, that may cover many possible recipes or techniques besides the ones they will be called upon to cook?

No, other than whatever "workshops" they may give themselves on their own initiative.

[Florinaldo]

10 hours ago, Rinaldo said:

No, other than whatever "workshops" they may give themselves on their own initiative.

Thanks for the info. So it does fall on them to cram and review as much of British baking as they can on their own initiative, although they cannot of course cover everything. They can also be thrown a curveball with dishes from other origins, like churros or phyllo.

[Clanstarling]

32 minutes ago, Florinaldo said:

Thanks for the info. So it does fall on them to cram and review as much of British baking as they can on their own initiative, although they cannot of course cover everything. They can also be thrown a curveball with dishes from other origins, like churros or phyllo.

If I recall correctly, both the churros and phyllo challenges were showstoppers - and they do get advance notice of what those are.  So, imo, that's not quite a curveball, but "here's your homework assignment."

[Broken Ox]

On 7/10/2017 at 11:08 PM, theatremouse said:

 can't find it now, but I thought I'd read something a while back that for the technical they have someone from the show do Paul/Mary's recipe in question in the time allotted to make sure it is possible. And since some of them came out not melted, it must have been possible. Might require tighter time management than the contestants generally manage, but I don't think it's fair to say Mary knew they didn't have enough time. If they do an official practice run (possibly even the making of the example piece) and it's completed by one human in the time allotted, then it can be done.

I wonder if they do it in the same conditions, though? Baking in that tent leaves them much more subject to humidity, etc., than a test kitchen would. 

I like all of them, too. Some more than others, but I love that this show is about their actual talent, not their assigned reality TV roles.  However, I do miss Kate and could easily do without the easily-forgettable Tom (who I believe had a pretty poor showing in the same week she went).

[Florinaldo]

57 minutes ago, Clanstarling said:

If I recall correctly, both the churros and phyllo challenges were showstoppers - and they do get advance notice of what those are.  So, imo, that's not quite a curveball, but "here's your homework assignment."

Thanks for the correction. At least for the most "exotic" stuff there is a heads-up, whereas for traditional UK baking you must review as much as you can, unless you already have it all in your mind...

In both cases they are wholly on their own so varying levels of research skills and thoroughness can be a factor.

[Rinaldo]

Also, I believe that they know all the challenges for the season (except the Technical, which is supposed to be a surprise) before any of the season starts. So they can plan/practice ahead as much as they wish or are able (factoring in that some of this advance prep may be wasted if they're booted early) for those challenges. They have to get a list of their ingredients etc. to the producers ahead of time each week, in any case. (They can also bring certain things from home if they wish, like herbs they've grown, or tools they've made themselves.)

[Clanstarling]

1 hour ago, Rinaldo said:

Also, I believe that they know all the challenges for the season (except the Technical, which is supposed to be a surprise) before any of the season starts. So they can plan/practice ahead as much as they wish or are able (factoring in that some of this advance prep may be wasted if they're booted early) for those challenges. They have to get a list of their ingredients etc. to the producers ahead of time each week, in any case. (They can also bring certain things from home if they wish, like herbs they've grown, or tools they've made themselves.)

Or roadkill...

[illdoc]

17 hours ago, Florinaldo said:

I suppose he noticed the mistake early enough to correct it, perhaps just a few seconds after putting his pastry in the oven (editing can be deceving after all).

Actually, it was 15 minutes! I believe his quote was something like "I forgot to turn the oven on. It's been sitting there for 15 minutes doing nothing. That's unfortunate." ("that's unfortunate"--how terribly understatedly British that is.) That's why he had no time to cool before trying to frost.