The Great Canadian Baking Show - General Discussion

[Aulty]

Glad this show is back too. Bruno is the best Bake Off judge in the whole franchise at the moment. Honest and pleasant at all times.

[Cetacean]

3 hours ago, Aulty said:

Bruno is the best Bake Off judge in the whole franchise at the moment. Honest and pleasant at all times.

He really is.  Always something nice to say, no snotty remarks and has kind but constructive criticism.

I, too, am always sad to see the first one to go although we don't know a lot about them at that point.  I love hearing about where they are from since Canada is so huge.

I love having their names on the aprons, makes it easier to get to know them.

I can't even imagine how hard it is to do well the first few times with baking with an entirely unfamiliar set of equipment!  Took me several tries to get comfortable with my new ice cream machine!

[Shelbie]

Whoever came up with the idea to have the names on the aprons is absolutely brilliant. I wish every competition show did that. I do wonder how many they have though because some of them are filthy after some messy bakes.

[xfuse]

On 10/20/2021 at 11:29 AM, Shelbie said:

Whoever came up with the idea to have the names on the aprons is absolutely brilliant.

I love it. It's the only way I can tell who is who for the first couple of weeks.

[Taeolas]

I think most on-going cooking competition shows have the contestant names shown somewhere nowadays. 

Masterchef certainly does (so they can do the elimination "Contestant folds their apron name up and leaves it on their station" scene), and I think Top Chef does it on the Chefs jackets. Hell's Kitchen also does it with their jackets too. 

 

Of course the space for names on jackets tends to be smaller (since they don't go Sports Jersey and write them on the backs), so they are less noticable then the name across the front of an apron. 

 

Shows with 1 and done sets of contestants usually don't bother with the names unless the contestants themselves bring them in. 

[shok]

What a great show tonight. All of the challenges were difficult but fair and really showed the abilities of the bakers. I especially loved the show stopper and the mosaic cookies. There were some beautiful creations in there.

[shok]

I'm surprised nobody is commenting on these shows. IMO, this is the best, most competent group of bakers there have ever been on the Canadian show and I'm thoroughly enjoying watching it.

[xfuse]

7 hours ago, shok said:

I'm surprised nobody is commenting on these shows.

I'm a week behind right now because of work so I try to look at the thread. Sometimes I can't help it when I watch an ep and have to come in.

I loved the bakers being nervous last week making eclairs and such for Bruno. I guess it's like making bread for Paul, maybe.

[Cetacean]

I love the group but when it's still large it's harder to get to see the personalities in the short amount of time they each have.

Loved the oven and the basket of kittens!

[Taeolas]

I love that this show (And the Great Baking Shows in general) do a Bread week. It often feels to me that bread is a baking product that often gets missed in the competition baking shows, as they tend to focus on the three C's (Candy, Chocolate and Cakes). Personally, I love breads, and as we saw this week (and in previous competitions) these bakers can pull off incredible things with some dough. 

[Aulty]

I agree that this year's contestants are a pretty talented bunch. And the producers have kept the challenges pretty straight forward. I enjoy GCBC's choice of technical challenges - they throw in bakes that require unfamiliar techniques, like the pinapple buns, but are not too comlicated for viewers to have a go at.

[Rammchick]

I wanted to crawl through the TV to get those babkas!  I'm from NYC and of that tribe, and babka is practically a food group.  Now I'm craving some, darn it.  Who makes babka in Seattle?!

 

[buffynut]

I absolutely loved the bread oven.

  And those kittens were totally adorable.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CWCtHiGg-5y/

On 11/8/2021 at 8:00 PM, Cetacean said:

I love the group but when it's still large it's harder to get to see the personalities in the short amount of time they each have.

I'm the same way, and by the time they're down to a small enough group, the season is pretty much over.  Didn't one of them say Sunday was the halfway point already,

Edited November 10, 2021 by buffynut

[Cetacean]

"No one has made a hand pie since 1680".  Hee!

[shok]

Those were the fanciest hand pies I've ever seen. My goodness they were decorated beautifully, something you don't usually see in hand pies.

[Cetacean]

I have never liked caramel week because I don't like caramel but some of that stuff sounded, well, edible.  I really like all of the contestants so I am sad to see anybody go at this point.

I was kind of surprised that Steven wasn't chosen, he kind of tanked on all three things. But it was so nice of him to jump in to help Vincent when he probably still had things to do on his own creation.

Just a really nice bunch of people all around!

Next up - Patisserie week

[buffynut]

I still can't keep the bakers and their bakes straight.  Was Amanda the one who wasn't able to stack her layer cakes?

[Cetacean]

40 minutes ago, buffynut said:

I still can't keep the bakers and their bakes straight.  Was Amanda the one who wasn't able to stack her layer cakes?

Yes.  And they were hot when she tried to frost them so her beautiful stencil melted away.

[buffynut]

19 minutes ago, Cetacean said:

Yes.  And they were hot when she tried to frost them so her beautiful stencil melted away.

It probably would have been gorgeous, if she'd been able to pull it off.  

So only 2 more episodes, right. 

[Cetacean]

41 minutes ago, buffynut said:

So only 2 more episodes, right. 

Yet, semi-final, then final.  I don't think I have one I'll root for, like them all.

The judges are SO much more personable that GBBO and the hosts so much more, well, civilized!

[shok]

I like them all but I'll be rooting for Aimee. I like her best, plus I think she's consistently been the best baker. Every week she does something really special. She must be very shy and quiet as she doesn't get much air time.

I hope Steve shakes his nerves this week and does well enough to get to the final. He started out the season so well but has been on edge the past couple of weeks.

[buffynut]

3 hours ago, shok said:

She must be very shy and quiet as she doesn't get much air time.

Unlike Amanda and Stephen. 😉

 

[Mellowyellow]

I love this show!!! My favourite version of the franchise this season!

The contestants are lovely but Aimee is my absolute favorite. She's so talented and extremely competent!!!

Love the judges. They've got a great sense of humour without being unkind. Bruno is very constructive but kind and I love Kyla's genuine joy and excitement with the bakes. I love that both judges can give honest feedback without being a$$es!!! 

Hands down the best hosts as well!!! Cheerful, competent, good at diffusing tension and are entertaining enough without any in-your-face obnoxious mugging. They remind me of Jesse on the Food Network who I also like for the same reasons.

 

[Cetacean]

Kyla really rocked the 70's look tonight.

I just love every minute of these episodes!  Such nice people, so supportive of each other and they really show how much they love each other.  The judges are great, giving constructive criticism without being harsh and the hosts are supportive but not intrusive.  GBBO could really take lessons from this!

It will be hard to root for one over another, they are all so great.

[shok]

Best version of GBBO I've seen in all these years. The bakers are amazingly good and they're putting out some of the best bakes I've ever seen. They're all so personable too. I literally laughed out loud at some of the hi-jinx tonight and had tears in my eyes that one of them had to go and that's never happened before over a silly baking show.

[buffynut]

19 hours ago, Cetacean said:

Kyla really rocked the 70's look tonight.

She did, didn't she.  And Ann looked really pretty with the minimal eye makeup.

Next week is the finale, but we get one more show before it's over - a new holiday baking episode.

 

[Cetacean]

1 hour ago, buffynut said:

Next week is the finale, but we get one more show before it's over - a new holiday baking episode.

 

Yippee!  Can't get enough of this!

[Rammchick]

18 hours ago, buffynut said:

She did, didn't she.  And Ann looked really pretty with the minimal eye makeup.

Next week is the finale, but we get one more show before it's over - a new holiday baking episode.

 

Doesn't Ann look spectacular here -- I love her hair like this!

[Ciarrai]

Whomever does Ann's makeup needs to tone down the highlighter. It's a bit ... overzealous most of the time.

[Cetacean]

9 hours ago, Ciarrai said:

Whomever does Ann's makeup needs to tone down the highlighter. It's a bit ... overzealous most of the time.

I think that's her "thing".

[buffynut]

I know "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" but IMO less is more when it comes to makeup, especially blue eye shadow. 

Not sure if you guys saw this interview with Ann, but it fits the current discussion.   

https://www.cbc.ca/life/greatcanadianbakingshow/i-full-on-cried-host-of-the-great-canadian-baking-show-on-why-her-flirty-wardrobe-was-a-game-changer-1.6224579

[Cetacean]

8 minutes ago, buffynut said:

I know "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" but IMO less is more when it comes to makeup, especially blue eye shadow. 

 

Totally agree.  But Ann does seem like a nice person, especially in that interview.

[SophiaD]

I adore this show.  Bruno is so patient and kind and not scary at all, and Kyla is delightful.  And both of them have tons of knowledge but aren't annoying with it.  Alan and Ann are fantastic, too.  I wish they could host the GBBO.  It really hasn't been the same since Mel, Sue, and Mary left (although Prue is fine).

I'm rooting for Aimee, too.  She's incredibly creative, an excellent baker, and just really, really charming.  

[Rammchick]

Congratulations to Vincent!  It was obvious that Kyla was referring to Aimee when she said she had to readjust her thinking, since Aimee's cake was nowhere near the calibre of some of the other things she's baked this season.  Vincent's cake was just stunning -- a well-deserved win, and a great end to a great season!

[buffynut]

Very happy that Vincent won.   His showstopper final cake was absolutely stunning.

 

 

[Shelbie]

Vincent’s cake was so elegant. I thought it would make a beautiful wedding cake.

[shok]

Disappointed that Aimee didn't win although I must admit Vincent's last cake outdid hers. Thing is though, she was best in the first bake and far outdid both Steve and Vincent in the technical and she was easily the best baker all season. Seems a shame that a good, but not quite as good, single cake should be the ultimate factor in choosing the plate winner.

All in all it was a great season, with such a likeable cast and such terrific bakers. They'll have a hard time matching the quality of this years' bakers in future shows.

[Rammchick]

4 hours ago, shok said:

Disappointed that Aimee didn't win although I must admit Vincent's last cake outdid hers. Thing is though, she was best in the first bake and far outdid both Steve and Vincent in the technical and she was easily the best baker all season. Seems a shame that a good, but not quite as good, single cake should be the ultimate factor in choosing the plate winner.

All in all it was a great season, with such a likeable cast and such terrific bakers. They'll have a hard time matching the quality of this years' bakers in future shows.

It is a shame, but it's fair if your rules are to only judge the bake in front of you.  Sometimes it doesn't seem like it, unfortunately, and someone squeaks by who did better in a previous week.  In Aimee's case, it would have been glaringly obvious if her cake won over Vincent's.  I'm glad I didn't have to make that choice!

[Cetacean]

6 minutes ago, Rammchick said:

It is a shame, but it's fair if your rules are to only judge the bake in front of you. 

I believe the final decision is based on all the bakes on that episode.  With that being the case, Aimee should really have been the winner.  As said, she was best in the Signature and Technical.

[Rammchick]

6 hours ago, Cetacean said:

I believe the final decision is based on all the bakes on that episode.  With that being the case, Aimee should really have been the winner.  As said, she was best in the Signature and Technical.

Keeping in mind that we didn't taste it, it sounded like her errors were egregious enough to wipe out those victories.  In theory, I agree with you, I suppose I'm playing Devil's Advocate here.

[kirklandia]

I just happened to see that some previous Holiday Baking Week episodes are going to be shown next week. My DVR had not picked them up. So you may want to check your broadcast schedules!

Edited December 10, 2021 by kirklandia

[TVbitch]

Vincent put up some incredible bakes along the way and was a worthy winner. So sweet of him to say the plate belonged to all of them.

Usually the first two bakes in the finale reveal the front-runner, which was Aimee, for sure. Then for someone else to win they either have to do something amazing in the final bake, or the front-runner has to stumble ~both of which happened here. I feel bad for Aimee, but she seems resilient and had a wonderful experience, so it's all good. 

[labresq]

I've really enjoyed being able to watch this on You Tube - as well as the Kiwi version.  But I have a question:  I know on the British version they weigh everything rather than use measuring cups and such.  On this version, they are more likely to use measuring cups and measuring spoons.  But why do they keep them joined together as a nesting set rather than pull them apart?  It just seems so clunky to be trying to measure up a cup or a half-cup of something and have so many extra cups dangling in the way.  Same with the spoons.  It seems so unnecessary to keep them joined together.  Not to mention that when you wash the one you used, you have to wash all the others, too, since they are joined.  What am I missing?

 

Edited February 1, 2022 by labresq

[AZChristian]

1 hour ago, labresq said:

I've really enjoyed being able to watch this on You Tube - as well as the Kiwi version.  But I have a question:  I know on the British version they weigh everything rather than use measuring cups and such.  On this version, they are more likely to use measuring cups and measuring spoons.  But why do they keep them joined together as a nesting set rather than pull them apart?  It just seems so clunky to be trying to measure up a cup or a half-cup of something and have so many extra cups dangling in the way.  Same with the spoons.  It seems so unnecessary to keep them joined together.  Not to mention that when you wash the one you used, you have to wash all the others, too, since they are joined.  What am I missing?

 

My measuring cups are separated, but I keep the spoons joined together because (1) they're easier to find in the drawer, and (2) it's harder to lose a whole set than it is to lose a single spoon.

I think this is one of those things where people just like what they like and either option is perfectly fine.

[xfuse]

6 hours ago, labresq said:

But why do they keep them joined together as a nesting set rather than pull them apart?  It just seems so clunky to be trying to measure up a cup or a half-cup of something and have so many extra cups dangling in the way. 

It isn't. I just got used to using them all together. You use one and the rest is cupped together in the back or it seems that way to me. Plus you have them all handy when you need another size. If I only make one dirty I just unclip it, wash it and then put it back together.

[shok]

Looks like Raufikat Oyawoye-Salami got a regular tv show out of her season 4 win. The premise of the show is for her to teach hosts Ann Pornel and Alan Shane Lewis how to bake. It's six 30 minute shows and will stream on GEM.

From watching this trailer, it looks like it'll be really funny. Can't wait to watch the whole thing.

 

[Cetacean]

That does look cute!  Raufikat has a sense of humor, that's for sure.  Hope I can find it, I don't know what GEM is.

[xfuse]

3 hours ago, Cetacean said:

I don't know what GEM is.

GEM is the CBC network app for shows or you can watch from the website.

GEM

[Cetacean]

11 minutes ago, xfuse said:

GEM is the CBC network app for shows or you can watch from the website.

Rats, can't get it in the US.  I can watch CBC because I am in Michigan and our cable networks carry it but I am blocked on the website.  

[Rammchick]

On 3/26/2022 at 9:36 AM, Cetacean said:

Rats, can't get it in the US.  I can watch CBC because I am in Michigan and our cable networks carry it but I am blocked on the website.  

That means I can't watch it either 😢😢 I'm in the Seattle area and CBC is a cable channel offering.