Don’t forget it is on tonight at 9pm on PBS. The theme is tarts.
Enjoyed last week’s episode, especially the tarte tatin challenge as it is a permanent item on our Christmas menu. Interesting variations on it. The showstopper fruit tart challenge is inspiring me to bake. I picked up some excellent nectarines at Trader Joe’s this weekend and also have some Texas blueberries on hand. Not sure if mine will look as beautiful as some of the contestants’ creations.
I can’t decide whether James or John is my favorite. The tart episode was one of my all time favorites. There was a bread episode one season where I wanted to try each bake and that remains my all time favorite. I don’t eat all the fruits used and I’m not a creme fan, but some of those tarts were works of art and I loved how the results were so strong except for poor Victoria. She has been like Eyeore, I’m afraid. Since they have changed presenters and networks, we’ll never get a follow-up show, but I would sure love to have one to give me the current state of baking for all these past contestants.
I have to wait days for the Sunday show, so I’ve rewatched the first 3episodes.
I was really confused last friday because I usually DVR the 8 pm episodes in channel 21 (WLIW in NY). Then at 9 pm I was channel surfing and a different season just started on Channel 13 at 9 pm. Double fun- now i have to keep all of these bakers straight
If you search online you can find updates on most of the contestants. Some have done quite well for themselves (books TV appearances) and few seem to have left the baking behind (or still as a weekend hobby).
Don’t search online (or you’ll find out who won the season that is currently airing…)!
Caught upon the most recent episode. They sure don’t get American pie or how to make it.
Paul Hollywood is insufferably obnoxious about many American foods and clearly knows nothing about American pies. He’s not the only food show judge who seems to hate sweet desserts, several judges on Chopped make similar comments, but he acts so condescending as if his taste buds are superior to all others.
Despite PH, I love watching the show mainly because of Mary Berry. Brendan is my favorite baker for this season. John and James are adorable, but I have a soft spot for old guys.
Now I’m cringing - just looked up Brendan’s last name and read that he was 63 when the show was filmed. Not so old. He reminds me of my dad a bit, so I guess I aged him or forgot how old I am.
I like Brendan, too. I would have guessed he was older than 63.
Besides Paul, a few others talked about American pies being too sweet (some are but not all) but I thought it odd that most went on to use a short pastry with sugar which isn’t a typical American pie crust.
Ryan Chong getting Star Baker for his Key Lime Pie was astonishing…he broke forth and baked up to the level that got him on the show…good on him.
The fact that they blew up GBBO saddens me, it was so enjoyable to watch.
I felt badly for Brendan, though. His efforts were strong on more than one challenge so it seemed a tad unfair.
Brendan did have visions of Star Baker for a second week dancing in his head.
No one would begrudge Brendan if he grabbed a fork from Sue/Mel and tasted that amazing key lime pie, fully expecting to have his socks blown off…
We all have to defer to Mary Berry and Paul, they felt that pie ALONE elevated Ryan to Star Baker…
I miss GGBO in its original form…
I’m in the UK right now and my brother played a rather hilarious Graham Norton show where Mary Berry talked about getting arrested in the US https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-43844007 (funnier on Norton)
One thing I like is Brendan seems to have a sense of calm while baking and seems to be enjoying the experience while the rest seemed quite tense with each new task.
I tried to find some of the recipes that I know the BBC has had posted in the past, but they are no where that I can find. I did read that the BBC took some recipes off their site following the program’s departure. Has anyone purchased the cookbooks? There seems to be one book for each year of the series? Amazon has some at good “used” prices, but I’m not sure I’d actually use them.
I’m in total agreement with above comments on PH - American pie??? What is he thinking? Short crust? No double crust? Also felt for Brendan although I also like Ryan and didn’t want to see him axed for the first two bakes.
Who is the dark haired woman with Mary Berry on the GN show? She looks familiar.
@Momofadult If you have specific recipes in mind, try googling as I wouldn’t be surprised if you find them elsewhere. Lots of cooking blogs and such will repost recipes. Or try looking at websites for a given contestant that might have their recipes.
^^^^ Good idea, thanks. Some of the ones I’d like to consider trying I remember by name or ingredients.
Ditto on those “American” pies. Does anyone take their pies out of the pie pan, glass or metal??? Thank goodness we Americans can draw from continental Europe and North America for dessert pie ideas! Apple, strawberry, pecan, pumpkin, lemon meringue, peach… So many classics that could be tweaked. I found it funny in a previous episode when all of the bakers had so much trouble with a lattice topping- that’s a standard for traditional cherry pies. Learning how different the British are in their foods. The judge’s comment about how American pies are too sweet doomed the episode from the start.