The Great British Baking Show Recap: Fancy a Shag?

As a seasoned baker with a penchant for all things retro, I must say that this week’s Bake Off episode transported me back to my younger days. The 70s-themed challenges were a delightful walk down memory lane, filled with vibrant colors, shag carpets, and disco beats in the background.

Following the controversy surrounding Mexican Week, it seems the producers have been mindful about selecting topics that won’t cause offense. That’s why they chose Autumn Week, since seasons don’t have any groups to offend. Now, we’re taking a trip back in time with 1970s Week (amazing!). With ABBA, disco, avocado-green appliances, and Charlie’s Angels as its highlights, it’s hard for anyone to take offense at that decade. Even though many of us were born or lived through the ’70s, a decade doesn’t have feelings or constituents to be offended. However, I feel the theme could be stronger, as we’ve already seen quite a few Black Forest gateaux during this show, and it might not seem unique within the context of the theme.

What really caught my attention was the unique fashion choices of all the bakers at this event. Georgie, Illiyin, and Christiaan donned vibrant patterns, a style reminiscent of something you’d see in a 70s cartoon, though not actually from that era. (I can’t help but wonder why no one made a Scooby-Doo cake!). Dylan opted for velvet, a fabric that fits well with the flair of Austin Powers. However, Gill appeared casually in an orange T-shirt, as if she thought she owned the place. I couldn’t help but wonder if her wardrobe lacked something more fitting for this occasion? Or was she supposed to dress up during Autumn Week and simply forgot?

Instead of making profiteroles, which are typically filled with ice cream in the U.S., but here are only available with jam and cream fillings, I’m wondering if we could focus on a dessert that was once popular but now seems less common, similar to the peach melba that we learned about last week when Gill made it? This way, we can create something new yet nostalgic.

In this bake-off, it’s only Georgie and Dylan who truly shine. Georgie’s creation is inspired by Queen, showcasing a chocolate figure of Freddie Mercury perched on top. While some Americans might not recognize him, Freddie and Queen are massive in the U.K., serving as their equivalent to Bruce Springsteen but with more flair, humor, and a dance-like agility. Despite her profiterole stack being slightly uneven, both judges admire the white-chocolate and coconut fillings, as well as the contrasting dark chocolate and caramel flavors within. Dylan’s entry, decorated with nougatine and blue food coloring, is meant to resemble a Star Wars droid, although I don’t see it. Paul still offers him another round of applause for his banana cream-filled buns. This season, Paul seems to be handing out those handshakes as casually as one might pass out Tic Tacs at a party.

The other three remaining bakers all struggle. Both judges love Illiyin’s Afro-inspired tower and the raspberry-white-chocolate and brown-butter-amoretto fillings; too bad the thing is so structurally unsound that she had to put a large jar behind it just to keep it upright. Gill’s tower is inspired by a fake ’70s tree she inherited from her parents, and though it’s red and green, both judges think that, much like the Supreme Court in the 1970s, it’s lacking in color. Prue gives her the worst critique, saying it’s competent but not exciting. Christiaan has a bit of a stumble when his choux doesn’t rise like he wanted, and he has to restart his Black Forest gâteau–inspired buns filled with something called namelaka, which is a Japanese-inspired mousse. I think I might need to open a pastry shop just so I can name it Call Me by Your Namelaka.

The dessert being discussed is a Banoffee pie, a popular treat in England. My preferred donut shop offers a Banoffee-flavored donut. However, this pie isn’t the main focus of our discussion. Instead, it’s the delightful Allison Hammond who steals the show. She begins by remarking, “This challenge was initiated by the ‘It’ girl of the ’70s… Paul.” This had me laughing out loud in reality. Then, while performing some dance moves, she slips off an unused counter and performs a spontaneous breakdance move reminiscent of Alfonso Ribeiro’s supposedly dangerous headspin. However, that incident is associated with the ’80s. My apologies for the confusion over the decade. Allison tumbles to the floor in embarrassment, but fortunately, Noel steps in to provide comfort and support.

To express my thoughts on this unique baking challenge, I must confess it’s rather intriguing, as no specific recipe was provided for creating this caramel, banana, and cream pie. Yet, despite the lack of guidance, each baker showcased their remarkable skills to produce satisfactory results. Gill, Illiyin, and Dylan found themselves near the bottom, while Georgie shone brilliantly in first place, with Christiaan following closely behind in second.

In this bake-off challenge, contestants must create a multi-layered cake featuring elaborate icing designs. Interestingly, only green, pink, or white colors were permitted in the 1970s, as seen in Georgie’s and Dylan’s almost identical cakes. Dylan’s creation is a chocolate cake with peppermint buttercream, causing Paul to express reservations. Dylan explains it’s inspired by mint-chip ice cream, but some might argue that this flavor combination belongs exclusively in the frozen food section. Georgie’s cake, on the other hand, mirrors her auntie’s bathroom with its vibrant design, complete with a carpet and a crocheted doll for extra toilet paper rolls. This Black Forest-inspired cake is deemed too strong by Paul and Prue, an uncommon comment in the tent. Despite this critique, following a successful week, Georgie clinches Star Baker again, equaling Dylan and Sumayah’s scores. However, since Sumayah has been eliminated, they can no longer benefit from this achievement.

There’s an issue with excessive alcohol consumption in Christiaan’s case, as he prepares his dessert using a traditional Dutch sweet called advocaat. He tends to avoid common baking terms like “mousse,” “frosting,” or “filling.” Does this man have ties with Duolingo? Is he wedded to the famous green owl? I found his cake visually appealing, highlighting the hues of orange and umber that were predominant in the ’70s rather than pinks and greens. It’s attractive, but somewhat reminiscent of a cake left out in the rain by Donna Summer. Indeed, a nod to the ’70s! I’m hitting my stride.

Gill exhibits an extraordinary talent for presenting her creations at precisely the right moment, and that’s evident in her Black Forest cake adorned with a shag-like carpet motif. The sight of it simply delights me: the unfrosted sponge layers at the top, nestled among cherries, and the vibrant, intricately designed piping on the remainder of the cake. Both Paul and Prue find it richly chocolatey and impressive, and it’s clear that this pumpkin-spice-latte-clad contestant is bound for the semifinals.

In a different scenario, Illiyin is aware of her outcome as soon as her cake crumbles within the refrigerator. However, she maintains her composure, braves the climb, and submits herself for evaluation. During this process, Paul and Prue discuss how exquisite her peach melba cake tastes. While Prue calls it “divine,” it might be an attempt to encourage her or simply a reflection of its actual quality. Throughout her baking journey, Illiyin encountered numerous challenges, such as when her ganache split and arranging the boards and dowels correctly to support the structure. We’ll miss Illiyin dearly, and I can only hope that she gets another chance to use the time machine to return to the present day and bid farewell to the ’70s forever.

2024-11-15 21:54

The Great British Baking Show Recap: Fancy a Shag?

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