The Great British Baking Show Needs a New Judge

As a long-time enthusiast of The Great British Baking Show, I find myself increasingly frustrated with the judges’ limited knowledge and outdated tastes. Having spent countless hours scouring the internet for innovative recipes, attending potlucks, and even dabbling in my own culinary experiments, I can confidently say that gochujang is no longer an obscure ingredient – not even in the UK!

Paul Hollywood pondered as he examined Dylan Bachelet’s rolls flavored with gochujang and garlic on “The Great British Baking Show”. He turned them over in his hand, admiring their bake to perfection and vibrant orange hue that resembled mini pumpkins. “Is this a chile?” Prue Leith inquired. “It’s like a fermented chili paste,” Bachelet explained. The judges were taken aback by the bold flavor. Hollywood commented, “The flavor is so upfront.” He then extended his hand for the well-known and increasingly frequent “Hollywood Handshake”. Bachelet ultimately won Star Baker, mainly due to his use of an ingredient not commonly used in the tent. This led to a flurry of puzzled tweets.

As an avid fan, I found myself astonished when Paul Hollywood, known for his culinary prowess, seemed taken aback by the unique, never-before-tasted flavor of gochujang. It left me wondering how a seasoned chef like him could mispronounce ‘taco’ and remain unfamiliar with this common Korean condiment, which he referred to as ‘choritho’.

It’s not entirely unexpected that places like Hollywood and Leith haven’t been flooded with gochujang roast chicken compared to a Brooklyn-style potluck enthusiast. This suggests that the judges on “The Great British Baking Show” might be out of touch with current eating trends. While some argue that the show’s naivety is intentionally used for audience education, repeated comments, critiques, and controversies during national-themed weeks indicate that the program is having trouble defining its contemporary identity. In earlier seasons, the show embraced traditional English recipes, but as contestants and challenges have become more diverse and innovative, the judging style has remained static. One obvious solution to this issue could be to add another judge.

They can be either fantastic and victorious or strange and poor, and it’s challenging to predict whether an experimental approach will confuse or delight.

This passage isn’t suggesting that Leith and Hollywood are incompetent due to their age, but rather, their established preferences and traditional values might be hindering the show from reaching its full potential for drama and flavorful experiences. For instance, the show’s contestants and viewers have become well-acquainted with Leith’s fondness for alcohol, Hollywood’s aversion to peanut butter, and their shared dislike of matcha’s grassy taste. This has led some bakers to tailor their recipes to suit these judges’ tastes, which could limit the show’s creativity.

It’s interesting to note that many winners and finalists from the Great British Baking Show tend to publish cookbooks, gain online popularity, but they rarely return as judges. Why is this? Given their firsthand experience of competing in the show, shouldn’t past champions like Dell’Anno or Nadiya Hussain, or even Chigs, be considered for judging roles? Each season brings together bakers from Britain who can certainly bake, but their tastes might be more daring than those of the judges. Judges are supposed to be well-versed in these dishes, not just skilled at baking them, but also appreciating them on a deeper level.

2024-11-28 20:54

The Great British Baking Show Needs a New Judge

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