The Great British Baking Show Recap: Just Desserts

As a seasoned baker with a soft spot for traditional recipes and a knack for finding the hidden gems in a dessert contest, I must say that this week’s episode was quite the rollercoaster ride!

At the beginning of this episode, I find myself pondering over two questions. Firstly, I’m curious to understand the meaning of Dessert Week. After all, isn’t everything baked on this show, apart from bread and some savory dishes, essentially a dessert? Last week they prepared cakes; weren’t those desserts? Or what about when they made Paris-Brest? Isn’t that also a dessert? I can’t help but feel like Maximus Decimus Meridius in Gladiator, eager to rise from the arena’s floor and challenge Paul Hollywood, clad in an overly fitted toga, shouting, “Aren’t you mistaken about desserts?!” I’m just trying to grasp what makes any of these sweet treats a dessert rather than a pastry, cake, or croquembouche.

My second question can be rephrased as: Has there been a change in Dylan’s appearance or style since last week that makes him seem more attractive to you? Specifically, did he get a haircut or perhaps freshly shape his eyebrow notch? Could it be that he is humbled by his poor performance from last week? I can’t say for certain, but the tie-dye shirt reminiscent of Lisa Frank and his hairstyle with a single Superman curl in front left me thinking he was the most attractive I had ever seen him. This observation was made before he accomplished what is known as the Baking Show trifecta — receiving a Hollywood handshake, winning the technical challenge, and being named Star Baker — all in one episode. According to @GBBOdata, which I use for my GBBO and/or GBBS data, Dylan is only the fifth person to have achieved this feat in the show’s history, following Dan (season nine), Peter (season 11), Giuseppe (season 12), and Syabira (season 13).

It appears that Illiyin and the other bakers consider Dylan as their main competitor. During the Technical round, Noel questioned Illiyin about her fear of Dylan, to which she admitted that she was worried he would outperform everyone else. Noel suggested that this might be because Paul has a crush on Dylan, and it’s hard not to appreciate his charm, regardless of one’s orientation. When asked about Paul’s feelings for him, Dylan revealed that he had held Paul’s hand that day, leaving no doubt in anyone’s mind. As for desserts having crumbs, it seems that they are a characteristic feature that makes them desirable, though the reason remains unclear to me.

In simpler terms, the first dish the chefs need to prepare is meringue nests filled with different goodies. Dylan begins by explaining that he’s the only one baking his meringues in mold shapes so they become perfect half-spheres because he wants them to look like coconut shells. However, every time he has made them before, they have cracked and broken. This is the part where I usually shout at my TV, “Why are you still doing it if they always break?!” But then he takes them out of the oven, removes them from the molds, and does a cute little dance because none of them broke. I hate when these chefs manage to prove me wrong. He places a cake filled with cream and alcohol in the center, and Paul and Prue go crazy over it. Prue comments on its texture, flavor, and overall quality, while Paul extends his hand and praises them as original and delicious.

Georgie is the exceptional baker who stands out among all others, and her meringues are reminiscent of lipstick applied while traveling. Her unique recipe includes a base from her auntie featuring mascarpone cream, orange curd, and stewed plums on almond-flavored meringues. It was evident that Paul wanted to shake hands with Georgie, but he found it difficult due to the cracked and irregular nests she had created.

Gill’s dessert was criticized for having an artificial taste after using canned peaches, similar to the ones we had for dessert in school. Come on, Paul, you know those are desserts. Get with the program. Sumayah’s pie with its adorable lattice crust looks delicious, but Prue thinks the combination of pomegranate, peach, tarragon, and honey makes it more savory than sweet. Christiaan made a rookie mistake by using rose flavoring. Even though they were visually appealing (with Dylan’s coconuts being the only exception), they tasted like soap due to the rose flavoring, which is always unappetizing and I don’t understand why people continue to use it. The judges seemed most displeased with Illiyin’s piña colada-inspired dessert because it’s Paul’s favorite drink. However, her meringues were cracked intentionally to make Paul make that silly citrusy face he makes, which he did. So, she might not get a handshake, but at least she made him make that face.

As a passionate moviegoer, I’ve always found it intriguing that a show as witty and pun-laden as it is didn’t introduce the infamous dessert known as spotted dick to its audience for over a decade. In an episode filled with laughter, Allison jokingly tells everyone, “You have two hours and 15 minutes left to get your pudding ready,” which had us all in stitches. The tension escalated when Sumayah’s dessert didn’t cook properly and got stuck in the bowl, causing her distress. As the other bakers consoled her, she jokingly said, “I’m crying about my spotted pudding,” which only added to the hilarity. It was amusing when Christiaan admitted he was the only one who had ever tasted spotted pudding, and as the gay contestant, he was humorously associated with it. (Apologies for any innuendo.)

In a simplified manner, Dylan finishes first in the technical category with a flawless (let’s avoid that topic) performance that everyone desires to replicate. Georgie follows closely behind. Sumayah is struggling at the bottom, and it seems like her week is turning out to be quite challenging.

As we move towards the climax, Paul and Prue express that Georgie and Dylan are the clear front-runners for Star Baker, while the other four are merely striving to stay in the contest. The task at hand is to create an exquisite tiramisu. Now, let me be frank: I find tiramisu loathsome. It’s a dessert that I refuse to consume. Given the choice, I’d prefer to tackle an entire spotted dick (not the first time) over enduring even one bite of tiramisu. Tiramisu is only surpassed in my disdain by tarte tatin and pumpkin pie, both of which have already been prepared this season. Disgusting! Enough already.

As a fellow coffee-averse individual, I wholeheartedly empathize with Gill. It’s clear she’s got impeccable taste, as even the intricate process of perfecting her coffee concoctions required her husband, Steve, to taste test all her trials. And let’s face it, who among us wouldn’t cringe at the mere thought of a sip?

In a movie theater of life, I found myself captivated by another tantalizing treat – Georgie’s dessert. It was adorned with a collar of rich chocolate, reminiscent of the layers in a Neapolitan ice cream: brown, pink, and white. As an Italian-at-heart, I couldn’t help but appreciate every bit of this creation, as if Georgie herself embodied half of Italy.

Christiaan’s design draws influence from the Memphis style, showcasing a black-and-white striped collar adorned with pink semi-circles and a green pistachio mousse on top – reminiscent of a playful birthday cake you might find in Pee-wee’s Playhouse. However, Prue finds it challenging to consume due to its excessive size; perhaps her jaw is simply fatigued from too much traditional spotted dick. (I assure you, that’s the last one!)

In my opinion, Illyin’s chocolate cage surrounding her tiramisu appeared disheveled. She attempted to create a box-like structure but it seemed more like an unkempt hedge due to its collapsed state, necessitating trimming. On the other hand, Prue refers to it as a “little triumph.” It leaves me questioning whether we’re admiring the same dessert.

Certainly, Dylan’s creation was nothing short of enchanting. He constructed a box from chocolate and placed his sweet treat within it. Due to my excessive use of spotted dick puns, I’ve been advised that I’ve reached my limit for the week when it comes to dirty jokes, so I can only comment on Dylan’s box by saying it appears delectable. He aimed for a concrete appearance, but it seems more metallic, yet it resembles something you might find at a cutting-edge New York restaurant. Although I wouldn’t dream of eating it, I must admit that it looks stunning. So, bravo to Dylan on his triple win, and I eagerly anticipate admiring him even more next week.

It was only Sumayah’s tiramisu that encountered issues during the competition. It boasted a striking sponge collar adorned with an intricate Italian-like pattern, but upon closer inspection, it was noticeable where the pieces didn’t quite align properly, requiring additional scraps to perfect the design. However, it was her unconventional choice of lemon curd infused with coffee that caused the judges to raise eyebrows. They felt that these flavors clashed, much like inviting Cardi B and Nicki Minaj to the same event. Despite anticipating some criticism, Sumayah persisted in her decision, expressing afterward, “I understand their feedback, but I am disappointed.” With no other competitors faltering, it was Sumayah’s dessert that would be her farewell creation. Now, who will tease Noel next?

2024-11-09 02:54

The Great British Baking Show Recap: Just Desserts

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