The Great British Baking Show Season-Finale Recap: Hangin’ Tough

As a baker with over two decades of experience under my apron, I must say that this season has been nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment the tent was pitched, it was clear that we were in for something special. Each week, the bakers showcased their skills, creativity, and resilience in the face of challenges both simple and complex.

This season, it appeared as though numerous contestants struggled with their final performances: Dylan faltered during the finale, the show produced a rather uninspired challenge, and Georgie nearly failed to execute her promised roll-down after winning. Fortunately, Paul Hollywood held her accountable and ended up soiled with grass stains. In the end, Georgie proved worthy of the victory and became not only the first Welsh champion but also the first Welsh finalist. While this might seem insignificant to those outside the UK, the sense of national pride within its borders is quite substantial. As Ted Lasso once said, “How many states are in this country?” The number is significant! However, Georgie represented her nation admirably.

At the start of the show, I particularly enjoy a key highlight from the season – visiting each baker in their homes and learning about their families’ immense pride in their achievements. Notice Georgie’s lovely kids and the scenic Welsh countryside. Observe Christiaan’s significant other who caught my attention at the bar. Look at Dylan, surrounded by his parents, grandma, and supporters who played crucial roles in shaping him into a culinary star. Home visits can be as uplifting as therapy or even surpassing parental approval!

The task is to prepare two different sets of a dozen scones, one savory and one sweet, each filled. This assignment is quite demanding as scones hold a significant spot in the national consciousness. (For those visiting the UK, the Maple Walnut Scone at Gail’s is highly recommended.) Both Dylan and Georgie find it challenging; they have to redo at least one batch and are running short on time. On the other hand, Christiaan seems to breeze through this challenge. Prue appreciates the spicy kick in Christiaan’s savory scones, a blend of various flavors such as curry, mustard, and chili, while Paul thinks they could be baked a bit longer. The sweet scones are made with coconut and lime, and Prue adores them just as much as Paul cherishes the term “concertina.” I’ve observed the word “concertina” being used frequently this season, but in this episode, it was used excessively and prominently, almost overwhelmingly, like Noel’s flawless wolfman sweater that had eyes for abs, only it wasn’t.

It seems that Georgie’s scones are not well-received by some, as Paul finds her herbs and cheese scones too tough and dislikes her raspberry ones as well. He suggested she reduce the amount of raspberries in her scones to help them rise better, but now he feels there aren’t enough raspberries. Is he a critic like Carol Channing?

However, it was Dylan who found himself in a predicament, as baking his scones consumed more time than anticipated. He required Christiaan’s assistance to complete the task, but even then, he was left with a stack of half-filled scones that were gradually oozing onto his plate. Yet, Prue finds his fennel seed and celeriac scones with smoked salmon to be delightful, light, and tasty. In contrast, they both disapprove of his marinated strawberry and clotted cream scones, as Paul deems them tough and Prue believes there’s a lack of strawberries in them. So, who is she? I guess it’s not Carol Channing, as the joke only works with raspberries.

The assignment involves creating an elegantly designed tea set complete with a lemon sponge cake, four strawberry tartlets, and four braided egg and cress rolls. Prue emphasizes that this task requires not just baking skills, but also organization. I find this challenge appealing because it showcases a range of abilities and offers a balance between complexity and simplicity. However, having tea is less common among the English population. It’s more associated with American tourists staying at luxury hotels or visiting places like Fortnum & Mason, which is renowned for its exquisite Coronation Chicken sandwiches.

Each time I attempt Dylan’s lemon cake recipe, it seems to be a disaster, as they collapse in the middle and turn out quite unappealing. The situation becomes so disheartening that Alison tries to lift my spirits by asking for a piggyback ride. Though the idea of carrying Alison sounds delightful, I find myself drawn more towards climbing all over Dylan instead. Poor Dylan, even after Paul demonstrated plaiting his rolls just weeks ago, he’s still struggling with it. Meanwhile, the other bakers are cruising along smoothly while we watch Dylan sail on the turbulent sea of struggle. When standing before the judges, I find myself at the bottom, Georgie in the middle, and Christiaan taking the top spot. For a brief moment, I ponder if Christiaan might be the underdog with the potential to snatch the victory at the last possible second (in the vernacular of RuPaul’s Drag Race).

creating a suspended cake. I understand it’s a cake that hangs, but why? The idea seems strange and unconventional. It appears the producers have been pushing complex, architectural challenges this season, but reverted to basic baking for the most part. However, at the last minute, they introduced something so unusual and unknown, leaving me wondering about its purpose and appeal. I question the advantage of a hanging cake, who would order one, and why it can’t just be presented on a stand like traditional cakes? This seems pointless. Furthermore, if it’s not practical to present the hanging cakes to the audience, then what’s the point of suspending them in the first place?

Initially, Dylan appeared to be the clear frontrunner in this culinary contest, yet he consistently faltered under pressure. Preparing Genoise sponges that were noticeably lumpy, he found himself painstakingly excising these imperfections – reminiscent of plucking out Wolfman’s eyeballs. Unfortunately, the judges witnessed this spectacle. To add to the misery, when it came to stacking layers, I can’t help but echo Paul’s caution about overdoing it – a lesson painfully learned as his cake morphed into a Tina Turner concert, proving Paul right once again.

Dylan is the first to present his cake and it is three different cubes with gold and fondant falling off so that they look like some houses in Murano that he fell in love with. It’s conceptual and abstract, but, as Prue says, he would need to explain it to everyone at the party. I would counter with he would have to explain why the hell it’s hanging in the first place, but what do I know? The cake is Earl Grey tea-infused with mascarpone cream and candied orange. Prue says that the tea works really well, but Paul doesn’t like the inconsistency of the layers and that there is not enough orange. It looks like Dylan is out of it.

Christiaan’s lemon poppy seed cake with raspberry and licorice jam, hanging as it is, resembles a lampshade or chandelier. Remarkably, the top layer of this creation, its best feature, has a pink, jagged appearance that seems fitting for a trendy East London coffee shop like FUCKOFFEE. Prue remarked that she’s never tasted anything like it before, but this is not a compliment as Christiaan’s flavor experimentations this season often backfired, tripping him up on his stylish Dutch feet.

It quickly becomes evident that Georgie will be taking home the decorated cake stand since she’s creatively adorned it with ivy, making an otherwise unattractive piece more appealing. Unlike Gill who pilfered her lilac bowl in the previous episode, Georgie has a knack for enhancing things rather than stealing them. Her cake, featuring a floral motif with intricate drawings of various flowers across two layers and a floral stencil on the center layer resembling edible wallpaper, is nothing short of stunning. Upon tasting the lemon, strawberry, and champagne cake, Prue declares it “simply divine”. Indeed, her assessment rings true – sometimes, simple, well-loved flavors are the best choice as they’ve earned their classic status for a reason, and Paul concurs, stating that he would be delighted if served this cake at any summer gathering.

It seems he’s overjoyed that Georgie triumphed, tumbled down the slope, and touched everyone’s hearts. Although I empathize with our shared fictional sweetheart Dylan, he achieved his dream – a position in a Michelin-starred restaurant’s kitchen, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he launched a baking show of his own. Georgie continues to rave about this being the best experience she’s ever had and how she’ll miss working in the tent. This is her peak accomplishment, and we can’t help but be proud of her, as well as all the other bakers who made this a captivating season. Thanks for the laughter, the tears, the mistakes, and Nelly demonstrating resilience at the finale carnival. If someone could find a way to send me a piece of Georgie’s suspended cake and Noel’s wolfman sweater, that would be wonderful.

2024-11-29 22:54

The Great British Baking Show Season-Finale Recap: Hangin’ Tough

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