The Great British Bake Off: Custard Week
October 26, 2022 1:30 AM - Season 13, Episode 7 - Subscribe
The bakers put their twist on floating islands in the Signature, tackle a summer staple, and make custard the star and basis of a showstopping set gateau.
KEVIN WAS ROBBED.
I get that Janusz is a heavily favored for the finale, but they said his showstopper tasted *bad* and it was *gluey*. Kevin's wasn't fully structurally sound but it tasted great. I think the judges let the "storyline" influence their choice in this one.
posted by tzikeh at 6:08 PM on October 27, 2022 [10 favorites]
I get that Janusz is a heavily favored for the finale, but they said his showstopper tasted *bad* and it was *gluey*. Kevin's wasn't fully structurally sound but it tasted great. I think the judges let the "storyline" influence their choice in this one.
posted by tzikeh at 6:08 PM on October 27, 2022 [10 favorites]
tzikeh I wondered if they were influenced by the Jürgen controversy from last series. I adore Janusz but he definitely screwed up his showstopper and the technical as well. I would have hated to see him go but I thought Kevin pulled himself out of contention to leave with that custard. The structure wasn't sound but his custard was perfectly set and apparently so incredible Prue wanted the recipe so she could make it at home. I think Janusz should have been sent home.
posted by ceejaytee at 4:11 AM on October 28, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by ceejaytee at 4:11 AM on October 28, 2022 [3 favorites]
I think if someone makes a custard so good that a judge says "It will stay with me for the rest of my life" they should stay instead of someone who made that tastes like "wallpaper glue."
posted by miss-lapin at 4:59 PM on October 28, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by miss-lapin at 4:59 PM on October 28, 2022 [4 favorites]
This week began the point when I can't bear to say goodbye to any of them, so I was going to be a little bummed no matter who got cut. Kevin was low-key hilarious and I'll miss him. I like how everyone clustered around to help him assemble his custard cakes at the end.
Some other random thoughts:
- I enjoyed Sandro hissing at Janusz on day 1, then quietly comforting him after his rough feedback on day 2.
- Sandro made such a sweet tribute for his friend! I hope he gets a star baker win soon. :(
- Again, Janusz's total joy at Syabira's second star baker win. I would have been heartbroken if he had to go home today, despite the glue.
- Syabira's monologue about life on mojito island was great. I just want to listen to all her thoughts.
- Everyone left now was born outside the UK! Is that a first?
And finally, I don't know if I'd actually want to eat anything they made this episode, other than the ice cream. Maybe I'd eat Maxy's cake, because there was a very reasonable amount of custard. Ever since the move to Channel 4, when they tried to amp up drama and go for more wow factor with the bakes, I've felt way less tempted by a lot of the actual food.
posted by j.r at 8:51 PM on October 28, 2022 [2 favorites]
Some other random thoughts:
- I enjoyed Sandro hissing at Janusz on day 1, then quietly comforting him after his rough feedback on day 2.
- Sandro made such a sweet tribute for his friend! I hope he gets a star baker win soon. :(
- Again, Janusz's total joy at Syabira's second star baker win. I would have been heartbroken if he had to go home today, despite the glue.
- Syabira's monologue about life on mojito island was great. I just want to listen to all her thoughts.
- Everyone left now was born outside the UK! Is that a first?
And finally, I don't know if I'd actually want to eat anything they made this episode, other than the ice cream. Maybe I'd eat Maxy's cake, because there was a very reasonable amount of custard. Ever since the move to Channel 4, when they tried to amp up drama and go for more wow factor with the bakes, I've felt way less tempted by a lot of the actual food.
posted by j.r at 8:51 PM on October 28, 2022 [2 favorites]
Oh my god, STOP SAYING "HERO".
posted by kitten kaboodle at 9:58 PM on October 28, 2022 [13 favorites]
posted by kitten kaboodle at 9:58 PM on October 28, 2022 [13 favorites]
Prue I'm her interviews looks like the floating island of the signature! Heryelliw/lemon jacket and scarf are the creme anglaise, and her head and hair the meringue.
posted by Carillon at 10:24 PM on October 28, 2022
posted by Carillon at 10:24 PM on October 28, 2022
I feel like Prue’s voice and influence are more pronounced this season and I’m so here for it.
posted by guiseroom at 3:05 AM on October 29, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by guiseroom at 3:05 AM on October 29, 2022 [3 favorites]
Hero custard
Qu'est-ce que c'est?
Fa fa fa fa, fa fa fa fa fa better
drip drip drip
drip drip from the caaaake...
No pre-recap skit? Good. A showstopper that mostly was a showstopper? Also good!
Abdul was marked for elimination in my eyes, but the showstopper he made looked incredible – I still don't see him long for the competition. Still, Janusz. WITH THE DRIPS AGAIN!
It was nice, honestly, seeing that he wasn't going to blast through the season without a big miss. I do think he should have gone, though – miss-lapin is right on this one. Kevin had the "I'm going home today" edit about him but from playing along at home, Janusz had the weaker week all around. (I mean, he only did well in the first challenge, and the other two were pretty big misses.)
I don't hate the guy – practicing baking at home in high heels is admirable, and his being out & comfortable is always nice to see on TV – but it just feels like he has the hero (!) edit for the season. I think once Abdul is gone next week, barring any unforeseen circumstances, we have the strongest people left. I'd love Syabira to take the prize this year.
posted by hijinx at 6:16 AM on October 29, 2022 [2 favorites]
Qu'est-ce que c'est?
Fa fa fa fa, fa fa fa fa fa better
drip drip drip
drip drip from the caaaake...
No pre-recap skit? Good. A showstopper that mostly was a showstopper? Also good!
Abdul was marked for elimination in my eyes, but the showstopper he made looked incredible – I still don't see him long for the competition. Still, Janusz. WITH THE DRIPS AGAIN!
It was nice, honestly, seeing that he wasn't going to blast through the season without a big miss. I do think he should have gone, though – miss-lapin is right on this one. Kevin had the "I'm going home today" edit about him but from playing along at home, Janusz had the weaker week all around. (I mean, he only did well in the first challenge, and the other two were pretty big misses.)
I don't hate the guy – practicing baking at home in high heels is admirable, and his being out & comfortable is always nice to see on TV – but it just feels like he has the hero (!) edit for the season. I think once Abdul is gone next week, barring any unforeseen circumstances, we have the strongest people left. I'd love Syabira to take the prize this year.
posted by hijinx at 6:16 AM on October 29, 2022 [2 favorites]
I love Janusz but he should have gone home.
I swear to god, if they say hero one more time...
posted by sugarbomb at 11:39 AM on October 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
I swear to god, if they say hero one more time...
posted by sugarbomb at 11:39 AM on October 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
I like Janusz, but he's no Jurgen. And while I like him, I really wish he had gone home. I'm curious what Kevin could have pulled off if he was kept on. I've said it before but I do genuinely feel for the bakers this season.
posted by miss-lapin at 1:04 PM on October 29, 2022
posted by miss-lapin at 1:04 PM on October 29, 2022
I get that Janusz is a heavily favored for the finale, but they said his showstopper tasted *bad* and it was *gluey*. Kevin's wasn't fully structurally sound but it tasted great. I think the judges let the "storyline" influence their choice in this one.
I sort of lean toward this way of thinking- if you make something inedible you lose that round for sure. But Janusz was at the top in the signature bake and Kevin was last. While Janusz screwed up his ice cream, Kevin made it to third place, so at the time of the showstopper Janusz had a small edge I guess. And they've kept in bakers with awful food before- Rahul stayed in when Manon went home even though he made "inedible" bread*.
- Sandro made such a sweet tribute for his friend! I hope he gets a star baker win soon. :(
He won Star Baker in Dessert Week. :)
*still mad about Rahul getting to stay.
posted by oneirodynia at 7:34 PM on October 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
I sort of lean toward this way of thinking- if you make something inedible you lose that round for sure. But Janusz was at the top in the signature bake and Kevin was last. While Janusz screwed up his ice cream, Kevin made it to third place, so at the time of the showstopper Janusz had a small edge I guess. And they've kept in bakers with awful food before- Rahul stayed in when Manon went home even though he made "inedible" bread*.
- Sandro made such a sweet tribute for his friend! I hope he gets a star baker win soon. :(
He won Star Baker in Dessert Week. :)
*still mad about Rahul getting to stay.
posted by oneirodynia at 7:34 PM on October 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
Yeah, while I would not have been mad about a Kevin upset, I think keeping Janusz was reasonable. If Kevin had done better in the signature, or if his showstopper had been above criticism, I'd be more upset. The custard was great but he didn't quite execute the cake, unfortunately. I suspect a mediocre Loch Mess monster floating island might have made the difference; gotta play down to your judges, Kevin.
Yay two Syabira wins in a row! Glad her tropical drinks theme was a hit.
The technical challenge is such a joke at this point. Third week in a row it hasn't been baking (yeah, they made a cookie last week but s'mores is not a baked good), and it doesn't matter for judging unless people are dead even on the other two events. Kudos to Sandro for having to go first and still being the only one who managed a proper ice cream cone.
I'm excited to see what the final four get up to in the last episodes. Syabira is my favorite, but it's a strong group!
posted by the primroses were over at 11:05 AM on October 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
Yay two Syabira wins in a row! Glad her tropical drinks theme was a hit.
The technical challenge is such a joke at this point. Third week in a row it hasn't been baking (yeah, they made a cookie last week but s'mores is not a baked good), and it doesn't matter for judging unless people are dead even on the other two events. Kudos to Sandro for having to go first and still being the only one who managed a proper ice cream cone.
I'm excited to see what the final four get up to in the last episodes. Syabira is my favorite, but it's a strong group!
posted by the primroses were over at 11:05 AM on October 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
The technical can only ever damn you, not save you.
By way of contrast, I've been watching Britain's Best Woodworker, also on Channel 4, in which the person who comes top in the technical is given a free pass to the next round. Almost to the end of the second season, and I still can't decide whether I think that's a good call or not.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 12:01 PM on October 30, 2022
By way of contrast, I've been watching Britain's Best Woodworker, also on Channel 4, in which the person who comes top in the technical is given a free pass to the next round. Almost to the end of the second season, and I still can't decide whether I think that's a good call or not.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 12:01 PM on October 30, 2022
The technical was a joke. Again. The cone was the only thing close to being called a bake. That said, I don’t quite get why no one but Sandro was able to get their ice creams to solidify. It seemed really odd.
And, yeah, Janusz with the drips again. Eventually, he has to be called-out on that crap.
Honestly, Star Baker could have gone either to Sandro or Syabira, though the crowd I watched with thought Sandro was robbed, having been, overall, the most consistent of the two of them this episode.
It’s interesting how Maxy is just plugging along under the radar, with all the attention on the other bakers. It’s almost like she’s been forgotten, or is being set-up to be the next one kicked-out. It would be quite incredible for her to step-up and blow everyone away next week, forcing a really tough decision of whom to vote out of the tent.
posted by Thorzdad at 1:35 PM on October 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
And, yeah, Janusz with the drips again. Eventually, he has to be called-out on that crap.
Honestly, Star Baker could have gone either to Sandro or Syabira, though the crowd I watched with thought Sandro was robbed, having been, overall, the most consistent of the two of them this episode.
It’s interesting how Maxy is just plugging along under the radar, with all the attention on the other bakers. It’s almost like she’s been forgotten, or is being set-up to be the next one kicked-out. It would be quite incredible for her to step-up and blow everyone away next week, forcing a really tough decision of whom to vote out of the tent.
posted by Thorzdad at 1:35 PM on October 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
*still mad about Rahul getting to stay.
TWICE. TWICE. Not just with Manon, but Briony went home on a day when Rahul burned ALL THREE BAKES.
Never. Over it.
posted by tzikeh at 4:55 PM on October 30, 2022 [4 favorites]
TWICE. TWICE. Not just with Manon, but Briony went home on a day when Rahul burned ALL THREE BAKES.
Never. Over it.
posted by tzikeh at 4:55 PM on October 30, 2022 [4 favorites]
The technical was a joke. Again. The cone was the only thing close to being called a bake. That said, I don’t quite get why no one but Sandro was able to get their ice creams to solidify. It seemed really odd.
Those waffle cone irons were cheap garbage, too. Every single unrolled cone had a brown ring where the heating element was.
Janusz and Syabira both heated up their freezers above 0 C by putting their warm custard in them to cool*. I'm guessing the other bakers didn't let their custard get cool enough in the fridge before churning. Sandro's always been pretty good at time management.
*this doesn't happen with freezers with frozen stuff in them; the fact that the freezers on Bake Off are empty means their temperatures are not moderated by numerous things already at 0 C.
posted by oneirodynia at 6:09 PM on October 30, 2022 [2 favorites]
Those waffle cone irons were cheap garbage, too. Every single unrolled cone had a brown ring where the heating element was.
Janusz and Syabira both heated up their freezers above 0 C by putting their warm custard in them to cool*. I'm guessing the other bakers didn't let their custard get cool enough in the fridge before churning. Sandro's always been pretty good at time management.
*this doesn't happen with freezers with frozen stuff in them; the fact that the freezers on Bake Off are empty means their temperatures are not moderated by numerous things already at 0 C.
posted by oneirodynia at 6:09 PM on October 30, 2022 [2 favorites]
Thank you oneirodynia for reminding me that Sandro has gotten a star baker win!
I kind of hate that the technical doesn't matter, but I also hate that success in this one depended on realizing the fridge/freezer thermodynamics and timing, in a high-stress environment that (as pointed out above) isn't at all the same at home. So, it's a wash? Meh.
posted by j.r at 8:16 PM on October 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
I kind of hate that the technical doesn't matter, but I also hate that success in this one depended on realizing the fridge/freezer thermodynamics and timing, in a high-stress environment that (as pointed out above) isn't at all the same at home. So, it's a wash? Meh.
posted by j.r at 8:16 PM on October 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
Right, by using the freezers for the first phase of cooling the ice cream base, the raised the temp of freezers to above freezing. There wasn't enough time for the freezer to recover temperature wise when they put the churned ice cream in there.
posted by mmascolino at 10:41 AM on October 31, 2022
posted by mmascolino at 10:41 AM on October 31, 2022
I also hate that success in this one depended on realizing the fridge/freezer thermodynamics and timing
I actually appreciated that for once the key to the challenge involved some critical thinking and basic knowledge, and not just "how well did you read the judges' minds" or "you've never heard of this random recipe before? Guess you're a bad baker".
posted by trig at 10:49 AM on October 31, 2022 [2 favorites]
I actually appreciated that for once the key to the challenge involved some critical thinking and basic knowledge, and not just "how well did you read the judges' minds" or "you've never heard of this random recipe before? Guess you're a bad baker".
posted by trig at 10:49 AM on October 31, 2022 [2 favorites]
Mad about Syabira getting Star Baker. Someone who came in *last* in the technical should not have won Star Baker. They're just judging sloppily now.
posted by hydra77 at 5:15 PM on November 3, 2022
posted by hydra77 at 5:15 PM on November 3, 2022
The Not-So-Great Defector Bake Off Loses Its Cool In Custard Week: The feeling at the end of one of these technical challenges is usually not one of accomplishment, or success, or satisfaction. It is the feeling of having narrowly survived an ass-whooping.
posted by the primroses were over at 6:10 PM on November 3, 2022
posted by the primroses were over at 6:10 PM on November 3, 2022
Great British Bake Off 2031: It's Baked Beans Week. The technical is making sushi.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 5:13 PM on November 5, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by EndsOfInvention at 5:13 PM on November 5, 2022 [5 favorites]
Not a huge fan of technical challenges that don’t require baking, but there was apparently plenty of time to allow for the ice cream to set, as Sandro demonstrated. However, seems like the whole thing could be avoided by the production staff putting some ice packs in the freezer so that there was more thermal mass to soak up the heat from the custard.
Most seasons, there’s some really pleasant baker who is just not on the same level as the contenders, and you root for them to hang around as long as possible. Kevin was definitely that this year. :(
posted by skewed at 7:53 PM on November 5, 2022
Most seasons, there’s some really pleasant baker who is just not on the same level as the contenders, and you root for them to hang around as long as possible. Kevin was definitely that this year. :(
posted by skewed at 7:53 PM on November 5, 2022
there was apparently plenty of time to allow for the ice cream to set, as Sandro demonstrated.
I wonder if it made much difference that he did the chocolate drizzle bit inside the actual freezer (seems like it could have lowered the freezer temperature by a lot, but apparently not?)
posted by trig at 3:42 AM on November 6, 2022
I wonder if it made much difference that he did the chocolate drizzle bit inside the actual freezer (seems like it could have lowered the freezer temperature by a lot, but apparently not?)
posted by trig at 3:42 AM on November 6, 2022
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posted by ellieBOA at 12:20 PM on October 26, 2022