The Great British Bake Off: Cake Week
September 27, 2023 1:45 PM - Season 14, Episode 1 - Subscribe
It's Cake Week, and a new batch of bakers tackle perfect vertical layers, an iconic chocolate cake and a showstopping sponge menagerie of animals to showcase their architectural skills.
Watching ‘Great British Bake Off’ 2023? Play Bingo [Bon Appetit]
Watching ‘Great British Bake Off’ 2023? Play Bingo [Bon Appetit]
Hah, I was about to ask you if you were going to continue posting, as I recalled the general atmosphere souring on the show last year.
And yeah, I hope that Tasha sticks around for a while, despite having a rocky first week, she seems like she could be fun.
It does seem like maybe Paul is taking some of the criticism of his judging to heart, but we'll see if it holds up later in the season after the first few rounds are eliminated and he starts to turn to some sort of mythical ideal. But it was nice to see Prue ready to go to the mat for a baker when it seemed like Paul was going to nitpick something.
But yeah - all in all a lighter tone for the first episode, let's see if they can keep up with it.
posted by Kyol at 2:22 PM on September 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
And yeah, I hope that Tasha sticks around for a while, despite having a rocky first week, she seems like she could be fun.
It does seem like maybe Paul is taking some of the criticism of his judging to heart, but we'll see if it holds up later in the season after the first few rounds are eliminated and he starts to turn to some sort of mythical ideal. But it was nice to see Prue ready to go to the mat for a baker when it seemed like Paul was going to nitpick something.
But yeah - all in all a lighter tone for the first episode, let's see if they can keep up with it.
posted by Kyol at 2:22 PM on September 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
But yeah - all in all a lighter tone for the first episode, let's see if they can keep up with it.
Definitely! Fingers crossed and glad Tasha pulled it back for the showstopper, as sending her home the first week wouldn’t have been a good look!
posted by ellieBOA at 2:45 PM on September 27, 2023
Definitely! Fingers crossed and glad Tasha pulled it back for the showstopper, as sending her home the first week wouldn’t have been a good look!
posted by ellieBOA at 2:45 PM on September 27, 2023
I am so looking forward to my autumn weekend ritual of coffee and bake off! ☕️🍁🥮
I haven’t watched this yet but am heartened by the comments so far!
posted by jeoc at 12:35 PM on September 29, 2023
I haven’t watched this yet but am heartened by the comments so far!
posted by jeoc at 12:35 PM on September 29, 2023
This was such a lovely start! I really thought I was done after last season, but the change in energy is palpable and I'm all in again. It all felt very fresh and loose and legitimately fun for the first time in several seasons. I'm actually looking forward to the next episode!
posted by merriment at 8:04 AM on September 30, 2023
posted by merriment at 8:04 AM on September 30, 2023
The Great British Baking Show Season-Premiere Recap: Leave It to Beaver [Vulture / Archive]
Some background on Alison Hammond for US viewers.
posted by ellieBOA at 12:37 PM on September 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
Some background on Alison Hammond for US viewers.
posted by ellieBOA at 12:37 PM on September 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
I appreciate that background because I have no idea who Alison Hammond is, though I like her energy.
And I liked this episode, even though sometimes the first few can seem a bit...stodgy, actually, with all the contestants they have to get through. Felt bad for Amos, but basically I'll always feel bad for whoever goes home first, no matter what.
posted by BlahLaLa at 5:12 PM on September 30, 2023 [5 favorites]
And I liked this episode, even though sometimes the first few can seem a bit...stodgy, actually, with all the contestants they have to get through. Felt bad for Amos, but basically I'll always feel bad for whoever goes home first, no matter what.
posted by BlahLaLa at 5:12 PM on September 30, 2023 [5 favorites]
I felt sorry for Amos too, but the way he was mashing that cake together to make it not collapse meant it was never going to be particularly light and spongey in texture. It looked most unappetising when it was cut into.
Tasha has even bluer eyes than Paul Hollywood. I found myself mesmerised by them.
I have overripe bananas so I'll make banana bread to watch the Bake-off tomorrow evening. It's always more fun to watch with something home-baked to eat.
posted by essexjan at 2:11 PM on October 2, 2023 [2 favorites]
Tasha has even bluer eyes than Paul Hollywood. I found myself mesmerised by them.
I have overripe bananas so I'll make banana bread to watch the Bake-off tomorrow evening. It's always more fun to watch with something home-baked to eat.
posted by essexjan at 2:11 PM on October 2, 2023 [2 favorites]
I am no better than a twelve-year old, because I never stopped giggling at the beaver jokes. Prue's innuendos make me so happy. And, poor Dana was so game to reply with confidence that her dog was a very flat dog. I liked her spark.
Alison is very fun and a good addition.
posted by gladly at 6:20 PM on October 2, 2023 [1 favorite]
Alison is very fun and a good addition.
posted by gladly at 6:20 PM on October 2, 2023 [1 favorite]
I am so relieved that they backed off on the worst of the reality TV aspects from last season... so far. Gentler judging and dynamics, a technical that was based on knowledge the bakers would have had - it just had that GBBO feel back and I'm here for it.
I didn't like the new suspenseful music during the final judging though. There was one particular orchestral sting that felt like nails scraping on chalkboard. Ugh.
posted by daikaisho at 8:34 AM on October 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
I didn't like the new suspenseful music during the final judging though. There was one particular orchestral sting that felt like nails scraping on chalkboard. Ugh.
posted by daikaisho at 8:34 AM on October 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
Amos! *sob* just use a dowel for your orca, very sad after his excellent technical.
I feel like "would you put on the missing raspberry from the gbbo cake" is a test of some trait, but I'm not sure what I think it is. I would leave it off.
Tasha is great fun, there seem to be some quite competent men I can't yet differentiate very well, Alison is a good addition, and I loved the sea turtle cake even if it was style over substance.
Is there a PA whose entire job is to remind/coax Paul into not being a shit? Hope Polly can keep it together.
Kelsey McKinney and Chris Thompson are once again trying their hands at the technical challenges over at Defector (archive link, if necessary, tho I don't think the Defector paywall kicks in for a few articles): Well, well, well. What have we here? If it isn’t our old nemesis, the oven. Today we renew the ancient rivalry between humankind and, uhh, temperatures.
posted by the primroses were over at 7:23 PM on October 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
I feel like "would you put on the missing raspberry from the gbbo cake" is a test of some trait, but I'm not sure what I think it is. I would leave it off.
Tasha is great fun, there seem to be some quite competent men I can't yet differentiate very well, Alison is a good addition, and I loved the sea turtle cake even if it was style over substance.
Is there a PA whose entire job is to remind/coax Paul into not being a shit? Hope Polly can keep it together.
Kelsey McKinney and Chris Thompson are once again trying their hands at the technical challenges over at Defector (archive link, if necessary, tho I don't think the Defector paywall kicks in for a few articles): Well, well, well. What have we here? If it isn’t our old nemesis, the oven. Today we renew the ancient rivalry between humankind and, uhh, temperatures.
posted by the primroses were over at 7:23 PM on October 3, 2023 [1 favorite]
Couple of thoughts, did Tasha grow up on Arrakis? She looks like she can she the future with those eyes!
Also you have a cake you're calling the cosmopolitan lobster and you don't give it a jaunty tophat? Missed opportunity!
posted by Carillon at 8:19 PM on October 3, 2023 [4 favorites]
Also you have a cake you're calling the cosmopolitan lobster and you don't give it a jaunty tophat? Missed opportunity!
posted by Carillon at 8:19 PM on October 3, 2023 [4 favorites]
Also, my favorite companion piece from bakeoff is back! The defector technical challenge recreation at home.
posted by Carillon at 8:29 PM on October 3, 2023
posted by Carillon at 8:29 PM on October 3, 2023
I finally got around to watching this episode. I was so unhappy with last series, I thought I was just going to skip it. But I'm glad I didn't. Alison and Noel have great chemistry and are really fun together. The challenges were less ridiculous, the bakers are all great personalities, and everyone looks like they're having fun. Finally.
posted by ceejaytee at 1:01 PM on October 11, 2023
posted by ceejaytee at 1:01 PM on October 11, 2023
These comments are making me hopeful for this new season. I actually never finished last season due to their inept handling of non-British foods. I'll give this new season a try.
posted by Julnyes at 10:39 AM on October 13, 2023
posted by Julnyes at 10:39 AM on October 13, 2023
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posted by ellieBOA at 1:47 PM on September 27, 2023 [6 favorites]