The Great British Bake Off: European Cakes
September 10, 2014 7:05 PM - Season 5, Episode 6 - Subscribe
Past halfway in their baking marathon and the remaining six bakers face three European cakes.
For their signature challenge the bakers are asked to bake yeast-leavened cakes; a tricky cross between cake and bread that sees some of the bakers opting out of Europe…
Mary sets the bakers their most demanding technical challenge yet in which they must make a Swedish princess torte. With 24 different stages and only two-and-a-quarter hours to do it in, the bakers have their work cut out for them, while Sue explores the events that led to the huge array of Danish cakes and pastries in the Danish cake table tradition.
And finally, a showstopping finale that puts the hungry into Hungary... The bakers must make their own contemporary version of the dobos torte. Traditionally a multi-layered Hungarian cake, the bakers must go one step further and make a two-tiered dobos torte with an emphasis on all things caramel in every way they can imagine... but whose Bake Off will come to a sweet but sticky end?
Mary sets the bakers their most demanding technical challenge yet in which they must make a Swedish princess torte. With 24 different stages and only two-and-a-quarter hours to do it in, the bakers have their work cut out for them, while Sue explores the events that led to the huge array of Danish cakes and pastries in the Danish cake table tradition.
And finally, a showstopping finale that puts the hungry into Hungary... The bakers must make their own contemporary version of the dobos torte. Traditionally a multi-layered Hungarian cake, the bakers must go one step further and make a two-tiered dobos torte with an emphasis on all things caramel in every way they can imagine... but whose Bake Off will come to a sweet but sticky end?
Yeah, the nobody's-going-home-because-we-couldn't-agree bit was patently fabricated, especially when Mel and Sue mentioned it as a possibility last week; with Diana's early exit, what else were they gonna do with their extra week?
I love Chetna more and more with each episode. Her lovely little "All the best, guys!" before the technical just warmed the cockles of my heart. Very glad she won Star Baker.
Luis, I'm not sure how I feel about. He's already admitted that he's very competitive, which I think has been obvious from the get go. I'm sure it's just judicious editing, but he always manages to have a sour face on when SB is announced and it's not him.
I can't tell if it's just me, but Martha seems to be judged somewhat less harshly for bad presentation than the older bakers; her dobos torte looked a bit of a mess, and I thought she should have been pulled up more for simply using a mold for her caramel work.
I don't often like the mid-episode mini-lectures, but really enjoyed this one, I must say.
posted by catch as catch can at 6:30 AM on September 11, 2014
I love Chetna more and more with each episode. Her lovely little "All the best, guys!" before the technical just warmed the cockles of my heart. Very glad she won Star Baker.
Luis, I'm not sure how I feel about. He's already admitted that he's very competitive, which I think has been obvious from the get go. I'm sure it's just judicious editing, but he always manages to have a sour face on when SB is announced and it's not him.
I can't tell if it's just me, but Martha seems to be judged somewhat less harshly for bad presentation than the older bakers; her dobos torte looked a bit of a mess, and I thought she should have been pulled up more for simply using a mold for her caramel work.
I don't often like the mid-episode mini-lectures, but really enjoyed this one, I must say.
posted by catch as catch can at 6:30 AM on September 11, 2014
Now I like cake as much as the next person, but I thought that princess torte looked revolting and not something I'd particularly want to eat - that combination of marzipan, jam, custard and all that cream just looked so sickly to me.
But it was good to see Chetna win. I really like her. But I think it'll be Louis FTW. He seems to keep his cool and his flavours and creativity are excellent.
posted by essexjan at 11:15 AM on September 11, 2014
But it was good to see Chetna win. I really like her. But I think it'll be Louis FTW. He seems to keep his cool and his flavours and creativity are excellent.
posted by essexjan at 11:15 AM on September 11, 2014
I just want to move to Denmark because a country that believes in loading a giant table with cakes and coffee and then eating steadily for four hours is clearly where I belong.
Martha definitely should have been marked down for presentation this week, but the products are usually very good, if not crisply finished. I wish they would talk more about the flavour - Chetna's dishes win because of flavour and the judges' tasting comments on flavour are more interesting than looks because as a viewer, I can see what doesn't look good, but I'm interested in what I can't taste or smell, like the terrible lavender meringue.
posted by viggorlijah at 7:59 PM on September 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
Martha definitely should have been marked down for presentation this week, but the products are usually very good, if not crisply finished. I wish they would talk more about the flavour - Chetna's dishes win because of flavour and the judges' tasting comments on flavour are more interesting than looks because as a viewer, I can see what doesn't look good, but I'm interested in what I can't taste or smell, like the terrible lavender meringue.
posted by viggorlijah at 7:59 PM on September 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
Luis' definitely a strong favorite, but I think Nancy's in with a chance as well and Kate may be a dark horse. Kate had a bit of a rough week this week but she's pulled out some pretty polished stuff previously. An early mistake or obstacle can really put you behind the eight ball on bake off. Also, maybe it's just the influence of Sesame Street on us yanks, but it us a bit weird how the Brits seem to pronouce Luis' name exactly the same as the English Louie.
posted by Diablevert at 3:53 AM on September 14, 2014
posted by Diablevert at 3:53 AM on September 14, 2014
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The not sending anyone home twist was fun, although both my wife and I saw it coming. Personally I was hoping for Richard to go, as my wife has a crush on him.
posted by Cannon Fodder at 12:06 AM on September 11, 2014