The Great British Baking Show

John was not eliminated. They didn't eliminate ANYONE this week, but will eliminate two next week. That will keep them on track for the correct number of episodes. If John had been eliminated, they would then only be eliminating one next week.

He might have to wear a plastic glove but there's no reason why he can't return. Stitches are relatively simple.

All seven bakers were back this week. The theme was Sweet Dough, which can be tricky. Was very happy about who got Star Baker this week. A man and a woman went home, and I was sad about the man because he was one of my favs.

Didn't it seem that this season went very fast?? I just barely now know their names.

Sorry to see Catherine go...but I noticed from the start that she did not look as good as she normally does---very stressed...matter of fact it looked like her skin had broken out. When she said that her son would be glad to see her leave because he wanted her home, it was pretty clear that being away from her little ones was getting to her.

I noticed that Paul never has much good to say to Brandon---the comments about being 70s and retro are pretty common. He made another comment last night that I wish I could recall. It all reminds me of his treatment of Norman, another older man, whose work was always too simple or plain. Interesting as there are not too many older men on the show and his comments to the two I remember really annoy

me.

Brandon, though, has been shown to be quite innovative in his bakes and won a Star Baker where Norman didn't. But, you're right in that Paul seems to favor the youngsters i.e. those in their twenties.

Episode 8 - Biscuits

Who knew crackers could be so hard to do, funny how so many were hiding their burnt crackers.

With only 5 folks left no one can afford a bad bake. Poor Kathryn every bake she had was not so good.

Lov'ed it was James birthday. Lu'ed his distressed barn. So glad he won Star Baker.

Kinda felt bad for Brendon when Mary criticized his breakfast cereal roof. Of all the baker's he seems to be the one with the best time management skills.

We all know Paul's role so nothing new there. To me, he appears that he is hasher to the older men...not that there have been many on the show.

I felt bad. I thought his was one of the better looking gingerbread houses. 

So this one had an all male finale. I didn 't look up the results of the early shows so I had no idea who the winners were. In the four series that PBS runs, each one has a female winner.

Episode 9 - Patisserie



I was surprised that Danny was eliminated. You knew it was going to be either Danny or John and with John doing so poorly in the Signature Challenge and coming in 3rd in the Technical Challenge I thought he was going home. I do have a soft spot for Danny as she has improved and just done better and better each episode so I really was pulling for her. John really is all over the place. He had great bakes and disasters, in a big field that is OK, but as the field gets smaller and smaller it's very dangerous. I am surprised that John had not been eliminated in some earlier episodes as he had some bad bakes. I had to watch again to see what happened.

Signature Challenge - order is my opinion
1. Brendan - He had great presentation. Paul commented that Brendan was closest in sizing his petit fours. All the bakes were good as were the flavors.

2. James - good bakes, original flavors (chili lime macarons), sizewise were too big needed to be half.

3. Danny - good presentation, good bakes, peppermint flavor in her blackberry macarons hurt her, Paul said it tasted hot.

4. John - presentation sloppy, all petit fours too big, chocolate macaron too bitter, lemon raspberry tarts the flavor was really off.

Technical Challenge

1. James - got it right

2. John - got it right - I thought John did worst and came in third to Danny when I watched the first time

3. Brendan - got it right - creme pate a tad too soft

4. Danny - good flavor - creme pate a disaster - judges both said good flavor, good bake but creme pate wrong

Show Stopper Challenge

1. John - looked good, good bake, good flavor - Paul said the flavor was the best ... they didn't see the flattened balls like we and John did - I thought this is where he lost it and would be eliminated when I watched the first time.

2/3. - James - originality, Paul said there could have been more volume, flavor good

2/3. - Brendan - presentation good, flavor good

4. Danny - presentation good, at the table they said the bake was good, but later Paul said it was overbaked, the flavor (rosewater) let it down, it was too much.

I think Danny and John were at the bottom after the Technical Challenge with Danny a tiny bit ahead of John. John saved himself with his flavors in the Show Stopper. Funny how you remember things. I still want Danny in the finale though.

Yeah, next week the finale ... wow this season went fast. I think it is James or Brendan for the win. James does have great flavors and is original. Brendan is consistent, has great presentation. John can be a roller coaster. I kinda want Brendan to win. I can see James winning with flavor and originality. I can see John surprising us all. John's biggest weakness is his inconsistency and the field is too small to make mistakes. I think this is will be close race

I was surprised at the winner...although the top two both made fabulous cakes for the showstopper. I wonder if the age difference came into play .

I did wonder if they thought that John could have a cooking career with the win...I could not see anything else that would have separated the two finalists. I actually thought that B's cake was better.

After the first bake I knew James would come in third, though I had hope. Anyway, between the two final cakes, John created a perfect "chocolate" chiffon so I think they gave him the technical lift for that. Brendon has been proud of what he has accomplished as a self taught baker, but I think John would actually pursue baking as a career.

I was sort of surprised, but not. I would have been happy with any of the three winning.