Great British Baking Show ™
Season 1
There is plenty of online information about the Great British Baking Show ™, but as far as I'm aware, this is the only place that focuses on the cooking that happens on the show.
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What's interesting for me is the food that is cooked on the show and the lessons to be learned. I'm constantly asking myself "Wait. What? I wonder why they used an Italian meringue for that?" or "Golly, I've never seen that combination before. I need to step into the kitchen and see if I can recreate it".
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And so, I'm going to write about the food of the Great British Baking Show ™ and I'm going to research, and cook, and bring you hints, tips, and recipes. I hope you'll read along.
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The first series of The Great British Bake Off ™ first aired on 17 August 2010. Ten home bakers took part in a bake-off to test their baking skills as they battled to be designated the best amateur baker. Each week the bakers participated in three challenges in a particular discipline, with some being eliminated at the end of each episode. The rounds of the competition took place in various locations across the UK.
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The hosts for Season 1 were: Mel Giedroyc, Sue Perkins, Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood.
Weekly Cooking Themes
Cake baking
Just as with biscuits, the range of cakes that are celebrated by the British overlaps somewhat with American tastes, but with some substantial differences. The British 'Victoria sponge' (named after the Queen) is the basis for many beautiful concoctions and is a 'must-know' for contestants.
Baking Biscuits
British biscuits don't exactly equate to American cookies, although there is some overlap. Often, British biscuits are crisp and buttery, and might be sandwiched with a butter cream, or wrapped in a chocolate coating. Competitors must be very comfortable with baking biscuits.
Baking Bread
Competitors are expected to understand the principles of bread-making. This means knowing about the ratio of flour to water (5:3) and the balance of salt and dried yeast to flour (1%). As always, there will be a signature bread, a technical challenge and a bread-based showstopper
Pudding Week
Pudding Week is a notoriously challenging week for the bakers, as it demands a high level of precision, skill, and creativity. The challenges often involved delicate steamed puddings, intricate pastry work, and complex flavor combinations, pushing the bakers to their limits and showcasing their mastery of the art of patisserie.
Pastry Week
The pastry week is a fundamental basis of The Great British Baking Show ™. Contestants need to know how to make rough-puff pastry, shortcrust pastry and how to decorate pastry with lattice work, plaiting etc.
Tea-Party (Final)
The final episode of The Great British Baking Show's ™ first season was a grand affair, culminating in a delightful tea party fit for the Queen herself. The three finalists were tasked with creating a delectable spread of tea-time treats that would impress the judges and leave a lasting impression.