Great British Bake-off: The Final

[StrangerintheNight]

Just typed out a very excitable post only to find the previous thread, on which I was an avid lurker, had exceeded it's capacity. So if you don't mind, I'll start the overflow thread in the lead up to the Grand Final.

No no, it's not the 70's stuff I liked, it was all the other things he did (stones in the oven? Loved it) that I found interesting.

Apparently he prefers to bake savoury rather than sweet, I think that's where his strengths lie.

Wheat free bread, that sounds interesting - I'll be sure to check that out.

I will be honest I do love, love, love cakes but I find all the big edifices quite intimidating!

I did love the savoury stuff they made. Most disappointed there weren't more savoury recipes in the showstoppers book.

Yes Flip you won't be disappointed (hopefully) As i don't eat wheat AND am on the Food Combining Diet (not mixing carbs and protein at the same meal) for savouries I can eat marmite on wheat free toast !!!!

I'm just re-watching them all, am I the only saddo doing this? I'd completely forgotten that Brendan was in the bottom two in week three when they did the tarts. But Victoria went instead. The funny thing is, the nicest tart at the end was Stuart's by far. I would definitely have a go at making his particular one, it looked really nice.

Nope, I am currently watching week 3

Oh good, that is so good to hear! Honestly, I really thought Stuart's tart looked gorgeous and I was pretty underwhelmed by his stuff generally. I was the same with Ryan, not impressed much with his creations and then he made that key lime pie that looked outstanding.

I'm watching too.

There were too many to keep track of at the beginning but when you 'know' them better it's been interesting to look back. I warmed to Brendan in latter weeks but Week 1 reminded me why I hadn't taken to him initially.

My money was on Victoria initially. We didn't see much of Danny in the early stages did we?

I was really surprised by Victoria actually. She did so well the first week and then just went downhill so fast. At the beginning I thought she was a real contender. Re Danny - yes I'm up to ep four and five and she is just starting to feature more.

I've had to go out as the treacle tarts were being judged :o I also fell asleep last night as the plaited loaves were being judged so I have to o back over that one!

It's very interesting going back on it when you know who's who.

IMO they have too many contestants for 1 hour a week.It would be better to split them between 2 hours on 2 separate days IYSWIM?

I meant 2 one hour shows! at the start!

Actually watching these again is interesting. Some people have said the week John cut his finger he was in trouble. Well I've just watched it again and that week James, Sarah Jane and Ryan were the ones most in danger, John was also mentioned cos he had a dry sponge on his first bake. He was actually in no more danger than those other three. But I think it was between Sarah Jane and Ryan who ended up going the week after.

Also up to now Brendan has won a few of the technical challenges so it turns out he was better at that than most of us remembered!

Thanks for that wintera. I didn't remember him being in trouble that week, I was sure Sarah Jane was going.

I think he had a couple of difficult weeks with flashes of brilliance that kept him in the game. I think he developed his skills more than others did as well.

They all seem to put books out but I haven't bought a winners book yet although I do have two of the books to accompany the series.

I think Victoria was a keen cook but not so much a keen baker - she could make cakes but freely admitted she didn't make bread and didn't seem much more clued-in on the tarts. And she made some strange flavour combinations and seemed obsessed with pepper.

Ha ha yeah her pepper obsession was strange. She seemed to want to put it in everything. You could see that Mary's face was a picture when she said she was putting pepper in her pastry. The last one I've watched up to now was the one with the cut finger and I'll tell you something, Paul Hollywood seemed to be in a terrible mood that week!

Well I tell you what I won't be baking any time soon - that Queen of puddings thing. Looks vile!

Was she the duchess from Alice in wonderland in disguise, or was it the cook who had a pepper obsession?!

we made Queen of Puddings in home economics at school! Quite easy to make. I remember liking it- though have not had it again since. The other thing we made at school that they did was Rough Puff Pastry (the way James made it) and treacle tart.

I'll give it a try ppeat. Thanks for the recommendation!

I've never tried queen of puddings - must admit the breadcrumbs rather put me off.

Agree with Victoria's odd pepper obsession. What was that about?

Oh and by the way I have watched all the episodes at least twice .

its a real nursery pudding. I can really see why it puts people off. I think i'd find it far too sweet these days- even though the meringue is less sweet than usual. Breadcrumbs not that odd when you think of bread pudding or bread and butter pudding. Think its a very old fashioned cooking technique, binding bread with milk and eggs.

I don't mind nursery style food at all but I'm not keen on bread based puds. Just personal taste, although I do love a good meringue.

Just seen the repeat, and on second viewing I do think John's mum was horrid.

Was away on hols for the final and on return could not believe how exciting it was! who thought a baking programme could produce so much debate on mumsnet! Really enjoyable, still a bit shocked John won as although he is excellent I still thought James or Brendan would win, and it was so emotional too when Brendans partner told his story I was in tears, and really take back what I said about him running amok with the palatte knife if he didn't win, that was v bad of me mumsnet sometimes does that to me