GBBO

[VikingVagine]

Seeing as the first thread is almost full, I thought I'd start a new one

For good measure, here is Monkseal's blog for this week.

To change the subject Beca saying how ambitious she is was interesting.

I still think if Frances could combine her stylishness with flavours she would win

British self deprecation tends to be of the "oh, it was nothing, it was really simple, I just threw it together, it is nothing special, anyone could do it" variety rather than the "oh it is just awful / rubbish / terrible" variety though.

The first is modesty. The second comes across as fishing for compliments.

Yes, I agree I was surprised with Beca's comment about being very ambitious.

I still think Ruby would pout and tantrum when things don't go her way. If you look at her expression when she gets a slight criticism, you can see she's actually really annoyed, no trace of that self-flagellation/faux modesty thing.

We all know Paul Hollywood is a buffoon but now he's visibly getting nastier by the episode.

This is a shame because there's plenty of cooking/baking shows out there but I think GBBO's winning formula was the gentle "feel-good", positive and homely vibe. Not much of that.

I like Kimberley and although I didn't warm up to Frances initially I think she's been a really good sport about all the vicious criticism.

This is a shame because there's plenty of cooking/baking shows out there but I think GBBO's winning formula was the gentle "feel-good", positive and homely vibe. Not much of that.

^^Yes, completely. It's all gone a bit sensationalist. I agree with whoever said upthread that Mel & Sue seemed a bit uneasy in the judging tent too.

Totally agree with you, Poppy, especially this bit:

This is a shame because there's plenty of cooking/baking shows out there but I think GBBO's winning formula was the gentle "feel-good", positive and homely vibe. Not much of that.

I think both judges were unnecessarily mean last night.

Anne I disagree on both counts. It's the 'oh, it was nothing' (tinkly laugh) which is false and comes across badly. The 'it's all going tits up! I'm rubbish! Oh no! It's my fault (for how could I presume to be a pretty brainy woman! What was I thinking!)' is the genuine article. It doesn't happen so much with posh people actually, my point was the process of drumming that sort of negative emotion in works the same for the 'I don't deserve/I am nothing' vibe as it does for the embarrassment vibe. This one is more female/male and it applies more to the pretty and bright than the plain and thick. There's a constant chip chip chip mantra of 'you're not so great. Don't get too big for your boots. You're nothing special. Don't display hubris (for the classically educated)' It's not even intentionally mean at this stage in the c21 (it wasn't intentionally mean in the 1980s even). It's culturally ingrained and I'd say, if anything, it was more prevalent in the working classes than the posh - but I have met posh people who lives have been blighted by this ingrained niggly worry that eats away at self confidence, too.

Many people are annoyed by this too, of course - but IMO they are usually mean or impatient people who completely lack empathy and often resent something about the person with compromised confidence (eg looks or ability). The new normal of bigging oneself up at every opportunity is very hard for people with compromised self confidence or a working knowledge of hubris. Or both.

People on other GBBO thread I frequent (!) have said that having seen Ruby, they are now practising saying 'thank you very much' when they get a compliment, rther than 'oh it was rubbish', now they know how annoying it is. Every cloud has a silver lining.

I have to wonder whether I'm watching the same programme as everyone else. I am amazed by the criticism and vitriol towards the contestants and judges - both here and on the GBBO Facebook site. I think many people are reading way too much into things - and projecting thoughts on to contestants and judges that probably aren't there. I've just disliked the Facebook page - it was spoiling my enjoyment of the show.

I thought Ruby's cake looked great and had some lively ideas - far now original than fondant icing.

Have to agree caper. I always thought that I was the most cynical person I know, but I'm a bit amazed about some of the views on here. I've warmed a lot to Ruby over the course of the series and would be happy to see her win. Yes she is a bit under confident, but my children are about her age and I can empathise with her pre empting the judges decision with all her "oh it's rubbish" comments.

Also until we have taste-a-vision we can't possibly know whose cakes tasted the best. I loved the look of Becca's and was sad the it didn't taste great. It was probably a bit simple too. Kimberly isn't helping herself with her reactions to negative criticism. Her expressions seem to say that she thinks PH and MB don't know what they are talking about. I hope that is just manipulative editing though because I think she is quite good. Had a feeling that Christine would be leaving this week.

Although I do think that there was a slightly weird dynamic with PH and MB this week. They both seemed a bit tetchy and bad tempered.

Russians IMO you're right about the culture of self deprecation and thinking about the people I know it does seem more prevalent in good looking people who seem to feel (or were told to feel)that their good looks are enough without being very good at something concrete.

We have 3 good looking and talented DCs (i'm shocking myself at even writing this !) But we never deliberately knocked them down; there are enough negative things in life without parents undermining their DCs confidence IMHO!!

Going back to what somebody said upthread about Mary being annoyed that Frances hadn't made the little plantpots, I get the feeling that Mary thinks you should be able to eat everything that's presented. Last year she said something similar to Brendan when he made that bird house. He used mini shredded wheat On the top and she was not happy. Although I myself thought it looked really good and like a little thatched roof! I remember her being annoyed that she couldn't eat it though.

One thing that annoyed me was the 3D cake.
All cakes are 3D IRL aren't they!
Unless it's a photograph of a cake.

One thing that annoyed me was the 3D cake.
All cakes are 3D IRL aren't they!
Unless it's a photograph of a cake.

Sorry!

I think there is a difference between a 3 D cake and a 2 D one. For instance the toadstool cake that Kimberly did could have been like a picture of a toadstool ie flat on the cake board, rather than one that you can see in all dimensions.

Hope this works. I don't have much luck with links.

This 2 D:

www.pinterest.com/pin/17310779788827325/

and this is 3 D:

www.pinterest.com/pin/17310779788025745/

Hmm. Link fail again.

www.pinterest.com/pin/17310779788025745/

Yeh!

That was the 3 D one.

The 2 D one would be like this:

www.pinterest.com/pin/17310779788827325/

I once did a 2 D Winnie the Pooh and that was hard enough. A 3 D one would have finished me of.

So wasnt Christines guitar more 2d than 3d?

Well I suppose you could say that, although guitars are that shape and that deep I guess.

Perhaps that's another good reason for her to leave this week. She didn't really explore the full potential of 3D. Even I could have done Christine's cake and that's saying something.

No I agree that she had reached her limit, I liked her guitar, but felt it was the simplest cake there.

Not convinced by Sweet Potato cake tbh, love carrot and beetroot. Anyone tried making one? Whats it like?

I've never made a cake using sweet potato (I do make a reasonable chocolate and beetroot cake though ) , I'd be worried about the texture, beetroot and carrots add moisture, sweet potato might just stick to the roof of your mouth or make it really heavy.

I agree the guitar wasn't reaaaaaally a 3D cake.

I definitely don't think this series is as warm as previous ones, but I'm not sure why.

I don't particularly like any of them this year so maybe that's the reason but i also felt that Sue seemed a bit pissed off last night and it didn't feel as good spirited as usual.

I'm also a bit about Ruby whinging about her exams, I'm sure they weren't sprung on her as a surprise so she had a fair idea that she'd need to juggle 2 busy agendas (I can't think of good English at the moment but you know what I mean).

I really like Ruby I think she 's lovely and her baking must taste great, after all she also came top in the blind tested technical bake too. However at least twice now she's made something that's looked utter rubbish and has got tons of praise for it. It happened a few weeks ago when Howard got criticised for something he made, they fell over themselves to pull it apart and I thought 'oh no what will they say about Ruby's, it looks crap also' but they did not say a thing. In fact they loved it beyond belief. Same again last night. Patently not fair, going off the programme.

viking I have a recipe for muffins with sweet potato (and honey and orange oil) and they are lovely. I had quite a few requests for the recipe and most people are surprised to find out it has sweet potato in it. The sweet potato kind of disappears during baking adding structure.
Didn't someone make a parsnip cake once on GBBO or am I imagining this?

Ooo could you post the recipie Gracelo? I`d love to try it, the honey and orange oil sound lovely.