14 August, 2015
6th August 2015
Episode 1, Cake Week
Good morning All,
So it’s the morning after the night before – what a strange feeling it was to see myself on the bake-off where in previous years I would have been a keen fan and an arm-chair baker; truly surreal!
Where do I start, the signature bake was the Madeira cake which I wanted to keep as true to itself as I possibly could with making my own imprint on it, I decided on a Thyme and Lemon variation which I was happy with the outcome on, Paul mentioned it was too Lemony for his palate but then again as we all know taste is very individual to each of us.
For the technical bake we were asked to prepare a Walnut Cake which I absolutely love myself and as you know if you love something that much you normally do it well. I do a fair amount of research in my spare time so I know a little bit about a lot and the Walnut cake is one of those I have researched in the past so I had a ‘rough idea’ how to make it. I practice baking sponge over and over and over so making a good sponge for me by now is second nature. The combination paid me dividends on the day, seeing me win the first episode’s technical challenge.
The show stopper was a Black Forrest Gateau, which I pulled out all the stops for and went for a theatrical theme on the cake which I like to describe as the Falling Cup Gateau (on twitter someone mentioned it seems very Alexander McQueen inspired – which just so happens to be one of my all-time favourite fashion designers). It featured a teacup (tempered from dark chocolate) spilled over with kirsch filled cherry truffles spilling out of it down the side of the cake. The basics I kept the same as the traditional gateau with the difference that I used an American styles buttermilk sponge which was rich and gooey (not fluffy like its European counterpart).
I like to challenge the way we perceive baking and I do push boundaries/bake traditional baking ‘rules’. I am not one to just bake a ‘pretty cake’ sticking to basics – nothing extraordinary comes from your comfort zone and I will continue to push boundaries when baking on the Bake-off so keep watching.
Couple articles for you to get an insight of yesterdays action in the tent
http://www.elleuk.com/now-trending/11-gbbo-moments-that-made-episode-1-a-roller-coaster-of-emotion
http://www.greatbritishchefs.com/features/great-british-bake-off-2015-e1-cake-week
I will keep you updated with the latest action and news from GBBO weekly 🙂
