Did anyone watch The American Baking Competition last night? It was the bread challenge where the contestants had to make their signature breads, soft pretzels, and croissants (plain and filled croissants).
If you're in the U.S., you can watch it online: http://www.cbs.com/shows/american-baking-competition/
I've enjoyed the show so far. The show is based on BBC's The Great British Bake Off. The judges on this show are chefs Marcela Valladolid and Paul Hollywood.
I'm rooting for Elaine.
It was an interesting episode & nice to see that even the "pros" have issues some of the time. Of course, they were very limited on time and I'm sure that had a lot to do with it. Also, they didn't have a glass of wine or a cold frosty beverage at their side like I sometimes do. That also helps when waiting for the yeast to do its thing. Over all a very good show for anyone interested in bread making. Fitst time I've seen it so we'll wait a couple of weeks for an overall opinion.
I have enjoyed all the competition up to now... Elaine is great... I am sorta pulling for Francine... then Elaine. Loving all the creative recipes from their home tables. Looking at Paul Hollywood isn't hurting a bit either!
Diane
I watched half an episode of his bread-baking show - it was pretty bad.
Well... the whole thing was set up for the inferior results by being given only three hours from start to finish...
I think that a 'deep geek' bread baking competition on telly would lose all but the most dedicated of followers of the art! :-)
The folks at the Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie would be very surprised to hear this... :)
Not the competition, there's a "Baking bread with Paul Hollywood" or something. Well, the show was ok, it's the breads I did not find particularly appealing.
the man breads I have made in the last 18 months took 3 hours or less. There were a couple that took a little over 6 hours though. I don't see how I can make bread in 3 hours? Even a poolish using ADY takes at least 4 hours to get going. I just can't get a SD starter vigorous and ready to bake bread in less than 96 hours - and even that was only one time using Joe Ortiz's method.
I guess it would cost too much money to do a TV competition where it would take 3 days to make bread :-)
if challenged, we could probably do a decent focaccia, pita, barbari type of flatbreads, etc.