I’ve been baking up a storm over the holiday break – looks like my cake decorating business has taken off lately – so it’s only fitting that I finally post my usual cooking show roundup.
The Great British Bake Off just wrapped its 7th season, and once again we were treated to a great variety of classics mixed in with whimsical desserts, the legendary, harsh but fair judges Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry, the funny commentary of Mel and Sue, and a dozen lovely home bakers, each more lovable than the next, all tremendously skilled in baking.
Given my cooking and baking exploits, I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least mention a few of my favorite cooking shows that aired this summer, if only to give a nod to the brilliance that is Masterchef Australia.
We’re down to the top 10 this week, and after a few weeks of “TC Roadshow” our chefs are headed back to Los Angeles to cook in the Top Chef kitchen once again. Everyone’s upset about Wesley’s elimination and Karen is over the moon about her win, but it’s a new day, which means new – harder – challenges are up ahead.
This episode bored me and I didn’t even feel like recapping it, but my OCD won’t let me skip an episode. Neither the challenges nor the actual food prepared was actually exciting (to me), but let’s take it from the top.
Another week, another Top Chef adventure; this time the chefs are off to the ‘Date capital of the US’, where they pick up three large baskets of dates, each one containing a different variety (Zahidi, Medjool and Deglet Noor), and damned if I knew these existed. Dates are dates to me. Sticky, sweet, and that’s about it.
One of the best parts of Christmas TV for me is that, while my favorite shows are on hiatus, I can binge-watch cooking show specials like the Holiday Baking Championship. The one I was really looking forward to, however, was the Christmas tradition of The Great British Bake Off Masterclass special.
Another week, another location for the Top Chef contestants. This time they’re off to cook in Palm Springs – or, as Jason puts it, the Gay Mecca: lots of gays, lots of old people, apparently. I’m really taking a liking to Jason – his discomfort at being surrounded by the macho-group of chefs in the hot tub was adorable.
It’s only been a week since its L.A. premiere, and Top Chef is already packing up and traveling to the chefs’ next destination, Santa Barbara.
