Great British Bake Off!

I felt sorry for John's mum - off to Paris to be a pastry cook and all that expensive education wasted! Not what she had in mind for him, by the sound of it. At least if he ever accidentally poisons anybody he can run his own defence in Court! Seriously, good luck to the lad - may all his coconut clouds have silver linings!

Perhaps Mr H felt threatened by Brendan? I think I heard Mr H say that Brendan was good on the things he could practice but not on the unknowns.

I have to say although I think John was a worthy winner of the final..I was surprised he got that far..my memory of the other rounds is of him not doing so well and I was never sure he would get through..maybe it is that 'little boy lost' look that melted Mary's heart..

I quite liked his Heaven and Hell cake.. I thought the coconut clouds were clever...even if they were a little lopsided!

It's made me realise that I don't like fancy cakes at all - in fact it's led to me not craving cake at all - well done the Great British Bake Off - I'm so pleased with you!

Mamie, I agree with your OH. Is it just that you can't have an old git beating a couple of trendy young blokes? Brendan could bake them all off the planet (probably including the egotastic Mr. Hollywood).
They did the same last year. A young woman who was consistently good and deserved to win was beaten by a fairly good contestant but nothing special after we were shown the 'single mum facing huge challenges' backstory.

I also think the showstoppers are getting ridiculous. John made a really good chocolate cake and then stuck a load of coconut covered phallic symbols on top which were gradually sliding off. The look Paul Hollywood gave him said it all, 'It's sorted, mate, you've won!'

I thought Brendan was robbed and had been edited to sound smug and irritating. John should have gone out earlier, he was very inconsistent in the earlier rounds. James had a really bad final. OH is so cross he is refusing to watch it ever again!

mrloygran

We all need to avoid one of those, Grannyeggs

Reminds me of the OAP's version of Lord of the Dance. 'I am the Lord of the damp settee'

What about avoiding a soggy bottom?

They're really easy to make. You buy ready made puff pastry, make a filling -I like garlic mushrooms in a thick creamy sauce and Robert's your Oncle. Bake in a hot oven (220C) until golden brown.

I have put the other thread up..sign up if you want to join in the 'bake' ..not exactly a bake off as everyone can bake as long as they like!

Yes, it does nanaej but putting a filling between two layers of puff pastry is the same except the pithivier doesn't normally have a hole cut out of the top layer. Having said that, I've seen pithiviers with a circle cut out of the top so you can see the filling.

I agree that John was a worthy winner, it's been a great series.

If we do have a bake off thread we'll have to hide it from Glass and the diet thread

But did it have a complete lid?

Pithivier? Just think giant vol-au-vent.

anno fancier than any I have ever made!!

In the end, John was seen to have more talent as a baker. James was too ambitious with his United Kingdom cakes - when he said he was going to do that, I felt that he was on a loser. Brendan's fondants were uncharacteristically messy. Pithivier - wasn't that just a fancy kind of pie?

Great idea .I'm not sure I'm ready to make a Pithvier yet, has anyone ever made one?

Good idea nanaej.

perhaps I will start a new GN bake off thread!

I agree nanaej, tonight I felt warmth towards Brendan ,but was pleased that he is going to follow his dream and teach baking in care homes. What a nail biting final, they all messed up at some point but I think the right man won, I will have serious withdrawal symptoms , I think I will have start baking on Tuesday nights.

Agree, nanaej, I did actually feel a bit sorry for Brendan by the end - he looked so defeated. I was sorry James didn't do better, but John was a worthy winner.

Great final.. and happy result but agree Brendan was technically the better baker but less creative maybe! He did not come over well until tonight when I wanted to hug him when he was trying to hold it all together! A hidden side he did not let show until tonight!

Huge disappointment that poor James shot himself in the foot. I have to mirror merlotgran's comments, though.

It's a shame Brendan was not the most likeable of the contestants because I still think he was the best by far.

YES