I’ve been enjoying the British Baking Show. Every contestant is likable. The hosts, no surprise, are annoying. Not quite as annoying as Padma, but close.
Doug got screwed. Period.
Those ingredients should have had a “one easy, one difficult” rule. I’m happy that he had a successful cheese course, but there was a lot of positive feedback on his tortilla, too. I wouldn’t be surprised if they kept Mei just for the Voltaggio connection.
She made guacamole for one of her two dishes in the semi-final. “Mei, please pack your knives and go.”
His other strike was that the two non-English speaking chefs seemed to really like and respect his ant egg dish and saw the potential. However the one English speaker was the most outspoken critic and was the only one present for judging. He did not seem to pass along the positive feedback or advocate for Doug one bit.
Then again, Doug should not have allowed himself to be stuck with the two crap ingredients. He should have self advocated much more strongly.
I think Tom strongly favored Mei over Doug - generally.
I don’t know, Tom seemed to really like Doug. Tom likes whoever comes from LKC. However, Tom is clearly the last word in decisions so the fact that Mei stays indicates that you are probably right.
Again, terrible challenge for so late in the game.
Not thrilled with that outcome. Both contestants underwhelmed at the end. Would have rather seen Doug in there I think. Not the worst winner (Hosea/Kevin tie), but clearly not best (clearly Voltaggio).
I just watched and was really happy with the outcome as I think Mei consistently combined the grounding in technique with thoughtful dishes. I was never as sure of Doug or Gregory’s technique or abiity to consistently push as she did. Then again I was very biased since I see a lot of my daughter in Mei - the intense focus, the seriousness and testing of self in the way that high level kitchens push you … I hope Mei’s parents are as proud of her as they should be.
I thought it was a great finale and a terrific final three. I don’t see the Hosea/Kevin comparison myself. I think that all of the last three were very talented, inspiring and had a unique viewpoint (especially the final two).
If they cook that same meal 3 times, I bet Gregory comes out on top. He made two execution mistakes that really doomed him. Mei was nearly flawless, but I don’t think she thought she had an execution issue with her octopus. Or did she?
Eric,
First, I’m not comparing them to Hosea/Kevin, except to the extent that I was setting those two as examples of the weakest winners, just as I set out Michael V as an example of the strongest.
Second, I wasn’t referring to the final three, just the strength of Mei in particular. I think that she was rather middling all season with a few moments of inspiration, but not many. I think that Gregory was generally stronger but still had more low points and inconsistencies than the better contestants throughout the show’s history generally did in their respective seasons. I also agree that Gregory would win that two out of three times. However, his decision with the fish was puzzling at best. He had a bit of a tendency to play it safe and I think he felt fish was safer than a dessert, but then he put out what looked like a really pedestrian fish dish. I mean, what was he trying to execute with that sauce? Carrot sauce? I’m not convinced that dish turns out great at all.
I also think that his short rib mole looked like the dish I would most choose of those eight, followed by his octopus then Mei’s congee.
I do think that all three of them were enjoyable and there was no villain in that group by any means. I just don’t think Mei is going down as a great winner, nor this as a great season. I put her high middle at best. But still, that is not to say that she is comparable to Kevin or Hosea.