As the old adage goes, if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. And the heat was definitely on for the six new teams tackling two miniature classics – lemon meringue pie and tiramisu.
Just 24 of each… sounds as easy as pie. Or is it? Judge Cherish says it should be straightforward for any professional chef.
But the Bake Off reality, as always, doesn’t quite pan out like that. While there might not have been a soggy bottom in sight, the tension created by tarts tearing apart and mashed meringues had me on the edge of my seat.
This was clearly much harder than it looks. With the first challenge under way, it was on to the next… transforming the humble fruit crumble into a towering showpiece sculpture. The contestants started off giggling with optimism, but the happiness soon turned to hyperventilating. Even for some of the top chefs in the country, this is a big ask.
Of course, to me, they all look like masterpieces, but judges Cherish and Benoit referring to “a plate of nothingness” and the cherry tree “looking good until things went sideways” seemed a little harsh.
The losing team were let down by their runny custard, which sent the tears running down their faces. I guess they just crumbled under the pressure!
Bake Off: The Professionals, Channel 4, Tuesday, 8pm
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