The Great Canadian Baking Show
The Great Canadian Baking Show | |
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Genre | Reality TV, Baking competition |
Presented by | |
Judges |
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Narrated by | Julia Chan |
Country of origin | Canada |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 8 |
Production | |
Executive producer | Cathie James |
Production companies |
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Original release | |
Network | CBC Television |
Release | November 1, 2017 present | –
The Great Canadian Baking Show is a Canadian cooking competition television series which premiered on CBC Television on November 1, 2017.[1] The show is hosted by Dan Levy and Julia Chan with French chef Bruno Feldeisen and Canadian-Australian pastry chef Rochelle Adonis as judges.[2][3] The program is an adaptation of the U.K. series, The Great British Bake Off (which is aired in Canada under the title The Great British Baking Show).[3]
Premise
The show brings ten amateur baking contestants together in a bake-off competition of "themed culinary challenges" to find a best, over-all competitor.[3] Each episode features three rounds: the Signature Bake, the Technical Bake, and the Showstopper.[4] After the judges taste and critique the entries, they will decide which contestant is crowned each week's "Star Baker," and which contestant will go home. Pastry chef Bruno Feldeisen, a multiple James Beard Award nominee and the former executive pastry chef for Four Seasons Hotels in New York and Vancouver, and Quebec-born pastry chef Rochelle Adonis, the European-trained creator of a flagship high tea salon and eponymous confectionery brand in Australia, served as judges.[4]
Once pared down to the final three bakers, they will compete for the Great Canadian Baking Show title.[2]
Production
Produced by Proper Television in association with CBC and Love Productions, the show was filmed on the grounds of the Windfields Estate in Toronto starting mid-July 2017,[4] and the first season premiered November 1, 2017 on CBC.[3] Levy, a self proclaimed "huge fan" of the British series upon which the show is based, stated that he "actively pursued" the hosting role.[3][5]
The executive producer is Cathie James, and the series producer is Marike Emery.[4]
CBC Television announced on February 7, 2018 that the series was renewed for a second season, and all hosts and judges would be returning.[6]
Reception
John Doyle, reviewing the first episode for The Globe and Mail, called the show boring and said that it lacked "the major ingredients of eccentric flair and idiosyncratic contestants [of the original]."[7] Doyle's criticism of host Dan Levy's "feyness" in the review was called homophobic by Levy and others.[8][9] Eater Montreal writer Tim Forster said the show's first episode is "like somebody left the sugar out of the recipe: it looks right, but the flavour is kind of bland" due to a lack of focus on the contestants' stories, he primarily blamed poor editing and a rushed pace due to a shorter running time than the British series.[10] Joanna Schneller called the judging by Bruno Feldeisen and Rochelle Adonis "consistently dull" in a review of the second episode for the Toronto Star. She suggested that, like the judges in the original series, they should be instructing on the significance of dishes as well as judging.[11]
Greg David of TV, eh? called the show "unapologetically entertaining" and "a calming oasis amid the noisy negativity we're besieged with," specifically praising the chemistry of hosts Levy and Chan.[12] Katherine DeClerq, reviewing the final episode in Women's Post, said she was "pleasantly surprised" by the series and "while the dry humour could be a bit dryer and the puns slightly less cheesy, I have to say I am in love with the Great Canadian Baking Show."[13]
Season overview
Season | Episodes | Premiere | Finale | Winner | Runners-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 8 | November 1, 2017 | December 20, 2017 | Sabrina Degni | |
Vandana Jain | |||||
Linda Longson | |||||
TBA | TBA | TBA | |||
Bakers
Baker [14] | Age | Profession | Hometown |
---|---|---|---|
Corey Shefman | 31 | Human rights lawyer | Toronto, ON |
James Hoyland | 45 | Physics professor | Richmond, BC |
Jude Somers | 60 | Retired animator | Victoria, BC |
Julian D'Entremont | 45 | Contractor | Halifax, NS |
Linda Longson | 63 | Payroll supervisor | High River, AB |
Pierre Morin | 56 | Retired dentist | Cantley, QC |
Sabrina Degni | 24 | Graphic designer | Montreal, QC |
Sinclair Shuit | 44 | Optometrist | London, ON |
Terri Thompson | 36 | Domestic engineer | Edmonton, AB |
Vandana Jain | 36 | CFO | Regina, SK |
Results summary
Colour key:
- Baker was one of the judges' least favourite bakers that week, but was not eliminated.
- Baker was one of the judges' favourite bakers that week, but was not the Star Baker.
- Baker got through to the next round.
- Baker was eliminated.
- Baker was the Star Baker.
- Baker was a season runner-up.
- Baker was the season winner.
Elimination chart | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Baker | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |||||||
Sabrina | SB | WINNER | |||||||||||||
Linda | SB | SB | Runner Up | ||||||||||||
Vandana | SB | Runner Up | |||||||||||||
James | SB | OUT | |||||||||||||
Terri | SB | OUT | |||||||||||||
Julian | OUT | ||||||||||||||
Jude | OUT | ||||||||||||||
Corey | OUT | ||||||||||||||
Sinclair | OUT | ||||||||||||||
Pierre | OUT |
Episodes
- Baker eliminated
- Star Baker
- Winner
Episode 1: Cake
For the signature challenge, the bakers were given two hours to make 24 cupcakes with two different types of flavours. The technical challenge was to create a cherry and pistachio Battenberg cake – a recipe handpicked by Rochelle – with the marzipan, fondant, and jam provided to them. The bakers had an hour and 45 minutes to complete the cake, making sure to expose the ends of the cake as traditionally presented. For the showstopper, the bakers had four hours to make a chocolate layer cake with at least two layers and at least two different kinds of chocolate.
Baker | Signature (24 cupcakes) |
Technical (Battenberg cake) |
Showstopper (Chocolate layer cake) |
---|---|---|---|
Corey | Chocolate Beer and Maple Whiskey Cupcakes | 2nd | Milk & Cookies Cake |
James | Ginger Stout and Apple Oatmeal Cupcakes | 5th | Chocolate Record Player |
Jude | Breakfast Banana Maple and Saskatoon Berry Cupcakes | 4th | Chocolate Ginger Gnome Cake |
Julian | Birch Syrup and Chocolate Cream Liqueur Cupcakes | 8th | Builder's Cake |
Linda | Nanaimo Bar and Lemon Cupcakes | 3rd | Chocolate Raspberry Layer Cake |
Pierre | Chocolate Raspberry and White Chocolate Pistachio Cupcakes | 9th | Elysée Cake |
Sabrina | Tiramisu and Cookies & Cream Cupcakes | 6th | Melted Ice Cream Cone Cake |
Sinclair | Whiskey Cream and Mojito and Lime Cupcakes | 10th | Galaxy Glaze Cake |
Terri | Cotton Candy and Carrot Cake Cupcakes | 7th | Chocolate Raspberry & Pistachio Layer Cake |
Vandana | Chocolate Rose & Coconut Key Lime Cupcakes | 1st | Chocolate Hazelnut Cake |
Episode 2: Bread
For the signature challenge, the bakers were given two hours and 30 minutes to make a flavourful focaccia in whatever shape they chose. The technical challenge was to bake one dozen Montreal bagels: six with poppy seeds and six with sesame seeds. The bakers had two hours and 10 minutes to complete the bagels, ensuring they were properly poached in honey water to achieve subtle sweetness and the balance of a crispy crust and chewy centre. For the showstopper, the bakers had four hours to make a bread-based centrepiece with one or more sweet fillings.
Baker | Signature (Focaccia) |
Technical (Montreal bagels) |
Showstopper (Sweet bread centrepiece) |
---|---|---|---|
Corey | Moroccan Focaccia | 8th | Tree of Life Challah |
James | Blue Cheese and Walnut Focaccia | 9th | Middle Eastern Star Bread |
Jude | Italian Boot Focaccia | 2nd | Paint Pot Centrepiece |
Julian | East Coast Focaccia | 6th | Cinnamon Bun Kraken |
Linda | Traditional Focaccia | 3rd | Bread Flower Basket |
Sabrina | Italian Pride Focaccia | 4th | Bread Basket |
Sinclair | Parmesan and Herb Focaccia | 5th | Walnut Bread Wreath with Puff-Pastry Pear |
Terri | Family Favourite Focaccia | 1st | Caramel Apple Centrepiece |
Vandana | Mediterranean Focaccia | 7th | Winter Melon and Cashew Wreath |
Episode 3: Dessert
For the signature challenge, the bakers were given two hours to make a sweet pie or tart. The technical challenge was to bake one dozen Fondant Fancies, small sponge cake squares glazed with butter cream and then drizzled in fondant. The bakers had two hours to complete the fancies, ensuring they were all equally square and properly coated in fondant. For the showstopper, the bakers had three hours to make a pavlova.
Baker | Signature (Sweet pie or tart) |
Technical (Fondant Fancies) |
Showstopper (Pavlova) |
---|---|---|---|
Corey | Pear & Salted Chocolate Pie | 7th | Pumpkin Pie Pavlova |
James | Pi Pie | 6th | Chocolate Plum Pavlova |
Jude | Pumpkin Cashew Tart | 5th | Pavlova Music Box |
Julian | Lemon Meringue Pie | 8th | Wild Blueberry Pavlova |
Linda | Raspberry Swirl Pie | 2nd | Pavlova Wreath |
Sabrina | Tropical Delight Tart | 3rd | Raspberry Rose Pavlova |
Terri | Northern Lights Tart | 4th | Peaches & Cream Pavlova |
Vandana | Mango Ginger Cream Pie | 1st | Saffron Cardamom Pavlova |
Episode 4: Canadian
For the signature challenge, the bakers were given two hours to bake a tourtière. They were allowed to fill the pie with whatever they wanted, but had to also make a condiment to complement the pie. In the technical, the bakers were given one hour and forty-five minutes to make sixteen maple leaf cream cookies. The showstopper challenge was to make twelve doughnuts – six in one flavour and six in another – in three hours.
Baker | Signature (Tourtière) |
Technical (Maple leaf cream cookies) |
Showstopper (12 doughnuts) |
---|---|---|---|
James | Saucy Vegetarian Tourtière | 2nd | Okanagan Peach Beignet and French Cruller |
Jude | Tourtière a la Vancouver Island | 7th | Sea to Sea Donuts |
Julian | Halifax Donair Tourtière | 3rd | Glazed Canoe and Nova Scotia Rum Runner Donuts |
Linda | Traditional Tourtière | 1st | Maple Bacon and Double Double Donuts |
Sabrina | Homestyle Tourtière | 5th | S'mores and Poutine Donuts |
Terri | Christmas Eve Tourtière | 6th | Marshmallow Puff and Maple Glazed Donuts |
Vandana | Chickpea & Cashew Tourtière | 4th | Saskatoon Berry White Chocolate and Sour Cherry Lemonade Donuts |
Episode 5: Best of Britain
Baker | Signature (Trifle) |
Technical (Brandy snaps) |
Showstopper (High Tea) |
---|---|---|---|
James | Gin & Blueberry Trifle | 3rd | British High Tea |
Julian | Mixed Berry Trifle with Chocolate Ganache | 6th | East Coast High Tea |
Linda | Raspberry Lemon Trifle | 4th | Albertan High Tea |
Sabrina | Strawberry Swirl Trifle | 1st | Peach High Tea |
Terri | Strawberry Rhubarb Trifle | 2nd | High Tea with Nan |
Vandana | Mango Kiwi Strawberry Trifle | 5th | Maharaja High Tea |
Episode 6: Holiday Baking
Baker | Signature (Bûche de Noël) |
Technical (Rugelach) |
Showstopper (Gingerbread house) |
---|---|---|---|
James | Chocolate Orange Roll | 1st | Gingerbread Eco-Home |
Linda | Pumpkin Caramel Roll | 4th | Gingerbread Barn |
Sabrina | Gingerbread Spice Roll | 3rd | Gingerbread Rockefeller Center |
Terri | Birch Tree Yule Log | 5th | Gingerbread Dream Home |
Vandana | Chocolate Cherry Log | 2nd | Gingerbread Treehouse |
Episode 7: French Pâtisserie
Baker | Signature (Mille-feuille) |
Technical (Opera cake) |
Showstopper (Croquembouche) |
---|---|---|---|
James | Strawberry Basil and Blackberry-Balsamic Reduction Mille Feuille | 1st | Coconut Custard Chocolate & Raspberry Croquembouche |
Linda | Raspberry White Chocolate and Cardamom-Caramel Mille Feuille | 3rd | Mascarpone & Coffee Croquembouche |
Sabrina | Strawberry-Pistachio and Mango-Coconut Mille Feuille | 2nd | Vanilla Mousseline Croquembouche |
Vandana | Rooh Afza and Raspberries & Cream Mille Feuille | 4th | Mint Chocolate & Orange Croquembouche |
Episode 8: Finale
Baker | Signature (24 mini mousse cakes) |
Technical (Pear charlotte) |
Showstopper (Three-tiered wedding cake) |
---|---|---|---|
Linda | Pineapple Coconut and Cherry Chocolate Mousse Cakes | 1st | Carrot Wedding Cake |
Sabrina | Blueberry Apricot and Strawberry Mousse Cakes | 2nd | Pink Champagne Wedding Cake |
Vandana | Passionfruit and White Chocolate Mousse Cakes | 3rd | Red Velvet Wedding Cake |
References
- ^ "Cooking up something good: CBC's Great Canadian Baking Show rolls out judges, hosts". CBC News. July 11, 2017. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
- ^ a b Dan Levy and Julia Chan to Host the Great Canadian Baking Show; July 17, 2017; web article, "CBC Life"; CBC website; retrieved August 2017
- ^ a b c d e Dan Levy and Julia Chan to Host the 'The Great Canadian Baking Show' ; article; July 12, 2017; Hello Magazine website; retrieved August 29, 2017
- ^ a b c d CBC Announces Hosts and Judges for the Great Canadian Baking Show; David, Greg; TV-eh? web article; July 11, 2017; accessed August 2017
- ^ Dan Levy and Julia Chan Bake Up Fun on CBC’s The Great Canadian Baking Show; October 30, 2017; David, Greg; TV, eh?; retrieved November 2017
- ^ Yeo, Debra (February 7, 2018). "Great Canadian Baking Show renewed for Season 2". Toronto Star. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
- ^ Doyle, John (October 30, 2017). "Major ingredients missing in CBC's Great Canadian Baking Show". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
- ^ Atad, Corey (November 3, 2017). "Dan Levy Slams TV Critic John Doyle For 'Homophobic' Review". ET Canada. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
- ^ Martin, Russ (November 2, 2017). "Why Calling Dan Levy 'Fey' Is Homophobic and Offensive". Flare. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
- ^ Forster, Tim (November 1, 2017). "Opinion: The Canadian 'Bake Off' Has Charming Cakes, But a Half-Baked Personality". Eater Montreal. Vox Media. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
- ^ Schneller, Johanna (November 6, 2017). "Judges fail to rise to the occasion on Canadian baking show". Toronto Star. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
- ^ David, Greg (November 8, 2017). "The Great Canadian Baking Show is unapologetically entertaining". TV, eh?. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
- ^ DeClerq, Katherine (December 21, 2017). "Great Canadian Baking Show — a real showstopper". Women's Post. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
- ^ "Meet the bakers of The Great Canadian Baking Show". 2 October 2017., web article, "CBC Life"; CBC website; retrieved October 2017