It is the semi-finals of season 5 of The Great Canadian Baking Show. So who will make into the finals and who just falls short in “Patisserie Week” Also, I just realized that Aimee is the last woman standing but will she make it to the finals or will it be an all male finale. Let us find out.

Signature Bake

The Bake: 16 vol-au-vents with two flavours

The Time: 2 hours and 45 minutes

What I would bake: One would be smoked salmon, dill and cream cheese and the other would be star anise chicken stew Vol-au-Vent.

What the contestants baked and judges thoughts:

• Stephen: Luxurious Lobster and Blackberry Vol-au-Vents. One is a blackberry lime pastry cream and the other is a lobster salad Vol-au-Vent. Kyla called his presentation timeless but noted the problems with the pastry. Bruno called the lobster salad salty. Bruno and Kyla liked this dessert vol-au-vent.
• Aimee: Pineapple and Avocado Two Ways Vol-au-Vents. One is a sweet Vol-au-Vent made with avocado crema and the other is a deep-fried cod with pineapple salsa. Both noted the mishapenned pastry. Kyla liked the Avocado creama
• Steve: Dinner and Dessert Vol-au-Vents. One is a shrimp and sun-dried tomato Vol-au-Vent and the other is a blueberry-lemon cheesecake Vol-au-Vent. Bruno noted the goat cheese was hiding the shrimp flavour. Kyla liked the light and flakiness of pastry.
• Vincent: Hot and Cool Vol-au-Vents. One is a crab salad Vol-au-Vent and the other is a butter chicken Vol-au-Vent. Kyla wished that he would have added something on top of the butter chicken but Bruno liked the heat from it.. Both liked his crab salad. 

Technical Bake

Time and a busy schedule has gotten away with me this season as my intention to make the technical bakes did not happen but I will really try over the holidays.

The Bake: Baba au rhum

The Time: Two Hours

How I would have fared: I have never heard of this one. It is a yeasted pastry. I am not sure how I would do especially that everything has to be done by hand. And then there is the caramel. I am not interested in burning my fingers again. 

How the bakers did:

1. Steve
2. Vincent
3. Stephen
4. Aimee

Showstopper

The Bake: 36 Petit Fours. Three different kinds so 12 of each.

The Time: 4 hours and 30 minutes.

What I would bake: One is a white chocolate lavender madeleine, the other is a minty chocolate layer cake with peppermint buttercream and topped with candy canes and the third a brown-butter sage sables.

I like all of Vincent’s petit fours and Stephen’s Earl Grey madeleines.

What the contestants baked and judges thoughts:

• Stephen: Summer Tea Party Petit Fours. One is an Earl Grey madeleine, the other is a blueberry ginger macaron and the other is a vanilla passionfruit and speculoos glaces. Bruno loved the combo of the speculoos and the curd delicious but the cake was a bit gummy. Bruno liked the blueberry jam but the pastry cream grainy. Bruno liked the madeleine
• Aimee: Jewelry Box Petit Fours. One is a Emerald Pandan cake, another is a ube madeleine and the other is a sables with lychee curd. Bruno said she nailed the lychee curd and called the pandan cake delicous. Kyla noted the ube madeleine was slightly under-baked.
• Steve: Redemption Petit Fours. One is a brown butter financier, the other is a lemon-raspberry brownie glaces and the other is a pistachio caramel dacquoise. Kyla liked the piping of the financier and Bruno liked the balance of flavours. Bruno called the dacquoise perfect. Kyla noted the fondant disappeared in the brownie but loved the flavour.
• 

  Star Baker for Patisserie Week

  Vincent: Garden Party Petit Fours. One is a Religieuses with cassis cream, the other is a cinnamon chocolate pound cake and the third one is a vanilla bean pound cake. Kyla liked how the chocolate and cinnamon worked together. For the religieuse, Kyal liked the freshness of the pastry cream. For the cake, Kyla called it delightful.

Up for Star Baker:  Aimee, Vincent.

In danger of going home:  Steve and Stephen. 

Star Baker: Aimee

Going Home: Stephen

Quick Thoughts: I was right that Stephen would be going home and I called it in week three that Steve, Aimee and Vincent would be in the finale. If I were to predict who is going to win, I want to say Aimee but Vincent might pull it off.