Before the pandemic, I used to be intimidated by bread but no longer. The only reason why I don’t make bread too often is that I don’t have the patience to wait for it to proof. My next bread project would be to make a challah bread during the holiday break.

Let us see what sort of bread challenges await our bakers. 

Signature Bake

The Bake: 8x flatbread of choice with a savory filling

The Time: 1 hour and 45 minutes

What I would bake: I would make an onion and scallion pancake flatbread but fill it with my dad’s ketchup shrimp

What the contestants baked and judges thoughts:

Sounds like Lauren and I have a similar idea on what we would make. I like the Nigel’s, Zoya’s, and Rosemary’s and Chi’s

• Chi: Comforting Curry – a scallion pancake filled with a yellow chicken curry. Kyla said Chi could have finished the bake in the oven. Bruno liked the curry.
• John: Muammara-stuffed Gözlemes. Kyla liked the walnuts but Bruno wanted more cooking time on the dough.
• Jomar: Lumpiang Gulay Patties. Kyla calls it delicious.
• Kristi: Fantastic Family Fusion Flatbreads. One is filled with whole wheat flour paratha and the other is filled with spiced Sichuan ground pork. Bruno calls the flavour vibrant.
• Lauren: Sticky Gochujang pockets. Bruno called her dough beautiful. Kyla calls the flavour popping. 
• Nigel: Hot Dog and Pizza ‘Zones. Kyla noted the filling oozed out. Bruno said the hot dog was too dry.
• Rosemary: Smoked Meat Knish Dish. Bruno said the dough was starchy but the filling was nice.
• Zoya: Mom’s Samosa Paratha. Bruno called it extremely enjoyable but a bit too dry.

Technical Bake  

I was really hoping to make last week’s Chocolate and Vanilla Alfajores but I spent this weekend making my Thanksgiving dinner as I delayed celebrating it as some family were away.

The Bake: Swedish Tea Ring

The Time: 2 hours

How I would have fared: I Googled a recipe and it looks pretty straightforward. I think what will trip me up is shaping it into the wreath. I don’t mind kneading for 10 minutes by hand. It is a good workout and I did hand knead once when I was making Montreal bagels. If I were to make the show’s recipe, I would omit the raisins. Recipes I found online said it was optional. 

How the bakers did: 

1. Nigel
   

   First in the Technical

2. Jomar
3. Rosemary
4. Lauren
5. Chi
6. Zoya
7. John
8. Kristi

Showstopper

The Bake: A bread work of art and must incorporate colour and texture.

The Time: 4 hours

What I would bake: I am no artist but my favourite is Renoir so might be a veggie focaccia to look like one of his paintings.

What the contestants baked and judges thoughts:  

Lauren’s, Zoya’s and Rosemary’s bread art sound delicious

• Chi: The Meow. Made with coconut mung bean bao and nori and furikake fougasse. Kyla called it cute and clever. Bruno liked the coconut mung bean filling. Kyla called the nori fougasse delicious
• John: A Bread for All Season made with pretzel bread and gruyere focaccia. Bruno wanted the pretzel less oily. Kyla said she could eat the focaccia all they.
• Jomar: Portrait of a Bread Queen made with vegetable focaccia and chocolatey pandesal buns. Bruno called it heavy and gummy Kyla called the pandesal buns delicious.
• Kristi: A Fresh Bread Perspective made with raisin bannock and pan cubano with red peppers. Bruno and Kyla said the bake on the babka was perfect. Bruno was impressed with her bread skills.
• Lauren: Baby, You can Drive My Bread Car made with Swedish saffron bread and cinnamon rolls. Bruno said that Lauren achieved a great bake on such a huge bread. Kyla enjoyed the cinnamon rolls.
• Nigel: Postmodern Super Sandwich made with focaccia with caraway seeds, tomato bread and bread milk bacon. Bruno said it was good but lacks the tomato flavour. And Bruno said the bread milk bacon tasted like bacon.
• Rosemary: Breading Cake made with potato bread, sausage roll and rose marzipan babka. Kyle enjoyed the pesto and called the rose marzipan fragrant.
• Zoya: Bread the Needle Box made with herb focaccia and coconut chutney roll. Bruno said the focaccia was a bit dry. Kyla called the rolls having a freshness to it.

for Star Baker: Kristi, Lauren, Chi and Zoya

In danger of going home: Rosemary and Nigel

Star Baker: Kristi

Going Home: Nigel

Quick Thoughts: It was only a matter of time that Nigel would be going home and this was his turn. Nigel doesn’t quite execute his bakes according to his vision and he has struggled in the technical bake. Also, not surprised Kristi got Star Baker. She was super strong this week and will give Chi and run for their money to the road to the finale.