Season 2, Episode 5: Pastry Week
The remaining six bakers had to keep things light (and flaky) in pastry week, as they tackled pies, croissants and more.
Mengling, Sachin, Megan, Andrei, Devon, and Timothy made enough pie to feed a small army during the slab pie signature challenge. Some bakers excelled, with exciting flavour combinations and flaky pastries, while others fell prey to the dreaded soggy bottom. They then had to figure out a tough technical challenge, before creating delectable breakfast basket showstoppers, featuring danishes, croissants, and sweet buns.
It was a tight race for Star Baker, but one baker managed to pull away with a showstopper that wowed the judges. And as always, sadly, another baker had to go home.
SPOILERS BELOW! IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED THE EPISODE YET, THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO GO DO THAT!
Spoilers start below this line.
This week's technical challenge saw the bakers take on palmiers, sometimes known as elephant ear pastry. The bakers were tasked with creating two dozen palmiers, 12 sweet and 12 savoury. This was a particularly tricky technical challenge: don't roll the dough enough, and you won't get that flaky, laminated texture. Roll it too much and it becomes tough and overworked.
This week's Star Baker made a breakfast basket so good that Bruno asked if he'd ever considered moving to Paris and opening a patisserie. Andrei also made a standout slab pie, with an early '90s-inspired strawberries and balsamic vinegar filing and art nouveau-style decorations.
Sachin also impressed the judges with his breakfast basket, which featured almond croissants and cheddar and mushroom danishes.
