For some of us, we enjoy indulging in sweet treats or are fascinated by how they are created but we either lack the time, focus, or precision to make them. I am one of these people and I use culinary art shows to fulfill my baking dreams.
Last summer, while scrolling through the myriad of tv shows, documentaries, and films that Netflix offers, I stumbled across The Great British Bake Off (formerly known as The Great British Baking Show). I vaguely remembered watching an episode of the program in my 6th-grade culinary arts class, but besides that, I had not seen anything else from the show. I decided to put it on “the telly” and I ended up spending all afternoon watching it.
Set on a charming English manor property in Somerset, the amateur baker contestants are given three challenges by the judges each episode. The challenges take place in a large white tent equipped with baking stations for each of the bakers. Each episode a baker goes home and in the final episode, three of them compete for the winning title. Between takes of the contestants nervously baking, the hosts make light-hearted jests while the judges watch, like intimidating hawks, all of the organized chaos that surrounds them from the front of the tent.
Within each season as the episodes pass, we learn more about the bakers and their personal lives, making it easy for audiences to connect with them. During filming, the contestants live with one another and they form heart-warming bonds as the competition whips along. When one of them is praised by the judges, the rest are smiling and cheering for them. Personally, it felt wholesome to see the camaraderie amongst the bakers while they were competing for the winning title.
In American culinary competition shows, they are focused on action and drama. Contestants in various shows are portrayed as focused solely on winning and nothing else. And besides Worst Cooks in America, we have not been shown a competitive baking/cooking program that features “regular” people who do baking as a hobby rather than a profession. But, in The Great British Bake Off, we are introduced to veterinarians, stay-at-home parents, and university students who love baking and want to compete for the experience. The contestants have also not lost their humanity as individuals. We see them shamelessly make mistakes and they continue to try with the support of their fellow competitors. When a baker is sent home they are not bitter and return for the finale to congratulate the winner of the series.
In the world’s current foreboding state, it can be hard to stay positive and have faith in humanity. Performing and seeing acts of kindness have a positive influence on us. So, if you are looking for a culinary arts show to inspire you to bake, to make you laugh, and believe in the benevolence of humanity again, The Great British Bake Off is the show for you.