Heel Holland Bakt Talk #8
It’s that time again: every week, we watch bumbling and flourishing home bakers in Heel Holland Bakt. From over-the-top signature challenges to the complicated technical challenge, I’m glued to the screen from the very first minute. What exactly goes through my head during an episode like that? I write it all down for you every week.
We’ve already reached the semi-final; next week is the final episode. I’m still not completely over Cas being eliminated, but I’m now fully rooting for Anna. The theme is ‘semi-final’, and for the signature challenge the bakers have to make a nut tart. I’ve never seen so much caramel together in one place—how wonderful.
Are you nuts?
Could Maroeska tone it down a little about those Piedmont hazelnuts? “I can never do without them again.” I thought I could sometimes exaggerate, but she can certainly do it too. Holy shit, Anna’s tart. Baklava with pastry cream? I’m sold. One thing I won’t miss are those cheeky tart names. Nootgeval? Are you nuts? That’s enough now, boys.
Hanneke’s slof is just like a pancake, honestly. Lesson of the week: never bake with a hangover. At least not when a place in the final of Heel Holland Bakt is at stake. Anna clearly didn’t drink a drop yesterday, because her tart is so incredible. That sound when Robèrt cuts into it—so crunchy! And then with that cream. Mmm.
Copying
For the technical challenge, they have to make a house of cards out of cookies. What fiddly work! It’ll be impressive if everything doesn’t come crashing down. Do Janny and Robèrt really stay in that tent for the entire duration of the challenge, by the way? Hanneke is always one for copying, isn’t she? Without Anna, she would never have let her dough cool, nor her baked cookies later on. Well, stolen well is better than poorly thought out, as they say. Maroeska is really fumbling—could she finally be eliminated? Then all the people who were angry because she is supposedly already a professional will be happy again too.
For the showstopper, they have to make an artistic spectacle. Maroeska simply has to win this one—she’s sort of an artist, after all, isn’t she? She’s continuing nicely with the nut theme, using pistachio and almond. Oh, and absinthe. Anna’s tart looks absolutely ama-zing to me too. Cardamom and coconut-lime? This girl really gets it.
Finally gone
I really like this challenge; all the tarts look absolutely delicious. I’d kill for a piece of Anna’s tart right now. Oh wow, and Maroeska’s too. Anna’s reaction when she wins Star Baker is just too adorable. She’s so overwhelmed. And Hanneke is finally gone—I thought she was the most irritating contestant ever. Although I found her somewhat tolerable this week; could it have been the hangover?
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