'The Great British Baking Show' Season 4 Episode 6: Botanical Week

Seven contestants remained as The Great British Baking Show introduced its first ever botanical week, sort of a baking version of the Rose Parade. All three challenges were inspired by nature and the bakers were encouraged to raid the garden (and the produce aisle) to give their bakes deliciously aromatic flavors.

But before we plow ahead, let’s review the results of last week’s pageant of pastry. Candice got some good momentum with a second-place finish in the Bakewell Tart technical and then pulled ahead to capture the Star Baker title with her duet of savory sausage and sweet banoffee amuse-bouche. Alas for good-natured yet quirky Val, her pastry skills weren’t up to scratch.  Time was not her friend and she left her showstopper bake incomplete. Val’s playful spirit and unique way of looking at things will certainly be missed in the tent.

This week, bakers had the opportunity to turn over a new leaf and more than a few believed this round’s theme would give them room to blossom. The signature challenge was to make a pie with perfect short crust pastry, melt in the mouth meringue and a sharp citrusy filling. And all were advised, though only one heeded the warning, that use of a blow torch on the meringue would displease Mary Berry.