@SABakeOff: We have a winner!

Published Nov 25, 2015

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Cape Town - Gold shoes, gorgeous cakes and - finally - a winner. Tuesday night's episode of The Great South African Bake Off had it all.

The show's final episode pitted three finalists against each other through savoury canapes, koeksusters and a two-tier wedding cake.

Judges Tjaart Walraven and Shirley Guy had to choose between cool and calm Dot Dicks, king of bling Teddy Zaki (he of the gold shoes) and young and determined Michaela Tsuen.

The canape round went to Teddy (though mysteriously the judges themselves didn't declare a winner of that round) and the koeksusters went to Michaela. Of the three wedding cakes, Dot's was the most conventional - and very beautiful.

When the three finalists brought their cakes out to their families and to the former contestants, the judges delivered their final verdict: Dot had taken away the crown of the first South African winner of the bake off.

I've predicted that result twice, and was pleased to have been right. But I must admit to a little puzzlement. In the British version of the show, judges Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry are always very clear that the winner is decided by the bakes done on the day of the final. On that basis, Teddy Zaki looked like a contender to me - he won the canapes, came a creditable second in the koeksusters and his wedding cake was well-baked and creative.

Judge Shirley Guy seemed to indicate however that Dot's performance over the whole eight episodes had won the day. Fair enough - but the difference in judging criteria from the British version should be made clear.

And how did this first series shape up? Here's my assessment:

* Hosts Anne Hirsch and Donavan Goliath started out stiff and a bit out of synch - but got better over time. Hirsch remains the slicker of the two, and by Tuesday night was, as they say, cooking with gas.

* The filming was every bit as good as the British original but the information offered about the bakes was not as good - I often felt I could have done with more detail about what was expected of the contestants.

* Like the hosts, the judges got better over time. But again, I often felt I could have done with more talking from them about what was expected.

* In general, it's clear that South African baking does not have the depth of talent that one finds in Britain. Our flops were spectacular and often - something you don't see as much on the British version.

Those criticisms aside, the show has been a delight to watch. Looking forward to a second season!

IOL

@reneemoodie

 

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