"The Great British Bake Off" is your friend

The U.S. desperately needs its own version of “The Great British Bake Off”. Desperately! Yes, that is hyperbole, but this show is good. There are twelve amateur baker contestants, two judges with irreproachable technical knowledge, and a hosting duo specializing in cheeky double entendres. The bakers are culturally and regionally diverse, and range in age from seventeen to over 60. They are passionate people who spend a lot of time thinking about sponge cake fillings. The show has established a specific menu of desserts- classic British and some continental European- that each baker must master and bake in timed competitions. There are desserts for birthday parties and holidays, and the kinds of treats one assumes royalty or billionaires consume in intimate gatherings. The show is successful for many reasons, but the affecting nature of desserts is the linchpin. Whatever the season or occasion, enjoying sweet morsels with family and friends has a lasting emotional resonance.

An American version of the show could provide a view into the evolving American experience. Is there a repertoire of desserts that can accurately represent the American tapestry? Would regional recipes still have a place at the table? And could Americans finally come to some consensus on the best kind of chocolate chip cookie?

PBS is showing “The Great British Bake Off’ as “The Great British Baking Show.”