I've been really enjoying this season of Bake Off, which we've been watching as a family, and in particular I love the way that obscure baking terminology is introduced with no explanation. Achieving "lamination" and "macaronage" both highly prized in last night's ep but remained utterly mysterious
Video - French Pâtisserie Technique: Macaronage
Second in the series of videos where our Chefs share some classic French techniques, we show you how to make French-style macaronage for macarons.
It is really fun TV in wch ppl are achieving extraordinary technical feats without the necessary skills being dumbed down. I felt at the start of the series like it had all become a bit too hard, but have changed my mind. Like, sure, make a massive chocolate egg with 12kg of chocolate just for fun
And also have a little cry about it on the telly. Ah, this is the good stuff. Grown men having a little sob about their massive chocolate eggs. If only everyone was given the free time for such lovely follies
Rachel Coldicutt