In the age of social media – everyone’s an expert. I know
exactly what a girl I met briefly on a course seven years
ago thinks of last night’s episode of BBC Question Time and I know that my ex-work colleague just made and snapchatted some 'homemade' sausage rolls.
But what does it all mean? And how can we glean value from content overload
without actually experiencing things first hand? Do I have to keep taking
people’s word for it – for example, is that hot new vegan-pick n’ mix-coffee
shop-owl-petting-zoo pop-up really as good as it sounds just because it got 107 likes on Instagram?
The answer it seems, is simple. We need to do more things in real life that have experts in their field at the helm, sharing their wealth of knowledge first
hand. During his campaign for an EU exit, Michael Gove famously said: ‘The people
have had enough of experts’. This astonishing quote was extremely short-sighted.
Would he have said this if he’d had the chance to #bakewithalegend? I
think not, and as such, Brexit may never have happened.
I had the time of my life at new social event concept ‘BakeWith a Legend’ – the ingenious event format perfect for groups of friends – be it hen
do revellers, corporate team building events, milestone birthday celebrants or
indeed a group of friends looking for an alternative way to spend a weekend
afternoon other than the obligatory‘bottomless
brunch’. It would also be the perfect ‘experience’ gift for Christmas. It was
like I was in the TV. I was a contestant on the Great British Bake Off (let's go for a northern Candice), flung right into the show’s
very essence - and it was Pastry Week.
Not only do you get access to minds from the Great British
Bake Off’s glory days at the BBC – I got to absorb the baking words of wisdom
from Howard Middleton and Glenn Cosby – you really do have a lot of fun
creating delicious baked goods you never thought you could make. I had a good
go at glamourous chocolate eclairs, which we got to decorate with gold leaf and
glitter. The kind of indulgence on a Thursday evening I’d imagine only Kimye
have attained in the past. The prosecco helped too – my chocolate frosting
glided onto the éclair with an imbued confidence. Just being in the same room as Howard and Glenn allowed me to find out exactly where I'd failed in the kitchen previously, with little tips the recipe doesn't tell you. For example, how to bring your praline back from the brink, and how your choux mix should be smooth and dried out, and not too wet and resembling cellulite (this was an actual pre-piping tip that ensured golden buns).
Cracking eggs like a pro
Series 4 GBBO contestant Glenn Cosby, who's a consultant for Bake
With a Legend, says “I am so excited to be a part of such a great concept
bringing people together to do something new and entertaining. Bake With a
Legend lays on everything, so all you need to do is turn up and be ready to get
involved and have fun!”.
I also had a great chat with Howard, who told me he'd thought Benjamina for the win, which unfortunately isn't meant to be....he also told me he swears by butter in cakes. I'll steer away from the Stork in future.
The concept is the brainchild of Josh Landy, founder of Play
With a Legend, a sporting concept that enables fans to play sporting events
with their idols. Landy says "Bake With a Legend, is all about trying
something new and having fun with friends, family and colleagues. The feedback
from our initial events has been that people love the chance be taught by some
of their TV baking heroes. As baking shows get ever-more popular we are
expecting demand to rise and rise so anyone who’s interested should get in
touch and let us provide them with an event to remember ".
Prices starting from £95pp. For more information, go to
bakewithalegend.com.
To see what it’s like to Bake With a Legend, watch Bake With
a Legend's promo video here
