You look at this and you see my face?
No.
You look at this? [It’s an interpretation] And you see me?
I’m Nella.
I’m Harry.
And we’re out here meeting Black people slaying it in their lane
‘Cause you know we do that.
So Harry.
My G, how are you man?
I kind of want to ask you a question.
Question.
Tell me, what’s your favourite cake?
Erm, can I tell you three of them?
No, I just want to know one.
I’m gonna go with one. Red velvet.
Really?
Yeah red velvet. The right red velvet though. Have you had red velvet cake the Black way?
Yes... [It’s sweet no rass]
Right, so, name me, three Black chefs, go.
Ainsley, I think his surname’s Harriott. ‘Cause he’s the one who’s got the eyes and
he’s like, yeah, we’re gonna cook this today. Yeah I know him.
What I was trying to get at is when it comes to naming White chefs,
you can name like a lot of people, like Jamie Oliver.
Gordon Ramsay.
Him and Gino and all that stuff, so next question… [Talk to me] Name me three Black bakers.
I don’t even know a professional, world-renowned baker, I don’t even think that...
Me neither, bro, I’m not gonna lie. For me to meet a Black baker would
mean a lot because, it’s like wow how did you get there?
So we’re going to be meeting a very special person. His name is Liam Charles, [OK]
he was on the Great British Bake Off. He’s gonna teach us how to bake, and it’s gonna be lit.
And then you’re gonna take it home and you’re gonna cook for your mama.
I feel like he’s gonna inspire me.
Right, Harry? Let’s go see Liam! [Let’s go]
OK [Wow]. Oh OK.
I’m seeing things that I like man, chocolate.
Chocolate.
Talk to me. How you doing brother?
I’m good man.
So what are we going to be doing today?
So today I’m making a chocolate cupcake,
filled with your chocolate truffle in the middle... [Truffle]
… chocolate buttercream.
You’ve got like different piping nozzles, it’s all about pressure.
Right.
You see I like this guy. He’s one of us.
He’s one of us.
He’s one of our own.
Oh no God, look at that.
And when you move your way upwards, it’s kind of like Mr Whippy.
So we’ve learnt a likkle technique already.
[A likkle piping]
Do you know what we should do? [Yeah]
We should have a conversation while trying them.
So Liam. Finally, we get to taste these amazing cuppy cakes.
Oo, they’re so warm. God damnit.
You cheeky devil.
No, Liam these are to die for. These are amazing.
Thank you.
But Liam, more importantly how did you even get into this? [Yeah]
So I started to bake when I was around sixteen.
In sixth form I’d do, like, cake sales ‘cause my head of year at the time was super super supportive,
and he was like, have you ever considered doing Great British Bake Off?
That means you was really good then?
I was steady bro, I can’t lie.
Steady. Come on.
So after that like, it’s been kind of mad since then, d’you know what I mean.
So I host Bake Off The Professionals, a few books as well, which is fun.
[You got a book?] Yeah I got two.
[Alright, well done man] Guardian columnist.
Don’t stop though, don’t stop. [sorry sorry sorry]
Why are you stopping. Don’t stop, keep going. Any more?
When I first started, so you do have your aunties and your uncles,
like you know ‘ah wah dis you a bake cake?’. Do you know what I mean?
So you’ve got that, but also, when you go into a form of work that’s not you know,
stereotypically your own, you know it’s kind of like whoa, so it’s like there’s two roads right.
But I just realised I had to create like the Liam Charles lane. Do you know what I mean?
Ahh. Everybody step back. [No but it’s true]
Liam, honestly, I’m inspired by the wordplay you’re using.
If you ever don’t wanna bake no more, get into rapping.
Educated Black man right here.
An educated Black man that knows his stuff.
So, you’re a baker…
Yeah.
And I’m not gonna lie, in our community,
you don’t really see a lot of celebrity like Black bakers.
Facts, yeah.
So it’s like, how do you navigate your way around that?
The more years you do something the more free reign you kind of get.
If this is going to be a representation of me and my culture, it has to be unapologetically me. [Yeah]
It’s fine, like, trying to appeal to mass consumers,
but if you always do that, they’re not gonna get the essence. [Yeah]
You’re like paving the way for like more young British Black bakers.
And speaking about you being great at what you do, [Yeah]
what challenges are you going to put me and Nella through today?
So today, I’ll be teaching you how to make a
buttercream, spun sugar, and chocolate shards. [Wow]
So once I’ve taught you all the skills yeah, you guys are
gonna do a challenge where you have to decorate your own cake.
Well Liam, I can’t wait to get in the kitchen and start.
Whip it, whip it, whip it, period.
OK. Chocolate shards. It’s melted chocolate, refrigerated, marbled,
pop it in the fridge, and once it becomes solid you just smash it into different pieces.
Is one tray mine and is one tray Harry’s?
Yeah, it’s a competition innit.
Competition.
So Nella... [Yes...]
I’m going to give you the dark first, I want you to put half the quantity of this bowl into that tray.
Just keep on moving it round like that.
The amount of milk and the amount of white, just add a few dollops.
Get your forks, drag that fork through the chocolate and create a marble effect.
Nella knows what she’s doing, look at that.
Don’t mix it in too much, you’ve got to like marble it.
You see the thing is, you’re a great baker and I’m sure you do very well,
Ah, [but…] he’s about to drag you.
…but please, always wait until the end before you judge.
Buttercream. Super simple, butter, icing sugar, bit of milk
I’m whipping it like butter won’t melt...
Oh get out.
And what you do now, you want to add your icing sugar.
This is where it gets messy innit?
Now you gotta keep on just going at it now.
Is it supposed to stay on the thing?
It’s ‘cause you added a lot of milk.
Yeah so your consistency’s really not that good.
But it’s not your fault, you’re learning, do you know what I mean?
Look at my unit here, my station. ]And then look at] Nella’s.
I’m not gonna lie I’m a messy chef though,
because you notice at the end of the day my ting bangs.
Yeah so....
Last task is the spun sugar. It’s sugar, water, boiled to 165 degrees.
What I want you guys to do yeah, is to get some oil, and grease the spoons.
This is so inappropriate now.
This reminds me of when I’m in my bedroom on my own. [Oi allow dat]
Ahh! [Laughing]
This is the hot sugar. [Jesus Christ of Nazareth]
What are you?
Oh I see.
Right. Do you want to have a go? Tablespoon of sugar - it’s hot though.
I know what to do.
Hey.
I’m doing it really well innit, would you say the best you’ve ever seen?
OK so let’s just back up a likkle piece, just in case...
You lot are fake, you lot are fake, I didn’t back up for none of you man.
Who’s cleaning this up?
You collect the sugar. Now imagine that on top of a cake.
That looks mad. [Ah. Yeah]
Now it’s the ultimate challenge where
all the skills I’ve taught you, you’re going to put into one.
This is gonna be a battering.
I’m very artistic, I’m very creative.
Nella, obviously if you’ve been watching, doesn't know really how to do the
texture stuff like I did, mine was near enough perfect.
Harry’s just a comedian, he’s just a presenter, he’s not really good with his hands’
Liam actually said ‘very good’, and he looked at Nella’s with absolute disgust.
He’s not creative, I’m creative.
So this is going to be a walk in the park, like Giggs said.
Final challenge. You guys have ten minutes to decorate your cake.
[Scratching]
And your time starts now.
So what I’m trying to do, is just flatten it out.
What I’m doing, is I’m making it real messy,
but I’m just trying to cover the whole of the cake
Mad E? Look at it. It’s not doing what it needs to do.
It’s not looking good is it?
Be more gentle with the cake. You wanna just like, apply it.
A lickle gold sprinkle.
You’re getting there. It’s becoming more smooth
Nearly done.
Nella’s rushing, that’s the problem. OK I’m going to make a face.
Did your cake vomit?
It vomited at the state of your cake.
This is my Nella cake. I’ve given her two chocolate eyes, once nice small
chocolate nose and a great while smile. So I think it’s time for you to judge, Liam.
Yes. You’ve got the Nella cake made by Harry… I absolutely love your buttercream.
I do like how you used your marbled chocolate shards as Nella’s hair,
and then it comes to the sprinkles, he’s given you a white smile
even though you don’t have a white smile. But that’s ok.
No no no… Not your teeth. I don’t mean, no.
You’re not picking words wisely man.
I’m not talking about your teeth. I'm talking... [Laughing]
You’re killing yourself Liam. You’re killing yourself.
You look at this and you see my face? [No] You look at this this?
It’s an interpretation. [And you see me?]
Smile for me? OK maybe not.
OK we got Nella’s cake, very in trend, great marble
effect with your chocolate. It’s very neat.
Nella, for me, you are today’s champion. You absolutely smashed it.
Thank you Liam.
Why are you looking at me with so much sourness?
‘Cause I don’t want to smile just in case you see my teeth.
No it’s yellow from your thing that’s bouncing.
OK. Woohoo.
Thank you Liam as well for your help, you’ve really taught us a lesson.
I’ve learnt a lot today.
No honestly, I’ve learnt so much, you’re an amazing baker, and um... [Thank you]
… keep doing your thing.
First thing’s first, Nella, congratulations.
Muchas gracias.
You are the winner, but a deserved winner.
Upon reflection, I think today was good.
So Nella talk to me, what do you think it’s going to take to have
more Black people taking part in what we just did today?
Like, Black bakers need to become more hyper-visible, on Youtube,
on TV shows, on all these different baking shows.
I feel like we are the new leading figures, well I’ll say you are.
They call me Ornella [Ah Ornella] Chef Ornella.
What do they call me?
Huh? Amateur. Huh.? That’s it, French for Harry.
Do you know what Nella? I’ll see you later. I’m gone.
I’m sorry but you been judging me all season, what’s up?
‘Cause when it’s time to post up, you running off.