This week Alison joins us from on the road!she tells us about what may have been a top all time dinner for her involving an unsuspecting dipping sauce.  Meredith talks apple cake and custard tarts - one fantastic, the other with a ratio that needs some work.  Sheldon takes a turn at trying shortbread and delivering on a staple cookie.  We also discuss the impact of butter in cookies and how maybe some more mixer time could solve an issue.  Note:  The below will contain details from this weeks GBBO episode.  Read at your own risk of spoiler! Interesting kick off to the Bake Off this - no funny intro like we normally get.  in the opening segments, Kevin seemed to have a "rain man" acuity for understanding custard types.  Would this be his time?  Custard has a whole new level of difficulty versus what we think about it here in the states.  There appears to be a very defined window between "runny mess" and "scrambled eggs".  Signature challenge iles flottante - "floating island".  Alison and Sheldon are moderately grossed out by the concept of something like a poached meringue.  A lot of the contestants are following their same patters.  Sandro with the over boozing and Sabirya with the exotic flavor themes.  Nobody really stood out except we all agreed Janusz might have been on the border of a handshake. In technical - the dreaded Ice Cream.  Pistachio praline to be specific.  A staggered start here so they the judges could receive fresh product that wouldn't be melted.  A couple of traps here - Abdul kept burning the heck out of his cones and a couple of the bakers were falling in to the trap of cooling their creme anglaise in the freezer vs fridge.  This error would strain their freezer and raise the temperature so much that cooling their ice cream enough to set right would be really hard.  It bit a couple people hard.  A couple of normally strong bakers  - at the back going into the showstopper.  Only one or two showed above the others with some smart planning and teeing the product up for success.   The showstopper required delivery of Set custard Gateau - think "custard and cake".   A lot of very interesting efforts here.  One drawing their base pastry from Paul's own recipe, another couple pulling from heritage and culture, A few trying hard to impress with over the top bakes.  The judges made it clear though, custard was to be the "hero".  One baker was told that was not the case.   Another baker delivered a pretty, but awful product "your custard tastes like wallpaper paste"  - ouch.  The one whom was sent home thought delivered great taste... but a less of a visual.  Star baker was a come from behind win.   This was one week where at least a couple of us thought the judges "got it wrong".  We felt that they allowed past strong performance to weigh this week in itself and send someone home that had a better day, but was weaker overall.    Score update:  Meredith: 29 Alison: 17:  Sheldon: 10