Soggy Bottom Girls

In 2016, former GBBO contestant Andrew Smyth made it to the finale after surviving a near elimination week six. 

 In 2020, Andrew combined his engineering career with his baking prowess- becoming a producer and judge for Netflix's episodic competition "Baking Impossible". 

In 2025, the Soggy Bottom Girls procure a once in a lifetime opportunity to speak with a bake-off legend, and, long time favorite of Lisa's.

Ple...

The girls tackle another one-off with a celebrity charity bake off - benefitting Stand Up to Cancer. The cast of the Derry Girls square off with a signature trifle. Lisa and Allison introduce the cast and their acting credits, Allison remarks that Dylan was the weakest baker of the episode. Both girls agree that this may be the funniest episode either had ever seen.  Lisa remembers receiving a trifle dish for a wedding gift and All...

The girls review a celebrity bake-off from 2019 this episode.  Lisa explains the difficulty in finding recognizable British celebrities, and both girls embark on a John Lithgow discussion.  Sidestepping Russell Brand's current problems, the girls reject his use of fondant for the first challenge, and Lisa queries Allison on her go-to home-baked brownie.  A swiss roll technical prompts Lisa to challenge herself to try a pattern...

The all-female final sparks an immediate discussion of the season 2 trophy, and, the ensuing street fair celebration. Lisa and Allison both assert their disdain for the mille feulle, and Allison thanks Lisa for catching the chick pea bug. An Austrian torte puts the contestants on even ground, though the girls agree the torte process was torture to watch.  The petit four showstopper sparks compliments for the bakers' meringues,...

With only four bakers and fiddly faffy challenges, Lisa and Allison quickly get off track with some details about Alliison's new chicks. Lisa waxes wise about the use of aquafaba as an egg replacement in mousse, and Allison wonders aloud about reaching out to the Indiana native who discovered it.

After referencing the episode's history lesson on the art of patisserie, both girls jump on the technical hot dog bun challenge....

A cheesecake signature challenge has Lisa sharing her own experience baking a Paul Hollywood recipe consisting of a faffy sponge base. Allison notes the absence of raisins in American cheesecake, and both girls question anyone's desire for apricot flan. This episode is all female, and the girls comment on the double elimination that took place the week prior. The 'croque en bouche' show stopper leads to a lively reme...

Allison and Lisa discuss the difference between the American offering of pie, and what the bakers come up with this week. Both girls agree that savory pie isn't really appealing, and Lisa shares her daughter's love for pot pies back in the day.  Lisa embraces the history lessons offered within the episode, and,  asserts her latent desire to become a food historian.  The final "your best meringue pie" challenge h...

"...Bake a dozen unique biscuits..." is this week's signature challenge. Lisa and Allison discuss how the bakers really ran with it, producing completely unique bakes with very little constraints. The girls discuss Jo's usage of lavender, and whether the judges' harsh critique was accurate. Lisa asks Allison to name her favorite cookie, and instead Allison guesses Lisa's correctly. The girls discuss th...

Lisa and Allison talk about how much more helpful Paul Hollywood used to be, and how bakers weren't nearly as supportive of one another.  Both girls throw themselves into the foccacia technical, and, Lisa shares some specifics about her own foccacia bakes. Lisa brings up the lengthy history intervals from this bread episode, and the girls discuss the potato famine and Irish soda bread. 

With a two part showstopper with one part...

In this week of tarts, the term "soggy bottom" gets utilized so frequently, Allison proposes a drinking game for fans of the show.

Lisa and Allison are reminded of the differences between American and British quiche,  and they highlight several bakers offerings of haddock and watercress.

French accents are attempted by both girls as they discuss the lemon citron technical. Lisa thinks Allison should sing with baker Ben afte...

The girls kick off this episode with an old season made new. Season 2 of the Great British Bake Off has Lisa and Allison talking big about Paul Hollywood's helpfulness, Mary Berry's lack of make -up, and the strong Mel and Sue presence.  The girls gossip about Valentine's  Day and how kids' paper Valentines have jumped the shark.  

The simple signature bake leads the girls into a red velvet cake discussion after ...

Lisa and Allison are joined by Lauren Jacobs, known from The Food Network as 'The Cheerful Baker'.  Having gained notoriety for her exquisite cookie decorating, Lauren shares some of her favorite baking tips with the girls, as well as how she became The Cheerful Baker. Another Challenge Butter ambassador,  Lauren talks about several entrepenurial paths she has taken in life, and she and Lisa connect over their shared love...

Lisa and Allison discuss the most recent GBBO Netflix Christmas episode. After introducing all the bakers, the girls remark on the unremarkable mincemeat pie challenge.  A recognizable technical bake sparks a side conversation about the availability of old episodes on Roku TV. As the bakers struggle to redeem old bakes, Lisa and Allison heap praise on the winner, and give kudos to all the rest for such a lovely holiday episode.  

Co...

Lisa and Allison kick off 2025 with a holiday bake off episode!  Allison immediately channels former baker Jurgen with her questionable German accent, and Lisa fondly speaks of returning baker Maggie. Both girls welcomed the presence of Maxi as well as Marc L.  in this one-off Netflix episode.

The girls discuss the "nun bun" signature as well as the various ways to make a chocolate shell.

Lisa fondly welcomes back the refer...

Food writer and former Master Chef contestant Hetal Vasavada joins the girls for a very special episode. Hetal explains her connection to Challenge Butter, and the Cookies for Kids' Cancer campaign taking place through December. Lisa asks about the importance of butter in baking, and shares her own recent shortbread success. Lisa asks Hetal about her time in London, and if she knows GBBO baker Rahul. Allison inquires about her...

The girls kick off this episode coughing, hacking and blowing. The discussion goes to the internet and Lisa relays however one is talking about this season's GBBO, and that perhaps Alison Hammond has something to do with it.  The girls bring up Jeff, the eliminated American, and Lisa refers to him as Terry.  Allison shares that she has been looking at adopting a shelter cat who goes by two completely unrelated names.  Allison ...

Lisa's daughter Sophie joins the girls for a semi-final breakdown. With a patisserie themed episode, the girls first break down the meaning, and talk about the signature overnight dough. Allison brings up Christiaan's rhubarb saffron flavored bake and Sophie shares the process for growing rhubarb commercially.  The women break down Dylan's performance as a bake-off finalist, and applaud the efforts of all the bakers ...

An interesting 70's theme inspires the girls to speak about their experiences in the decade they were born into. A signature choux challenge was Lisa repeating the episodes puns, and remarking on Dylan's handshake from Hollywood. 

Once again Allison disparages the banoffee pie as a technical, and once again, Lisa disagrees.  Lisa shares that she has made the Paul Hollywood banoffee, and gives it a chef's kiss. With mi...

Lisa and Allison talk meringue nests right off the bat, and Lisa wonders why they haven't called it pavlova.  In this Dylan dominated episode, the girls talk about his meringue  nest technique and subsequent Hollywood handshake.  Allison recalls an early admiration for Sumaya, but is dismayed with her overabundunce of flavors this week.  Lisa asks 'who doesn't like coffee?' ,  and the girls discuss the various s...