Every city has its own delicacy, and Paul Hollywood is back on his mission to learn how to make the tastiest local treats in the series Paul Hollywood City Bakes. Travelling the globe in search of the best-kept baking secrets, Paul will meet the crème de la crème of bakers and continue his culinary education.
Follow him from Bergen to Cape Town and beyond as he discovers the world’s sweetest surprises. From family-owned bakeries and corner delis to luxury hotels where diners have been enjoying unique recipes for decades. Paul Hollywood City Bakes premiers Friday 26 May at 8pm on Food Network, DStv channel 175. Watch the Cape Town episode air on Friday, 28 July at 8pm.
Episodic Synopsis
Palermo | 26 May | 8pm
Paul discovers that visiting Palermo is an experience rich in street culture. He explores Arabic influenced food markets squeezed amongst ancient streets selling 1000 year old recipes of crunchy Arancina rice balls, to the Scillian version of Pizza, Sfincione, which is baked overnight and best eaten for breakfast. In one of the cities oldest bakeries Paul learns the secrets of Cannoli. At Pasticceria San Michele he meets 79 year old artist Vincenzo, who hand paints 100’s of marzipan fruit each day.
L.A. | 02 June | 8pm
Not everybody has their name as an international icon, emblazoned across a hillside in 45 feet high letters – but Paul does! He drives right up to the sign for a selfie to end all selfies. Downtown LA in Grand Central Market Valerie Gordon has been researching the cakes and desserts from Hollywood’s long lost celebrity restaurants and Elizabeth Taylor’s favourite cake to show Paul. He has his first ever exploration into Gluten Free Baking.
Dublin | 09 June | 8pm
Paul meets Irish chef and author Clodagh McKenna and discovers that Soda Bread was on her family table as she was growing up. He meets a potato fanatic, who has updated the Irish Boxty recipe to become a celebration of local ingredients. Patrick Ryan at the Firehouse Bakery shares the secrets of buttermilk in his fluffy white Batch Bread! Paul also meets a baker who has created an afternoon tea like no other, as every incredible cakes is inspired by amazing artwork.
Antwerp | 16 June | 8pm
Paul discovers a city that is a pure foodie heaven – stuffed full of the things we love most in life, from chocolate, potato fries and waffles to diamonds. Paul meets chef Johan Segers who has held a Michelin star for over 20 years, and has on his menu the best sausage rolls Paul has ever tasted. Paul discovers that the French Fry is actually Belgian in origin – and Antwerp is full of delicious potato chip shops. In Antwerp the kosher Klienblatt Bakery tests Paul’s Challah plaiting skills to the limit!
Nicosia | 23 June | 8pm
Before Paul became a household name, he was the head baker at a luxury hotel in Cyprus. Paul takes us deep into a culture where bakeries have existed for a 100 years. Paul gets scolded whilst baking Locomades.
Reykjavik | 30 June | 8pm
Exploring Reykjavik leads to plenty of surprises. For the first time ever he bakes using volcanic geothermal energy, leaving his spiced and fruited loaf for 24 hours in a unique oven over a steaming geyser. Paul meets food writer Eva Laufey who introduces him to the Iceland’s unique Skyr yoghurt. The Mayor of Reykjavik invites Paul home to show him how to make delicate Leaf Bread.
San Francisco | 7 July | 8pm
San Francisco is home to one of America’s most iconic bakes, the sourdough. A bread that arrived with the gold rush era and has been baked here ever since. Paul can’t wait to get his first taste, and the renowned Chad Robertson of Tartine bakery welcomes him and explains the secrets behind the best sourdough Paul has ever tasted. The city holds other secrets – the Chinese Fortune Cookie, still handmade in the backstreets of Chinatown, to French style cakes with Japanese flavours at Craftsmen and Wolves bakery.
Bergen | 14 July | 8pm
Paul knows a lot about baking, but Norwegian baking is totally new to him. In his time spent exploring the pretty city of Bergen he finds incredible bakes galore. The Norwegian Bolle is a sweet bun that comes in many different forms, including the Skolebolle with crème patisserie and coconut.
Jerusalem | 21 July | 8pm
Israeli TV chef Gil Hovav introduces Paul to some of the incredible bakes he will find across the few square miles of the city. Paul tastes Arabic sweets, rich with honey and pistachio, and flatbreads created the same way for a thousand years. He meets bakers cherishing the Yemeni baking of their ancestors, and tastes perhaps the best hummus and falafel in the world.
Cape Town | 28 July | 8pm
Paul finds communities who cherish baking as much as he does. He visits the cosmopolitan streets with Siba Mtongana, who gives him an unforgettable tour around her city’s best baking hotspots. Charlies Bakery in District 6 brings the Rainbow Nation home with their incredibly colourful baking, and The Kitchen in Woodstock show Paul their honest yet creative way with flavours. Siba also takes Paul outside the city to explore the baking in the townships, and meet BREADrev, who handmake their own ovens – so they can make their own artisan breads! And they meet township resident Thembile who is bringing an understanding of good baking to the communities.
What: Paul Hollywood City bakes s2
Where: Food Network DStv Channel 175
When: Premiers Friday, 26 May at 8pm
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