Bake Off Your Election Hangover: Tala vs Silverwood

This week’s newsletter is a treat* for the baker in you, because I’m going to be extoling the virtues (and the downsides) of our two bakeware ranges, both are market leaders in their respective fields and both from companies who know how to make a great product and who I’ve known for decades and love dealing with. These two are George East (now renamed Dayes) who own and manufacture the Tala brand (Tala Performance) and Silverwood who you are probably familiar with, and who make (in Birmingham) a wonderful and huge range of silver anodised bakeware.

But, before I get onto that, I went for a pint with a friend (another Andrew) the other night. He met me after work and we went across the road to the Bull’s Head, a lovely, good old fashioned pub, warm, inviting and with a friendly engaging bloke behind the bar. As we sat down, Andrew asked me how I was, and I had to confess to him that at the start of that day I had not been in a good space. It was Wednesday, the morning of the results of American Presidential elections. The news that the American people had voted in Trump as their president was a shock, mainly (and selfishly) because he has said he will withdraw support for Ukraine, and I’m concerned what that would mean for both Ukraine and for Europe as a whole, let alone what other would-be autocrats around the world might take from this change in US attitude.

The point of mentioning this is not to make a political point, rather an observation of my own reaction to what I regarded as very bad news and one that I am helpless to influence. Historically, my pathology, for such an event, is to have a tendency to spiral downwards into some sort of pit of despair. This I’ve battled with, with some level of success over the years, mainly through having a very effective therapist to talk things through with (who importantly, also gets me in touch with the feelings as well). Plus, a wonderful wife who would often ‘read my thoughts’ and feelings, and good friends and colleagues who have listened well and patiently to me. But also, what helped me on Wednesday morning was recalling a favourite quote from F Scott Fitzgerald, which says this.  “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.” Something I aspire to!

In trying to explain the connection between my natural reaction to worrying news, and the Fitzgerald quote, what I’m about to say may be a little oblique.  But what I take from Fitzgerald’s words, is the need for balance. I don’t know about you, but for me, keeping this balance on many occasions I’ve found pretty difficult.

So, in my case, it’s about the ability to recognise that I have no influence over the situation (the US election), to accept that fact but not dismiss it out of mind or dismiss my feelings about it. But in fact, to keep this in mind whilst also finding a way of getting back to my everyday reality. The reality of my home life, my job at Art of Living and having a pint with a friend….. Achieving that balance, which to some degree I feel I have, is a victory. I feel like I’m really growing up! Better late than never…….

Tala Performance Nonstick Bakeware

And so to product. Tala’s Performance bakeware is heavy duty and tough, and in the world of nonstick bakeware may well be an icon that many would aspire to. It is, I believe, the best of its type in a competitive market, and whilst it’s true that Nick Squire (MD of Tala) is a friend, I also get on very well with my chums at Le Creuset and Kitchencraft, both of whom also do excellent nonstick ranges.

So why do I consider Tala the best? Well, I think it has the edge over the competition due to its quality of nonstick giving excellent release, it’s PFAS free and highly durable. Add to this, the gauge of metal and its competitive price and you won’t be surprised to learn we rarely ever have any returned.

Tala Performance comes in a very large range, of approximately 60 pieces, that as well as the obvious Cake Tins, round and square (with loose bottoms…) includes:

• Baking Trays in (5 sizes)
• Baking Sheets (2 Sizes)
• Round Sandwich tins (4 sizes)
• Springform (4 sizes)
• Loaf Tins (3 sizes)
• Tart/Flan tins (7 sizes)
• plus other specialist items such as Kugelhofs, Pie dishes, Madeleine Tin, Yorkshire puds and Brownie Pans.

So a pretty huge range, made in 1mm gauge steel, which actually is very thick (for comparison Le Creuset’s excellent bakeware is only 0.8mm thick), coated in a high quality nonstick coating that from experience of selling this range for many years, is very slippery, very tough and very long lasting. The coating is also PFAS free and dishwasher safe**. The thick steel spreads the heat more evenly, (than thinner bakeware commonly available), throughout the cooking process, and food usually just falls out of it, when the time comes to decant. Having said all this, don’t ever use, say a roaster on the hob to make gravy. You will burn the nonstick off in two shakes of a lambs tail.

Bakeware is generally just for use in the oven. For exceptions to this rule, see Silverwood below****.

*Presumptuous of me I know, and quite possibly, just plain wrong. Just because you subscribe to this newsletter, doesn’t mean you’re a baker, and if you’re not then this will, at best be of only academic interest to you. So, my apologies if you’re not (a baker)!

**You will make your nonstick last longer if you wash by hand. This applies to ALL non sticks, not just Tala’s.

Silverwood Silver Anodised Bakeware.

Some would say that this is the ultimate form of bakeware. And they’d say this because it’s made of aluminium, which is light, spreads heat at the speed of light (ok exaggeration, but it is 4 or 5 times faster than steel) and it has a surface that make it very smooth and pretty easy to clean too***. Because the material spreads heat fast and evenly you should typically reduce the cooking time by approximately 10-15% (the smaller the piece the greater the reduction). Most of the bakeware that we have at home is this brand, and when Jeanne was making the quiches that I mentioned last week for our company meeting, she was using the Silverwood Quiche tins, which are a little deeper than their ordinary flan tins and the flutes rather larger (which does make them even easier to clean afterwards).

If there is a range of bakeware where you can get away without blind baking (i.e. line with pastry and the filing and bake in one go), it’s with Silverwood, such is the effectiveness of its heat transmission which cooks pastry effectively even with a filling above it.

If you are impressed by the size of the Tala range, then Silverwood, at over 100 pieces, is markedly larger and more comprehensive. The Quiche tins are an example of this, as are the deep Delia Smith Sandwich pans. 

Here’s a selection of just some of the other Bakeware in the range:

• Roasting pans****
• Roasting trays ****
• Battenburg trays
• Eye Catcher Brownie pans in 4 sizes, square and rectangular.
• more sizes of Round and Square Cake Tins than you could shake a stick at,
• College Pudding Moulds
• Dariole moulds
• Savarin Moulds
• Pork Pie Moulds
• Panettone pans
• Tarte Tatin tins
• Pizza Pans

and so the list goes on and on.

So, what’s the problem with this seemingly perfect bakeware?

Well, the first thing that comes to mind is cost.

A 7” Round Cake Tin is over £18.00, rising to a smidge under £40 for a 12” one (not that anybody makes 12” cakes these days, sadly) but it gives you an idea.

The other, is that they are NOT dishwasher safe at all. If you are very unlucky just one visit to the dishwasher will remove the anodic layer, and certainly several will take it all off. Dishwashers are hostile environments and unfortunately have the ability to remove all the anodising. Of course, if you do, in a moment of absent mindedness, you can still continue to use the pan, but it will be harder to clean in the future and look a bit moth eaten. You can probably guess how I know this!

Having said all this, it is by and large a pretty indestructible product, and unlike the nonstick alternatives, could well be a pan that you hand down to your children. I am a huge fan of the range, its quality is unsurpassed, as are its cooking abilities. An expensive but brilliant product.

***baked on pastry needs a few minutes soaking to make it a doddle to wash off, and their bread tins really shouldn’t be washed up at all. With them it’s best to leave a patina to build up, which gradually increases the release qualities

**** You can use Silverwood Roasting Pans and Trays on the hob to make gravy or just reheat, quite safely

The Offer

So, this weekend I’ll be offering you 20% OFF if you purchase 2 pieces from either Tala or Silverwood and you may mix and match, or mix and (not) match. 

Please use code BAKE20 when shopping online, or just tell us who you are when coming into Cobham and Reigate.
 
I trust you have a pleasant and peaceful weekend.

Warm regards

Andrew

Andrew Bluett-Duncan

Director