Ep 1. London - Jane

Come Dine With Me is a popular British reality competition show that debuted way back in 2005. The show features amateur chefs from various cities across the UK competing against each other by hosting dinner parties over the course of a week. Each night, one of the contestants hosts a dinner party, including a starter, main course, and a dessert for their guests, who rate their hosts out of ten. The host with the highest score at the end of the week wins a cash prize.

Season 1 Episode 1 of Come Dine With Me is titled "London - Jane." The episode begins with the introduction of the contestants who will compete against each other over the course of the week. The four contestants are Jane, a nature-loving host, Nick, a fifty-something singleton with a passion for food, Oliver, a 24-year-old cook, and Inge, a talented chef with a passion for entertaining. They are all meeting for the first time and sharing their thoughts about what kind of cuisine they plan on cooking.

The contestants arrive at Jane's stylish and modern home in the heart of London, and her personality quickly shines through. Jane is a free-spirited, bubbly, and quirky character, which perfectly encapsulates her decor and whimsical table setting for the evening. Jane’s attractive son also makes an appearance and is sure to grab attention from the contestants.

Jane serves up venison terrine in a chilled apple, followed by slow-cooked lamb shanks and a green apple tart for dessert. Her guests are won over by her first dish, and each of the contestants seems to be enjoying themselves. There are a few subtle jabs at each other, but for the most part, everyone is polite and gracious.

As the next contestant's evening draws nearer, Jane reflects on the evening's success, but her nerves are beginning to set in as she now knows the competition she is up against. The following night, Nick, who admits he has spent all day cooking his lamb shanks, hosts his evening. Nick is a charming and confident man who has a passion for food. He's prepared a sophisticated menu of foie gras, beef Wellington, and crème brûlée.

Over dinner, the guests discuss their thoughts on each other's evenings so far, and tensions start to rise between Oliver and Nick, who regularly bicker with each other throughout the night. Despite the strained atmosphere, the food is well received by everyone, and Nick's confident hosting leaves a good impression on the guests.

Oliver’s evening is next, and his young age and inexperience in the kitchen seem to work against him. He serves a menu of curried prawns, lamb curry with rice, and chocolate cake for dessert. While the contestants acknowledge the effort he has made, the food fails to impress, and the younger contestant is left feeling downcast and insecure.

Finally, Inge hosts the last dinner party of the week, serving up smoked salmon, sea bream, and chocolate mousse. Inge is a formidable competitor, and her guests thoroughly enjoy her dinner party. All contestants are impressed with Inge’s hosting skills, creativity, and the exceptional effort she has put into the presentation.

As the week's events come to a close, the contestants exchange final comments about their experiences. Each contestant is genuinely impressed by the other’s efforts and enjoyed the experience. The winner is announced at the end of the week, and the prize is awarded to the contestant who received the highest overall rating.

Overall, Come Dine With Me season 1 episode 1 is an entertaining watch, and it's easy to see why it became such a popular show. The four contestants are likeable and interesting individuals who keep the audience entertained. The course of the week, the show cleverly inserts small interviews with each of the contestants, giving it an extra layer of entertainment with the internal monologues. Fans of reality and cooking shows should definitely check out this series.