Ep 11. Croydon - All in One
- May 24, 2009
Come Dine With Me is a popular British TV show that follows four or five amateur cooks as they host dinner parties for each other over the course of a week. Each night, the guests award their host a score out of 10, and the winner at the end of the week receives a cash prize. In season 10, episode 11, the show visits Croydon, a town in South London.
The episode is titled "Croydon - All in One," and it features four contestants who all hail from different cultural backgrounds. The first host is a self-proclaimed "modern-day Socrates" named Daniel, who is half-Greek and half-Lebanese. Daniel is a bit of a showman and loves to entertain, but his cooking skills are untested.
Next up is Karen, a Jamaican-born fashion designer who now lives in Croydon. Karen is known for her bold and vibrant clothing designs, and her dinner party is expected to be just as colorful. Karen plans to serve Jamaican-style jerk chicken, rice and peas, and rum punch.
The third host is Hamza, a Pakistani man who works in IT. Hamza is the only contestant who doesn't have any experience cooking for large groups of people, and he feels a lot of pressure to get everything right. Hamza decides to make a traditional Pakistani biryani for his guests, but he's worried it won't be spicy enough for their tastes.
Finally, there's Liz, a retired nurse who has lived in Croydon for most of her life. Liz is a proud Croydonian and plans to showcase some of the town's best local ingredients, including trout from a nearby river and honey from a local beekeeper. Liz is a bit nervous about hosting, but she hopes her love for her hometown will shine through.
Throughout the week, the contestants take turns hosting dinner parties, and there's plenty of drama and tension as they try to outdo each other. Daniel's night is filled with theatrics, including a belly dancing performance and a lot of ouzo. Karen's Jamaican feast is well-received, but some guests aren't sure about her use of Scotch bonnet peppers. Hamza's biryani is a hit, but Liz worries that his lack of experience could cost him points. And Liz's homey meal is a crowd-pleaser, but some guests think it's a bit too simple compared to the other nights.
As the week progresses, the contestants bond over their shared love of food and their desire to win the cash prize. But there are also plenty of tense moments, as contestants snipe at each other and try to gain the upper hand.
In the end, only one contestant can win, and viewers will have to tune in to find out who comes out on top. But regardless of who wins, the episode is a celebration of the diverse cultures and cuisines that make up modern-day Croydon.
