Come Dine With Me Season 28 Episode 20 Darlington: Nathalie

Season 28 of the hit UK show Come Dine With Me has been packed with entertaining and exciting episodes where strangers from all walks of life come together to compete for the title of best dinner party host. In episode 20, we are taken to the North East of England to the charming market town of Darlington, where we meet Nathalie.

Nathalie is a 36-year-old French chef who takes pride in cooking authentic French cuisine. Nathalie is looking forward to showcasing her culinary skills and bringing a touch of France to the North East.

As the four guests arrive, they are greeted by Nathalie, who invites them into her beautifully decorated home. Her guests are a diverse bunch, including a hairdresser, a university lecturer, a personal trainer, and a retail manager. They chat and get to know each other over a glass of bubbly while Nathalie finishes preparing her starter.

For the first course, Nathalie delights her guests with a traditional French onion soup. The guests are impressed, and the compliments start pouring in. But as the night progresses, things take a turn for the worse. Nathalie's main course, a coq au vin, fails to impress the guests, with some describing it as bland and lacking in flavor.

Despite this setback, Nathalie remains confident and moves onto dessert. She serves up a classic French tart tatin with a homemade vanilla ice cream, which goes down a treat with her guests. As the night draws to a close, the guests score Nathalie's efforts out of ten, and their scores are combined to give her a total score.

In the next scene, we are introduced to the second host, who is South African-born TV presenter Nicky. Nicky has a passion for cooking and has been honing her skills for years. She has opted for a more contemporary menu than Nathalie, with a focus on bold flavors, spices, and unusual combinations.

As Nicky's guests arrive, they are struck by her stunning home, which is filled with artwork and exotic decorations. Nicky has taken time to create a unique and stylish ambiance for her guests, and her efforts have not gone unnoticed.

For her starter, Nicky serves up a fusion dish of curried scallops with carrot and orange puree. Her guests are intrigued by the unusual combination of flavors, and it is clear that Nicky has impressed them with this dish.

As Nicky moves onto her main course, there is a murmur of excitement around the table. She has opted for a Scotch bonnet chicken dish with Jerk seasoning, which is served with grilled plantain and sweet potato mash. The guests are blown away by the flavors and the spice level of the dish, and they declare it the highlight of the evening.

Nicky finishes off with a chocolate fondant with a raspbery ganache filling, and it is a fitting end to a fantastic meal. As the guests score Nicky's efforts, it is clear that she has done well, and it is now a tight race between her and Nathalie for the title.

The final host is Craig, a 27-year-old marketing manager who is known for his love of bold flavors and experimentation in the kitchen. Craig has created a menu that highlights his creativity and culinary skills, and his guests are intrigued to see what he has in store for them.

Craig has gone for a modern British menu, with elements of Asian and Mediterranean cuisine. His starter is a scallop dish with a pea puree and a chorizo crumb, which his guests enjoy. For the main course, Craig serves up a pork belly dish with a black pudding scotch egg, which surprises and amazes his guests.

However, Craig's dessert, a lemon and rosemary tart, fails to hit the mark with his guests, with some describing it as dry and lacking in flavor. Despite this setback, Craig remains positive and upbeat, and he is proud of what he has achieved.

As the guests score Craig's efforts, it is clear that Nathalie has emerged as the winner, with Nicky coming in a close second. Nathalie is overjoyed and emotional, and she thanks her guests for their kind comments and scores.

In conclusion, Come Dine With Me season 28 episode 20 is a thrilling and exciting episode that showcases the best of North East England's culinary talent. With three very different hosts and menus, there is something for everyone, and the night is full of surprises, laughter, and delicious food.