The premise: each night for one week, our zany and wacky fivesome (more on them later) took turns cooking up our idea of the perfect evening – including the menu, cocktails, wine, entertainment and ambiance. After dinner, each of us would rate the host’s performance and at the end of the week, the host with most votes is crowned the winner and rewarded with the ‘ultimate dinner party host’ title and a cash prize.
The week of filming was one of the most intense of my life. I felt as if I was living in some surreal crazy town. It was beyond anything I had ever experienced in my life. By the end of the five days, I was utterly exhausted and ready to never lay eyes on the other participants again (this has since changed). Heh.
I was the third of our fivesome to host. My menu consisted of an elderflower cocktail as the welcome drink, shrimp bruschetta and ogoniok as the appetizer, baked halibut with chimichurri as the main course, and a berry pavlova with double raspberry sauce for dessert. I thought I did a fantastic job and was proud of my evening. God only knows what the others had to say. Yikes.
The others were the oddest group of dining companions; Brett, the 29-year-old liquor salesman/actor, 31-year-old Jana – a stay-at-home mom and tanning salon owner, 42-year-old Barbara – a communications manager of a non-profit organization and Philippe, the 48-year-old great grandson of the French painter Renoir. The hilarity that ensued with our zany quintet is a producer’s dream. Although, I saw things I can't unsee, I also can't remember the last time I laughed that hard.
You can watch the 5 back-to-back episodes on Monday, October 29 beginning at 8:30 p.m. MT (7:30 p.m. ET) on the W Network. I'll be watching at an airing party (fancy schmancy!) with my family and friends plus the other participants and their peeps. Should be a riot!
Until the show airs, you can check out my audition video (& pics) on the Come Dine with Me Canada Facebook page. Um, it’s real interesting. (;
Wondering why the heck I did this? This article in the Edmonton Journal does a good job explaining.
p.s. Scotty and I just got back from NYC. We had a blast and took over 1,000 pictures! Blog post to come later as soon as I get my act together. Thanks to everyone who suggested things for us to see and do. You guys rock!
Sounds like an interesting experience! I've actually never watched the show, but I can just about imagine all it would entail. I may have to check it out next week.
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting to say the least, Shauna. I'm looking forward to seeing what "character" I'll play. (;
DeleteI am so excited to watch you, D! I saw your audition online, the camera loves you. You are an amazing cook and wonderful host, I know you did awesome. Those people better be nice to you!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your support, C! It's nice to have you cheering for me. xoxo
Deletep.s. Goodness only knows what the other peeps said about me. We'll find out on Monday night. Haha!
I will have to remember to watch... I may just DVR it so I am SURE I will see it. I've only seen it a couple of times, so I will be very excited to see it this time! :)
ReplyDeleteI am beyond excited, Kerry!! May even pee my pants. (;
DeleteThank gosh for PVRs! I'd miss all of my fav shows if it wasn't for that contraption.
I will keep my eyes peeled for your show. Ahhhhhh NYC, my favorite city of all time!!!!! Nothing beats the sights, sounds and smells. Cannot wait to see your pics. Welcome to the group!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the warm welcome, Tracey! (:
DeleteNYC was amazing and crazy and magical! We ate, saw & shopped our hearts out. Can't wait to go back.
Sounds like a lot of fun!!!
ReplyDeleteIt was HEAPS of fun, Jennifer! There were times my abs ached from laughing so hard. Plus, the CDWMC crew was fantastic. We got to know them pretty well after spending five consecutive sixteen-hour days together.
DeleteOh - I would have loved to have given you input for your trip - but, as you know - have been completely our of the loop with mom and dad so ill this fall! I got a press release to interview and do a piece for this show - and had planned to - but then could not! TO THINK it would be YOU! I am so happy for you - and now nervous to see what they did to damage the character of each of you - as that is what they do.... hopefully, the Canadian Prairie version will be kinder than other similar shows have been. YOU WILL BE GREAT! I cannot wait to watch! :) V XOXOXO
ReplyDeleteJournal article was incredible!
I'll be sure to get your input for our next NYC trip, V. I MUST go back - it's heaven for foodies.
DeleteThanks so much for your support, lady! It's hard to say what they'll do with the editing. No matter, it was all in good fun and I have no regrets. (:
So cool!
ReplyDeleteIt was an extremely cool "bucket list" kind of experience, Bonnie. Definitely something to tell the grandkids about. Or not. (;
Deleteoh wow- looking forward to watching it!!
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoyed watching it, lady! It was such a fun and crazy experience. (:
Deleteoh wow.. this is so so cool!!! :D hopefully, you'll tell us about nyc. i was just there a month ago and I'm totally making it an annual thing to visit. I'm in love with the city!! :D
ReplyDeleteClick me for my NEW BLOG
It was a very cool experience, Libby! Doing the show AND visiting NYC. (:
DeleteI am so excited about posting my NYC pics - I just have to stop procrastinating and get my shit together. Soon.
p.s. I checked out your blog. Love that grey mani.
What a cool experience. I would love to see it but don't have cable (and I missed the date) perhaps I can find it online...
ReplyDeleteBeing on Come Dine With Me Canada was surreal, intense and fun, Stevie. My bucket list is one item smaller. (:
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, the W Network doesn't post the show online. Boo! I'm hoping someone posts it on YouTube because I have family in Croatia and Bosnia that would like to watch it, too.
It was fun to watch, you did a superb job! I can't even imagine having to make "nice" with all the others! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your kind words, Barbara. Truthfully, I had to bite my tongue more than a few times during the taping!
DeleteWOW this is fabulous! Can you update when it's viewable in the US?
ReplyDeleteps - pity I didn't have my food/drink guide on my blog up and running before your visit! Come back to NYC soon!!
Hi Usha! I'm not sure the show will be viewable in the US. I'm hoping someone will upload it to YouTube. If that happens, I'll let you know.
Deleteps. I'll be sure to study your food&drink guide on my next NYC trip.
I have to come back!!(:
aah i watched the german version of this show when i was there...that's so cool you were on it!
ReplyDeletei'd kind of love to be on tv :)
That's cool, Rachael! I didn't know there was a German version, too.
DeleteIt was so much fun to do the show and a little (make that A LOT) intense, too. Spending five 16-hour days with four strangers was crazy and not something I normally do (or would recommend).
You guys were amazing...and hilarious! I've always watched the show here and there but never all the way through each contestant's turn. I definitely watched from start to finish with this one, being from Edmonton myself ;) They do such a good job editing/producing these shows, it always makes me laugh, but I've always wondered how much of the contestants responses to the individual interviews are actually relevant to the voice over's questions. I imagine they cut and paste responses to add humour.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, great job, we loved watching the entertaining bunch of Edmontonians!
I'm so glad you enjoyed watching our motley crew of cooks! It was one of the craziest weeks of my life, let me tell you! CRAZY.
DeleteAnd you're right, they do an amazing job with the editing. The crew must have had so much fun cutting and pasting our group's responses. Especially Brett's. Haha.