Come Dine with Me

[Steve Maskery]

Does anybody watch this show?

I've just had a phone call from one of the production team asking me if I am interested. This is the second time, the first being about 6 years ago. In the end they didn't select me, but they came and interviewed me and filmed me a bit and we talked about food and dining room furniture.

I'd never seen the the show, so I thought I'd better , so I watched it that day, about an hour before they came. I was far from heartbroken when they turned me down, as it seemed to me that the whole premise of the show was to pitch people against each other to try to be as nasty as possible about each other's cooking. As I'm as passionate about cooking as I am about woodwork - possibly moreso these days - I certainly don't want people being rude about my cuisine.

I don't know how they got hold of me in the first place, I certainly didn't apply, and part of me thinks I should take any and every opportunity that come along in life. And it could be fun. But it could also be a ghastly piece of tat.

What do you reckon?
S

 

[Paul Chapman]

Hi Steve,

I'm not into cooking but my wife is so I've watched the show a few times. A lot of the people do come across as thoroughly unpleasant and seem intent on bitching about the others on the show. However, knowing that, there's an opportunity to come across as the nice guy, I reckon. All depends how you play it :wink:

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[wizer]

I hate it! I watched it with some interest in the first season but am so sick of it now. My missus watches it constantly. I just think it's a bunch of people who want to be on TV, not a fly on the wall docu about strangers getting together to share a passion in cooking\food. It's just big brother for adults. They will put you up against anyone they think will rub you up the wrong way so they can exploit it on the TV.

Sorry Steve, I think you can do better TV than this. That's coming from someone who's worked in the industry for 10yrs.

 

[Racers]

Hi, Steve

I have watched enough of one show to know you dodged a bullet. Tabloid TV.

Pete

 

[wizer]

Tabloid TV.

Couldn't have put it better myself.

 

[StevieB]

Interesting - I had a letter from Granada last Thursday asking me if I wanted to take part! No idea why, I am not a foodie and certainly have never registered with them. Perhaps Axminster are selling their mailing list :lol:

The main show with the public is indeed dross in my opinion. The celeb one was a just about OK, for laughs though, not the quality of the food. Christopher Biggins serving Sainsbury's salmon mousse as his own and the other 'celebs' praising his cooking talents :twisted:

If you are a serious foodie, as I get the impression you are Steve from your various contributions to the forum, then steer well clear would be my advice!

Steve.

 

[Jenx]

Steve ... forgive me commenting. - I have absolutely no knowledge of TV Production, or indeed of cooking ... can fry an egg and thats about it.
..

But what I thought was a relevant observation, if I may ....

You are uncertain about it in your own mind, to the extent where you have sought input here from others.
Perhaps that in itself, is confirming a 'gut-feel' that you have already.
If it was a 'stonewall cert' that it would be the right thing to do.. then I feel sure that you'd be totally behind the idea, and your own judgement would be driving you onwards at some pace, to go through with it.
Trust in, and go with your instincts ... they won't fail you. 8)

Sorry if thats a bit 'granny & eggsucking' sounding ...
its not meant to be..
I'd have 100% faith in a decision You made on "gut feel" ...


Its just a wee observation / view thingummy 8) 8) :lol: :lol:

 

[MikeG.]

part of me thinks I should take any and every opportunity that come along in life
S

You should certainly consider every opportunity that presents itself..............but what is this actually an opportunity for? To appear on TV? Well, that of itself is a bit of a so-what.........

Could anything else spring from it? Could it help sell some of your work, or find you a decent employer, or end up in a book deal? I suspect it would end up focussing on your over-cooked something-or-other "disaster", or down the cleavage of the most shameless contestant.....

Give it a miss, Steve!

Mike

 

[RogerS]

Well avoided, Steve.

I've had my 15 minutes :wink:

 

[Steve Maskery]

Mike
My food is NEVER overcooked! Pistols at dawn, sir! (Er, never say never...) and, sadly, I have a cleavage to challenge any shameless hussy. Actually that may be a strategy - I am desperate these days...

As for wanting to be on the telly - been there done that. Young Magician of the Year Competition, 1975, hosted by the Magic Circle and presented by Peter Purves. And I've got a cringe-worthy video to prove it.

Last Saturday's dinner party was:
Portobella mushrooms, stuffed with gorgonzola (much better than with Stilton, I'm sorry to say, coming from Notts), wrapped tightly in prosciutto (so they don't leak) and baked for 10 minutes, mmmm

Smoked salmon risotto with spinach and sharp salad

Apple and rhubarb easter pie ( seasoned with ginger and nutmeg, the pie bit made with ground almonds, sugar and eggs, topped with toasted almonds) served with mascarpone and honey sauce. Definitely currently at the top of my faves list.

Thank you one and all for confirming my worst fears.

So, Tom, how do I get a show produced, called "Cooking in Steve Maskery's Workshop"?

Cheers
Steve

PS SWMBO's birthday today, so we are going out. Tapas, I think. I'm salivating already.

 

[MikeG.]

I have a cleavage to challenge any shameless hussy.

Apple and rhubarb easter pie ( seasoned with ginger and nutmeg, the pie bit made with ground almonds, sugar and eggs, topped with toasted almonds) served with mascarpone and honey sauce. Definitely currently at the top of my faves list.

I'd have a cleavage too if puddings like that featured in my life! It sounds gorgeous!! Surely the pie needs a little flour to hold it together........ground almonds need a little help to stick!

Don't forget, that programme isn't about cooking!!!

Mike

 

[Steve Maskery]

Hi Mike
We don't eat like that every day!

Actually the ground almonds are a very good substitute for flour. We have a friend who can't eat flour and she does all her cooking using ground almonds.

The pie bit isn't really like pastry, nor like cake. Nor like a soufflé. But it's a bit like a cross between the three. A sort of crusted soufflé, if you like. Nice and light. I found the recipe
hereif you want to have a go, I just pepped it up a bit with some ginger and nutmeg. It says it serves 6 but I did a 2/3 version and that would have served 6 easily. I reckon it would do 8 generous portions.

Let me know ho you get on.

Cheers
Fat Steve

 

[Digit]

can fry an egg and thats about it.

That makes you an expert. I can't boil water without burning it.

Roy.

 

[Rich]

can fry an egg and thats about it.

That makes you an expert. I can't boil water without burning it.

Roy.

My dustbin has ulcers. :shock:

Rich.

 

[Jenx]

:lol: :lol: :lol:
I was in need of cheering up, and Rich, thats wicked !! 8) 8) 8)

 

[MikeG.]

Steve,

if I was told I could only eat one food-stuff until I died, it would probably be almonds. I love anything with almonds in it. As a lad in Australia we had an enormous almond tree in the garden, and would collect dust-bin fulls every year. I am a complete marzipan addict......

.........so your recipe sounds right up my street. Rather than flour helping it "hang together" as I suggested previously, it helps lighten things a bit.........otherwise the danger is that it might be a bit oily and heavy. But we do an almond and apricot flan/ pie thing for dinner parties that is to die for........I sometimes accidentally forget to offer it to the guests, and then, gee shucks, have to eat the whole thing myself over the next day or two.

When I played sport every day I consumed probably 5000 to 6000 calories daily........and that is habit forming. Now that I am burning less energy I have had to adapt to different disciplines.....so puddings like that are very occasional affairs indeed, I'm afraid!!!

I think there ought to be a Steve Maskerry GTG, but in the evening........and sod the workshop and all those unnecessary planes!

Mike

 

[Steve Maskery]

Fine by me! Anytime you are up the M1.
S