Pals cook up a version of TV's Come Dine With Me (From Wharfedale Observer)

Pals cook up a version of TV's Come Dine With Me

11:01am Friday 15th May 2009

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Discussing the TV programme they had watched the night before gave Sue Pawson, Gill Cavaliera, Jo Crosby, Wendy Hey, Joan Baker and Barbara Davies some food for thought.

The programme in question – Channel 4’s Come Dine with Me – follows four or five people cooking for each other over the course of a week.

“I thought it was a really good idea. It was a bit stressful but I had fun doing it. I don’t think you appreciate how stressful it is until it’s your turn to cook,

Jo Crosby

The contestants have never met before and each programme features a host preparing, cooking and serving a three-course meal. They are judged by their guests, who not only scrutinise the food, presentation and any entertainment on offer – they also snoop around their host’s home.

Competition is fierce, with the diners battling it out for a £1,000 prize, and their critiques of each other’s meals can be cutting.

Now the format has come to Ilkley, where six women working in the office at the town’s grammar school decided to host their own version. The atmosphere in the workplace is friendly and affable . . . but wait until they start cooking!

Jo Crosby is probably the most reluctant cook in the group. Having sampled office manager Sue Pawson’s delectable bistro-themed dishes as the first Come Dine with Me host at her Yeadon home in January, and Gill Cavaliera’s Masterchef-style mouth-watering marvels in February, Jo decided that whipping up a bowl of pasta for the March gathering simply wouldn’t pass muster.

Sue and school secretary Gill, from Silsden, entered the friendly contest on a high so Jo had to up the ante.

“I spent a fortune!” she laughs, referring to the various pieces of monkfish she purchased for her ‘tried and tested’ run-through before the actual evening.

Jo even went to the lengths of buying a new dinner set. She had just moved into her Otley home and says it took her a couple of weeks to get it ready.

“I did the tried and tested recipes two or three times to make sure it was all right. I’d never cooked monkfish before,” she says.

Of course, there isn’t really a competitive streak between these girls. Their intention when initially discussing the idea of hosting their own Come Dine with Me social evenings was more to get together for girls’ nights in.

Unlike the TV show, they don’t poke fun at each other’s choice of interior design, nor do they criticise each other’s cooking. And they are appreciative of the various feasts which have so far been put before them – although Wendy tells me they will vote on the best once all six meals have been sampled.

The next gathering is at Wendy’s home in Addingham.

Jo was relieved to have ‘survived’ her own dinner party and is looking forward to someone else doing all the work.

“I thought it was a really good idea. It was a bit stressful but I had fun doing it. I don’t think you appreciate how stressful it is until it’s your turn to cook,” says Jo.

Canny Sue opted to go first. “There is no level when you start,” she says.

Being a busy mum-of-two gives Sue little opportunity to practice her fancy cuisine, so she relishes the opportunity to entertain.

“I like cooking for people and we’re such good friends,” she says, referring to her culinary colleagues.

Sue, Joan and Barbara have worked together for 15 years. Wendy joined the school six years ago, Gill three years ago and Jo two years ago.

“To say we all work together we don’t get fed up of each other’s company so that says a lot about us as friends,” says Sue.

When we speak, mum-of-one Wendy is anxiously working on the April menu and is considering an American-themed meal inspired by her recent trip to the States.

“I don’t love cooking at all. Mine will be a bit more informal!” she laughs.

“It’s really good fun. We always do it on a Friday night. I’m a busy mum so at the end of the week it’s lovely to have a meal made for you.”

Come Dine with Me is among the host of cookery programmes avid viewer Joan watches. She and Gill were the instigators of what has become an important occasion on the friends’ social calendars.

Mum-of-two Joan, from Fewston, near Otley, is working on the May menu.

Joan calls herself a ‘social cook’ who has confidence and says she and her pals were good enough cooks to more than match the TV hosts.

“We all love food and cooking,” she says. “Some like it more than others but we enjoy good food so we thought why don’t we do it?”

Joan says while they don’t set out to be competitive, as they are cooking for friends, there is a hint of wanting to do the best.

“You couldn’t do it and think it doesn’t matter,” she says. “Everybody wants to do their best so there is a sense of wanting to put on a good show and do the best we can.”

Grandma and mum-of-three Barbara Davies is proficient with her staple of family favourites.

“I’ve got three sons and three grandchildren so it’s more family things that I cook. It tends to be familiar recipes, ones I know turn out all right,” she says.

Barbara is preparing the June menu at her Ilkley home. “Mine is the last supper. I’ll give them bread and water!” she laughs.

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