Page 46 - Phonebox Magazine April 2011

COME DINE WITH SAM
The Set: a selection of suburban houses around Beds, Herts and Bucks
The Plot: four total strangers pit their cooking skills against each other. Who will win the £1000 prize money? More importantly, who will avoid the scathing remarks of commentator Dave Lamb?
The Characters: JO, mother of two who likes to jump out of a plane, worried about her weight but doesn't know what to do.
RICHARD, reserved business man with a secret life as a pantomime dame. Doesn't believe in cooking without cream and butter
FRANCO, seriously rich hair salon owner with bad table manners. He cooks a mean tiramisu (or at least his mother does).
SAM, Olney’s own Aussie, our heroine and clearly the star of the show (although of course, we may be slightly biased). The Date: Sunday 17th April, Channel 4, 7pm.
Would you choose to put yourself through nearly four days of solid filming, agree to cook your heart and soul out for three strangers and then endure a tortuous six month wait to watch yourself on TV for the very first time in front of friends, colleagues and three million other viewers? Does that sound like fun to you? Sam McCallum, bar lady at the Swan Inn and Bistro, thought it sounded just that and in September last year posted off her application to Come Dine with Me.
The first step in the process is a long, hand written application telling the producers all about yourself and why you want to go on the show. Sam clearly said something right and was quickly contacted to arrange a telephone interview. Sam sailed through this and into the last twenty. Each of these shortlisted cooks were then auditioned on
film. Finally, the films of ten hopefuls were sent onto Channel 4. Sam was through!
To the producers and possibly most of the viewers, this isn’t really a cooking show. It is all about the entertainment - pitting carefully mismatched people against each other in a stressful, alcohol filled, socially strange environment. Sam was asked during her application what type of people she disliked and answered that overly flashy, ostentatious types were her worst pet hate. No surprises then on the first night when up rolls Franco, an extrovert hairdresser with a Ferrari, large wallet and ego to match! But that, after all, is the success of the show. That’s what gives comedian Dave Lamb the inspiration and ammunition for his biting commentary and that’s what makes it one of the most popular shows on Channel 4.
Whilst the food may not be the primary reason for viewing figures, for the four contestants it’s all important. It is not just £1000 at stake here, it’s pride, it’s traditional family recipes, it’s months of practice and sleepless nights. The regulars who line the bar at ten o’clock each night at the Swan were the willing guinea pigs as Sam tested her menu, sampling variations of pumpkin soup and pronouncing perfection when her pavlova made the grade.
Each night the contestants take it in turns to dish up their finest three courses to the others. But however well honed your techniques and timings they mean nothing when in front of the cameras. Notwithstanding the extra pressures of cooking in front of a filming crew, just imagine what can happen to your precious pavlova if the camera man isn’t ready to film it coming out of the oven just yet! And whilst concentrating on getting the perfect spice levels in the Thai curry, you also have to offer up witty one liners to the demands of the producer. Amazing that anything
comes out of the kitchen at all, let alone the edible delights we regularly witness.
Sam had an amazing time, a really special experience, but is it something she would recommend others taking on? If you have the stamina for four full on days of intense filming, staying up most nights until 3am; if, whilst nursing fatigue and a hangover you still enjoy the pressures of the kitchen; and if you relish performing, not just in the kitchen but in front of the cameras in the surreal environment of the strangers’ dinner table, then yes, Sam says its an experience of a lifetime. Maybe life changing is a little bit strong, but Sam learnt stuff about herself she’ll take away for good. And though she didn’t make lifelong friends, she grudgingly admits there is more to Franco than his posing pouch!
There are so many things we would like to tell you about the show and the behind the scenes filming, but we don’t want to spoil it for you (and anyway we are not allowed!). And of course we don’t know for sure what will make the final cut. But our money is on certain events reaching our screens. Keep an eye out for Franco and the banana skins, a memorable Cruella de Ville moment, and a truly inspirational speech from Sam that had the table in tears! If they don’t make it in to the final showing, Sam can tell you all about it next time you are in the Swan.
Who won? No amount of bribery or alcohol could prize that nugget of information from Sam. Richard and Franco had a battle of tiramisu (although it’s rumoured that it was Franco’s mum who created our Italian Stallions dessert). Sam talks highly of Richard’s food but she has a confident air and a glint in her eye. Truly and honestly, I have no idea, you will just have to watch the programme. Meanwhile, I’m off to sample some pavlova...
SAM’S WEIGH ...
Sam has always loved cooking, and her childhood was always filled with fabulous food. Which is maybe why at 31 years old, she was 19 stone. A few years later and 8 stone lighter, Sam decided to share her experiences with others struggling to lose weight. She currently has about 20 clients who she visits on a 1-2-1 basis consulting on lifestyle and nutrition and supplying tasty low fat recipes similar to those she cooked on the show.
If you think Sam can help you, get in touch via www.samsweigh.com
Oh, and just to prove her willpower and commitment to the cause - she only ate half of everything put in front of her on the programme. Bet that didn’t go down well with Franco’s mum!
46 Phonebox Magazine
Sam’s low fat menu
The contestants theme
their menus, and in
keeping with Sam’s work and life philosophy she chose to show her group that low fat food can still be jam packed full of flavour. Here is her menu:
Thai pumpkin soup with Sam’s own low fat coconut milk, served in the pumpkin shell
Chicken Burma Curry
Aussie Pavlova topped with fruit and Sam’s Mock Creme Fraiche