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80 Episodes 2011 - 2012
Episode 1
22 mins
The five contestants for this week are: car collector Aris Alexiadis, who considers himself a lazy procrastinator with attention deficit disorder; realtor John Ansell, who knows what he likes and doesn't like; Jill of all trades Kailey Finkleman, a hipster who has a high opinion of her own opinion; kitchen designer Louie Katsis, who is overbearing and controlling; and Mary Newton, a clean freak who believes she's practically perfect. Mary Newton is the first to host the dinner party. Her menu consists of billy goat's gruff tart as the appetizer, porcini crusted filet mignon as the main course, and Bavarian apple torte for dessert. Mary believes that the practically perfect preparation of her practically perfect meal, set off by the practically perfect (and extremely clean) setting and a practically perfect execution of a party trick will win her the week.
Episode 2
22 mins
After the first dinner, Mary believes there is no way anyone can beat her, while her four guests recount the lowlights of the night. Aris Alexiadis is second on the list to host the dinner party. His Mediterranean-inspired menu consists of squid ink linguine with shrimp and octopus as the appetizer, blackened miso cod as the main course, and grilled hazelnut sandwiches with homemade vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce for dessert. The setting for the dinner may be Mary's worst nightmare as Aris lives in a converted garage which used to be an old machine shop. The appetizer is also her worst nightmare as she doesn't understand the attraction of pasta as a food. But Aris' guests are taken aback by being greeted and serenaded by Frisky on a swing. Some last minute changes to the menu including non-blackened cod and store bought ice cream don't phase Aris. Mary's obsessive compulsive disorder with respect to cleanliness and Louie chugging a bottle of wine overtake the night.
Episode 3
22 mins
Kailey Finkleman is third on the list to host the dinner party. She was disgusted by what she considered the rudeness of some of the other guests last night, she believing that people should be gracious when you invite them into your home and feed them. Her menu, which reflects her family meals when she was growing up, consists of deep fried potato fish cakes as the appetizer, wiener wellington as the main course, and rarebit with single malt whiskey and black pepper vanilla ice cream for dessert. Kailey's game plan is to lie (specifically for calling things homemade while they're actually store bought), ply her guests with individual bottles of champagne and divert attention directly toward her ample breasts. The tone of the evening changes at the service of the main course when one person has a total meltdown, to which the others do not know quite how to respond.
Episode 4
22 mins
After last night's party, which many deem the worst they have ever been to, Kailey, in association with her angry outburst, contemplates not continuing with the competition since she obviously is not in the running for the top prize. John Ansell is the host for the evening. His menu consists of stuffed shrimp as the appetizer, prime rib as the main course, and crème brûlée for dessert. John's preparation for the meal goes smoothly and quickly, which may or may not be a sign of things to come. The question of the evening becomes whether Kailey will show up, and even if she does whether last night's party will place a pall over tonight's proceedings.
Episode 5
22 mins
Louie Katsis is the last of this fivesome to host. His Greek-inspired menu, based on his own ethnic heritage, consists of spinach salad as the appetizer, pistachio and thyme encrusted rack of lamb as the main course, and Pandora's box (which consists primarily of crème brûlée) for dessert. He takes the Greek theme to all aspects of the night with ouzo, a Greek flag on the wall and Greek entertainment. Some of his guests admire Louie's sincerity in bringing himself and his background into the night, while others feel it is a bit contrived. But a forgotten item in the oven and bad feelings about the week in general may negatively affect his guests' perception of the evening. Louie learns what affect any of it has as he announces the winner of the $1,000.
Episode 6
22 mins
The five contestants for this week are: animator Stephen Cane, who is a confirmed carnivore; Nerissa Grant, a perfectionist who doesn't like negative, swear-word spewing, loud-mouthed know-it-alls; Tammy Hurst-Erskine, a shoe-a-holic who never fakes orgasms; civil servant Louis-'Michel Taillefer', a flamboyant francophone who is outgoing and in-your-face; and yoga instructor Shareen Woodford, who lives steadfastly by her yogi principles (meaning no meat and no alcohol). Louis-'Michel Taillefer' is the first to host the dinner party. His menu consists of roasted beet and goat cheese salad as the appetizer, Chateaubriand (veggie patties for vegetarian Shareen, although Louis-Michel is blissfully unaware that Nerissa also does not eat red meat as a rule) as the main course, and chocolate cheesecake with raspberry coulis for dessert. Although he expects to win based on his attention to detail, Louis-Michel admits that he doesn't regularly cook since his partner is a professional chef. The risqué nature of the dinner conversation shows one of the five as the initial outsider, who isn't afraid to express opinions about likes and dislikes.
Episode 7
22 mins
After the first dinner, the five come away with initial impressions of the others, what doesn't always match what they thought is going in the opposite direction. Stephen Cane is second on the list to host the dinner party. His menu reflects his passions in life which are meat, meat, and more meat. It consists of spicy Korean BBQ beef short ribs as the appetizer, a marathon of meat as the main course, and chocolate cupcakes for dessert. He plans on steaming vegetables to serve as the appetizer for the vegetarians, and recycle those vegetables for a vegetarian stir-fry as the vegetarians' main course. Both the omnivores and the herbivores are dreading the actual meal, some who eat beforehand or bring rations just in case. Stephen's other passion in life, barbecuing, takes away time to spend with his guests as he slaves over a hot barbecue for much of the party. Although Stephen's omnivorous guests enjoy his meat dishes, will the group as a collective believe his menu a little too self-indulgent to be a great party?
Episode 8
22 mins
In reflecting on last night's party, the guests are all confident that they will come out on top by the end of the week. Tammy Hurst-Erskine is the next on the list to host the dinner party. Her menu consists of spicy sangrita with tequila shots as the welcome drink, guacamole, salsa and ceviche and mild mushroom bread pudding as the appetizers, and butter chicken ("butter" paneer for the vegetarians) as the main course. Tammy goes out on a limb and will make a dessert that she doesn't know the ingredients before the party as she's requested each guest to bring one ingredient apiece which she will all use in the dessert. Will her guests be kind or challenging? Regardless, Tammy expects that her chutzpah alone will garner her major points. In the dining room, Tammy finds some actions of her guests offending, and Shareen becomes the center of much of the evening as she begins to loosen up compared to the first two dinner parties.
Episode 9
22 mins
Vegetarian Shareen Woodford is the host for the evening. Her party promises to be almost the exact opposite of meat lover's Stephen's night. Her menu consists of Thai rice paper wraps, Singapore slaw and Japanese salmon balls as the appetizers, black cod as the main course, and baked pears for dessert. Many have found Shareen to be too preachy thus far, especially with regard to her views on holistic health, which may reflect on her score especially as her dinner promises to reflect that preachy viewpoint. Shareen can't seem to win as some guests wanted a meat option (as previous hosts have offered her a vegetarian option) while others believe that not going 100% vegetarian with her meal is a cop out. Regardless, will the food be able to make up for her guests' preconceived perceptions? She does however go the extra step, for good or bad, of making her guests do some yoga.
Episode 10
22 mins
Nerissa Grant is the last of this fivesome to host. Her menu consists of potato and smoked blue cheese soup as the amuse-bouche, aruga-ooh-la-la salad as the appetizer, Chilean sea bass as the main course, and orange ginger crème brûlée for dessert. At the beginning of the day, Nerissa is confident that there is no way she can lose, but as the meal preparation progresses, her nerves start to show. Regardless of the meal, she knows that she can and will still pay much attention to detail in the dining room. Despite those problems in the kitchen, Nerissa believes the only way she can lose is if her guests sabotage her. Nerissa learns if she was sabotaged, if she sabotaged herself, or if there was no sabotage at all as she announces the winner of the $1,000.
Episode 11
The five contestants for this week are: business consultant James Bateman, who feels that dealing with overly nice people is tiring; dental hygienist Romina De Angelis, whose critical nature can get her into trouble; punk rock singer Stacey McCool, who is unabashedly carnivorous; former Trinidadian Felix Milien, who likes his food hot, hot, hot; and former Haligonian Twanya Zwicker, who strangers always believe is so nice on first appearance. Stacey McCool is the first to host the dinner party. Her menu consists of wild mushroom risotto as the appetizer, braised short ribs as the main course, and flourless chocolate cake for dessert. Two of the guests dominate the night, one with what are deemed critical and condescending comments and rude behavior by texting on a cell phone, and another who uses the night to break a ten year sobriety stint while popping pain killers. All the while, hostess Stacey feels like the left out person.
Episode 12
After the first dinner, the five assess their competitors and who they will or will not get along with during the week. Felix Milien is second on the list to host the dinner party. His Trinidadian-inspired menu, reflecting his ethnic heritage, consists of split pea & bacon soup and deep-fried shark with bake as the appetizer, shrimp curry and caramelized chicken as the main course, and coconut ice blocks & coconut rice pudding for dessert. Felix sticks to his Caribbean roots by offering 150 proof rum shots and scotch bonnet peppers in all the savory dishes. He also refuses to cook anything until his guests arrive - he equating the last minute cooking with freshness - at the possible expense of timeliness. Regardless of what they think of the meal or the party as a whole, Felix's guests may not air their opinions directly to him because of his perceived hot-temperedness.
Episode 13
In reflecting on last night's party, the guests are surprised that the food wasn't as spicy as they anticipated or hoped. Twanya Zwicker is third on the list to host the dinner party. Her Maritime-inspired menu, which reflects her growing up in Nova Scotia, consists of Nova Scotia ale soaked shrimp as the appetizer, herbed venison as the main course, and blueberry grunt for dessert. Twanya is hoping that her down home attitude will win her the week. But an overly critical James, some overcooked rapini and no ale flavor in the shrimp may be her downfalls.
Episode 14
James Bateman is the host for the evening. All his guests are hoping that James falls flat on his face because of the condescending tone of comments about all the other meals. They may get their wish as James is currently going through a kitchen renovation and can't start prepping his meal until the counter and sink is installed. His menu consists of roasted butternut squash and sweet potato soup as the appetizer, roasted ham as the main course, and chocolate tart for dessert. Despite his guests' hoping he fails, his attention to some of the details that were missing from the previous parties may work in his favor. However, one guest remains steadfastly unimpressed.
Episode 15
Romina De Angelis is the last of this fivesome to host. Her Italian-inspired menu, based on her own ethnic heritage, consists of two different pastas - ricotta & spinach ravioli and roasted squash gnocchi in sage butter - as the appetizers, veal scaloppini as the main course, and poached pears in caramel sauce for dessert. She believes that she has an upper hand just in that most people gravitate toward Italian food. She may however have some problems with the controversial nature of veal. And being the last night where no one cares what any of the others think about them anymore, the knives start coming out. Romina learns if those knives are directed at her as she announces the winner of the $1,000.
Episode 16
22 mins
The five contestants for this week are: Sabrina Araya, a party girl; regional sales manager and new mom Kelly Gordon, who plans to win the week by flying under the radar; clairvoyant Mary Beth Mccleary, who doesn't like incorrect use of language and predictable food; bus driver Ray Minchio, who expects to get a perfect score for his party; and restaurant worker Mike Tsatkas, who is proud of his heritage and proud of how Greeks cook. Mike Tsatkas is the first to host the dinner party. His Greek-inspired menu consists of saganaki as the appetizer, moussaka (Mike who provides more than a crash course on its proper pronunciation) as the main course, and cheesecake for dessert. Mike, a bachelor and looking, is happy to see that most of his guests are females. Despite being a disparate group both in age and temperament, the five seem to get along on the most part. In keeping with the Greek ritual, the night ends with some plate smashing, which matches how Sabrina feels: smashed.
Episode 17
22 mins
After the first dinner, the five believe they have a good shot at winning. Party girl Sabrina Araya, who loves her wine, is second on the list to host the dinner party. Her Chilean-inspired menu, reflecting her cultural heritage, consists of pisco sours as the welcome drink, empanadas de queso as the appetizer, pastel de choclo as the main course, and papaya de Chile for dessert. Everyone isn't expecting much from Sabrina as a chef, but they may be surprised at how much of the meal was made from scratch, including the pastry and the creamed corn. What they aren't surprised about is that Sabrina is slightly intoxicated at the beginning of the party and gets even more so during the party, which includes a pseudo-drinking party game. Sabrina gets defensive about the use of the term "comfort food" and the accusation of a basically store bought dessert, which places a damper on the evening.
Episode 18
22 mins
Sabrina is nursing a hangover from last night's party, about which the other four are not surprised. Ray Minchio is third on the list to host the dinner party. He admits that he is a virgin when it comes to hosting a dinner party on his own. His Italian-inspired menu, which reflects his ethnic background, consists of smoked salmon rolls as the appetizer, eggplant parmigiana and sautéed chicken & vegetables as the main courses, and tiramisu for dessert. Ray is overwhelmed by every aspect of the evening, which is not lost on his guests. But his downfall for the evening may be the fault of someone who isn't even at the dinner table.
Episode 19
22 mins
Kelly Gordon is the host for the evening. As a person who obsesses about food, she believes she has a firm grasp of what it takes to win the week. Her menu consists of shrimp cakes as the appetizer, beef tenderloin as the main course, and ultimate chocolate pecan pie for dessert. Personal revelations by both Kelly and Mary Beth turn the discussion to the personal relations between the five of them... that is if they can talk after eating Kelly's spicy main. But Kelly takes a play from Ray the night before with an emotional admission about her meal. And Mike calls out the other four for forgetting an important milestone.
Episode 20
22 mins
Mary Beth Mccleary is the last of this fivesome to host. As the weirdo septuagenarian, the others aren't quite sure what to expect beyond adhering to Mary Beth's theme night of a 1920's parlor evening, which she hopes evokes Greenwich Village or Paris from that era. Her menu consists of tarragon tartlet triptych as the appetizer, fish stew as the main course, and chocolate cake for dessert. She plans on making up stories about her food related to the 1920's. Her party is filled with stories about herself and of the others, which she reads through tarot cards, which has mixed reactions. Mary Beth learns how mixed those reactions are as she announces the winner of the $1,000.
Episode 21
22 mins
Five of the most notoriously bad contestants from the first season are brought back for what they each hope is their own redemption from their poor showing the first time around. Those five are: Beth Bovaird, who burnt her main course pork ribs in her beloved smoker; Graham Caswell - the lowest ever scorer at 13 out of 40 - who wanted so much to have an authentic Spanish night that he didn't care that the meal lasted well into the next day; rude and mean Dez Diaz; Cathy Habus, who focused more on her on wine consumption than anything else about her meal; and overly pompous and pretentious James Marshall. None of the five know who the other four will be before meeting for the first party hosted by Dez Diaz. The question for all five is if they learned from their mistakes the first time around. The notoriety of each of the contestant's televised foibles precedes them, with most fearing spending the week with mean Dez. Her Asian-inspired menu consists of soba noodle salad as the appetizer, grilled salmon steaks as the main course, and sticky rice with mango for dessert. Her Asian theme extends to sitting on the floor for dinner. Everyone is being kind to Dez in part out of fear, and in return Dez comes across as actually being nice to her guests. Will that perceived niceness garner her a winning night?
Episode 22
22 mins
Beth Bovaird is the second to host. Feeling like she needs to prove that last time was a one time only occurrence, the piece of equipment that caused her the major problem - the smoker - is coming back for a repeat appearance. Her menu consists of: wild mushroom soup as the appetizer, pulled pork sliders with black truffle mac and cheese as the main course, and sexy brownies with two types of ice cream for dessert. The end result of the smoker meal is in the eye of the beholder. The dinner conversation steers toward the pod in Beth's living room. A behind the scenes issue is whether Beth should put away the smoker for good. Beth hopes to win the evening by hypnotizing her guests. Another question still remains: is the new nice Dez for real?
Episode 23
22 mins
Graham Caswell is the third wannabe redeemed party host. Or is he? Last time, Graham's biggest downfall of many was not caring about the extremely long party and food coming out slowly and well into the wee morning hours. Although not exactly the same, he is staying on continental Europe, moving from Spain last time to Italy this time, but where the meals also may last well into the night. His Italian-themed menu consists of: pancetta wrapped monkfish as the appetizer, timpano as the main course, and spiced oatmeal cake for dessert. Graham's meal, like last time, does last well into the night, but with a different set of guests who may not mind... or do they? Two other topics of conversation for the evening are Graham's unusual and unquestionably bold table centerpiece, and whether he actually broke the rules in the preparation of his dessert. Another question still remains: is the new nice Dez for real?
Episode 24
22 mins
Cathy Habus is the fourth wannabe redeemed party host. Or is she? Last time, Cathy's biggest downfall of many was being inebriated by consuming vast quantities of white wine, her favorite drink, which led to among other things her serving raw seafood. She vows this time to be at least sober by the time her guests arrive for dinner. Her menu consists of: jumbo shrimp with Thai mango salad as the appetizer, wild boar as the main course, and ice cream sandwiches for dessert. Cathy has a few kitchen mishaps - which makes her need to improvise - and several health violations, which she figures won't hurt anyone if they don't know. These problems may be caused in part to her - ahem - excessive wine consumption. To lighten the already light mood, Cathy introduces a Japanese inspired event, which Graham takes to heart. Regardless of her score, Cathy is just glad that she didn't make anyone vomit this time. The question still remains if the new nice Dez is for real.
Episode 25
22 mins
James Marshall is the last to try and redeem himself, and based on the parties this far, he feels like he has a legitimate chance of winning if he doesn't bleed all over the place, burn himself and basically have a major panic attack like he did last time. Because he does truly believe he is the best of the five, his guests are hoping he falls flat on his face. His menu consists of: lobster croquettes as the appetizer, beer braised short ribs as the main course, and espresso crème brûlée for dessert. His guests are impressed with his menu, but not so much so with his menu naming protocol and the pretentiously large plates he uses for the appetizers. Regardless of if James has a panic attack, Cathy has one based on the availability of white wine. The evening is also dominated by a gesture by Beth and the resulting act of desperation by Cathy. James will see if any of this affects his score as he announces the winner of the $1,000 and the bad host who has redeemed him/herself the most. And yes, the question still remains: is Dez really nice?
Episode 26
22 mins
The five contestants for this week are: water department employee Marco Campisano, a single dad with a warped sense of humor; firefighter Charlie Gandt, who is one of his firehall's chefs; monarchist Elizabeth Newell, who is aiming for a perfect score; ex-wannabe roller derby maven Jennifer Peace, who admits she's vain but doesn't like to be considered stupid; and family physician Dr. Susan Piccinin, who doesn't like stupid people. Jennifer Peace is the first to host the dinner party. Her Mardi Gras-inspired menu consists of oysters Rockefeller and Cajun shrimp as the appetizer (with chicken gumbo for anyone who doesn't like seafood), smothered pork chops with red beans and rice as the main course, and king cake for dessert. Jennifer veers away from the theme by having the welcome drinks in her tiki-styled bar. But her meal is high on the colors of New Orleans. She takes the theme to the extreme with appropriate acts required to obtain beads, and an explosive finish.
Episode 27
22 mins
After the first dinner, it doesn't sound as if any will be new BFFs, but one stands out as the person who will get on the others' nerves the most. The unabashed monarchist, Elizabeth Newell, who has stated more than once how menopausal she is, is second on the list to host the dinner party. Her menu consists of escargot as the appetizer, rolled pork tenderloin as the main course, and double chocolate cheesecake for dessert. She takes a cue from her royal fondness to host a party with what she considers class, which includes name dropping of a certain British royal as a "friend". But the escargot in particular may cause some problems for three, for which this will be virgin territory.
Episode 28
22 mins
Marco Campisano is third on the list to host the dinner party. He vows to be on his best behavior and refrain from the sexual innuendos which have caused some friction between himself and especially the females. His Italian-inspired menu, which reflects his ethnic background, consists of blue grottos as the welcome drink, Caesar salad as the appetizer, chicken cacciatore as the main course, and chocolate soufflés for dessert. Elizabeth, who has open disdain for Marco, comes bearing a somewhat usual item for herself for the party. But Marco's renewed sense of serving his guests may make even Elizabeth change her mind about him. But they all can't help but give Marco a little advice about his behavior this week in relation to his love life.
Episode 29
22 mins
Charlie Gandt is the host for the evening. Most believe that Charlie is the dark horse who may pull off the week if only because of their respect for him as a person and the work he does as a firefighter. His menu consists of raspberry margaritas as the welcome drink, goat cheese and potato pizza with homemade venison sausages as the appetizer, barbecued back ribs as the main course, and a trio of tarts for dessert, including his renowned butter tarts. Beer swilling Charlie joins the rest of his guests in imbibing in the margaritas, the tequila from which takes its toll on the sobriety of some. In turn, the knives comes out in terms of the relations between several of the contestants, one who tries to stay out of the fray while lamenting the quality of the conversation. In the shuffle, Charlie's meal, which is deemed simple but good, may get lost in the shuffle. But he may bring the focus back on himself with a gift for all his guests.
Episode 30
22 mins
Susan Piccinin is the last of this fivesome to host. Her menu, which she is calling "Oh Canada", consists of Canadian martinis as the welcome drink, bison balls as the hors d'oeuvres, sea scallops, foie gras (which she chooses because of its controversial nature) and lobster bisque as the appetizers, beef tenderloin as the main course, and Québec maple syrup bread pudding for dessert. Despite feeling confident about how things are going in the kitchen, Susan has more than one encounter with the smoke detector, which Charlie deals with as only a firefighter can. Susan's profession, which she has kept secret from the group, comes to light, but she hopes that her emotional explanation for keeping it a secret will not be held against her. Susan learns if it did affect her score as she announces the winner of the $1,000.
Episode 31
22 mins
The five contestants for this week are: legal secretary Anna Costa, who considers herself loud, boisterous and annoying; civil servant Pat Durante, a cycling fanatic whose strategy is to suck up to the others; amateur artist Lilliane Genier, who is a self-described type-A personality; magazine editor Sheila Street, a sports enthusiast who doesn't like people who need to be the center of attention; and magician Dylan Studebaker, a punk rocker who is a picky eater but who doesn't like picky people. Lilliane Genier is the first to host the dinner party. Her menu consists of seared sea scallops as the appetizer, bourbon beef as the main course, and chocolate almond pie for dessert. Lilliane hopes her attention to detail will wow her guests. Although she does make her guests feel comfortable, her menu selection may prove to be problematic, especially for a crowd that admits to not liking seafood.
Episode 32
22 mins
After the first dinner, the five reflect on how it went. Dylan Studebaker, a harsh critic of last night's dinner, is second on the list to host the dinner party. He admits that his tastes are pretty basic and his menu reflects that taste. His menu consists of a miniature breakfast as the appetizer, Irish stew as the main course, and ice cream styled dessert for dessert. Despite the basic menu, he still hopes to win the week by keeping glasses full, and offering seconds whenever required. His guests are hoping that the party isn't dominated by him doing magic tricks all evening. Although Dylan performing magic is part of the evening's entertainment, the primary entertainment for the four guests is remarking on Dylan's menagerie of pets, some of their food sources and the resulting cleanliness or lack thereof of his abode. This issue is especially troublesome for clean freak, Lilliane.
Episode 33
22 mins
Sheila Street is third on the list to host the dinner party. She is hoping that everyone still has last night's party on their minds, so that in comparison her's will stand heads and tails above that. Her menu consists of beet and pear salad as the appetizer, beef tenderloin as the main course, and lemon raspberry mille feuille for dessert. She wants to impress Lilliane the most as their styles and their menus seem to be the most similar. Conversely, her guests are hoping that she exposes a bit of a wild side, as opposed to the sweet girl next door she has portrayed herself to be. The night has the potential to be taken over by a comment by Anna, which calls into question the entire nature of the competition.
Episode 34
22 mins
Anna Costa is the host for the evening. She doesn't care what her guests think of her controversial comments from last evening and how those comments make them perceive her. Her Italian-inspired menu, reflecting her ethnic heritage, consists of Sicilian ratatouille as the appetizer, stuffed peppers with tagliatelle as the main course, and cannoli for dessert. In part because of Anna's comments from the previous night, Pat comes out swinging, which results in a less than hospitable and kitchen hygienic Anna. In addition, Dylan's extreme hatred for anything onion brings the dinner conversation to a week low.
Episode 35
22 mins
Pat Durante is the last of this fivesome to host. After the four parties to date, Pat is 95% sure that he will come out on top by evening's end. His Italian-inspired menu, reflecting his own ethnic heritage, consists of lobster stuffed ravioli as the appetizer, osso bucco with risotto as the main course, and bread pudding with ice cream for dessert. His original plan to be a suck-up to win his guests' favor has been blown out of the water by Anna, who may end up being the biggest factor if he wins the week regardless of his food or hosting skills. The second biggest factor may be Dylan, the onion and seafood hater. Pat believes he prepared a winning dinner, including a plastic bag prepared homemade ice cream. He'll see if his food was able to overcome the hard feelings between especially himself and Anna, and Dylan's pickiness as he announces the winner of the $1,000.
Episode 36
22 mins
The five contestants for this week are: cartoonist Thach Bui, who people always expect to be funny because of his work; housewife and ballroom dancer Julia Darby, who believes people will underestimate her because she's good looking; Cathy Fraser, a science-fiction aficionado; Lesley Sharp-Sheppard, who takes a holistic view to healthy living; and PR specialist Kirsti Stephenson, who has a penchant for exotic pets. Thach Bui is the first to host the dinner party. His Vietnamese-inspired menu, which reflects his ethnic heritage, consists of cold rolls, sushi, and baan Thai as the appetizers, basil beef curry with pho as the main course, and crème caramel and mango ice cream for dessert. Thach hopes that his expansive menu will impress, but will it be too ambitious to accomplish? Beyond what Thach can do, his scores may be affected by the fact that his four guests, all women, bond, leaving him the odd man out.
Episode 37
22 mins
Regardless of their feelings about the first dinner party, each of the four left to host expects perfection from herself, while Thach ruminates about his party. Julia Darby is second on the list to host the dinner party. The menu for her 1950's themed party - which she models after the husband inviting the boss home for dinner - consists of aspic as the appetizer, duck breast with a sour cherry sauce as the main course, and deep fried fritters for dessert. Although Julia truly does seem like the model 1950's housewife in real life to her guests, some find some hints in her house that she may be a little naughtier than she lets on. With palates that have developed over the past sixty years, will 1950's styled food wow her guests? Regardless, there is a damper on the evening due to some dinner conversation initiated by Thach, who is showing himself to be out of sync with the other four.
Episode 38
22 mins
Kirsti Stephenson is third on the list to host the dinner party. The menu for her Alice in Wonderland tea-party themed dinner consists of vodka shots dispensed from an ice sculpture vodka luge and Kirsti kamikazes as the welcome drinks, pasta with prosciutto and vegetables as the appetizer, flank steak and cedar plank salmon as the main course, and vanilla cake with summer fruit salad for dessert. Kirsti is all about fun and flash - which is in large part means a lot of alcohol - but her guests may find out if there is any substance behind that flash as they wander around her house... if they can find space around the clutter. The night is conspicuously missing an element, which ends up being a Come Dine with Me Canada first.
Episode 39
22 mins
The women don't lament the fact of Thach having dropped out of the competition, just as Thach is glad no longer to be surrounded by all the girl talk. Lesley Sharp-Sheppard is the host for the evening. Most believe that woman-of-the-world Lesley will provide a sophisticated dinner. Her menu, which may surprise, consists of sparkling sangria and tequila shots (which must be downed as part of a right hand/left hand drinking game) as the welcome drink, stuffed mushrooms as the appetizer, barbecued chicken as the main course, and gelato in chocolate cups for dessert. Lesley's approach is that a good meal need not be labor intensive or difficult, which also means, from her perspective, that store bought is perfectly acceptable as she does end up buying both the gelato and the chocolate cups. Will her guests agree with her philosophy? By the end of the night, the women love fest ends up with two in tears.
Episode 40
22 mins
Self-confessed nerd Cathy Fraser is the last of this fivesome to host, her party which has a science-fiction theme. Her menu, which is done largely on the barbecue, consists of barbecued Caesar salad as the appetizer, replicant lamb as the main course, and paradox peach treat for dessert. One of Cathy's guests comes to the rescue when a perceived problem arises, which may affect Cathy's ability to pull off the rest of the dinner. Cathy is one of the few of this foursome gal pals that really, really wants to win, most of the others who love their new BFFs so much that they wouldn't mind seeing anyone one of the four win. Cathy learns if her wish comes true as she announces the winner of the $1,000.
Episode 41
22 mins
It's the December holiday season... at least on Come Dine with Me Canada this week. Despite it actually being the middle of summer, the five contestants for this week are celebrating Christmas/Chanukah/Diwali. Those five are: salsa dancer Sal Girmenia, photographer Bridget McDermid, Barb Rebelo, Pamela Singh, and dog trainer Nancy Tobis, all who love the holiday season. Bridget McDermid is the first to host the dinner party. Her Christmas menu consists of mistletoejitos as the welcome drink, goat cheese balls with cranberry marmalade as the appetizer, turkey with stuffing as the main course, and croque-en-bouche for dessert. Bridget realizes that some issues in the kitchen, most specifically with dessert, do not equate to success, but she hopes that the Christmas festivities, including a visit by a special guest, will make up for whatever food presentation problems.
Episode 42
22 mins
After the first dinner, the five gage their chances of winning the week. Nancy Tobis is second on the list to host the dinner party. Her Chanukah menu consists of potato latkes and Portobello mushroom stacks as the appetizers, baked grouper with pasta as the main course, and Chanukah donuts and black forest trifle for dessert. For most, this evening will mark their first ever Chanukah celebration. The unknown factor may work in Nancy's favor... or not. Nancy's Chanukah related chocolate coin hunt may end up being a major issue for germaphobe Barb. As the evening progresses, it looks to be a total train wreck, to which Nancy is not oblivious, although she is oblivious to other issues. However, she states that Jews are warriors and she is determined to salvage the evening.
Episode 43
22 mins
Last night's guests are still reeling over the many problems at Nancy's party, the problems at which they could not and still can't stop laughing. Sal Girmenia is third on the list to host the dinner party. He admits that he has never cooked a Christmas styled meal on his own. His Christmas menu consists of Mrs. Claus dirty panty rippers as the welcome drink, Santa's red sleigh shrimp as the appetizer, stuffed Cornish hens as the main course, and flaming pears for dessert. The dessert is not the only thing flaming for the evening as flamboyantly gay Sal has some gay themed attire - both for himself and his guests - and Christmas decorations. Beyond the food and the decorations, the evening may be sidelined by some increasingly hard feelings between Nancy and Barb. But Sal may be able to bring back the happy mood by some mid dinner dancing.
Episode 44
22 mins
Pamela Singh is the host for the evening. Her Diwali menu consists of Pammy's fizz as the welcome drink, mini samosas and mini kebabs as the appetizer, chicken korma and aloo gobi as the main course, and kulfi for dessert. Her guests are expecting a pageant of color in Pam's attire and décor. They receive a pageant of a different sort when they are invited to an activity while Pam prepares dinner. Dinner prep takes a little longer than either Pam had anticipated or that her guests like, which leads to an action by Bridget and supported by Barb which could lead to hard feeling between them and Pam. Barb feels that she is the most affected by the issues in Pam's party.
Episode 45
22 mins
Barb Rebelo is the last of this fivesome to host. If Barb loses, she will blame Pam for making her so tired today as Pam's dinner last night lasted well into the morning. Barb's Blue Christmas menu consists of bluetinis as the welcome drink, scones as the appetizer, chicken cordon bleu as the main course, and North Pole Palacsinta for dessert. Barb feels her dinner party is going well, until she receives some criticisms, some which attack the very fiber of her being, namely the lack of cleanliness of her house. She believes the criticisms are attempts at sabotaging her party. Barb's reaction brings out the claws among all five. Barb will see what effect these claws will have had as she announces the winner of the $1,000.
Episode 46
22 mins
The five contestants for this week are: balloon store clerk Kym Baines, who has been told her parties are legendary; Kristen Hutchinson, a self-professed girly-girl who has a closet full of dresses, many unworn; college student Bryan McMillan, who believes he, at age twenty-three, has more cooking experience than most three times his age; dental professional Helena Quinton, a vegetarian and self-professed crazy cat lady; and mixologist Jeremy Parsons, a self-professed arrogant person who hates arrogant people. Bryan McMillan is the first to host the dinner party. His menu consists of chicken liver and port pâté as the hors d'oeuvre, popcorn salad as the appetizer, black cod as the main course, and mascarpone mousse for dessert. Bryan has no doubt in his mind that his food and attention to food presentation will win the week, but his meal has the potential to be overtaken by the women's fascination with Jeremy, and all questioning Helena's vegetarianism. The clash in personalities underlies the evening, but the problems between the five are mostly unspoken... as of yet.
Episode 47
22 mins
After the first dinner, the five come away with initial impressions of the others, and the four remaining to host strategize on how to win the week. Kristen Hutchinson is second on the list to host the dinner party. Her menu consists of Spanish tapas as the appetizer, margarita chicken (margarita shrimp for non-meat eater Helena) as the main course, and pink champagne cupcakes for dessert. Her décor is themed pink to match her cute girly-girl personality. Beyond the meal, the five seem to have a strained pre-dinner conversation, which does pick up during the meal, primarily because of Bryan's continual spewing out of trivia (which Kym sees as either just a young kid with a thirst for knowledge or a future know-it-all) and a further questioning of Helena's morals as a vegetarian. But what leaves Jeremy speechless is the continued sexual innuendo toward him.
Episode 48
22 mins
Jeremy Parsons is the next on the list to host the dinner party. As a culinary mixologist, he plans on using his knowledge of food/alcohol pairings to win the week. His menu consists of prosciutto and melon three ways as the appetizer (crab and melon for non-meat eater Helena), and timpano as the main course (a vegetarian version for Helena). He takes a different approach to dessert by deconstructing tiramisu into two cocktails. Jeremy brings in a bartender as the drink server for the evening. Although having help may lessen his own load, his choice of that server may be a poor choice. Jeremy will definitely not run out of alcohol for the evening, and it's not because he has so much of it in house (which he does) but rather because he dictates both what can be consumed with which course and how much as not to ruin the palate for dishes to come. Will Jeremy's efforts be appreciated or be deemed as dictatorial?
Episode 49
22 mins
Vegetarian Helena Quinton is the host for the evening. Her menu consists of raw shucked oysters with deep fried tofu and coconut shrimp as the appetizer, maple glazed salmon as the main course, and coconut ice cream with coconut cookies for dessert. Her guests are expecting a night full of cats and cat talk, and they are about three-quarters correct. Her guests are more interested in what they find in her underwear drawer and her choice of reading material. As for the meal, many are concerned about the raw oysters if only for the connotation of them being aphrodisiacs. The consumption of the oysters themselves may not even occur unless novice shucker Helena can get them open. Helena's choice of party games has an extreme but quiet reaction. By the end of the evening, the negative perceptions of each of the five have solidified in the others' minds: cocky know-it-all Bryan, socially awkward Kristen, arrogant Jeremy, hypocritical and crazy Helena, and rude boozer Kym.
Episode 50
22 mins
Kym Baines is the last of this fivesome to host. Her menu consists of margaritas as the welcome drink, bouillabaisse as the appetizer, salmon with orzo salad as the main course, and chocolate lollipops for dessert. A relaxed Kym has her meal preparation done in record time, which allows her some down time before her guests arrive. Her guests expect her to have consumed copious amounts of alcohol during the meal preparation, which is a correct assumption. The assumption about what Jeremy finds in a cocktail shaker that he spills all over himself is also somewhat correct, which may affect how her guests score her. At the end of the evening, Kym announces the winner - or perhaps more accurately the person who pissed off the others the least - of the $1,000. The week ends with comment by one about how the week went, which results in tears by another.
Episode 51
22 mins
The five contestants for the week are: retired police officer Mike Cleaver, who believes it's impolite to swear in front of women; dancer and teacher Monique Creary, who intimidates by giving the cold shoulder or what she calls her stink face; sommelier Samara Foisy, who doesn't believe a party is a party without booze; German Jannett Ioannides, whose love of fast driving stems from driving on the autobahn; and truck driver Gerald Watson, an evangelical Christian who believes good dinner party hosting is driven by God. Jannett Ioannides is the first to host the dinner party. Her menu consists of prosecco as the welcome drink, watercress, endive, blue cheese & walnut salad as the appetizer, filet mignon with grilled lobster tails as the main course, and flourless chocolate torte for dessert. The initial thoughts among the group are that they are all nice enough people - especially Jannett who is a gracious host - but all very different which could cause some problems as the week wears on. Jannett hopes that her party game will help her size up her competition. Despite the relatively straightforward menu, Jannett is confident before the dinner, during dinner and after dinner. Some unexpected guests in the diners' wine glasses could kibosh her chances of winning.
Episode 52
22 mins
After the first dinner, the five all believe they will win the week. Gerald Watson, who hates boring food, is second on the list to host the dinner party. His Trinidadian-inspired menu, which is definitely not boring when it comes to the combinations, consists of curried crab claws with split pea soup as the appetizer, braised short ribs with taro and salmon as the main course, and creamy ice cream, grapefruit icy and caramel coffee for dessert. His guests appreciate the sentimental welcome drink Gerald offers them despite it literally being flat. They are also enamored with the individual bottles of alcohol directed at each person's individual taste. But will Gerald's religious views to his non-religious guests turn them off? And will his combination of diverse and multiple flavors be a hit or miss?
Episode 53
22 mins
Mike Cleaver is third on the list to host the dinner party. As the person who has been brutally honest about what he thinks about every dish, he may have a rude awakening at his party as his guests believe he's a know-it-all. His menu consists of pasta in pink sauce as the appetizer, beef tenderloin as the main course, and trifle for dessert. Before Mike's guests can start criticizing him, they think twice when they learn that he is a police officer, something he's been coy about thus far. His past profession may explain some previously perceived creepiness by his guests, but that still doesn't stop them from being creeped out some of Mike's behavior. And a food allergy that he has may or may not be excused in his food preparation.
Episode 54
22 mins
Monique Creary is the host for the evening. Her Jamaican-inspired menu consists of banana strawberry daiquiris as the welcome drink, Caribbean styled sushi as the appetizer, chicken curry as the main course, and Jamaican black cake with Caribbean crunch ice cream for dessert. Her guests learn the secret to what has been Monique's ever changing hairstyle. Mike, too, sports a different hair look, which doesn't go unnoticed. Beyond the food, Monique serves a shot of Jamaican over-proof rum, which gets Samara started with the party gifts. That alcohol-induced looseness sets the tone for Monique's planned party activity.
Episode 55
22 mins
Samara Foisy is the last of this fivesome to host. Samara's strategy for the week was to show the others a one dimensional personality - that of boozing party girl - and then wow them with her party by being the classy hostess. Samara's menu consists of two types of bruschetta - fig prosciutto and roasted tomato - as the appetizer, flank steak pinwheels as the main course, and mint chocolate pudding for dessert. All five end up dressing to kill, which is somewhat uncharacteristic to the rest of the week. But Gerald and Mike are more interested in the dress they find in Samara's closet. Samara the sommelier offers a wine tasting as her party activity, which is appreciated by most. But one of her guests seems determined to criticize or show up Samara at every opportunity. Samara will see what effect those criticisms and one-ups will have as she announces the winner of the $1,000.
Episode 56
22 mins
The five contestants for this week are: architect Andrew Clarke, who likes the finer things in life; drag racer Mary Colasante, an opinionated motor-mouth; ex-pro baseballer Johnny Cosentino, who believes he will win since he has a restaurant owning family background; stay-at-home mom Sima Perry, a vegetarian who people see as being "nice" but who has a streak of nasty; and cupcake baker Dayna Richardson, who is attracted to confident, arrogant people. Johnny Cosentino is the first to host the dinner party. His Italian-inspired menu, reflecting his ethnic background, consists of gazpacho as the appetizer, prime rib (artichoke ravioli for vegetarian Sima) as the main course, and zabaglione for dessert. Italian Johnny may have his hands full with equally Italian Mary, who likes Italian food from her region of the country (central Italy) and not Johnny's (southern Italy), and will judge the food on its authenticity rather than on sheer taste. Single Johnny is also hoping for a guestful of young, attractive women. He gets part of his wish in the form of Dayna, but that wish is dashed by Dayna's admission. Dayna also drops a bombshell of information halfway through dinner, which may place a crimp of Johnny's ability to please.
Episode 57
22 mins
After the first dinner, the five come away with the impression that they will win the week. Mary Colasante is second on the list to host the dinner party. Her Italian-inspired menu, reflecting her ethnic background, consists of antipasto (which will contain homemade pizza) as the appetizer, bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin with pasta al forno (seafood linguine for non-meat eater Sima, and linguine with olive oil and parmesan for "new" vegetarian Dayna) as the main course, and tiramisu for dessert. Mary is determined to show everyone, but especially Johnny, what real Italian food is supposed to taste like. Can Mary overcome some timing problems with an excessive quantity of food? And Sima quietly fumes about Dayna's behavior for the evening.
Episode 58
22 mins
Andrew Clarke is the next on the list to host the dinner party. His menu consists of shrimp bisque (a simple salad for the vegetarians) as the appetizer, braised short ribs (chicken for the "vegetarian" Dayna, and sole for non-meat eater Sima) as the main course, and pecan pie for dessert. Andrew's guests see him as being pretentious, so they have preconceived notions about his meal. Andrew's mansion and estate do impress, although the associated description of the food and the meal garner mixed reviews. One of his guests seems to be so impressed by the notion of having dinner in a fancy house that all else is inconsequential.
Episode 59
22 mins
Vegetarian Sima Perry is the host for the evening. Her Jewish-inspired menu, reflecting her Hebrew background, consists of strawberry margaritas as the welcome drink (although it is served far past the welcome stage for most), mushroom barley soup with challah as the appetizer, brisket (yes, the vegetarian is cooking meat) as the main course (chicken parmesan for vegetarian Dayna), and lemon sorbet for dessert. Her guests see Sima as the underdog, who may come through with flying colors. But her choice of eating al fresco may cause some problems. As the meal wears on, the personality quirks between different factions are beginning to show, with all but Andrew being annoyed by Dayna's fascination with Andrew's wealth, while Dayna is annoyed by Mary and Sima's attitude. By the end of the evening, Sima gets her forgone conclusion wish.
Episode 60
22 mins
Dayna Richardson is the last of this fivesome to host. Her menu consists of white wine sangria as the welcome drink, spinach salad as the appetizer, burgers - turkey for the meat eaters, and quinoa for vegetarian Sima - as the main course, and - surprise - cupcakes by the professional cupcake baker for dessert. She plans on using her professional skills to educate her guests about how to create a beautiful looking dessert. She also wants to show that good food doesn't necessarily mean difficult to prepare food. While Mary, Sima and Johnny don't believe Dayna's bravada will translate into a winning party, Andrew sees her as his biggest competition. Dayna's choice of dining location may spell disaster, as well as some mishaps in the kitchen. At dinner, Dayna drops a bombshell of news, which is a Come Dine with Me Canada first. She'll see what effect that news has as she announces the winner of the $1,000.
Episode 61
22 mins
The five contestants for this week are: 'Alex Crooks', a motorcycle aficionado who likes to be adventurous in the kitchen; teacher and competitive disc golf player Adam Hazel, who plans on spending the $1,000 prize money on a vacation with two ladies; travel agent and burlesque dancer Elke Hinson, who deems herself the perfect party guest as long as she's sober and the other guests are nice; and the two "Jackie's", "Little" Jackie Mandziak, who really, really, really wants to win and who hates arrogant people, and fitness instructor "Big" Jackie McGrath, whose strategy for winning is intimidation. 'Alex Crooks' is the first to host the dinner party. Despite being British, his menu heads south to Mexico. His menu consists of mojitos as the welcome drink, gazpacho as the appetizer, cochinita pibil as the main course, coconut crème brûlée for dessert, and reposado tequila shooters with a sangrita chaser as the after dinner drink. Alex's bravado in the meal preparation softens as the night wears on. His choice to serve the dinner family style is a risky one which may or not pay off. On a personal note, Adam's sexual orientation comes into question, but not by Little Jackie.
Episode 62
22 mins
All five diners at last night's party discuss their chances of winning in light of the quality of the first party. Little Jackie Mandziak - recoined "Wacky Jackie" by Big Jackie - is the next to host the dinner party. Her menu consists of borscht and varenyky as the appetizer, and caribou bourguignon as the main course. As the day wears on, she forgoes the dessert believing she has insufficient time to make one. Little Jackie admits to being a little scattered, even needing to have a shower on her "to do" list. Her self perception matches what her guests also think of her. She also takes a risk on serving caribou, which she's never eaten let alone made but which set her back $300. But the caribou may be the second riskiest maneuver that Little Jackie does in the kitchen, the riskiest being to cook without any added salt. At the end of the night, Little Jackie does attempt making a dessert - white wine custard parfait - which may just top off the evening in the same direction it's been going.
Episode 63
22 mins
Elke Hinson - who Big Jackie has recoined "Elkeholic" - is third on the list to host the dinner party. Her menu consists of a grapefruit martini as the welcome drink, deep fried zucchini blossoms on zucchini pasta, Caprese salad, and butternut squash ravioli as the "spring-summer-autumn" trio of appetizers, duck confit as the main course, and lemon tart for dessert. During dinner, many revelations about what everyone's initial thoughts of the others were come to light, some of those revelations which shock. But the biggest shocking revelation is learning of Elke's alternate life as "Maria Juana". The boys in particular are most enthralled with that alternate life, which Elke displays 90% for all to see. Adam sees Elke's food and her post-dinner display as a combination difficult to beat.
Episode 64
22 mins
Adam Hazel is the host for the evening. He has felt confident right from the start of the week about winning, and wants to impress if only because he doesn't take criticism well. He also feels that he is at an unfair advantage since he doesn't have the anatomy to impress the way Elke did at her dinner party. Despite not being Italian, Adam figuratively goes to Italy with his menu, which consists of sangria as the welcome drink, scallops and insalata Caprese as the appetizer, rabbit bolognese as the main course, and clementine chocolate salad for dessert. His guests are least looking forward to the rabbit, many of who admit to never having tried it, and which isn't made any more palatable by Little Jackie's story about an encounter with a rabbit. Little Jackie finds something else a little more difficult to swallow. Big Jackie may find the most difficult thing to swallow is Adam's constant prattling. But the others swallow up the Jackies' stories about their wildest drunken nights. At the end of the evening, the one thing the guests can't complain about is leaving hungry.
Episode 65
22 mins
Big Jackie McGrath is the last of this five to host. She believes in going big or going home, both as a means to winning and as a mantra for her guests. Her menu consists of cashew, pear and grape salad as the appetizer, pork tenderloin with raspberry BBQ sauce as the main course, and ooey gooey fudgy brownies as the dessert. All her guests see Big Jackie as the wannabe practically perfect suburban soccer mom, a perception she tries to break with one of her welcome drinks hearkening back to her sorority days. As such, the true mantra for the evening becomes "L-U-G-E", and the five go luging whenever the opportunity arises. The Jackies' share their respective professional disaster stories, Big Jackie's which may be appetizingly off-putting. Big Jackie learns if she served up a disaster of a party as she announces the winner of the $1,000.
Episode 66
22 mins
The five contestants for this week are: ESL instructor Shelly Claridge, a gardening enthusiast who doesn't like the stereotype that overweight people are stupid; finance manager Ravinder Dhugee, who doesn't like swearing or competition; music industry bigwig Craig Halket, who admits to having seen some of the sex, drugs and rock and roll in his life that is associated with the music business; Ojibwa artist Keith McCrady, a self-professed teddy bear of a man; and dancer and entrepreneur Emilie Richard, a Québecois party girl with get up and go who wants to be a millionaire by age thirty in four years. Emilie Richard is the first to host the dinner party. Her menu consists of a blood orange mimosa as the welcome drink, salmon and shrimp ceviche as the appetizer, venison roast (from a deer she shot herself) as the main course, and tarte tatin á la mode for dessert. Emilie may have some problems in execution as she is using two newly purchased and thus unfamiliar pieces of kitchen equipment in the meal preparation. Her math skills may also cause a problem in the kitchen. During the actual dinner, further issues include timing problems and some important items missing from the dining room, including a hostess. Emilie ends the night with a Come Dine with Me Canada first.
Episode 67
22 mins
After the first dinner, the five assess their chances of winning the week. Craig Halket is second on the list to host the dinner party. His menu consists of pear & walnut salad and stuffed mushroom caps as the appetizers, surf & turf as the main course, and crispy sushi rolls for dessert. He sticks by his menu despite both Shelly and Ravinder mentioning that they don't like seafood, which is found in both the appetizer and the main. The mock seafood in the dessert also is somewhat of a risk. Most of his competitors believe that Craig will be the person to beat, largely due to his social nature, although that social nature he is aware can often lead to talking too much. His larger than life nature is even more so than usual with the help of too much alcohol, which his guests notice upon arrival. Beyond the food, will too much of Craig being Craig be too much of a good or not so good thing?
Episode 68
22 mins
Shelly Claridge is the next on the list to host the dinner party. As an ESL teacher who also home stays some of her students, Shelly plans on using her international connections to develop her menu. That international menu consists of French mushroom bisque and okonomiyaki as the appetizer, gyozas and Shanghai pork as the main course, and banoffee pie and pear wraps (using home grown pears) for dessert. Shelly tries to accommodate what she knows of her guests' food dislikes by preparing and serving special substitutions wherever appropriate. Her guests believe that Shelly, who comes across as the motherly type, has a wild side to her personality which they expect to see at her party. They also expect that from her international menu that the meal will have a ton of flavor. Will they get what they expect?
Episode 69
22 mins
Ravinder Dhugee is the host for the evening. Her South Asian-inspired menu, reflecting her ethnic background, consists of samosas as the appetizer, daal and butter chicken as the main course, and sweet vermicelli for dessert. Ravinder, who has just gone through a painful divorce, has used cooking as a sanctuary in her life, and as such this competition has been cathartic for her in more ways than one. While Craig and Emilie are looking forward to a spicy meal, Shelly and Keith are dreading it. Beyond the meal, the guests don't really know what to expect from Ravinder, who has kept inside her shell for much of the week. Her guests will learn why, which ends up tugging at the heartstrings. They are also loosened up by some vodka, which is consumed by even the most unexpected of people.
Episode 70
22 mins
Keith McCrady is the last of this fivesome to host. His First Nations-inspired menu, reflecting his ethnic heritage, consists of venison gumbo and bannock as the appetizer, pierogi lasagna as the main course, and banana three ways - banana wontons, banana bread and banana tempura - for dessert. Keith, on the surface, has been seen as the shy one of the group - which he hopes will work in his favor, as he plans on maintaining that façade during his party - while being the most hypercritical when alone with the camera. As the first First Nations person to be on the show, he wants to represent his culture, but he also hopes that the First Nations rituals performed with the meal will impress. Nothing that Keith chooses to do for the evening is by chance. He will find out if his meticulous but unnoticed in being overly planned evening will be enough as he announces the winner of the $1,000.
Episode 71
22 mins
The five contestants for this week are: 'Barbara Boyer', who belongs to a group called the Red Hat Ladies who, surprise, surprise, have collections of red hats; single mom Tracy Cato, whose palate is not typical; Lidia Cimicata, an admitted couch potato who tells it like it is; advertising executive Aldo Cundari, a self-admittedly arrogant man who will treat his guests apropos to the way they act; and martial arts expert Donald Johnston, who admits to being hyperactive ADD. 'Barbara Boyer' is the first to host the dinner party. Her Hawaiian themed menu consists of Hawaiian pupu and booger salad as the appetizers, Pi Pi Wellington as the main course, and chocolate pots de crème for dessert. Barb is expecting her party to be a hit based on the food. However, it may be overshadowed by the disparate personalities of her guests: refined Aldo, loud Lidia, reserved Tracy and hyperactive Donald, who is on the lookout for bacon wherever he can find it.
Episode 72
22 mins
After the first dinner, the five reflect on last night's party and how it was overtaken by the antics of hyperactive Donald. Tracy Cato is second on the list to host the dinner party. Her Jamaican-inspired menu, reflecting her ethnic heritage, consists of shrimp fritters (which Tracy admits to never having cooked before as she hates shellfish) as the appetizer, stewed ox tail as the main course, and berry crumble for dessert. Humble Tracy has trouble stating on camera that she has every confidence of winning the week, but she can say with ease that she hopes that her food will speak for itself. Her success may depend on if she gets her measurements in the kitchen correct as she never measures any ingredient. Tracy and three of her guests are not looking forward to spending the evening with Donald, who may surprise the others. Tracy's planned African drumming session may calm everyone's nerves. But everyone's nerves end up being frayed, and it's not because of Donald.
Episode 73
22 mins
Tracy is relieved that her party is over, especially due to what she considers the rude behavior by Barb at the party. Barb, in turn, doesn't consider her behavior rude but obnoxious. Barb feels she can be obnoxious since the others have already provided her with her unchangeable scores. Donald Johnston is third on the list to host the dinner party. Despite Donald being on the most part on his best behavior last night, most of his guests are still dreading his party. He doesn't believe his guests should be anxious as he is emphatic that he can cook. His menu consists of finger food as the appetizer, roast beef with Yorkshire pudding as the main course, and chocolate fondue for dessert. Unfocused Donald decides to take a different approach in the preparation of many of his dishes than what most of his guests are expecting. The anxiety of his guests mount as the party goes on, especially with what Aldo and Lidia find between his sofa cushions, and what Tracy and Barb find in his bedroom.
Episode 74
22 mins
After last night's party, Donald's guests are glad that at least he didn't kill anybody with his food. But many are finding that Donald may not be the biggest problem as Barb, who came across as the sweet grandmotherly type on day one which was her party, has done a complete about face and is being overly difficult in an obvious way to put especially the person hosting ill at ease. Lidia Cimicata is the host for the evening. Lidia is unapologetic about her strategy and cooking style which is to get store bought shortcuts and pass those off as being home made. Her Italian inspired menu, reflecting her ethnic heritage, consists of bellinis (virgin for non alcohol drinker Tracy) as the welcome drink, ravioli fromaggio as the appetizer, chicken marsala as the main course, and chocolate chip cookie ice cream cake for dessert. Lidia outs herself in more ways than one, some accidental some not so, but will Lidia be able to make up for it by her larger than life personality? Many believe Lidia may have an unfair advantage in having a paesan at the table.
Episode 75
22 mins
Aldo Cundari is the last of this fivesome to host. Wealthy Aldo has irked in particular Barb this week by being what she considers arrogant and uncompromising in his attitude toward wanting the finer things in life, but Aldo is unapologetic about doing things the way he likes them, arrogant seeming or not. His menu consists of prosecco as the welcome drink with a Shirley Temple for non-alcohol drinker Tracy, sautéed shrimp as the appetizer, seafood paella as the main course, and crostata lamponi for dessert. While Aldo is in the kitchen preparing the main, his guests are open about how they feel the behavior of the others has been this week, which leads to an uncomfortable quiet during the meal itself. Some further antics by Barb, which further divides the group, may even take Aldo to the breaking point. He will see how those antics affect his score as Aldo announces the winner of the $1,000, which if he wins will be donated to his favorite charity.
Episode 76
22 mins
The five contestants for this week are: Mark Bardsley, a native New Brunkswicker who admits to having a lot of first dates but not many seconds; Megan Fostka, a homebody who doesn't stray to the wild side of life often; insurance broker John Hastings, whose goal for the week is not to finish in last place; salesman Dennis Monestier, a marathoner who doesn't lose often in life; and opera singer Zorana Sadiq, who can be a bit of a bitch. Dennis Monestier is the first to host the dinner party. His menu consists of aperol spritz as the welcome drink, chocolate papardelle as the appetizer, sausages with herbed polenta as the main course, and vanilla and lavender panna cotta for dessert. His guests notice his attention to presentation. But too much of one ingredient in his main and admittedly an important missing one in the dessert may kibosh his chances of a winning evening.
Episode 77
22 mins
The five contestants who each have a different view of life and the week, all believe they can win after Dennis' party last night. Megan Fostka is second on the list to host the dinner party. Her menu consists of French martinis as the welcome drink, moules et frites as the appetizer, seared NY strip as the main course, and vanilla bean panna cotta for dessert. Megan is certain that her dessert will win in the head to head panna cotta competition against Dennis since she, unlike Dennis, won't forget to add the sugar. But her guests don't view what they consider a relatively straightforward menu a winning menu. They also don't believe she has the personality to wow them entertainment-wise. Will her guests be surprised?
Episode 78
22 mins
John Hastings is third on the list to host the dinner party. This night starts the back to back parties of the two most openly critical of the group, he along with Zorana who have what they would consider the highest standards. John's menu consists of cinnamon vanilla vodka with apple cider as the welcome drink, asparagus, mint & lemon risotto as the appetizer, pancetta-wrapped chicken breast as the main course, and sugar & spice donuts with vanilla ice cream for dessert. John plans on taking a short cut with the risotto so that he can be a proper host for his guests, but he is also cognizant that it is a risky maneuver seeing that Italian Dennis may have exacting standards for the dish. Zorana does end up being the most critical, but others feel that if she is willing to dish it out that she should also be able to take it. And one of the guests contemplates batting for the other team based on this party.
Episode 79
22 mins
Zorana Sadiq is the host for the evening. As the perceived pretentious one of the group, she has set the expectations high for her guests, some of who hope to see failure. Her menu consists of parsnip and citrus soup as the appetizer, braised lamb shoulder as the main course, and chilled chocolate terrine for dessert. Just before the party starts, Zorana admits that she is worried that something will happen to ruin the party. Her guests notice her stress, which isn't helped by John, Mark and Dennis looking for any little flaw they can, just because it's Zorana. The boys have another goal for the evening, which is assisted by a less than usual checker board they find in Zorana's house. Regardless, Zorana tries to end the night on a high note.
Episode 80
22 mins
Mark Bardsley is the last of this fivesome to host. He doesn't care that his guests all think him a bit of a s***-disturber who will do and say things just to get a rise out of people. His maritime menu, reflecting his east coast roots, consists of cod tongues as the appetizer, lobster spaghetti as the main course, and chocolate cake for dessert. Mark's approach is to take it easy and just have a good time. If John learns of Mark's approach, he'll be pissed off as John scores for effort. With respect to the main, Mark presents the live lobsters, which freaks out Zorana, but which the others use to have a lobster sword fight. As such, Mark serves Zorana a special mock main. He'll soon find out if his antics were enough for a winning night as he announces the winner of the $1,000.