Dining with strangers
October 6, 2011
An idea made famous by the British TV show 'Come Dine With Me' has now gone online, allowing total strangers to host or attend dinner parties.
The website Foodhost supersedes the popular reality television series, where four or five contestants each take turns to hold a dinner party for their rivals.
The 23-year-old behind the social media site hopes fans of the reality format, which is known as 'Das perfekte Dinner' in Germany and is watched in 26 countries, will sign up to create their own personal dining experience.
Christopher Tau from Milton Keynes, approximately 80 kilometers north of London, thinks the online version will be a sure-fire hit as Britons look to save money in their social lives during these austere economic times.
Hosts aren't allowed to charge their guests for their meal. The Foodhost website will, however, take a small booking fee of up to five euros per person.
"Users can sign up for free and can then scroll through a list of events, existing events, where they can book a place," Tau told Deutsche Welle.
"Or they can create a completely new event and invite the people around them to come."
Food fans can use filters like distance, diet, event date and host ratings to find exactly what they're looking for.
Sparks could fly
If real life imitates art (or in this case the TV show), the dinner parties could become very lively affairs.
In the television version, producers select contestants whose personalities are likely to clash, leading 'Come Dine With Me' to be described as the "bitchiest show on the box" because of the sarcastic remarks guests make about their host's gourmet efforts and social skills. With Foodhost, real life party planners can try and create similar 'fireworks' if they wish.
Foodhost even allows hosts to allow anonymous members of the site to book a place at their dinner party on a first-come, first-served basis.
Despite the potential for a major brouhaha, however, the website's owner says they're taking privacy and safety issues seriously.
"The reason we charge is that it adds to the safety layer of the site," said Tau. "We found that if we didn't charge anyone could come along and create some kind of potential problem. So this is a way we can vet members."
Social media for 'foodies'
Dinner party social media has already taken off in America. Although Foodhost claims to be the first of its kind in Britain, another online community 'for amateur dinner party hosts and aspiring food critics' is also available.
'Secret Dinner Party' appears to target wealthy Londoners keen to practice their cooking skills on strangers.
Tau started his site with savings from a range of jobs in the food industry. But despite the lack of venture capital backing, he's not worried about competition, even from major internet companies.
"This market is quite big for several players," he sdaid. "Competition will only drive us to produce a better service. Not only that but it validates that you do have a real business and that what you are doing is working."
Foodhost is also keen to liaise with local independent food suppliers to help users source the best local ingredients for their dinner parties. The website is offering to promote these small businesses for free.
Fans' reaction
Fans of 'Come Dine With Me' told Deutsche Welle they think the idea could be a big success.
"My house is open to anybody. And if anyone wants to come and try my curry then they are most welcome," said Ashish Bawa, at a shopping centre in Milton Keynes.
But the retiree of Indian origin wasn't too sure whether he would attend someone else's dinner party: "I'm so fussy about my food and how it's prepared. If they cooked any meat or beef then I wouldn't go," said Bawa.
Report: Nik Martin, Milton Keynes
Editor: Sam Edmonds