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Day: 7 October 2012

Baking Society

Written by David Wood on . Posted in News.

This year sees the arrival of our first ever Baking Society. Started by two guys with insatiable appetites for all things baked, the group has received massive interest in its first few weeks.

With the fortunate addition of a female committee member, the society has big ambitions for the year ahead. We held our first meeting on 4th October, with over 50 people in attendance. It was a great success and gave people the chance to meet new people and indulge in all sorts of cakes and biscuits – even a sophisticated slice of black forest gateaux.

In the future, the society is planning themed weekly meets where everyone brings something they’ve made at home and shares it round. It’s a great way to showcase your skills, and hopefully pick up some tips and new recipes from others in the group. The committee is keen to get new people into baking, by holding demonstrations and proving to students that baking your own cakes, breads and pies needn’t be expensive. We’re also planning to add a competitive element by having some Bake Off style showdowns with prizes for the best creations.

Baking is a great skill to learn, and it’s so simple to get started. Shortbread, for example, is quick to make, tastes great and is really cheap. Use the BBC Food recipe online, and substitute the vanilla extract for other flavours such as orange or almond if you want something a bit different.

Many people might be put off by the initial cost of baking equipment, but to start all you need is some scales, a big bowl and a cake tin. An oven is also useful (but not essential – see fridge cake and microwave flapjacks). Any large supermarket will supply your needs, but other stores such as Wilkinson and TKMaxx often have good selections. For ingredients the committee’s preference is Aldi or Lidl.

Although the internet is an excellent resource for recipes, it’s nice to have your own chocolate-stained books. Some of our favourite authors are Edd Kimber and Dan Lepard. There is also a range of excellent magazines to choose from; Delicious Magazine is a great starter and the Asda one is brilliant quality for a freebie.

Stay updated by finding our Facebook page to keep you updated. Contact [email protected] to get in touch by email.

 

Great British Bake Off Drinking Game

Written by Emily Clark on . Posted in News.

We didn’t come up with this beauty all by ourselves. In fact, the inspiration came from James Morton’s blog. James is the Scottish fair isle-clad one, yes. The one we all fancy. Get some friends round, some baked goods and enjoy!

Drink one (lady) finger

– When the words ‘soggy bottom’, ‘good bake’, ‘good crumb’ are mentioned

– If Paul criticises a bake, with an additional two fingers if Mary follows with a tactful yet backhanded compliment

– When the presenters say ‘bake’ in an unnecessarily stupid register

– When the presenters eat something

– When there’s a close up of a contestant doing an odd facial expression

 

Drink two (sponge) fingers

– For every intended double entendre or innuendo from Mel and Sue

– For each individual disaster in the technical bake

– For every montage with animals

– When Paul scrapes the bottom of a bake with his knife

– If someone blames the weather for ruining baking conditions

 

Drink three (iced) fingers

– For every unintended double entendre from Mary, Paul or the contestants

– When someone pleads or prays in front of an oven

– Every time Mary gives a silent but clearly disapproving glance

– If Mary is wearing something shocking yet hip

 

Chin your drink

– Every time a contestant cries

– If someone drops or throws a cake on the floor

– If Paul Hollywood really rates a bake (must use one of: genius, beautiful, love, amazing, fantastic, brilliant, perfect)

 

 

Filled with Grey

Written by Sophie Lipton on . Posted in Theatre.

Three Stars out of Five Stars

Fields of Grey, directed by Contact’s Artistic Director Baba Israel, gives an insight into the Afghan American war. It is about an American soldier, and a British Muslim Mujahid who shot each other at battle. They are transported into a locked room where there is a heavy feeling of distrust, dislike and differences. However, it slowly becomes obvious that their dilemmas and difficulties are not actually fields apart.

In this two man play, the actors seem to really interact with the audience from the beginning. Unknowingly stuck in what seems like a state of limbo, the actors only have the audience to question their confusion. This mixed with with Mtume Gant’s and Avaes Mohammad’s strong acting, injected emotions into the audience, making us feel part of the performance. However, Gant’s rendition really does deserve a mention as his diverse range of emotions were hard hitting and convincing, showing off his flexibility as an actor.

I may have not had the unique experience of walking into a space ship, but the way I was escorted into the theatre was unconventional, and I felt as if I was walking into another planet. Unlike any piece of theatre I had seen before, the doors were only open to a select number of the audience at a time while we taken on a journey. From meditation to washing our hands, an eerie yet thrilling atmosphere has been successfully created. The stage was minimal, yet impressive as it was literally a cube layered with sand placed in the centre of the room. Before the play started, news clips encompassing the US Afghanistan war were beamed onto the translucent walls of the cube, filling the first of many awkward pauses the show had in store.

I found there were too many silences within the play which decreased a needed sense of urgency. This caused my interest to dwindle at some points during the performance. However, the use of technology and visual affects beamed onto the stage certainly tried to grab my attention. At first I felt this was a great technique utilised, but it became overused,  fragmenting the plot of the play. Ultimately the effects triumphed over the acting and I found myself thinking ‘was that really necessary?’.

I found both characters were quite balanced in their political views at the start of the play. Unfortunately the mutual stance was discontinued when the performance ended at an abrupt halt only depicting the American soldier in a negative light. It was almost as if the ending had been cut short, time taken up by fancy videos and effects. This ambiguous and quite biased ending made the show appear ironically quite grey and confusing, leaving me questioning why only the American solider had come to terms with his guilt.

Overall, no key knowledge of the US-Afghanistan war was needed, which makes it a watch for all keen theatre goers, especially for those who like to ponder on controversial endings. Evidently Fields of Grey had potential for a black and white hard hitting political fresh theatrical performance, but the use too many different techniques created a sense of grey ambiguity.

 

Fields of Grey runs at The Contact Theatre until October 13th.

 

Album: Tame Impala – Lonerism

Written by Joe Goggins on . Posted in Music.

Tame Impala

Lonerism

Modular

9/10

Released: October 8, 2012

If you’re anything like me, you might be spending the summer’s dying days wondering what it is that people so love about it; weather as persistent as it was horrendous and the depressing ubiquity of Boris Johnson’s absurd head of hair made for one of the more underwhelming holidays of recent years. You could do worse, by way of a reminder, than to get hold of a copy of Tame Impala’s debut full-length, Innerspeaker, which stands as a sonic representation of everything good about the calendar’s middling months; a hazy, psychedelic treat of a record, best enjoyed on a sunny afternoon.

Innerspeaker took Tame Impala right around the world – from headline tours that steadily increased in scale to supporting Foo Fighters at Milton Keynes Bowl – and it wasn’t until late last year that Kevin Parker – the brains and, for the most part, brawn of the outfit – was able to record new songs that had been on the back burner for some time, in his native Australia. The result is Lonerism, a record that suggests that the laidback outlook of the last album extended to Parker’s attitude towards the traditional pressure that comes with releasing a follow-up; this is as assured a sophomore record as I’ve heard for some time.

Ironically, the band have moved on – at least in part – from the carefree pastures of their last effort; as the title suggests, Parker focuses lyrically on themes of isolation and displacement, and there’s a degree of purpose, perhaps even aggression, in the album’s sound to reflect that – the pianos pound on ‘Apocalypse Dreams’, looped, ‘Tomorrow Never Knows’-esque drums clatter through opener ‘Be Above It’, and ‘Elephant’ is dominated by the sort of stampeding, bluesy riff that The Black Keys would be proud of.

That’s not to say the band’s signature grooves are missing in action on Lonerism; ‘Mind Mischief’ is a classic Impala slow burner, whilst ‘Why Won’t They Talk to Me?’ brings the record’s pace grinding to a near halt with its spaced-out melancholy. The record’s greatest triumph, though, is the delicate balance it strikes between celebrating its influences and outright copying them; the album wears its admiration of the Woodstock age of psychedelia proudly on its sleeve, but not so much so that there’s nothing new or exciting here – it’s the freshest sounding rock record of the year. As odes to the sixties go, Tame Impala do for weed and acid what Mad Men does for whisky and cigarettes; they’ve made that era sound as good as that show makes it look, and produced a genuine thrill of a record in the process.

Bizarre Sports #4 – Extreme Ironing

Written by Andrew Georgeson on . Posted in Sport.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of a freshly pressed shirt. Unfortunately, ironing can be an arduous process, especially for a student. But for those who fancy exercising more than just their ironing arm, however, there’s always Extreme Ironing.

Extreme Ironing is the self proclaimed ‘latest danger sport, that combines the thrills of an extreme outdoor activity with the satisfaction of a well pressed shirt.’

Extreme Ironing involves performing extreme sports, such as sky diving, wakeboarding, even standing on top of a car whilst driving along the M1, then whipping out your ironing board and pressing an allotted amount of clothes.

The sport was started in Leicestershire by house husband Phil Shaw who, after a long day of chores, was left with an ultimatum – finish his last bit of housework, the ironing, or go enjoy his favourite pastime of rock climbing. He decided to combine the two, and the rest is history. Phil, affectionately known as ‘Steam’ on the Extreme Ironing circuit, embarked on a worldwide tour in 1999, which saw countries like the USA and New Zealand embrace the sport. Soon came the creation of the Extreme Ironing Bureau, the international governing body for the sport.

The poster-boy for Extreme Ironing in the UK is Paul Roberts, who recently finished 364th out of a field of 900 Ironers who undertook the grueling challenge of the Marathon des Sables. The marathon involves a 155-mile journey across the Saharan Desert, and Roberts decided to do it while carrying his ironing board on his back, alongside his water, tent and sun cream.

Although the term ‘sport’ is only very loosely applied to Extreme Ironing, its influence is undeniable. The very concept of daily chores has inspired a breakaway group from the Extreme Ironing Bureau named Urban Housework. The group is currently pioneering an extreme sport based around vacuum cleaning, as well as Extreme Cello Playing, a sport with a similar concept except that one plays a Cello instead of pressing their briefs.

Phil Shaw’s humble sport now holds an annual world championship and despite being retired, ‘Steam’ made a testimonial appearance at the 2012 Hastings half-marathon with his board on his back, pressing garments along the way.

Club Profile: Squash

Written by Niall Harkin on . Posted in Sport.

What is squash?

“Sometimes described by pros as ‘physical chess’, squash is an athletic and demanding game involving two people in a walled box with racquets and a ball. Players repeatedly hit the ball against the wall, until either the ball bounces twice or is struck out of play. A point is awarded against the player who struck the ball out.”

Is Manchester’s squash team competitive? Who do they compete against?

“Manchester’s first teams boast a national reputation, including men’s and women’s teams in the premier league. The second and third teams play in the northern and north west sections of British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS), competing against rival universities in the region. The squash club scored more BUCS points than any other Manchester team last year, something they are proud of as a society.”

How sociable is the squash club? What else do they do as a society?

“The society is a friendly community, meeting up for a variety of socials such as AU club nights, pub sessions and the occasional curry. We also recently visited the British Grand Prix at SportCity and saw some of the biggest names in world squash, courtesy of the Sports Office at Manchester.”

Is there room and encouragement for players of any ability? Can anyone join?

“Definitely, the teams only make up around a third of all club members, and there are sessions throughout the week for beginners (Monday 7:40pm) and intermediate players (Tuesday 8:20pm) at Sugden Sports Centre.”

Club Profile: Pole Fitness

Written by Morgan Hammond on . Posted in Sport.

What is pole fitness?

“Pole fitness is vertical gymnastics using a pole. It’s not about gyrating in skimpy clothing – it’s actually an amazing form of exercise as it requires a lot of strength to be able to do spins, invert and climb a pole.”

Can anyone join even if they have no previous experience?

“Everyone starts off somewhere. The first lesson can be a bit daunting but within the first lesson you’ve already mastered a few basic spins and within a few months you’re doing things you never dreamed possible. It’s totally addictive – my only regret is not starting sooner.”

How does your perception of pole fitness differ to those that have never done it before?

“I see pole fitness as an amazing, fun form of exercise. A lot of people associate it with strip clubs and when I tell people I do pole fitness they immediately assume I do it occupationally. But I think of it as pole acrobatics and as a form of challenging my body to perform gravity defying moves.”

Finally, in what ways has pole fitness changed your life?

“It’s possibly the best thing that has ever happened to me! I dropped from a size 12 to a size 6 and I have so much more energy, better posture and flexibility. Plus, I’ve made lots of friends who I see outside of classes. After every single lesson I leave with a big smile on my face. I’m totally hooked and recommend it to anyone and everyone.”

‘I made the Games’: a volunteer’s account of the London Olympics

Written by Ally Mitchell on . Posted in Sport.

Two summers ago, the thought of becoming a Games Maker seemed pretty unfathomable.

The Olympics were in the distant future and ‘Games Makers’ sounded like something off the Hunger Games. When my family persuaded me to apply for a volunteer role, I was initially sceptical; I never believed I would be chosen to play such an active part in London 2012.

The whole experience came around unexpectedly. A year after applying, I received an email asking me to attend an interview in London. I thought it went terribly, as I seemed to respond to every question with the same answer (‘Yes, when completing my Duke of Edinburgh award I was faced by a challenge…’). My sense of foreboding was, however, unjustified, as I soon found out I had been selected to become a London 2012 Games Maker.

Many of my family had also applied, and none of them had even got interviews. I was astounded to be chosen, and this was before I even knew what my job would be.

After attending my first training date, I discovered that I was to be an athlete escort for the swimming victory ceremonies.

Two athlete escorts appear in every medal ceremony. They have to brief the winning athletes on the logistics of the ceremony backstage, and then take them through the route to the podium.

We watched a short clip of a Beijing medal ceremony and my mouth literally dropped open. These girls were on camera all the time – and I would be doing the same.

The training itself was good fun. At 3 Mills Studios in London, I finally met my team, and together we learnt our routine. We had stand-in volunteers acting as athletes.

The boys had to perfect their shuffle, turning in sync without dropping the medals (or rather, chocolate coins) and the flowers (broccoli). Us girls, meanwhile, had to remember every point of the brief, in particular Rule 50 – no flags or advertising on the podium.

Just a few months later I was off to Stratford. The Olympics had begun.

Our first day in the Aquatics Centre consisted mainly of dress rehearsals, but the pool was already being used by many of the athletes for training. For the first (and last) time, we sat in the expensive seats and watched the packed pool full of swimmers, who swam constant and consistent lengths.

Even more swimmers were limbering up and stretching with their coaches. It was astounding to see the dedication and determination of these people; they had worked so hard for so many years, and now they finally had the chance to prove themselves.

The first ceremony took place the following evening. After dressing in our costumes we waited in a deactivated shower room (which looked like the setting of Saw) and watched the race on TV – Michael Phelps versus Ryan Lochte in the Men’s 400m Individual Medley.

The result is a shock; Lochte wins and Phelps only finishes fourth. Gradually, the athletes arrive backstage with their anti-doping volunteers, and all of our meticulous planning is briefly forgotten as Ryan Lochte walks in. Everyone in the packed room just stares at him. I’m embarrassed about how truly uncool we look.

As we line up I’m possibly more nervous than the athletes were before their race. I can just sense the next massive YouTube hit: ‘Girl Falls in Olympic Pool’. And then we’re walking out – the roars of the spectators are so loud, I can’t even hear the Chariots of Fire theme tune.

The next few minutes are incredible; camera bulbs are flashing, people are screaming and I’m standing right there, experiencing the whole event!

The rest of the week feels surreal. I get to take part in at least two ceremonies a night, and many of the athletes’ faces soon become familiar; Sun Yang, Yannick Agnel and Ye Shiwen all appear on the podium, along with a Michael Phelps, who by Tuesday was crowned the greatest ever Olympian.

Phelps’ silver medal in the 200m Butterfly, however, was complete surprise, as he was beaten by the little-known South African Chad le Clos. I was lucky enough to lead this ceremony around the pool, and I was in awe; not only at the sheer volume of the crowd, but at the excitement and anticipation as the athletes made their way to the podium.

My week at the Olympics was indescribable. I couldn’t wait for the evening to come, never knowing who we might meet. A few nights were hard work – excitable athletes would frequently run off in the wrong direction (leaving us to struggle after them in devilish heels), but that just made the job more eventful.

I wouldn’t exchange my experience for anything; I made wonderful friends and played an integral part in the London 2012 Olympics. I am now the proud owner of a badge saying ‘I Made The Games’.

University of Manchester Music Society Band Night

Written by Robert Foot on . Posted in Music.

Last Wednesday saw the first Music Society Band Night take place, an event whose line-up was made up solely of Music Society members and their bands. Giving the evening a relaxed start was Chloë Foy. Chloë’s storytelling and the musical interactions between her and her two accompanying players, including some mesmerising three part vocal harmonies, kept the audience enthralled throughout her set. Her upcoming single I Gotta Feeling, her set closer enjoyed an especially warm reception from the crowd.

The next act to perform was Jonny Breakwell and his band. Jonny’s singer-songwriter style was personalised with the addition of cello and violin. Shortly before his single Emily was performed, a broken string on Jonny’s guitar became the precursor to a fantastically received impromptu Irish jig jam, led by violinist Ellie Gaynard and other band members joining in to a rapturous reception.

Next, giving their debut performance, was Logan’s Runners. Their set was solid and confident, with their mix of piano-led, calm songs being starkly juxtaposed with heavier, guitar based rock. The keyboard solos were well utilised, and the presence of strings meant that Logan’s Runners are more than just a five-piece rock band.

The penultimate act to perform was Lesbian Plebian. The band entered with a two minute, choreographed dance routine, and the four members wore all manner of costumes, from suit and driving goggles to duffel coat and boxers. The music itself, an overblown Rage Against the Machine parody, paled in comparison to the visual entertainment that the band provided.

The headline act of the evening, Funkin’ Massive Party Band, managed to get everybody in the room dancing. Playing a set filled with covers and mash-ups, the highlight being Superstitious/Thriller/Ghostbusters, and with many spectacular saxophone solos throughout, the band brought the live music to a spectacular close.

All the acts reviewed can be found on Facebook. To get involved in future band nights, e-mail [email protected]

Gorilla

Written by Alexandra Williams on . Posted in Food & Drink, Freshers' Guide.

The infamous Manchester brand Trof have opened a slick new venue on Whitworth Street under the rather ominous name ‘Gorilla’ and, while it boasts all the usual attributes of the chain, this particular establishment has a sophisticated niche: gin.

The parlour itself, housed on the exclusively designed mezzanine, stocks around 35 different hand-picked gins from around the world, all of which are selected for their broad variety and superior quality. Here, the gins can be relished as part of a balanced cocktail, or with an effortless tonic.

The cocktails are all-encompassing. From the contemporary classics, I would recommend the spicy, sweet and intense ‘Ginger Gin Sling’ or the ‘Kingston Collins’, which is a lively and tropical alteration to the original mix. The ‘Ramos Gin Fizz’ was a challenge as it was far too creamy, so approach with caution. The ‘Tonic’ selection offers more clear and crisp options such as ‘Green’, a beautiful perfumed drink containing the rosemary and cucumber infused gin, Hendricks, and the refreshing ‘Coconut’ made with exquisite English Millers Gin, mixed with a Jamaican coconut rum.

No self-respecting gin parlour would be complete without a martini, and Gorilla offers understated traditionals as well as a few unusual alternatives. The undoubted crowning glory, however, was the homemade ‘Buttered Gin’, a recipe adapted from a drink originally made in New York speakeasies. The spirit possesses a pleasurabe sweet, smooth, buttery taste whilst preserving an unmasked strong gin flavour, and can be consumed in a cocktail or modestly on the rocks.

If you’re adverse to a gin tipple, Gorilla offers a cornucopia of other indulgences. The food, for example, is all fresh, free range and carefully considered, right down to the delicious brioche burger buns and succulent Rib-eye steak. A recommendation must be made for the incredibly hearty ‘Royal Breakfast’, containing everything you could ever want to cure the most arduous of hangovers. There is also an extensive list of eclectic rums, vodkas and bourbons waiting to be discovered. For the small hours, juxtaposed to the relaxed bar is the adjoined club which is currently hosting an array of alternative nights, underground artist gigs and even cult film screenings. This place really has everything.

Unsurprisingly, Gorilla has been nominated for ‘Best Newcomer’ at this year’s Manchester Food & Drink Festival and, although not the cheapest of venues around, it’s one of the most diverse and exciting to recently emerge. It’s assuredly worth spending a bit more to visit, whether it be for the club, bar or food, so attempt to banish thoughts about your overdrafts, dismiss the fiscal temptation of Sainsbury’s Basics vodka and go check it out.

Could Manchester’s Food and Drink Festival be too much of good thing?

Written by Eve Commander on . Posted in Food & Drink.

After my initial shock at the cavernous tents and empty stalls in the Food Hub of Manchester’s fifteenth Food and Drink Festival, I had to concede that this was mid-September, mid-week and mid-afternoon. I was expecting to be assaulted with vendors inviting me to gobble up the crêpes, pan-Asian street food and gourmet French cuisine billed for that day, but the main people eating anything seemed to be the vendors themselves.

Between flipping one of their exotic burgers and noshing on donuts dunked in chocolate from their neighbours, Churros Susanna, the guys at main stall, Ank Marvin, said that lunchtime work trade was when they were busiest; their generously sized kangaroo burger the best seller, amongst offerings including springbok and zebra. However, I had arrived at 5.30pm and the midday buzz was clearly wearing thin. I was only just in time to sample the incredible salted caramel and peanut ice-cream served up by winner of last year’s British Street Food Awards, Claire Kailsey of Ginger’s Comfort Emporium, before she shuttered up her kitsch pink van.

In nearby St Ann’s square, the pans of steaming cheesy potatoes, pork baps, and Spanish paella in the Feast Markets were more like the street fodder I had in mind, which were also nestled amongst stalls selling cheeses and fudge. Waiting whilst the vats of chilli and mango and chicken korma were reheated for me by festival veteran, Mango Rays, I learnt they were not as busy as usual. They would be packed away by 8pm – just as Harvey Nichol’s wine bar, the almighty beer and ale marquee of Robinsons’ Pub on the Hub and the The Liars Club in St Albert’s square would all be thronging with people.

With festival partners Truly Good Food introducing a ‘Festival dish for under a tenner’ incentive for city centre restaurants, celebrity demos from Masterchef’s John Torode, Come Dine with Metrolink, Oktoberfest, street stalls and restaurant deals all part of the festival, a good sit down with the festival guide is necessary to get the most out of this extravaganza.

A highlight of events across the city sees Chorlton’s award-winning Barbakan bakery hosting taster sessions. Beloved by Chorlton’s boho young professionals, yummy mummies and builders alike for it’s amazing selection of breads, tarts, paninis, sausages and inordinate amount of Polish gherkins and pickles, it’s places like this that show Manchester has foodies and food outlets enough to host such a massive urban food festival. However, with so much going on, it’s hard not to feel you have probably missed out on some major culinary experiences. Manchester’s finest isn’t handed to you on a plate: you have to find it.

Come Have Dinner With Me – Catherine

Written by Emily Clark on . Posted in News.

As the guests were welcomed into Catherine’s house, delectable smells emanated from her kitchen. Bitterness about the perpetual rain was further subsided by tea-light candles that were glowing inside homemade lanterns. By homemade, we do not mean by fair hands of host Catherine, but by her guitar-slinging housemate. In fact, we got the impression that Catherine often delegated to her housemates, whilst she yelled upstairs for someone to get the napkins that had been ‘borrowed’ from the Students’ Union.

Homemade candle-holders enhanced the atmosphere. Photo: Jessica Hardiman

We asked the guests how they felt about the menu – red onion tarte tatin for the starter, beef bourguignon for main and a chocolate and raspberry pavlova for dessert. Will, PPE student, was looking forward to the starter, purely on the basis that he had no idea what a tarte tatin was. Rachel, Music student, was looking forward to the main course – or at least we think she was as she muttered, ‘I like beef’. A casual remark from Economics student Ollie: ‘the menu looked pretty standard, but if it’s well executed I’m very excited’ meant that his reputation as most discerning guest was upheld.

When the starter came out, Ollie was impressed by the pastry, looking down at his plate and stating that ‘making pastry is quite hard to get right. I think this is right.’ It was not your average pastry, but in fact bespeckled with thyme and cheddar. A balsamic glaze finished off the dish, although with less finesse than one would hope; more like a balsamic dribble.

The red onion tarte tatin in all its glory. Photo: Jessica Hardiman

Will took it upon himself to educate the others in a little napkin craft-work, confessing, ‘I have a habit of making lotus flowers’. The three guests contentedly folded whilst Catherine tried – but failed – to do her very own crafting of the garlic mash into quenelles.

Will confesses, ‘I have a habit of making lotus flowers’. Photo: Jessica Hardiman

All three thought the slow-cooked beef was amazing. However, Ollie still found something to complain about, whining that ‘the main wasn’t quite as good as the starter – which was an artisan, crafted dish – I enjoyed it but attention to detail was slightly less.’ Will liked the wintery vibe, saying, ‘ it was very comforting with the rain outside.’ Rachel agreed, saying it was like ‘being back at home with Mum’s stew’. High praise indeed, if a little off the track from fine dining.

Host Catherine stirs her shallots and mushrooms. Photo: Jessica Hardiman The very sexy main course, complete with buttered carrots, garlic mash, pak choi and green beans. Photo: Jessica Hardiman

Of the atmosphere, the guests were generally contented, but felt something was lacking. Will said, ‘I’m missing the between-courses entertainment’, referring to his own night. Ollie loudly hummed agreement.

Despite being a genius in the lotus flower department, the tables were turned and Will was given a crash-course in opening a bottle of wine. This provided great entertainment in itself. Who needs games when you have a grown man holding a corkscrew and asking, ‘how do you use these?’

The pudding was pavlovely. Ollie liked its mystery personality, saying whimsically, ‘the meringue exterior held a chocolate secret’. Whilst eating, he phrased it slightly more simply, with mere continual groans of delight.

The delicious dessert. Photo: Jessica Hardiman A slice of heaven, with raspberry coulis. Photo: Jessica Hardiman

After dessert, the guests were treated to the dulcet tones of Catherine’s housemate, who sang and played guitar. Her combination of acoustic screamo and pink, fluffy slippers was interesting, but seemed to be a hit amongst the diners. After her four-song set, the guitar got passed round and the entertainment descended into some sort of shambolic but modest open mic, concluded by Ollie and Will’s (presumably and hopefully impromptu) rendition of Tenacious D’s ‘Tribute’. Classic. The guests thought the entertainment was ‘fantastic’ and the fact that everyone got involved made it a whooping success. Concerns with a lack in entertainment appeared to softly drift away.

Sweet serenading with screamo rock and pink, fluffy slippers. Photo: Jessica Hardiman The boys perform a beautiful duet. Photo: Jessica Hardiman

By the end of the night, love triangles were spiraling everywhere – Ollie serenaded Will with a personalised version of a Flight of the Conchords number, whilst Will revealed a soft spot for the guitarist, admitting ‘her flatmate was quite attractive; she was mainly hot because she was playing guitar – that was the crucial element.’ Simultaneously, Catherine appeared to be dishing out her only set of heart-patterned crockery to one guest: Will. After this had been noticed, she served one up to Rachel to try and counter the favouritism, which in turn led to an outbreak of jealousy and hurt on Ollie’s part. As the guitarist’s boyfriend walked in to munch on some leftover pavlova, we realised that maybe love ‘triangle’ was a term that didn’t quite give the dimension justice.

Overall opinion: Catherine’s night was a success. The menu was promising, as were the smells, and the delivery generally lived up to expectations. The near-lull in entertainment was rectified by a good old sing-song at the end. Will’s fresher’s flu is improving. All is right in the world of Come Have Dinner With Me.

Scores will be announced when everyone has had a chance at hosting!

Leek in a cup. We don’t know either. Photo: Jessica Hardiman