Producers from Come Dine With Me Canada are looking for talented home cooks from Vancouver Island to compete in a new season of the show. (submitted photo)

By Alex Rawnsley

food fight

Casting call out for ‘enthusiastic amateur chefs’ on Vancouver Island

Jul 8, 2025 | 5:28 AM

NANAIMO — Five talented and personable home cooks will have a unique opportunity to showcase their skills.

Food Network Canada is bringing a homegrown spinoff of the British cooking show ‘Come Dine With Me’ to Vancouver Island later this year, with a casting call now on for five Island-based cooks to show off their culinary chops.

Casting producer for the show Heather Muir told NanaimoNewsNOW anyone with some talent in the kitchen and an appropriate space to host four other contestants for a dinner party, can apply.

“In each episode, we have five enthusiastic amateur chefs, and they take turns hosting a dinner party at their home. At the end of the week, they vote on whose dinner party they enjoy most, and that person wins the bragging rights, and a cash prize.”

Contestants must be at least 19 years old, and available to film over the course of six consecutive days between August and October of this year.

On the Lake

Training, fundraising take precedence in winter months for Nanaimo Rowing Club

3h ago

clean-up

Locals plan to remove shoreline hazard in Qualicum Beach

Dec 13, 2025

Wings Clipped

Seguin-Lescarbeau and Rimmer lead Clippers to Teddy Bear Toss win

Dec 13, 2025

Only two days are considered “full days”, according to Muir, with the other four spent attending the other dinner parties across Vancouver Island.

Styles of cuisine are completely open, with Muir keen to see a wide variety.

“We’re looking to represent Canadians, and Canadians have a very diverse background. They don’t even have to have a real set skill at cooking, but if they have a specialty, or if they have grown up with certain cuisines that they know they can really serve up at a dinner party, we’re looking for you.”

Those interested are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible, as interviews are being conducted on a rolling basis.

More information, including the application package, is available here.

Subscribe to our daily news wrap. Local news delivered to your email inbox every evening. Stay up to date on everything Nanaimo and Oceanside.

info@nanaimonewsnow.com

Follow us on: Twitter (X) | Bluesky | Facebook