Come Dine With OAP is served up at care homes

YOU would think their days of dinner dates were behind them.

But a group of city care home residents has decided to jump on the Come Dine With Me bandwagon by staging their own version of the popular television show.

While the TV challenge sees diners attempt to outdo each other with dishes such as lobster thermidor or hand-dived scallops, the pensioners will be presenting some rather more traditional fare.

Three care homes will embark on the challenge from tonight, competing for a specially made trophy.

Residents, some as old as 98, from The Tower home in Murrayfield, Clovenstone House and Clermiston House facilities will prepare three-course meals for their guests to try. Shunning the likes of oven-baked sea bass and carpaccio, their menus will feature the more hearty options of smoked salmon and roast beef, vegetable soup, pavlova and tea and biscuits.

It is the latest in a series of quirky initiatives council-run care homes have indulged in to boost morale and activity levels in their residents.

Veronica Currie, the assistant manager at The Tower care home, came up with the idea before inviting the other two homes to take part. She said: "We have all seen the programme on the television and I thought it would be a good, fun event for all the residents to get involved in. There has been a real buzz about the place leading up to the big challenge."

Two people from each home will take part in the contest with, as is done in the programme, each scoring every meal they have.

It will begin tonight, when diners will have to adhere to a "stately home" theme in dress and behaviour, and then resume on the two subsequent weeks at the other homes to reach a conclusion.

The winning team will also be handed a free meal for six at Ellersly House Hotel in Murrayfield.

The oldest participant is 98-year-old Betty Thomson, who will play the role of chef tonight with fellow Tower resident Alistair Innes, 81.

Mrs Thomson said: "I am really impressed with our menu choices and feel there is an excellent selection of food on offer for everyone to enjoy. I am looking forward to meeting everyone involved."

Mr Innes added it would be a good exercise socially. He said: "Good food and good companionship go together and devising the menu was fun."

It isn't the only eye-catching event to have taken place in care homes of late.

In June residents at Marionville Court Care Home in Lochend took part in a school sports day-themed event which involved both an egg and spoon and a wheelbarrow race. Pior to that the home held its own Britain's Got Talent show.

Health and social care leader Councillor Paul Edie said: "I'd like to congratulate everyone taking part and as someone who enjoys fine dining I can't wait to taste the courses being served up."