Two Hollister women hope to make friends while making dinner
There’s nothing quite like walking into a welcoming, brightly
lit room, sharing a great home-cooked meal and a little
conversation with others, and then leaving with a new best friend
or two.
Or so believe Sandy Gowers and Michele Ferguson, long time pals
who hope to turn unfamiliar faces into friends by inviting them
over for dinner.
Two Hollister women hope to make friends while making dinner
There’s nothing quite like walking into a welcoming, brightly lit room, sharing a great home-cooked meal and a little conversation with others, and then leaving with a new best friend or two.
Or so believe Sandy Gowers and Michele Ferguson, long time pals who hope to turn unfamiliar faces into friends by inviting them over for dinner.
“I wanted to find a way to get together with people, and at work we did a lot of casual pot lucks, or themes like a cappuccino day,” said Gowers, who was recently laid off from her job as an executive administrative assistant with NXP Semiconductor. “I thought we could take the old-fashioned pot luck idea and change it up a bit.”
Gowers and Ferguson are starting a type of social cooking club with a bit of a twist. Members will get together once a month to cook a four-course meal – appetizers, soup or salad, the main course with sides and dessert – then share the meal, along with chit chat, cleanup and planning for the next month’s dinner.
“I’ll bet there are a lot of people out there sitting around looking for something to do,” Ferguson said. “This could be a great way to meet new people in a safe environment.”
Although anyone is welcome to join, Gowers and Ferguson say they are looking specifically for people in situations similar to theirs. Gowers and Ferguson are both single – Gowers was widowed several years back, and Ferguson’s divorce from her husband is nearly final. As single women, the friends agree, it is often hard to find activities which are fun and affordable yet don’t make them feel awkward for not being part of a couple.
“So many things are geared towards couples, and if you’re single, what do you really have in the way of options for your social life?” Ferguson asked. “Hang out in bars? I’m not really a bar person. This could be a good way to just meet other people, sit around, chat and share good food.”
Gowers’ husband, Dale, was a salesman for Ampac Tire Distributors, whose main office is located in Southern California, which is where the Gowers were originally from. A transfer to Union City moved the couple to Hollister, and San Benito Tire soon became one of Dale’s biggest clients, according to his wife. Entertaining customers with dinners and trips was part of the Gowers’ regular routine; something Gowers says she misses quite a bit.
“My husband passed away four years ago, and all of my social life was built around his business,” Gowers said. “We traveled around and entertained his clients. It’s sad to say, but when he died, that was all gone. I need to find another way to socialize because everything has changed.”
A social club centered on food is a natural fit for the two friends – Gowers says she has always enjoyed entertaining, while cooking is one of Ferguson’s favorite pastimes.
“My family is Southern and my grammy made all those Southern specialties – fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, hush puppies, but I never knew how to make them because I didn’t care about cooking back then,” Gowers said. “But I like cooking for parties. I enjoy entertaining, and planning what I want to cook for parties. I like the social aspect of cooking. What I don’t like is coming home from work and having to cook dinner.”
Ferguson, however, has a different outlook on cooking than her friend.
“When my husband and I first split up, I found myself eating a lot of frozen foods. After being part of a couple, you have to learn to be alone and how to live by yourself,” she said. “I began forcing myself to start cooking actual meals for myself, and I found out I like it. I like making myself a good little dinner.”
The club, as envisioned by Gowers and Ferguson, would meet at a member’s home each month; whoever is acting as host or hostess would choose a theme for that month’s meal, such as Italian Pasta Night, Thai food or even a meal with strictly Irish dishes. The host or hostess would be responsible for planning the main dish, while members would come up with appetizers, sides and desserts which complement the theme.
The day of the dinner, members would gather in the kitchen of the hostess’ home, bringing all the ingredients needed to prepare their dishes. Then, they would begin preparing the meal together, while sharing a glass of wine and some conversation.
Naturally, Gowers and Ferguson say they are open to suggestions as to what will make the club work for everyone.
“We are still trying to work out all the bugs, but since it’s going to be a group thing, we want to let others help us set the guidelines,” Ferguson said. “Once we get to know each other, maybe it could morph into other activities as well.”
Although both women have families to keep them busy – Ferguson has two grown children, as does Gowers, who also has two granddaughters – they both would like to have outside friendships as well. The pair is planning a get-together for anyone interested in joining the club, tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 2 at Gowers’ home. They hope to use the night making plans for the group’s first dinner while getting to know other people from around Hollister.
“Everyone needs friends; we all need someone,” Gowers said. “The food is just a vehicle.”
Anyone wishing to attend the Aug. 2 get-together, or for more information about the group, should e-mail questions directly to Sandy Gowers at [email protected] or Michele Ferguson at [email protected].
