Monday Meal Adventures

13 November 2012

Monday Meal Adventures starting off at the Rutland Arms

Monday Meal Adventures starting off at the Rutland Arms

Rutland Arms epic Cider Pig

Eating good food ‘together’ as a whole family or with friends has always played a big part in my life – remembering how my mum would scowl (and still does) if I don’t go round for the family dinner.

“Come and get it – Dinner’s ready!!” – that’s how my mum would call me and my brother down for dinner when I was a kid. It was dinnertime, and if we weren’t down within the next three minutes, then mum wouldn’t be happy!

When was the last time you and your family sat down and enjoyed a meal together? With us all having work commitments, or college and studies, play rehearsal, increased media consumption and social-life schedules, it can be tough. However, my parents have always been pretty good at doing this and have always stressed the importance of eating as a family as having great benefits – proof that you are alive, wanted and connected. Sure it reinforced table manners too and trying new foods, but there was also a lot of laughter and heated discussions.

I love simple things that just make you smile. Yesterday began #MondayMealAdventures; an informal evening meal gathering where I met fellow foodies Clare Farmer (@pinklittlebean), Keri Rowesell (@LilMissHungry) and Hannah Hemmings (@memhem). It’s going to be a get together we’re hoping to do every two weeks with lots of eating, visiting new eateries and appreciating the enjoyment of a meal together – a great way for us all to feel connected (and this makes up for any stressful day in the studio).

Our first venue stop was the Rutland Arms. Suprisingly, this was Keri and Hannah’s first Rutland’s meal. There was no music or TV on and the girls made sure we all used our phones to a minimum (no tweets – I know, I couldn’t help myself! ;). We enjoyed a quiet evening to ourselves, tried new foods but there was also a lot of laughter and discussions – something which eating as a group should be about.

I was so full after my Cider Pig (pig pork shoulder braised overnight in cider, see photos above) followed by Chef Mike’s treacle sponge and vanilla custard (living up to the title, PudInn Panda), but I was also really content afterwards.

So now then, who said Mondays were blue!?… — Missie Cindz :)

{ photos by Cindy Cheung as posted on Instagram }

Missie Cindz