Ploughman’s Lunch
BY Alison Wiebe
Bilbo’s well-stocked pantry comes to the rescue with a hearty ploughman’s lunch guaranteed to satisfy the appetites of his unexpected guests in The Hobbit!
An Unexpected Feast
Bilbo Baggins’ world is turned upside down one ordinary morning when he is visited after breakfast by the wandering wizard Gandalf. Despite having fond childhood memories of the wizard, Bilbo is uncomfortable during the meeting, particularly at the suggestion of an adventure. A hasty invitation to tea, meant to send Gandalf on his way, has the unexpected consequence of sending Bilbo on the first of many life changing adventures.
The following day Gandalf keeps his appointment and brings with him a company of 13 dwarves. As the dwarves descend upon Bag End, one by one, they begin to call out their food orders. From drinks to savouries to sweets, Gandalf, Thorin, and company prove to have voracious and hearty appetites. Luckily for the dwarves, Bilbo’s pantry is well-stocked and their unexpected feast turns out to be quite the lavish and indulgent feast!
Ploughman’s Lunch
After the arrival of Gandalf and a company of dwarves, Bilbo is hard pressed to find enough food to feed them all. Luckily his pantry is well stocked with prepared foods. From aged cheeses and cold meats to savoury scotch eggs and tangy pickles, there is a little something to please even the most discerning dinner guest.
While a traditional ploughman’s lunch can be as simple or as elaborate as you like, the ample provisions in the larder of Bag End suggest a hearty feast. As the pork pie, buttered scones, and seed cake slowly begin to disappear, Gandalf calls for cold chicken and pickles. Leftover wild mushroom seasoned roast chicken is the perfect addition to this humble platter. A selection of pickles, condiments, spreads, and nuts round out this pantry luncheon full of delicious hobbit delights.
“And just bring out the cold chicken and pickles!”
-The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien (Chapter 1: An Unexpected Party)
Cheese
Choose a selection of 2 or 3 different cheeses. Look for different types of cheeses, for example, hard cheese such as cheddar, blue cheese such as Stilton, and flavoured cheese such as a cranberry Wensleydale.
Condiments and pickles
A selection of preserves, chutneys, and relishes make the perfect accompaniment to the meats and cheeses in this ploughman’s lunch. Tangy pickled mustard seeds are perfect spooned over a slice of cold chicken.
Scotch eggs
While Gandalf asked Bilbo for some plain boiled eggs, classic Scotch eggs with their pork and crispy breadcrumb coating are a much more interesting snack. The eggs are either soft or hard boiled, depending on preference, before being wrapped in seasoned ground pork, rolled in crumbs, and fried until golden brown.
Roast Chicken
Seasoning chicken overnight with a generous pinch of Wild Mushroom Seasoning Salt results in an incredibly flavourful and juicy chicken. While this roast chicken can be enjoyed warm, slices of leftover cold chicken are a delicious addition to any rustic ploughman’s lunch.
Bread and Crackers
Slices of bread or crackers are an essential part of a ploughman’s lunch and the perfect vehicle for enjoying a tasty spread of cold meats and cheeses.
