On time and ready to go despite the torrential downpour and an unexplained queue on the M6, we arrived at The Pig in a Poke restaurant in Dudley to a rapturous welcome and complimentary bacon sarnie. We had the equipment set up in no time, stopping only for a brief intervention by a member of the Oldbury Press who wanted to take a photo of the roast; we explained he would have to wait a while, and put him to work.
The Pig’s annual plum pud day is a popular event that takes place in their grounds as part of the annual Dudley Mediaeval Meat fest, a long standing tradition where a hog roast takes place complimented by a variety of their special fruit puddings, for a day of non-stop music, dancing, eating, drinking – and culminating with the Dudley Plum Pig Pat competition, a strange distance event involving the stronger members of the local community and left over fruit.
Opened by the local Mayor, Councillor Tamworth, the event included a demonstration by the local morris dancing team, the Boar’s Head Trotters, and music by folk group the Royal Standards (five eccentric characters in their eighties who make no secret of their talent for spotting good food and who specialise in off beat, out of tune renditions of traditional ditties, accompanied by a person known as Old Spot on the harmonica. And a couple of gatecrashers called John and Bert with guitars who had heard about our roasts.
At 2.17pm precisely the sun came out and the crackling was at its best. By now there was a sensational aroma floating from the gazebo and a small crowd was forming. Thanks to the talents of Middie White, a recent addition to our event catering staff whose ambition is to be the hog roast industry’s unlikely answer to Nora Batty, out came the walnut and orange stuffing whips and the apple and black pudding tarts, specially created for the occasion last year and one of our most popular accompaniments. They went down such a storm that our Middie is threatening to go into hiding in Bury, taking the recipe with her.
Interrupted only by the arrival of a lady who called herself Charlie’s Aunt, and who it seemed was trying to claim responsibility for some of Middie’s ideas (placated by a delicious pig sandwich, she vanished shortly afterwards, allegedly to the local radio station), the roast itself was succulent, flavoursome and absolutely spitting superb – served by our own Sandy Black and very well met indeed.
The usual thorough clean up was a little hampered by a number of left over plum pats, however we finally loaded the vehicle, said our goodbyes and departed to the strains of John and Bert playing a sentimental version of ‘Good bye Pork Pie Hat’. We have already been booked for 2013 and look forward to another fantastic visit. Listen out for us on Radio Tipton and watch the Oldbury Times for next year’s dates – book early!
