Song Titles Inspired The Menu For Visit By Ed Sheeran

When experienced chef Andrew Mussett found out that he was required to produce nibbles for a visit by singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, he decided to create a rather special themed menu.

Taking inspiration from the titles of eight of Ed’s best known songs, Andrew created a range of delicious canapés which were a hit with guests at the private reception held at Care UK’s luxury Mills Meadow care home in Suffolk.

Guests enjoyed spicy chicken ‘lollipops’ (Little Bird) and Spanish seafood tapas nibbles (Tenerife Sea) alongside boozy cheese bites (Drunk)

Gingerbread Men, Ed’s record label, was an obvious first choice for those with a sweet tooth. Cold Coffee inspired tiny cheesecakes laced with cappuccino and In a Mess led Andrew to create tiny Eaton mess nibbles on a shortbread base.

Ed Sheeran came to visit the new Mills Meadow care home in Framlingham which is not far from where he grew up and his parent still live. During the visit, he cut the ribbon on a suite at the home which has been named in his honour. The names of the suites were chosen by residents of the old home on the same site and by local people and, as one of Framlingham’s best-known sons, Sheeran suite was a popular choice.

During his visit, Ed Sheeran was happy to sit and chat with residents and their relatives at the care home, as well as posing for selfies with Care UK colleagues who work at or support the home.

Chef Andrew, who works as a senior chef for Care UK said: “It was an honour to create a menu and to lead the team cooking the food for such an important guest. To keep the theme going, in view of the upcoming film, the canapés were served on a table flanked by two piles of woolly jumpers although we drew the line at a football!”

Sue Hill, home manager at Mills Meadow, said: “We are over the moon that Ed could visit us and officially open our new ‘Sheeran Suite’. Ed is delightful, we are really grateful that he could spare the time in his busy schedule to pop in and meet us and see our wonderful new facilities here.”

Sue Hill took Ed Sheeran and his parents on a tour around the home, which was officially opened recently after undergoing a two-year redevelopment as part of a £60 million investment that Care UK has brought to Suffolk homes.

Ed told a reporter from the local paper: “It’s quite nice here. My grandfather passed away from dementia in a home like this, so it’s nice to see what they are doing here – they’re doing some good stuff. Everyone is really friendly.”

Mills Meadow home has four suites, each with their own lounge area and dining room. Each of the suite names, which highlight local icons and points of interest, were chosen by residents of the home and Mills Meadow colleagues so it was no surprise that there was much demand for one of the suites to be named after one of Framlingham’s most well-known sons.

Resident Mary Swan was pleased to help Ed Sheeran cut the special green ribbon. Mary said: “It was a very exciting day and I enjoyed meeting Ed. I even got his autograph!”

As a thank you, Care UK presented Ed Sheeran with a £500 cheque to a charity of his choice – EACH – the East Anglian Children’s Hospice.

Another resident, Liz Austin, presented Ed with a thank you gift – a Lego motorbike, after people working in the home heard that Lego is one of his favourite pastimes. Describing the musician, Liz said: “He’s a very ordinary person and very easy to talk to. He’s very down to earth and that’s what’s so nice about him.”

For more information on the home call 0333 321 1983 or visit www.careuk.com/mills-meadow.