‘Very hobbity’: Lord of the Rings stars shout out Vancouver restaurant

This 2004 photo, supplied by New Line Home Entertainment ,shows Sean Astin, left, Elijah Wood, Billy Boyd, center, and Dominic Monaghan, right, appearing in a scene in New Line Home Entertainments epic film "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" Limited Edition. (AP Photo/ New Line Home Entertainment,Melissa Moseley)

Hobbits famously love good and plentiful food and value loyal friendship, as anyone familiar with J.R.R. Tolkien’s work will know.

And the four actors who played the hobbits in the Lord of the Rings trilogy 25 years ago had a very on-brand Valentine’s Day when they reunited in Vancouver—dining together at a restaurant favoured by celebrity visitors.

Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan ate at Vij’s over the weekend, while in town for Fan Expo for ‘An Evening with the Hobbits.’

Chef Vikram Vij posted a photo of the stars on his Instagram, saying he was thrilled to host the actors.

“Four incredible artists whose work has brought so much joy to audiences around the world, gathered around our table in Vancouver,” Vij wrote.

“Cooking with love is at the heart of everything we do, and it was such a joy to share that with them.”

Vij also showed his familiarity with hobbit lore in one of his replies to his post.

“We’re ready for second breakfast anytime they are,” the chef wrote, referencing one of the six meals hobbits have per day—breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, luncheon, afternoon tea, dinner, and supper.

Monaghan told a crowd at an earlier event that sharing a leisurely meal together is something the four friends make an effort to do at least once when they travel for conventions.

“As you all know, hobbits are extremely fond of spending time with each other and eating well and drinking well, and just enjoying the company of their friends,” he said in a video shared on Vancouver Fan Expo’s social media in the lead-up to the weekend.

The actors gave Vij’s a shoutout on stage Sunday, with Astin paying the restaurant what those familiar with Tolkien’s universe would recognize as a very high compliment.

“No to sort of pander to this crowd,” said Sean Astin. “But didn’t it feel a little bit like you were in a hobbit tavern?”

Wood agreed, saying the restaurant was “very hobbity.”

Tolkien’s The Hobbit famously opens with a description of a hobbit hole as synonymous with comfort.

Astin noted Vij told them he was from Punjab, with many of the dishes indebted to the cuisine of that region.

“Punjab. Is that the shire of India?” Astin quipped.

Although Fan Expo Vancouver has wrapped up, the foursome is set to appear in Calgary in April and Toronto in August.